Sunday 4th March - interclub Clevedon v Frys Bristol Avon at Keynsham

We were meant to be on the River Kenn today but a text message from Match Secretary Barry told me it was now on the Bristol Avon, to be honest it was a bit of a relief given the poor form of the Kenn over the last year. It was an 08:00 draw so up at 6:15 and was greeted by cold rain which was forecast for most of the day, car temp indicated it was 8 degrees outside. Arrived in the former Fry's Chocolate factory car park at 07:40 and most of the Fry's guys were there (these were the hardened river anglers and not the puddle chuckers brigade). The rest of the Clevedon mob arrived giving a total match attendance of 15. Talk in the car park was that it was fishing hard. Into the hat and I draw peg 26, you'll be ok there Ivan says Dean Harvey from Fry's, that peg won it last week. With what I asked, one bream was the reply! Where is it then I said ' you see that pylon (which was about 5 miles away), just head for that and its to the left!!! The walks are long on this section of river. Loaded up my barrow and another guy says, you won't need all that, lighten up like me, he had a rod holdall, a carryall and a bucket. I'll catch you up and show you your peg as I am on 28. Off I go and got to the peg without any trouble after taking everything off the barrow and loading up again to get over a fence. About 20 min later the guy on 28 arrives looking as if he needs the air ambulance.
The peg looked pretty good with a tree over hanging down the inside, see pic below.

view from my peg

Simple set up today, a feeder rod and a waggler rod to fish the crowquill which was already set up on a winder. Usual bait for the feeder a mix of green swim stim and sensas noire with caster mixed in. Hook bait was to be maggot, caster or worm. On the float down the middle I had about 12'.

Feeder was the first line of attack and after the second cast started to get bites (rattles). After about 30 min I eventually hit one and a small roach of about 4 oz was in the net. Hit and miss bites went on for about an hour and a half then all of a sudded the tip bent straight round and a bream was definetly on, after a short fight and a bit on inward panic a fish of about 3lb was landed. Straight out again with worm, positive approach which only produced more rattles. I did try inching down the float to hit these fish but did not have one bite. I stuck it out for the rest of the match on the tip and weighed in 6lb 2oz. As you can see the rain had finally stopped.

The match was won by Mike Weston (Fry's) with a quality net of bream for 34lb 10oz, Mike was miles away so only got this pic of him back at the car park, hes a real fashion icon don't you think.

2nd was Derek Coles (Frys) and not far behind with another net of bream and roach for 31lb 9oz, pic below.

3rd was Leon Hubbard (Maver Bathampton but fishing for Frys) with more bream for 30lb 11oz, pic below with part of his catch.

From our club we had 2 section winners, Barry Fowler with 7lb 2oz of nice roach (pic below and nice teeth Barry) and James Gunter (first time on the Avon) with 11lb 09oz (3 bream).

Needless to say Fry's won the match on weight, they had the top 4 anglers weighing in 120lb, what a fantastic result from a river.

Full result..

1st Mike Weston 34lb 10oz
2nd Derek Coles 31lb 09oz
3rd Leon Hubbard 30lb 11oz
4th Dean Harvey 24lb 10oz

Sections
D Harvey 24lb 10oz
Barry Fowler 7lb 2oz
James Gunter 11lb 9oz

What a cracking day, no blanks.