Press report - Dave Fowler Memorial 19th October River Kenn

Dave Fowler Memorial Charity Fishing Match

25 Anglers lined the banks of the River Kenn to support the Clevedon Freshwater Angling Clubs Charity Match held in memory of Dave Fowler who sadly passed away earlier this year. Dave was a founder member of the Club and continued to make a huge contribution right up to when he became ill. The Charities supported this year were Men United vs Prostate Cancer and Cerebra Injury Trust. It has been a while since a competition of this size has been held on The River Kenn but following good pleasure catches during the months leading up to the match anglers were looking forward to a good day out. Despite a few days of rain and weed cutting activity by the Environment Agency the water remained very clear, this combined with a strong wind made things difficult in terms of bait presentation. Weston Super Mare match man John Page opted to fish the long pole and was rewarded with a couple of decent bream and tench for a respectable 13lb 4oz which was enough for first place. Second and third place went to Mark Bromsgrove and Mike Owens who had a single bream each and some smaller perch. A total of £429 was raised for the two charities.

 Charity Match winner John Page

Bristol Avon and River Ithon

Its been a few weeks since I update the blog mainly due to work, family and other domestic committments, hopefully I am kind of back on track now. We have started the Bristol Commercial House League, 6 matches in total with 4 on the Bristol Avon and 2 on the Kennet and Avon Canal after Christmas. The first round on the Avon was on the Bristol and West of England Federation waters between Swineford and Jack Whites. I drew a resonable peg opposite the old soap works and was able to get down in the water, see pic below.

Most of the flow was at around 11 meters so a 2 grm and 1.5 grm rigs were set up, I also had a small avon trotter and a feeder for the boats on the far side set up.
On the ''all in'' 10 balls were put in on the pole line and a couple down the middle.First put in on the pole and a roach of about 3oz graced the net, I was on bronze maggot for a change. Second put in, float buried and a solid pull meant the number 5 elastic came out quite a lot. Bream? Chub? Big Perch? ..... no, a pike of about 5lbs, almost got him to the net before he bit the line. This carried on and off during the whole match, I had 8 pike on in total and they were chasing almost every small fish I caught. I was so fustrated when I had one on I smashed the end section of my top 3. I ended up with just under 4lbs, section was won with 8lbs or thereabouts. I would have won the section if it was not for those pike (by the way pike do not count). On the Team front we did not do that well, in A Div this year. Tim Ford won the match with just under 20lb at Swineford on the crowquill, fair play.

The second round was fished on the Avon again, this time at Staverton and Barton Farm, due to sickness and a couple of other domestic committments we only had 4 in the team, should have 6. I drew the first peg at Barton Farm which is normally a decent peg. the flow was ok to but with a rowing club directly opposite I had a nightmare second half costing me the section. I had started catching some decent roach on caster and then the rowing boats started to be put in. The ones that knew what they were doing were not a problem but there were some kids with learning difficulties having a go and most of them ended up over the top of my keepnet they got that close but what can you do. I finish half way down the section.

Weekend before last the wife and I had a weekend in a cottage near Llandrindod Wells, the River Ithon ran through the farm and guests could fish as part of the package. A bit of research beforehand told me the Ithon is a tributory of the Wye and contained Grayling, Wild Brown Trout and Chub. I put in an old waggler rod and a few stick floats etc. I had some maggot and pinkie left over from the previous weekend which were still ok and took that as well with a few worms.
On arriaval I was soon walking the bank which was 5 mins from the cottage. Heres the view from the back door.

It could have done with a bit more water but I did nind a 50 yd stretch which was about 2 foot deep if that and caught fish at the end of a long trot. I had about 6 hours on the bank over 3 sessions and ended up with 20 grayling and 2 trout, here are a few pics.



I hope to go back next year when the Salmon and Sea Trout run.

Back on the Bristol Avon at Newbridge this Sunday for the 3rd Round of the Commercial House, should fish well if the colour remains due to the recent rain. It also clashes with the Dave Fowler Senior Memorial Match on the River Kenn which I would have loved to fish.

If you would like to enter here are the details.