Lewy's Lines

Our final days fishing at Stafford Moor and I was pleased to find I was in the middle seeded group so I’d improved on last years efforts at least. Once again one of our group would be drawing for lakes and still nobody wanted to get Woodpecker. I’d been banned from drawing for the lake due to my terrible failure yesterday so Hathers stepped up to the plate. The Draw Well Hathers pulled out Tanners for our group much to the delight of everyone. My home for the day would be Peg 5 on the lawns a very easy walk from the lodge with neighbours being ickle Wayne and Captain. Set-Up Today’s match plan was to feed two close in lines, one heavily and the other less positive. The wind was up so I decided that 5 metres would be my limit today. The pole lines were: 10 and 1 o’clock at 5 metres Margin line on my left at top two + 2. I also set-up the feeder rod to see if any larger skimmers where close to the island. All-In I put 4 balls of groundbait laced with casters on the 1

The curry night was a blast, we had 76 Trombones ordering the hottest curry they could cook, John “I’ve got a naan bread on my head” Beasley to ickle Wayne “I don’t like onions or tomatoes”. Needless to say there were a few different smells in the tackle shop this morning! The Draw I’d been nominated by Herbie to draw for our lake. Wonderful, I could be a hero if I drew anything but Woodpecker… of course I drew Woodpecker much to the “delight” of my section members. Quite a few abusive comments would come my way throughout the day, all tongue in cheek of course! I drew Peg 10 on Woodpeckers, one of the better pegs which made me even more popular! Set-Up I broke out the waggler rod and set up the following pole lines were 13 metre lines straight ahead and towards the island  4 metre line All-In Feeding a ball of groundbait on each long line I started on the waggler in the white water behind and between my two long pole lines. A fruitless 30 minutes followed but hey, t

Day 3 of the MFS Silvers festival at Stafford Moor.  My group would be on Pines today.  It was a very heavy night at the Lodge of Plenty and my head was in bits due to a large amount of spiced rum and coke! The Draw Peg 3 on Pines was my home for the day. Set-Up Pole lines only today and they were very deep!  One at 13 metres that was 7 feet deep and the 5 metre line was 6 feet deep.  I also opted for a short margin line to my left side just up the shelf. All-In Match plan was to follow Animal’s lead from the previous day and to try and get as many fish short using 4mm expander while having a long line as backup. When we were setting up you could see some fresh water coming into pines, it mixed up with the cloudy water and looked like tea with milk before it’s stirred. This cold water was moving towards my peg and I was worried that it would push the fish further up the lake and away from me. I cupped in a nugget of groundbait on the 13 metre deep line and some chopped w

Day 2 of the MFS Silvers festival at Stafford Moor.  As I'd been on Tanners the previous day my group would be fishing Woodpeckers.  Woodie's had not thrown up large weights the last two days so a good draw would be needed. The Draw Woodpeckers has been re-pegged by Paul and my draw resulted in Peg 18 (old peg 32) in the bay at the back of the lake.  I've been here quite a few times over the years and never had a good result from it so I wasn't too pleased with my drawing hand. Neighbours for the day were Hathers and Al Rutherford. Set-Up Pole lines today would be 2 lines at 13 metres 5 metre line Margin lines to the left and right I also set up the waggler to cast around the bay. All-In A normal pose from Hathers for a change! I spoke to Steve Martin who had fished this peg earlier in the week. His advice was to put in chopped worm on one line and leave for as long as possible before going over it. The other line would be fed with groundbait a

Day 1 of the MFS Silvers festival at Stafford Moor fishery.  The weather on the previous day was pretty horrid and the forecast wasn't looking any brighter but spirits were high amongst everyone.  Herbie gathered us all in the tackle shop at 9am for the draw and to outline the rules.  We would be fishing from 12pm to 5pm so plenty of time to set-up. The Draw Today we would be drawing for either Tanners, Woodpecker or Pines as Oaks had been taken out due to a large amount of carp caught yesterday.  Peg 9 on Tanners for me today which meant a very easy walk from the Lodge of Plenty. Peg 9 in on the lawns side of Tanners and the peg could be classed as the point. Set-Up The previous day an open was fished on Tanners and the guys were picking up large skimmers using an open ended feeder towards the island, so I thought I'd emulate this and set up a feeder rod. Pole lines were 12 metres and 6 metres both straight ahead.  I had a margin line to my left too. All-In Tann

That time of year has come round again, the annual trip with the Match Fishing Scene crew to Stafford Moor in Devon.  The build up on social media was brilliant with everyone excited to head down to the fishery that Jo and Paul took over a few years ago.  Jo and Paul have worked really hard to improve the fishery and the results look great!  The new tackle shop is extremely well stocked with plenty of room for Herbie to call all the anglers to attention. What Paul has done to the fishery, a new Pines lake that has been stocked with silvers from Lodge and other lakes, stocked some "Robinson's" aka carasio's, improved the lodges and seen to the paths, roads and parking areas, reboarded many of the lakes islands including renewing the pegs themselves.  I'm sure I'll have missed something but believe me Stafford Moor is on the way up! I'd driven down on the Saturday, meeting up with Shedders on the road, stopping for a quick caramel cappuccino (Shedders

The final day and the week had flown by!  All the anglers where split into four seeding groups.  Those leading the seeding group selected an envelope which revealed the lake the seeding group would be fishing on. Needless to say I was currently in the last seeding group and Col K had picked Woodpecker for us. The Draw Peg 12 on Woodpecker, a great draw.  Herbie came over and explained how I needed to fish todays match for a good result. Set-Up Pole Lines: 12 metres towards the point of the island 7 metres at 2 o'clock Feeder line down to peg 13 a couple of metres off the island The key to Woodpecker is the fact it is was originally made up of 8 smaller lakes.  Target fishing the deeper areas where the lakes used to be joined. All-In A beautiful day lay ahead of us.  Herbie's advice was to put in two balls of groundbait with no loose offerings in on the Island line and one ball on the 2 o'clock line and fish the feeder for the first hour to let the lines

Today I was looking forward to fishing Tanners.  The weather was a lot better today, calm, sunshine a far cry from yesterdays horrid day. The Draw Peg 11 today, a very short walk from the Lodge of Plenty, neighbours for the day Colbrad and Col K. Set-Up 6 and 12 metre pole lines.  The waggler rod came out too.  I had swims in front on me and also margin swims to my right and a tree line pointing towards peg 12. All-In The long pole line was fed with two balls of groundbait.  A small cup of chopped worm on the tree margin line.  I kicked off the 6 metre line with a nugget of groundbait with single red maggot. As previous days I could not get the short line working at all... so I had a quick look on the tree margin line, float dipped and fish on... another big carp which ended up in the net after about 10 minutes. Col K hooked a landed a large bream, around 3lb in weight on the waggler. Colbrad was also fishing the waggler and getting a few fish, so I followed there lead

Shocking weather Day 3 and I'm dead last on the leaderboard.  Today the weather forecast predicted that we would be getting battered by winds gusting between 50 and 70 mph!  Of course the rain would be with us too... Waking up in the Lodge of plenty we were greeted with horrible weather! The Draw My lake for the day would be Oak, the carp had been showing on previous matches so I wanted to avoid the corner where most of the carp where... Peg 13 unlucky for me, Carp corner! Set-Up The wind was so bad the pole option was going to be short only so the feeder rod was the only real option of the day.  Pole lines would be margin to my left and keep net line. All-In I selected a feeder line that was around 18 metres, groundbait and double red maggot.  Again opting for a negative approach therefore I'd leave this feeder in until the first bite indication.  5 minutes on the clock and the tip wrapped round... yet a lovely none counting carp! This repeated itself for th

After a bad start to the festival I was looking forward to fishing Willow Lake behind the new tackle shop.  Willow had been fishing well so far this week so was expecting a good day despite the weather. The Draw Peg 8 on Willow was my lot for the day.  It was the middle of the far bank.  Neighbours would be the Scottish C@£$, Col K and Shedders. Set-Up Pole lines at 6 metres with a "99" double bulk rig and a waggler for fishing to the sunken island. All-In The weather lady had predicted the rain would stop at 12pm which for once, was right and the whistle for the all-in also stopped the rain! After the previous day I opted for a negative approach on feeding and had selected three areas on the 6 metre line, cupping in nuggets of groundbait over each line. The plan was a per Animals cracking victory yesterday on Willow and to take a couple of fish from each swim, before topping up and moving to the next.  Best laid plans and all... Thirty minutes in and the 6 met

The start of the main event!  It was certainly a bit of a late night, the Lodge of Plenty had the usual visitors and there were a few sore heads for a Monday morning. An expect crowd gathered in the new fantastic looking tackle shop, no need for a queue in here, plenty of space for us all to gather round and listen to our leader, Herbie! The lakes we had for the festival were Willow, Oaks, Tanners and Woodpecker. The Draw Today was an open draw with all lakes in the drawbag.  My lot home for the day, Peg 32 on Woodpecker.  This peg hadn't been included in yesterdays Champions League match and I've been here on a previous festival and didn't do very well from it... Set-Up Pole lines at 6 and 12 metres fishing at both 10 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions. Bait was an array of options... Worms, Red maggots, expanders, micro pellets, pinkies and groundbait. All-In Speaking to my team captain, Wayne, aka O'Dribbill Jnr he advised starting short with ex

Finally it is here, Stafford Moor 2016!  The invitational event that see's 34 plus anglers descending on Devon to see Jo, Paul and family at Stafford Moor fisheries. It's been a year since we last saw Jo and Paul and the work they have done in that time is inspiring! There has been major work on Pines with it drained, fish removed and desilted.  A new island in the middle of the lake will house the pegs and fishing will be from the island outward, so something different and new. Lakes have been renamed: Emily's is now Willow Sophie's is now Oak A new tackle shop was in the process of being completed and wow, it is huge!  Impressive shower and toilet facilities for the carp anglers. Chatting with Paul and Jo, it is clear their vision is for a beautiful looking fishery as well as an exciting venue to fish! Fantastic job Paul and Jo and plenty of pictures can be found on the Stafford Moor facebook page and linked account with Jo ( Joanne Coombes ). Today&#