Lewy's Lines

Getting back into fishing with Mark we had decided that a few days of match fishing and a day of big carp fishing.  We decided to try Blue Bell Lakes again, mainly due to the shop on-site and it's locality to Mark. I'd packed the Carp gear, but to be honest, not checked everything as I was confident it was all in the rod bag and haversack. We picked Blue Bell Lake and swims close to where we fished it before with the willow trees opposite. Set-Up I thought I'd packed well, but the first thing I couldn't find was the rod pod!  With the weather I opted for a zig rig on one carp rod and seeing the large shoal of bream I broke out the pellet waggler rod. All-In Well, before the all-in we could not find the landing net handle, so off to the shop and Mark purchased a new net and handle... more about this later. I cast the zig rig to the centre of the lake and the plan was to leave it for an hour.  Meantime I was pinging 8mm pellets to the large shoal of bream

It had been some time since Mark and I picked up our "annual" competition and some time since Mark had fished too so we decided to head down to see Phil and Tarnya at How End Fisheries. Once we arrived the sun was shining and we fancied a float only match so picked Dani's Lake and pegs 5 and 6.  Mark chose Peg 6 which had the corner of the island Set-up Float only and it was clear that the fish were mostly on the island, being on Dani's Lake it was time to break out the waggler rod.  My other line was my right hand margin on top two plus two. Bait was casters, maggots, worm and 6mm pellets. All-In Phil had kindly allowed us to use nets for out mini competition and we decided to fish for 5 hours.  The lake had quite a few anglers on it today and the weather was beautiful although a lack of ripple on the water. Straight on the waggler to the island with a banded 6mm pellet.  I was getting plenty of indications and was feeding caster.  After striking at p

Final day...  If I would have a good result today I could make it to the top 5!  I think I piled a bit too much pressure on myself to be honest and today would test me. The Draw Peg 2, Bonsai.  Not an area I had ever fished before and I had some good anglers in my section so it was all to play for.  Neighbours for the day where Stuart and Bradley 'Steady' Smith Set-Up Pole only, initially although I would break the rod out later in the day.  Another day fishing longer as it was 16 metres to the far bank and 15 metres to my right margin line. All-In I figured that the bread working the other day it would also work on Bonsai so I prepared some discs before the all in.  With that and the whistle I started across on the far bank working the bread along the margins.  The action wasn't instant in fact it took some time before the first fish was in the net infact the first fish went to Brad who was fishing short. Before long Brad followed me over and we had a race for

The Wednesday night normally has another name that is way too rude to publish here.  Lets just call it an evening of much drink and merriment!  We headed into Epworth and the local curry house The Draw There were 3 pegs left in the bag, one of which was a flyer... Peg 20, Beeches.  Gary gave me the tips on how to fish it and also piled the pressure on saying that I should win the lake from there! Set-Up The plan was simple... 16.5 metres across under the trees and a margin line.  That was it! I set-up 3 duplicate rigs for across as I could foresee danger under the trees and one margin rig.  The across rigs would be banded pellet or worms. All-In Straight across to the far side kinder potting in micro's and working the rig.  No signs or indications for 10 minutes which was worrying.  Eventually that familiar waft of the float and first fish on! Gary's advice after hooking a fish under the tree's was to bury the pole tip and ship back straight away to avoid get

After the tough day on Willows I headed back to the lodge and bumped into Nathan.  We had a couple of cheeky beers on the terrace which turned into one monster night after all the other lads arrived back.  Pizza was ordered again and hangovers would ensue in the morning! Lesson Learnt, feed Nathan Stella as he just cannot cope with the stuff ;-) The Draw As I was on Willows yesterday, today it's my turn on Laurels.  Peg 13 came out of the bag, an area that isn't noted to be great... with Brian P again opposite. Set-up The peg has a great margin, so the pole lines were: 16 metres to margin 13 metres straight ahead Top 2 and 2 margin right Today I added some bread to the bait list to dob and waft along the margins All-in Straight onto the dobbing line down the margins kinder potting micro pellets topped with groundbait.  It only took 5 minutes for the first fish to take the bait.  I worked this line for the first two hours of the match eventually moving to 16 m

Another night of banter in the bar and an equally unhealthy evening meal from the nearest take away and for a change no hangover for me this morning. The Draw Today we would be on either Willows or Laurels.  Peg 24 on Willows was my home for the day an area I'd not drawn before.  The weather was oppressively hot, with very little wind resulting in no ripple on the water. Set-Up Getting to the peg I had stick ups right in front of me, so I fished them out with a weed cutter.  I didn't break out any rods and opted for a pole only attack with lines at 13 metres and 6 metres both with options at 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock. One shallow rig just in case, other rigs at full depth. All-In The pole lines at 10 o'clock would be fed heavily, the other lines negatively via the kinder pot... I was already sunburnt from the previous day.  Today would be no exception weather wise. I worked the negative lines for an hour with very little reward expect a few skimmers.  

Day 1 of the Lindholme Angling Club 5 day festival, formerly the Maggotdrowners festival. Arriving on the Sunday afternoon it was great to catch up with the lads and to meet some new faces as the numbers of anglers had swelled to 50 taking part. Last nights entertainment was mainly around my “special friend” Mr Bennetto who apparently is now the “king of tinder”, read into that what you like… Dinner consisted of a chinese order from the only place that would deliver on a Sunday.  I must now make an immediate apology to Nathan as I took all the orders from the lads and forgot to call him to see if he wanted some food too... sorry mate! Our accommodation had improved significantly this year with the addition of the lodges.  Wow, luxury, comfort and a decent show!  Thanks Keith! We ended the evening having some beers with my lodge mates, Neilly, Sir Len and Ecky. The Draw Peg 41 close to the tackle shop which gave me a chuck to the island.  Neighbours for the day, Ian and Al

Second night in Sailsbury and a few of us headed to the fantastic indian that deserves a Michelin star, Anokaa !  The evening events were to prove very late for the hardcore few, I ducked out a bit earlier than normal. The next morning a very hungover Andy Gregory heads down to the breakfast area and declares, "I want the worlds largest breakfast", "but no tomatoes, no eggs...."  It was hilarious. No forgotten keys today, although we had to deal with the official retirement of Animal from Match Fishing.  Luckily he'll still be going to Stafford Moor, but he will be missed by the lads! The Draw Today we'd be fishing the Outer Snake lake, all 16 of us.  I drew Peg 15 on the Outer Snake with Sconey and Deano as neighbours Set-Up Again, all pole today, so the lines would be. Far side bank at around 13 metres Margin to my left 5 metre line Bait was the same as yesterday. All-In The plan was to fish the far bank in multiple places, feed my 5

Another year of facebook messages asking, "Is it Withy yet?"...  Most of us all arrived on the friday morning and lunchtime where the consumption of Stella, Cider and other beers started.  To say that by the time the taxi's arrived to take us all into Sailsbury we were mostly pickled! Year in year out we of course ended up in YOYO's drinking through the menu and then back to the Kings head with splinter groups heading to the vodka bar next door.  The result, well the next morning there where plenty of hangovers, yours truly included. Two mini buses got us all back to Witherington Farm Fisheries ready for the draw.  Unfortunately Animal had forgotten his car keys and unable to get his gear out of the car had to head back to the hotel, now there is a nomination for the dildo award right there! The Draw As per usual, Sconey had the draw all sorted with no fuss.  The only thing going wrong was the knackered stapler... ;-) Peg 7 on Cottage would be my home for t

There have been quite a few articles about needing to get young people involved in Angling, so when asked if you'll take someone fishing for the first time, how could I refuse? The New Fisherman! So, it was Samuel's 7th birthday and his Mum, Lianne was asked by Samuel if he could go fishing.  A quick message on facebook and we sorted out a date when I'd be back in Teesside to get him out on the bank. The Gear Where do you begin with regards tackle for a new angler?  Well Korum provide some great kits for beginners, a float, ledger and pole outfit. I decided to get the Korum Float Pack Starter kit .   The only change I made was replacing the 6lb line for some 4lb line which I had plenty of. Fish safety is number one, so I grabbed an old landing net head and handle to add to the kit and some other floats, shot, a towel, rod rest, bank stick, some more ready made hooklengths and bait tub.  The gear was ready! The Venue We needed a venue that was local and was s

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