Clevedon Club Match Sunday 21st April Woodlands Lake

My last blog was titled 'almost back to normal', well nothing could be further from the truth. I went to see my brother in NI Saturday 6th April who was suffering from what we thought was exhaustion and intended to come back a couple of days later.... I did not turn up for the flight as he was diagnosed with the dreaded cancer so I stayed all week, I return again this Sunday coming. He loves his trout fishing and fished a number of night competitions up in Co. Tyrone for a few years having a lot of success and qualified for the Trout Masters final in England. So.... things will be up and down with me for the foreseeable future.

I only booked in to fish todays match yesterday as I was not really feeling up to it but Julie my wife was working and suggested I go (that's a first).

Peg 33 was put in at the last minute due to an increase in numbers fishing and I drew it. I fished it for 5 hours and threw the towel in as I only had 2 skimmers. I did have one foul hooker on but lost it at the net, it would not have made any difference. My half of the lake was very slow except for Brian Slipper in corner peg 3.

Here is the press report which gives you the overview of the days match. I have inserted the pics of the anglers who framed.

Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club continued their spring match programme fishing Woodlands Lake which is part of the Trinity Waters Complex just outside Bridgwater. On arrival Fishery Manager Misha Herring informed competitors that the venue had been fishing well despite the variations to the temperature during the week but the big weights came from pleasure anglers so it was going to be interesting to see how the lake would respond during match conditions. The lake did produce big weights but from only one half of the lake. Andy Hembrow venue expert and one of the most consistent anglers on the Somerset circuit drew inform peg 23, Andy pole fished pellet shallow and at distance to land quality carp throughout the six hours for a massive 128lb 14oz and first place.

Andy Hembrow (his mum and dad were carp)

 On the opposite site of the lake Allan Oram was not far behind with 123lb for second, again fishing pellet shallow.

Allan Oram

 3 pegs away from the winner was Johnny Page who also fished the same method and just missed out on the ton with 93lb 8oz for third.

Johnny Page

The top silver fish place went to match secretary Adie Baker who from peg 19 put together 20lb 8oz of quality skimmers and roach.

The only angler to pick up prize money from the other end of the lake was Brian Slipper who took the second silver fish prize weighing in 17lb 10oz.

1st  Andy Hembrow 128lb 14oz - peg 23

2nd Allan Oram 123lb - peg 11

3rd  Johnny Page 93lb 8oz - peg 26

1st Silivers Adie Baker 20lb 8oz - peg 19

2nd Slivers Brian Slipper 17lb 10oz - peg 3

Almost back to normal

Well I have finished my studies and taken 2 x 2 hour written exams and submitted a 3500 word assignment. The main question I keep asking myself is..... 'how the %&*£ did it all happen? You would think at 57 and after 35 years working for the same company I would be able to relax. Anyway job done, results in early June, hope I do not have to take a re-sit!

I don't think I have missed that much on the fishing front as its been bloody cold. I did manage a couple of hours fluff chucking on Barrow near Bristol but didn't get a pull, neither did the other 6 anglers who were there longer than me. After an intial stocking in early March they have backed off.

I did catch 4 mice though in the garage. I forgot I had left some bags of ground bait in my carryall instead of putting them away in a plastic container, they seemed to prefer the Sensas Magic as opposed the Noire. I had 2 on cheese and 2 on bread (bit like chub fishing).

Clevedon Club had another excellent turnout at the meeting just before Good Friday which is very encouraging as we have a lot to get on with, I think the future is bright.

Fellow blogger Jamie Rich has had a good run this winter and done exceptionally well down at Summerhayes, check his blog for more info I hope to go down there again later in the month.

http://againstmenandfish.blogspot.co.uk/

My mate Steve phoned me today to give me the final bill for the Ireland trip in mid Sept which we are really looking forward to, its a week after the World Pairs event in the waters around Cavan and Monaghan. We used to fish a lot around Bailieborough and Virgina especially Lough Ramour for the big hybrids, we also caught a lot of trout, not like this one though that was recently caught by a young Dublin angler fishing for pike with smelt, it weighed around 12lb. I have seen my feeder leave the water many times on this Lough as the trout jump once they have been hooked and they are all natural, no stocking.

I was hoping to fish a Clevedon Club Match on Apex this Sunday but my brother is not too well at the moment so will be flying over to N Ireland on Saturday coming back on the Monday night.

Well I hope to get out soon again and hopefully it will have warmed up as well.