Sunday 7th December Somerset Teams of 4 River Tone Taunton

The Team had registered for this League but this was the first time I was asked to fish. It's a new League this year made up of 8 Teams of 4, venues have been the King Sedgemoor Drain, Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and the River Parrot as well as this one on the Tone. I have never fished the Tone before and only seen it if driving down the M5 or through Taunton town itself. Team captain Chris Hook had never fished it either but the word was big chub with some roach, dace, grayling and trout were plentiful.
Draw was, 8 o'clock in the B&Q Car Park. Sat Nav took me into the right area but spent a few minutes trying to find B&Q. On arrival a catering truck was parked up doing breakfast rolls etc, I think he thought he had won the lottery as he could not keep up with orders and even gave up charging for tea and coffee. It was almost like the old days surrounded by hardened river anglers and a draw out in the open.
Section locations were explained but to be honest it might have well dekivered by a non english speaking china man.
I drew D Section and it was split, 4 pegs either side of McDonalds with a good gap inbetween. The section was only a short drive away and was fairly easy to find. In my part of D Section I had Riverfest Qualifier Roy Carter and Senas Thyers Captain Lance Tucker the other angler was from local team Amigo's.
The walk to the peg was easy and through a small copse, the river was pacy but I did have a long trot.

My office for the day

Set up was a light feeder rod as I was thinking of a bread attack but never used it all day, I also set up a 2BB stick for the inside line but never used this either. The rig I used all day was a 4BB wire stemed avon trotter, 4BB as bulk and No. 8 dropper, hooklength was 0.10 to a drennan wide gape 18. I had 1pint of caster and 2 pints of bronze. Depth down the middle was 3' max and about 6'' less down the edge and far side.

At the all in I catapulted about 20 bronze down the middle and fed some caster down the inside. First trot down I had a small roach and this continued for about 20 mins. A look down the inside and with the float held back hard a small graying came to the net. I started feeding a bit heavier down the middle and it did bring a better stamp of roach and a couple of 8oz chub. The wind kept changing which made presentation difficult and on reflection I should have put on a heavier stick float...but... I had bites most of the day and thoroughly enjoyed the 5 hours. I had no idea how anyone else was doing.

Roy Carter came down with the scales and said he did not have that much, when he saw my net he said it would probably be the best up this end of the section. My weight was 5 kilo 300 grms (11lb in old money) and was the best at my end of the section. 

Weights were slightly better downstream and I ended up 3rd in the section overall but somehow managed to pick up £10.

Team Captain Chris Hook won the match with over 11 kilo made up of decent chub, as a Team we came 4th on the day. I must go back to the Tone again.

Next up is the Clevedon Christmas Match this weekend on the Paddock Lake at Acorn (our own fishery).