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Showing posts with the label Matches

Redwood Park, The Arc, 23rd January 2022

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January's outing after a family outbreak of COVID so I booked myself and Patrick on the open on The Arc at Redwood Park in York. Only 6 anglers braved todays open and the ice had been broken by the fishery from pegs 14 through to 21. The Draw The golden peg drawn was 17, my home for the day was Peg 20. Set-up Given the clarity of the water I felt that the pole line for the day needed to be long rather than short. Lines: 14 - 14.5 metres full depth and a shallow rig just in case the fish came up in the water Top two and two line at the near side shelf for dripping caster in for some roach later in the day Waggler to fish past the pole line or in case the fish didnt want the pole over their heads Bomb and bread to fish the far bank in an effort to a ball of carp Bait was a mix pellets, maggots, caster, bread and F1 sweet dark groundbait.  Clarification for another reader, the hooks used were all barbless patterns as per the fishery rules on most commercial fisheries. All-In So the ma...

Bury Hill Fisheries, 26th September 2019

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A text message from Hathers asking whether I could fish the Wednesday OBH Lovers match for Big Si.  Not a problem, bait sorted, long ranger feeder rods sorted and I was ready to visit one of my favourite venues, Old Bury Hill in Dorking with the "knobs". Todays weather was miserable, rain and wind however the rain as predicted to stop around 10am so maybe it could be a great day for the bream. The Draw Peg 1, one of the favoured pegs came out of the bag for me.  Normally Big Si draws this peg and he has on most occasions however a few weeks ago it didn't produce for him with Pegs 2 and 3 taking the match win and section first. It does look a beautiful peg however the overhanging tree on the pole line doesn't allow you to get up close and personal with the reeds.  The long chuck across an obvious target. Set-up The pole line at 13-14 metres to target the tree line.  I was surprised at the difference in depth between peg 1 as I grabbed a rig that I had used...

Bury Hill Fisheries, 4th September 2019

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A late call went out on the OBH Lovers group on Bookface that there was a spare place on the match.  A quick phone call to Hathers and I'd secured the spot fishing as replacement for Steve Parkin. The Draw 8:15am draw, I arrived around 8am to find the front bank parking full. The lads were obviously keen today! Peg 3 for me today. Set-up After watching Greg an Simon casting out a very long way to clip up their rods I followed suit.  After clipping up I marked out the distance on the measuring sticks at 70 metres! I set-up a bomb and pellet rod at this distance that would have a t-bag of pellets with it.  I also set-up a feeder rod at 25 metres, just beyond the pole line. A single pole line at 13-14 metres at the 1 o'clock position to avoid bring fish on the feeder line over it with a light 0.4g rig and heavier 0.8g rig if the wind got up. Bait was pellets, dead maggot and sweetcorn.  Groundbait, F1 Dark. All-In The weather today was screaming Bream...

FAS - Stockbridge Pond, 25th August 2019

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The second round of the Bernard Parrot Memorial to be fished at Stockbridge Pond near Tilford and another very warm Autumn day with bright sunshine and no cloud. The Draw Peg 10 came out the hat for me, so I'd at least have some lily pads to target. Set-up The lily pads would be the main attack today so I chose two swims: End of the pads Shallower line towards the middle of the pads The waggler rod was also set-up as a secondary plan.  Bait was all natural casters, maggots, worms, sweetcorn together with some micro pellets and F1 Dark groundbait. All-In I decided to start quite negatively and cupped in a small ball of groundbait with some chopped worm on the long lily line and some casters on the short lily line.  Giving it time to settle a quick dabble on the waggler. The waggler was producing roach and small perch however in spells of two to three before they would back off. Trying the long lily line the chopped worm had obviously had its effect and I wa...

GAS - Richardson Lake, 21st August 2019

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Wednesday match at Marsh Farm, the weather was certainly shaping up to be a lovely day so what better than to spend it fishing on Richardson Lake! The usual suspects lines up together with some old familiar faces from my MFS days namely Ian McLaren and Dave Boyd. The Draw Peg 5, right outside of the club house for me today Set-up I decided on a method to target the far bank and the following pole lines: 10 Metres left and right Margins left and right The menu today dead reds, casters, micro pellets, assorted pellets for hookers and F1 sweet groundbait. All-In A single ball of groundbait on the left hand 10 metre line and three balls on the right hand line.  I started on the method with double dead red maggot and groundbait loaded.  Five minute timed cast and pinging three to four 6mm hard pellets over the method line. It was a warm and still day with very little ripple on the water.  The first hour past without a fish on the method so I tried the pole...

FAS - Badshot Lea Little Pond, 18th August 2019

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Checking my diary and it had been over a month since my last outing... to say I was getting cabin fever is an understatement! Farnham Angling Society were at Badshot Lea small pond a venue that I really enjoy so it was a simple decision. The Draw Thirteen of us fishing, third last to draw today and I pulled out peg 29, in the middle of the far bank. Set-up Arriving at the peg, with the wind and rain driving, even though the weather forecast predicted the weather would ease I decided not to setup a pole line.  I even discounted the margins which could potentially be a big mistake. It was rod only today.  Two feeder rods, one with a traditional running feeder set-up and the other with a hybrid feeder, both fished on the same line short of the half way point on the lake. The waggler rod would be fished around pole range, so approximately 16 metres. Bait was F1 Green Sweet, maggots, casters and micro pellets. All-In Two balls of ground bait laced with casters on...

GAS - Richardson Lake, 26th June 2019

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Wednesday open at Richardson Lake on the Marsh Farm Complex and an opportunity to have my third fish at this lake after two previous attempts. A comment from one of the guys today will stick in my mind... Richardson Lake fishes differently every single day of the week... never a truer word!  Here is the blog of the day. The Draw 27 fishing today and I managed to get an early dip in the bag.  Peg 44 was home for the day. Fishing was 11:30am until 6pm. Set-up With the wind trucking down the lake a long pole line and waggler option looked out of the window.  It didn't stop me setting them up!  Main lines of attacker as follows: Bomb / Small cage feeder across Top Two + Three section straight ahead Top Two + Three margins left and right Baits mainly natural, maggots, casters, sweetcorn, groundbait and some pellets All-In Starting on the short line, I cupped in a small amount of groundbait with some micro pellets and went straight over the line with...

GAS - Wood Lake, Busbridge, 23rd June 2019

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Fourteen of us fishing today for round two of the Godalming Summer League and it was back to Wood Lake, Busbridge. Now this venue is extremely picturesque however rumour was that the fishing had been very hard lately. The Draw Peg 24 for me today.  This peg is on the left hand bank looking from the car park at the far end of the lake. The journey with the gear on the barrow was certainly interesting!  We do carry way too much gear! Set-up The margins where screaming fish! This would be a power top two and three sections to get a good depth of around 3.5 feet depth. Two rods set-up, waggler and bomb rod. Baits on the menu, maggots, casters, sweetcorn, some worms (just in case) and the ground bait from the Bury Hill session with some micro pellets through it. All-In So the match plan was to fish the waggler shallow, pinging casters and to either go over that line with a small bomb or set the waggler at full depth.  The margin's would be fed differently, t...

Bury Hill Fisheries, 21st June 2019

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Back to the Lake of Breams that is Old Bury Hill, the main lake and a match that Hathers had organised for the OBH Lovers and serving as a practise for the Wednesday series that he runs. Bury Hill is a beautiful fishery and the weather was being very kind also. I'd popped down a few days earlier when Hathers was having a practise for the practise session and learnt quite a lot from him, Mickey D and Ricky Baxter. The Draw The draw finally got under way after Hathers realised that Mickey D wasn't fishing today.  Fourteen of us spread across pegs 1-20 with the higher number pegs the ones people wanted.  My draw for today, unlucky for some, peg 13. Now I've been to peg 13 last time I fished in August last year, you can find that article here... Neighbour for the day was Silvers. Set-up I have the end of the big island in front of me which of course is a natural draw for fish so I set up two 13 foot rods as follows, both clipped up at 65, 70 and 75 metres: 1.5...

GAS - Richardson Lake, 16th June 2019

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Sunday match this week I opted to head back to Richardson Lake with Godalming Angling Society (GAS) who were sharing the lake with the Farnham Match Group (FMG). A quick call to the match secretary and I was in.  Turns out that 36 of us would be fishing. The Draw Drawing was split between GAS and FMG and ordered by the time you booked on.  I was second last on our list however Peg 10 came out for me. Not a bad draw and one peg from the area that everyone was fancying! Set-up Waggler and Bomb rod straight out of the bag to target the far bank which is just beyond pole range. Pole Lines were: 14.5 Metres to the left side of the peg Top 2 + 2 margin lines left and right Top 2 + 1 keep net line Bait consisted of maggot, caster, worm, sweetcorn and some expander pellets.  Groundbait was Supercrush Green. All-In The decision from the off was to take the negative approach and with that I potted in two balls of ground bait was a smattering of casters on th...

GAS - Harris Lake, 2nd June 2019

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Another match with Godalming Angling Society at another one of their waters in the Marsh Farm Complex. Today I'm fishing Harris Lake, lake which is renowned for its large tench and crucian carp. The Draw Early start, 8:30am draw fishing 10:30am to 3:30pm which is a little early for a summer match to be quite honest. Peg 27 came out of the bag for me... one of the longest walks from the car park however as I'm on a fitness regime at the moment something to get the heart pounding. Neighbours to my right, Henry and Paul. Set-up The weather was bright and sunny and very little ripple on the water however I decided to target the far bank with a feeder / bomb approach rather than the method. Pole Lines to target the lily pads on my right, 13 metres into the white water and a short top 3 plus 2 line to my left. Bait was mostly a natural selection with some expanders thrown in just incase.  I also had some sweetcorn that I had liquidised which would be to generate a c...

GAS - Richardson Lake, 29th May 2019

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A chance to fish the Wednesday match with Godalming Angling Society on a new lake to me, Richardson Lake. The weather wasn't looking the best today with rain predicted, little did I know it was going to rain all day long and soak all the gear. The Draw Peg 7, near to the Apollo tackle shop came out of the bag for me. Set-up With the wind blowing down the lake I didn't feel it would be a waggler day however I set-up a waggler and also a bomb to fish the waggler line too. Pole lines were: 13 metres at 10 o'clock and 1 o'clock Top 2 and 3 straight ahead Margin lines left and right Bait was a mix between natural (maggot, caster, worms) and pellets which would be fished on separate lines. All-In Kicking off the swims I put a small ball of sloppy groundbait with casters on the 10 o'clock line and some 4 mm pellets on the other long pole line.  The rain then started. I decided to try the waggler, pinging casters over the top until the wind got so ba...

FAS - Stockbridge Pond, 26th May 2019

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Back to Stockbridge with Farnham Angling Society for the bank holiday weekend. The weather this week has been warm and sunny and it was great to see the lily pads while up walking round the lake as it really helps to define where the real fishy swims will be, especially peg 9 known as the double lily swim. The Draw Reports from the previous week is that the deeper part of the lake (pegs 14 upwards) hadn't fished as well as the earlier, shallower pegs. A group decision was taken to fish pegs 2 through to 14, the shallower pegs. I was last name on the list so ended up with Peg 14 and the scales.  I was not unhappy with the draw as I had Avery short walk from the car park but more importantly some lily pads to target. Set-up As always at Stockbridge, the Waggler rod came out of the bag and was plumbed to full depth, marked on the rod and then set to half depth to sew if the roach were up in the water. Pole lines: 13 metres targeting the lily pads on the right 12 met...

Stafford Moor - May Festival, 17th May 2019

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The final day and the final destination for the week is Woodpecker, normally a lake I shy away from during the winter silvers festival however I was looking forward to fishing for to a change and fishing for the carp. The Draw To be honest I wasn't too bothered where I drew today, so Peg 19 in the bay was home for the day. We know that the carp are either here, or not... only time will tell. Set-up Again, another simple set up.  Bomb and Pellet Waggler rods out of the bag.  Pole for the margin, just in case. Bait consisted of Corn, Pellets and worms. All-In The match plan was simple, fish the bomb and pellet in the bowl area in front of me, resisting the temptation to cast long however having the option should I need it. The first couple of hour fishing the bomb I put two fish in the net, makes for a simple blog!  Gary on peg 18 and Bill on Peg 20 only had two fish also.  It was slow going that was for sure. The fish had been showing themselves sha...

Stafford Moor - May Festival, 16th May 2019

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Well my hope of a high finish in the festival is fading fast, but hey its way better than working! Next stop Pines.  The regulars to this festival say that Pines fishes better in the first few days of the festival and then tends to drop off as the skimmers take longer to "recover" from being caught. It will be an experience not to fish it in the cold winter months anyway... The Draw Peg 7, probably the worst draw and this peg is either feast or famine and the weights during the week had not been brilliant from it either. Set-up Peg 7 is very wide and with the wind blowing straight into my face I decided to break out a feeder to target beyond pole range to the far bank. Pole lines 13 metres, uniformed depth (7feet plus) for a number of swims Top two and 3 Margin line Up in the water rig for roach close in Bait today included more natural baits, maggots, caster, worm, groundbait, expander and micro pellets. All-In Todays approach would be negative due t...

Stafford Moor - May Festival, 15th May 2019

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Putting the disappoint result from Oaks behind me it was fishing Tanners that I was looking forward to next.  The easterly wind had started to blow after the previous beautiful day so I fancied a draw down around peg 10 - 14, lets see what the drawbar had in store for me today. The Draw Well, peg 2 on the lawns, which is a good waggler and bomb peg so wasn't too disappointed.  I had the pellet waggler master for a neighbour on Peg 1, Dave Stockton and Silvers on Peg 4. Set-up The bomb rod was straight out of the bag together with a pellet waggler set up, really simple! While not a lot had been reported coming out from the margin I just had to set up a margin line to my right and a 5 metre pole line too. Again mainly pellets together with worms and sweetcorn. All-In At least the ducks got a feed! Speaking with Hathers after the draw he mentioned that I'd probably be spending 80% of the match on the bomb and pellet line, which I did to be fair, 5 hours in tota...

Stafford Moor - May Festival, 14th May 2019

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Section rotation meant that Oak was today's challenge and having only fished it a few times in the MFS winter silvers festival I really didn't know what to expect.  It would also be a pole only match which makes it a little more interesting or challenging whichever way you look at things. The Draw I didn't fancy being on the back bank of Oak which was the deepest area and of course my drawing arm didn't let me down putting me on peg 13 in the deepest area of the lake! Set-up Pole only so I fished three lines with the following rigs. 14 metres with around 8 feet of depth 6 metres with around 7 feet of depth Margin line to the left Shallow rig Pellets (micro, 4, 6 and 8mm) along with some worms for the margin as bait. All-In The weather was extremely warm so my match plan was to try and get some fish on the deck with hard 6mm pellets on the long line.  It was pretty apparent once the very deep rig went in the fish where of course shallow, so I started to...

Stafford Moor - May Festival, 13th May 2019

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Stafford Moor May Spring Festival was too good to resist so a quick phone call to Hathers and I was on the festival filling in for one of the lads who couldn't make it this year. Seeing Stafford Moor in full bloom the fishery looks absolutely fabulous and more credit to Paul and Jo for the great job they continue to do.  Festivals full, specimen lakes booked out, life at the Moor is looking very good in deed! Lodging with Hathers, the mighty Spindle (the legend that he is), Hoggy and Perry Stone for the week replacing Dave Boyd for one year only! The format for the week would be rotating around the five lakes, Willow, Oak, Tanners, Pines and Woodpecker and the sections had been drawn by Jo and Paul at the fishery. The Draw My starting lake would be Willow which would also be the first time I'd fished it too. Peg 17, the corner peg looking from Aspen lodge.  Pegging is a little tight if I'm honest and my neighbours for the day were Jeb and Silvers. Set-up A s...