Sunday 22nd March - first outing on Chew Valley Lake

I was in two minds what to do, the river season was over, there was an open on the Clubs Paddock Lake on the Saturday but I couldn't fish it due to a Birthday Party and the Six Nations super Saturday was more important. I did think about Summerhayes open on the Sunday but did not get around to it.

The well earned lie in on the Sunday was well received and I decided to give Chew a try for the trout for the first time this year. No prep required as everything was in order from last October.

The short 20 minute drive saw me arrive at the Lodge around 09:45 and greeted by Paul Barnfield who is one of the Rangers on site. Paul gave me an update on what was being caught where, boats had been doing well catching on Orange Blobs, Dawl Bachs and Black Buzzers. I was going to fish from the bank and due to the breeze decided on Whally Bank near the Sailing Club. A floating line approach would be ok with a 15' leader as it is not that deep here.

I was soon set up and it took a few casts to get back into the swing of things. There was a huge amount of buzzers around on the surface (maybe too many) but it was quite cold so I was unsure whether or not the trout would be interested. I did see a couple rise way beyond my casting capability.

At around 11:00 and withing 20' of the bank I had a positive take (no need to strike). Initially there was a bit of a fight but it soon came to the net. Not a huge fish (around 2lb) but at least I had not blanked.

First trout of the year

There were no more than 3 boats out in front of me all day which is not a good sign either, they appeared to be concentrating on the south and west shores. I had another take at around 11:30 but failed to strike quick enough and that was all the action I saw up until I packed up aound 15:30.

I am booked into Summerhayes this coming Sunday so will be able to catch up with fellow blogger Jamie Rich, check out his blog if not already familiar, something for everyone  http://againstmenandfish.blogspot.co.uk/

Saturday 14th March - Lower Avon Champs Bristol Avon Newbridge

On Thursday night at our Maver Cadbury Angling Team meeting I was informed Roy Carter had sadly passed away, it was unexpected. I came across Roy for the first time about 3 years ago when we were pegged next to each other downstream of Newton St Low railway bridge on the Bristol Avon. I had a very good day and won the match, Roy immediately offered to take some pictures and gave me a hand with the net. It was from then on we exchanged a few words every time we meet at the SW Super League and Commercial House matches. I never saw him get in a tis about anything. Once as we were parking up at the Gloucester Canal a cyclist was giving him a hard time and Roy went on to give him appropriate words of advice about overtaking on the inside. The cyclist had no reply. The last time I saw Roy was on the K & A Canal in January when he turned up late to his peg as he had forgotton to note at the draw were he was meant to be, he still came second in the section. Roy qualified for the Riverfest last year by winning a match on the Severn at Lower Lode with 27lb plus made up of 3 bream and an 8lb carp!

Roy in the middle giving the thumbs up after qualifing (pic from Angling Trust)

Roy fished for Sensas Thyers and came second in the Commercial House Knock Out competition this year. He will be sadly missed on the natural venue circut.

On to the match.....
I have always been aware of this match but for some reason never got around to fishing it. Tradionally it does throw up big bags of bream and anglers were asked to bring two nets. The draw was on the bank down by by Pump House (peg 20 ish) so no coffee, tea and food facilites... bit like the old days. I called into the 'golden arches' on the Bath Road out of Bristol for a plastic wrap filled with deep fried hash browns, sauage (looked more like a dog turd) and a rubber egg along with a coffee which filled a hole and had the desired effect so a visit to the looe (directed to the disabled facilites by the cleaner!) and off I went arriving on the bank at 08:10 for a 08:30 draw. Team Captain Chris Hook arrived shortly after and we also entered the pairs. 45 or so anglers were booked in so very good for a Saturday. Word was that a match on the Thursday was won witth over 100lb.
The river was very cold and very clear despite the rain on Thursday. The draw was a well organised free for all, I did get to the bait tub eventually and picked out 52, happy days I thought and at least I was in the right area. Chris did not have far to walk as he had a peg more or less were he had parked, 18 I think? The pegging was all the way to the 70's and if you drew this area it was a case of walking and keep going. The walk I had was also long but flat and no fences. As I was setting up Paul Purchase passed me and said there must be some fish here if you've drawn it. Paul was on 54 and it was a better peg with form, Paul Issac's was on 56, another good peg with form and mush wider on a bend.

All set up on 52

The match started at 10:00 and was due to finish at 16:30 ! A long day if you were not catching. I had plenty of worm and caster along with 3kgs of groundbait already mixed with plenty of dry in reserve if needed. I only set up 2 feeder rods so it was all or nothing, most done the same.

On the all in I decided not to ball it in but cast the feeder every 5 minutes two thirds across as well as halfway. I stuck to this and was probably the most disciplined match I have fished for a long time. The first 2 hours went without an indication, I could also see Paul on 54 was also fishless. I had a phone call from Chris after two and half hours to say he only had a roach and most around him were blanking so not good but early days. On the three hour mark I thought I had a bite, struck, nothing and the bait was untouched so back out in hope but nothing. The rest of match went like this and then I saw Paul on 54 land a bream, not sure of the time but it was late. At 15:30 I had a good pull around, struck and bream on (lucky I was still awake). After a good fight a fine specimen was netted and was looking forward to another. I knew from bank walkers not much had been caught. I did have a rattler around 16:10 but it did not materialise to anything and that was it. By the all out I was freezing.

Here are my section results.......

Paul Issacs had 6 fish for 25lb odd

Paul Purchase had 3 fish for 20lb odd (2 of them over 7lb)

Both Pauls framed

So on the face of it weights ok ish but not huge numbers of fish give it was a six and a half hour match. Tim Ford has the match results on his blog, you will also have Tims view of the day concerning the match       http://cluckerspeg.blogspot.co.uk/

Well that's it for another season, unsure were to go next week.

Sunday 8th March - Clevedon Club Match Paddock Lake Acorn Fishery Kingston Seymour

I had not been out fishing for a few weeks and was thinking of fishing the River Kenn or Tone when a text came through for a second time from Match Secretary Adie Baker. I decided to support him by booking in for the match as I appreciate how hard he works to organise the Clevedon events.

I do not have a great track record on this venue and theres not much to say. Here is the Press Report and the Weigh Sheets, not rocket science to work out that it was a difficult day unless you were on them.

Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club – Match report for Sunday 8^th March

Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club held a match on their home water, Paddock Lake at the Acorn Fishery Kingston Seymour. The lake was shared with a visiting club from Bristol which meant most of the pegs were taken. Anglers with a bit more room than others were likely to benefit and that’s exactly what happened. Mike Owens fishes the venue on a regular basis and made no mistake when he drew in form peg 6, he had the shortest walk and plenty of room as well as a bridge for a feature. Mike fished soft pellet on the long pole and fed micro pellet for a match winning 78lb 14oz of carp to 5lb. Second place went to Lance Tucker on peg 21 which also had a bridge as a feature and fished a similar method to the winner to catch 10lb of silver fish and 54lb of carp. Nick Harvey had plenty of room on island peg 1 and used a variety of baits to catch carp on the pole totalling 36lb. Top silver fish weight went to Match Secretary Adie Baker with 18lb 2oz.

 Mike Owens

Weight Sheet

This Saturday 14th March I am fishing the Lower Avon Champs at Newbridge (bream bonnanza!), Team Captain Chris Hook is also fishing so a draw on the straight would be good down to 55 ish.