Sunday 29th December Clevedon FWAC Boxing day blind pairs Plantation Main Lake

I believe when I first joined the Clevedon Club back in 2008 the Boxing Day Pairs Match was held on Boxing Day. I was never free to fish on Boxing Day itself so it was a welcome change when it was moved to the first Sunday following. I spent a few hours drying out my gear from the last match just before Christmas and sorting out a few rigs for the pole and hair rigs for the straight lead. The alarm went off around 06:45 and I got up striaght away as I was looking forward to getting out for some fresh air. The car was part pre-loaded so it was just a case of having some breakfast and load up the remainder of the gear. I looked outside and it was white with frost, one of the hardest I have seen this year so started the car up to de-frost, the temperature said -1 but it felt a lot colder and it was difficult to open the rear doors.

This was the temperature at home

As I headed towards Clevedon and Kingston Seymour there was a noticeable improvement and it had risen 2 degrees (get the shorts out, not).

Match Secretary Adie Baker was in the car park with a couple of other guys when I parked up around 08:00. Adie had a full house of 22 anglers and anyone that wanted to fish was accommodated. 22 Pegs on the lake is just about right. At 08:30 the draw was called and Adie set the ground rules, 2 sections of 11, if you won your section you would get 1 point and so on so the pair with the lowest points would win. Payout would be for the top 3 pairs and fishing 10:00 - 15:00. Pairs were indicated on the peg cards. I was about the halfway mark to draw and this is what came out.



I had peg 1 and the scales plus paired up with whoever drew peg 27.

It didn't take too long to find out who I was with as I heard the dulcet tones of Darren Vowles (aka Nuddy) asking who had peg 1. Darren looked pleased to have drawn with me, neither of our pegs were what you would call match winners but on a very cold day like it was a few surprises might be thrown up.



Here is a map of the Lake, as you can see Darren had an important island chuck on 27, I had open water set back and a bay, 43, 42,41 and 40 are not used.

Peg 1 can be iffy and unpredictable but Paul Nichols done 3rd off it with 19lb odd in the previous weeks Christmas Match fishing a small method feeder across to what was peg 42. Darren also pointed out where to fish and so did Paul as he was heading to his peg, fair play to him.

This was my view looking across the peg, the target area was to be in line with the cone and slightly to the right of it about a meter out from the bank as there was a lot of snags.

The water was very clear, it also doesn't help when there is a footpath immediately behind the area you are going to fish. I set up 2 pole rigs at 13 meters for fishing at 10:00 and 14:00, one with white hydro and one with maver no.5, 4 x 14 floats, to 0.11 and a 0.10 hooklength to a drennan wide gap 18. I had a small method rod set up as well for fishing to the cone area with micro's and banded pellet. It was about 09:45 when I decided to go to the car and get my drennan soft feeder rod in order to set up a straight lead for bread. I was just about ready when the all in was called. Brian Slipper was to my left on peg 3 and Mark Walsh was on 39. I fed both pole lines with the same, dead mag, micros and a little green swim stim. Neither of those lines were used during the match although I did top them up a few times, the method was not used either.

On the straight lead rod I put on some double punched bread on the hair rig, the hooklength was about 6'' to a 16 drennan wide gape and cast toward the cone. Soon after I had what looked like a liner, the next few casts were the same. About 30 mins in a more positive pull round (not a wrap round) came and I hit it, it went solid an soon an angry carp was on the other end going all over the place. It did not take long to control it and soon it was in the net, about 5lb in weight. I probably brought it in too quick (this was only my 3rd carp since June due to concentrating on the rivers. I went back out to the same spot and had a few more liners which was encouraging. Another 30 mins passed and this time I had a proper wrap round which nearly took the rod out of my hand. I had only been leaving the bait out for about 5 mins and shaking it off as a way of gently feeding the area. This carp was only around 2lb and came in quite easily despite the fierce bite. At this point I had not seen anyone else in my area catch so decided to stick with it. As I was looking around I could see Brian to my right was fishing 16 meters as I checked his float it dipped and he was into a carp which he landed after about 5 mins on light elastic. Mark Walsh also took one out in front of him about 11 meters. I had another half-hearted bite shortly after the lead hit bottom, I struck and due to the amount of line still sinking I thought it might just have been a liner until I took up all the slack and had a right lump on. I took my time with it and netted it just before the keep net about 2 feet under the surface, lovely. It was about 12:30 now and I had 3 carp, the liners had stopped so decided to take the lead off and put on a very small cag feeder with liquidised bread in it, nothing, no indications either after about 4 casts. Back out with the striaght lead and a wrap round and carp number 4 was netted, another good fish. Mark caught another and so did Brian, I added another 2 to finish up with 6, I guessed for about 30lb ish, happy with that and no one else around me had anywhere near that.

Adie came down from peg 4 to help with weighing in, he told me Paul Faires up on peg 8 had bagged up and apparently his partner for the day Kev Perry had a few fish on peg 25. We weighed me in first, 28lb 5oz, so not far off my estimate.

My 28lb 5oz

Brian to my left ended up with the 2 carp for 7lb odd, Adie had I think a couple more pound than me off peg 4, Rod Wotton had 15lb odd on 5, Rob Fogg had 1 carp. We then came to Paul Faires on 8, whi had a perch 2lb 2oz and then 2 weighs for his carp, caught on the wag with caster and bread on the straight lead for a total weight of 83lb 4oz.



Paul with his final weigh, his partner Kev, weighed in 44lb 12oz, bread on the straight lead.

Nick Harvey up on point peg 19 also done well putting 73lb 3oz of carp in the net on hard pellet fished to the island, unfortunetly his partner Rich Lovering blanked.

Nick with some of his lumps

I finally heard Darren my partner ended up with 2 carp, his section fished really hard, I thought we had missed out.

Back in the car park Adie done the results, it was no surprise Paul (left) and Kev had won it, here they are, all smiles, fair play, maximum points in their sections.



2nd Pair was Rich Healey (left) and Mark Bromsgrove, pic below.

Darren (Nuddy) and I sneaked in 3rd pic below.



A well run match, hard but fair. Next up for me is the Commercial House League next Sunday on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Happy New Year to all.

Sunday 22nd December - Clevedon Christmas Match

Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club Christmas Match was held on the Main and Match Lake (aka Horseshoe). 31 Anglers turned up which is very good by todays standards, I was told a few other guys guys who booked had to work and a couple were suffering from alcohol abuse from the night before. Match Secretary Adie Baker was in charge and ran a good match as well as organising the prizes and raffle. 11 anglers would be on the Match Lake (Horseshoe) and 20 on the Main which is about right for the Main Lake (even though there are 40 pegs!). The money was well spread with similar top pay-outs on both lakes. I drew peg 10 on the Match Lake so was only up against 10 other anglers. A quick check with Scott and Simon who pegged it confirmed I was on the top left peg on the island, I was happy with that and had plenty of room.

 

Match Lake above and my peg circled

The peg did look ok with an island feature but when I plumbed up the maximum depth I had was 2' 6'', not good on a bitterly cold day and a strong wind. 3 rigs were set up for the peg nothing complicated and a small kinder pot on each of the top 2's for feeding micro pellet, dead maggot and swim stim. Opposite me was carp slayer Rich Lovering and round from him on the top end of the main bank was Andy Hembrow. Fishing was from 10:15 - 15:15 and I was just about ready when the all in was called. About 15 mins in I could see Rich had a carp on catching tight against the island on his side but it came off, foul hooked. It was encouranging to see this but I found it difficult to fish long due to the strong icey wind, I did hook one at about 11 meters but it also was foul hooked and came off at the net. I had been drip feeding to my left about 3 meters out from the near bank and at 8 meters and gave it a try 2 hours in. The float sailed away instantly and I landed one about 3lb on live maggot and an 18 hook. At this pont Rich was still fishless, I could see Rich Healey down to Rich Lovering right and as far as I could see he was also fishless to this point. I kept having a look along this line and was getting mirco bites (little dips of the float but nothing on the end when I struck). Rich opposite me also came on the inside and had 2 carp in a row! I persevered and had a small skimmer a very very small perch and 3 roach. I added another carp and over the course of the match lost another 3 foul hookers(bugger). Kev Perry came down the bank for a walk and was blanking, news was Glen Calvert had 3 carp and was playing another. Rich Lovering added another 2 from the inside. It was a tough day but I did enjoy it.

Top weight on the Match Lake was Rich Lovering with 15lb 5oz (4 carp).

Rich Lovering

2nd on the lake was Glen Calvert with 11lb 8oz (also 4 carp but a smaller stamp).

3rd was Phil Decon (I think that was his surname) with 8lb 3oz.

1st in the silvers was Andy Hembrow with a big skimmer for 2lb 2 oz.

2nd sliver prize went to Simon Carvello with 1lb 8oz on a dodgy set of scales.

I weighed in 7lb 12oz, I know that Rich Healey blanked and Kev Perry tried to blag a late rudd after the whistle stating that it took him 15 mins to land it.

Here is Kev below selecting the wifes Christmas present from the raffle prizes (he knows how to treat her)



Over on the Main Lake it was also a struggle. Top weight was my old mate John (the duck) Wolstencroft with 64lb 10oz, 12 carp on the bread feeder with popped up bread (you see he was trying to catch a duck!). Fair play to him, he was on peg 8, a peg I fancied myself. The money will come in handy as John has a new car, an Audi with a personalised number plate... MA55OTT (maggot lol, could have been worse and begun with an 'F'). Seriously it was great to see John win, he reallty does prepare and try hard during the course of a match.

John Wolstencroft

2nd was Maver backed Dom Sutherland with 25lb 8oz and 3rd was Clevedon's Paul Nichols with 19lb 12oz off peg 1.

Top silver weight was Mike Owen with a net of perch for 6lb 14oz.

2nd was Brian Slipper with 5lb 7oz

A special going away gift was presented to Phil Nash who is emigrating to Canada so all the best Phil.

Phil Nash

Adie Baker called out the results in order, I ended up 12th, so not bad out of a field of 31 and on a hard day. Several really good anglers blanked and Adie made them do the walk of shame (brave man but all took it well).

Next up is the blind pairs match on 29th which is being held on the main lake at Plantation, I am booked in but haven't told the wife yet.

Until then merry Christmas all and tight lines.

Sunday 15th December - Return to the River Kenn

I had not been able to get out for a few weeks and was determined to fish somewhere this weekend. I really did fancy the River Kenn following my last outing there about 6 weeks ago when I had loads of bites but did not hit the majority of them due to the high winds. At a Clevedon Committee Meeting last Thursday Secretary Barry Fowler showed me a picture of his recent catch from his phone, some really nice bream and other silvers which Barry said weighed 58lb ish, he had caught on the waggler 3 swims down from the Kenn Road Car Park. That was it then my mind was made up. When I picked up my bait from Cadbury Angling on the Saturday Dan informed me Scott Smallwood had a decent catch of silvers recently as well. I had checked the tide times, High Tide was 05:30, perfect and  would mean there could be some flow most of the day. Today I was out the door by 08:30 and parked up just before 09:00 on the Kenn Road bridge. A quick look at the river before unloading and I found the levels had been dropped about 4 feet!, not what I wanted really but the flow was good and so was the colour. I walked along the bank to where Barry had caught and saw I could get down in the water with my box, there were quite a few rocks so I would not sink too far into the mud. I set up a waggler and a feeder, the feeder never got used all day though. On the wag I had 3lb drennan and 0.11 preston power just in case the bream showed. Hook was a drennan wide gape micro barb size 18. I mixed up some Noire and Magic with a little brown crumb. On the bait tray was caster, hemp, red maggot and worm, sorted.

                                Nice and comfortable and all to hand, ready for the off.

I set the waggler up at about 5 feet to begin with in order to trip bottom down the middle but it was much shallower than that so it was a bit trial and error to get the depth correct as the bottom was not even, there was also some weed still around. I put 3 small balls of groundbait laced with caster and hemp at the start and some loose feed on the inside. Red maggot to start of with on the hook. Second trot down while I was still getting the depth correct I had a small roach at the end of the trot near the foot bridge.
Forgot to mention Barry also hooked a cormorant which took him under the bridge and then to the sky, bit different from fishing for squirrels and something John Wolstencroft would have been proud off (John usually catch the odd duck on a regular basis).
The bite I had was not that visual as I was still too deep, so shallowed up another couple of inches, same again at the end of the trot but this time a rod bender of a roach around 8oz.

My peg and the footbridge below.



I still had not got the depth right and did chop and change quite a bit until I found a compromise, I ended up about 3 inches over and worked out at what point to hold back as the float went through. I was catching quite steadily and getting bites, I dropped 2 good roach about 8oz each on the swing so netted the rest except for some of the sprats. Not sure what time it was but as I swung a leaf in I heard a familiar voice behind me shout ' a leaf fish', it was John Wolstencroft. He wasn't fishing although he had planned but the weather put him off earlier in the morning. John stayed about 30 mins and saw me catch a few more roach. I had a few better ones on the caster as you would expect but could not keep them coming but did have a couple of tidy perch. At about 14:45 the heavens opened and the rain came down heavy, that was enough for me and I packed up. All in all a good day and proof yet again that the River Kenn is far from dead.

Here is what I ended up with, 8lbs 4oz

Next weekend is the Christmas Match on the Plantations complex, the the Boxing Day Pairs on 29th Dec. In Jan I have the last 2 Commercial House Winter League matches on the K&A Canal and a club match on Apex Lake 19th Jan, so a busy few weeks ahead.

Sunday 8th December - update

I had hoped to fish the River Kenn today but after a long day yesterday driving up to London to fetch my daughter from University and a few hours waking around Oxford St and then going to a loacl concert in the evening I was knackered so did not make it. So....hope to get out next week and the theres the Clevedon Xmas Mach the week after. Here is the press report for last weekends Clevedon match which I did not fish.


Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club held their latest match on one of the most popular venues in Somerset, Woodlands Lake at Chiltern Trinity just outside Bridgwater. Richard Healey has an impressive record at the venue particularly during the winter months and made no mistake on this match after drawing a good peg. Richard pole fished just off the near shelf with a variety of baits and feeding pellet for 77lb 10ozs of carp. Not far behind was the ever competitive Mark Walsh with 66lb 5oz, again all carp on the pole. Third place was filled by Phil Nash who weighed 48lb 11oz. The top silverfish net went to Match Secretary Adie Baker with a respectable 14lb 2oz. The Club Xmas Match is on 22nd December at Plantation Lakes book in with Adie Baker via contact information on the Website http://clevedon-fwac.webs.com/

1st Richard Healey

2nd Mark Walsh

1st Silvers Adie Baker .