I wasn't sure I would get out at the weekend due to my youngest springing a visit on us from University as she had no lessons for a few days plus I wanted to start to decorate her bedroom. At the Commercial House draw last week Dean Harvey suggested he might be organising a knock up on the Frys section of the Bristol Avon so I sent him a text halfway through the week but a decision would not be made until the Friday. Friday came and it was confirmed it was to go ahead, the draw was 07:45 in the car park of the old Frys Chocolate Factory which closed following a takeover by an American firm who promply closed it and switched production to Eastern Europe, another great british brand lost. I arrived in good time, only 7 in total were fishing 3 of the Frys guys fish in the Commercial House League so it would be competitive. £5 each in the pool so £20 for first and £15 for second with fishing 09:15 - 15:15. At the draw I pulled out 29, Dean had decided to put us in the middle of the section all in a row. The thing about the Frys section is there are a few permanet pegs by way of wooden stakes but in the main you are directed to the peg by way of a feature, Dean said I will walk down with you and show you where to go Ive, he did and even told me how to fish it...but.... there was more to come!!!!!
On the way down to the river crossing 2 fields withe Mike West for company I heard Mike say to Dean '' shall we have a look at that plant''. Plant, what's all this about I thought. When we entered the last field Dean said my peg was alongside the fence and both he and Mike walked with me. When we got to the river Mike and Dean went to one side of me, into the vegetation and down the bank a bit and started to fondle a large plant, as I looked over this is what I saw.......
For those of you who have had a bit of a sheltered life this is a cannabis plant, if you look closely it is also supported with a stake. The next picture also shows there was several more at one time but have been harvested!
I did envisage being joined by some drug dealers during the match so I left it as it was.
What's going on with my fishing lately? I have had the longest walk, the longest drive and now being placed alongside a controlled substance!
Anyway on to the fishing.... Dean advised me to set up a feeder for the far bank, deep water and the pole at 6 to 8 meters, so this is what i did. As I was setting up I had to move the gear back up the bank as the tide was coming in, it rose about 3 feet. Dean shouted out that we would now fish 09:30 to 15:30 allowing time for the tide to turn. Plan was to fish chopped worm and caster in the feeder and hemp and red maggot on the pole line in little nuggets of Noire groundbait. On the all in the tide was just about turning and I started fishing with the pole at a depth of about 14 feet with a 2.5 gramme float, 0.10 hooklength to a 18 Drennan Team England hook. I had to fish standing up as I could not put my box down due to the water being too high still. First 6 or so trots down I had a small roach or chublet, I then had to alther the depth as water ran off with the out-going tide. A couple of small perch also followed. After 30 mins or so I was able to place my box down and settled into a rythm. Bites during the first hour or so were regular but once the tide had completly run off things slowed. I could see Dean on the next peg down chopping and changing between the Crowquill and Feeder which told me no bream were showing. A shout from Dean asking me how I was doing confirmed this but he was adamant they would feed due to the deep water, I was not so sure.
I did put the feeder across for about 30 mins but no indication at all so decided to stick on the pole. During the day I did pick up the odd small fish holding back hard then letting it run on 2 different lines. At the all out I though I would have about 4lbs. At the weigh in mine went 4lb 7oz the angler above had 2lb odd and Dean below me had 3lb plus which was about average for the day. Mike West weighed 4lb 8oz, he had a couple of ozs more but I think a fish fell back in the water, it did not matter.
I did enjoy the day, good company an unusal experience with the cannabis plant, backing off for a high tide and fishing hard for bites.
1st - Mike West Frys AA 4lb 8oz
2nd - Ivan Currie Maver Cadbury Angling 4lb 7oz
That's it for a few weekeds now as I am off on the high seas on another cruise. Next big match will probably be the Poppy Match on the Bristol Avon 10th Nov but I will be out before that. Good luck to my Team mates on the next Commercial House Match at Newbridge.
