Sunday 28th May - Gloucester Canal Spring League Teams of 4, final round.

This was the final round of the popular Gloucester Canal Spring League run by Mark Treasure of Diawa Gordon League Match Group. Apart from the 4 matches there have been practice matches as well which have been well attended an run by Andy Jane of Sensas Lobby's Match Group.

We were back on the same stretch as last weeks practice match namely Rea Bridge to the Pilot Inn plus a couple of pegs were put in around Sims Bridge to give everyone 2 pegs distance apart in case the odd boat was moored up as the Tall Ships event was on in Gloucester Docks.

Another new signing Leigh Wakefield joined us today, recent signing Dave Hoskin, Chris Hook and myself made up the 4 man team. We were fishing for a good team result today along with individual performances as we knew we had no chance of coming in the top 4 payouts.
This was Leighs first visit to the Gloucester Canal so in the run up he was prepared as much as possible on tactics and approach plus provided with a ground bait mix and feeder hook lengths.

New signing Leigh Wakefield

Chris done the team draw and came back with the following:-
Chris peg 3 (Sims bridge)
Dave peg 198 (Rea end)
Ivan peg 228 (Pilot end)
Leigh peg 259 (Pilot end)

We were discussing the pegs and its probably a bit of an understatement to say Dave was ''well pleased with 198'' as the match was won off it the previous week. Think he ran out the door even though we had 2 hours to get to the pegs and set up!
We were not sure about Chris's peg as it had not been in in recent matches. Leigh's on 259 had not been in the previous week either and he was just going to be above ''Tanker Bay''. Looking at mine, I was in the right area but 1lb 6oz had been caught on it the previous week.

Leigh followed me down to the parking by the Pilot Inn and we walked up the Canal together. We got to 259 and it was clear from the grass that the peg had not been fished for some time. Most anglers would fish Tanker Bay. There was good far bank cover so you never know. I left him to set up and headed up toward 228. On arrival I found myself between two local anglers Rob McKenzie and Andy Richings. The towpath was narrow and a high hedge was behind me with overhanging branches so some gardening work was done to allow a feeder to be cast across. On the far bank I had a small tree and lilies, it did look fishy.

It did not take long to set up the one pole rig for fishing at 14 meters, I normally only fish 13 meters but at 14 meters I was just on the bottom of the slope of the near shelf and a nice top 5 deep. For the feeder rod I had to adjust it from the previous week as it was a longer chuck. Ground bait for both the feeder and pole was pre-mixed so some finishing touches and a riddle through I was ready to go with 20 minutes to spare.

Usual approach on the ''all in'' with a few balls cupped in on the pole line to be left for at least an hour.
Starting on the feeder it was really slow, I had a couple of small knocks after 25 minutes and did not hit them, I must try to hit these on this venue rather than wait for a slow wrap around!
Andy and Rob either side of me came in on the pole line early and both had caught a few net fish (skimmers), they did look a decent size but I stuck it out for the full hour on the tip without a fish although I did get what I thought was a couple of liners.
First drop in on the pole I had a small 4oz skimmer so that was the dreaded blank avoided, but nothing more after 15 minutes so cupped another ball in.
Back out on the tip I cast out every 5 minutes and on the fourth put in had a proper bite which gave me a decent skimmer so started to close the gap a little and feeling a bit more confident. I came back on the pole again after 20 minutes or so and had an eel around 5 ozs but nothing else so cupped in another ball. Looking up and down the bank there was little or no action so felt I was doing ok'ish.
I saw Andy get a couple of net fish on the tip, again they looked ok from a distance.
While on the tip a boat went over my line and just as it cleared i had a great drop back bite and a proper thud on the end when I picked the rod up. It was smaller than I thought but at 2lbs most welcome and I was back in contention.
By swapping between the two lines I added another skimmer on the tip and a decent eel on the pole before the ''all out''.

The scales started below me at 247 and when it came to me the best was 7lb 10oz. My 3 skimmers, the blade and 2 eels went 6lb 10oz.
Further on up above me there was another 7lb plus and a 10lb plus from Paul Bishop who caught two big bream in the last 20 minutes!

My 6lb 10oz just missing out on a 3rd in section pay out but 12 points from 15.

My ''section board'', pretty tight and tough in places

I caught up with Leigh back at the car park and he told me he only had one bite all day resulting in a 7oz fish and he was not last in ''section''. So it was a tough initiation for him.....but....he'll be back.

Back at the Rugby Club i met up with Chris and Dave. Chris caught 4lb plus for 6 points and Dave had done 16lb plus for second in section and 14 points.

Top 2 individuals on the day:

1st Tony Davis Mix and Match 25lb 10oz

2nd Dave Foxall Sensas Strike 24lb 14oz

Teams on the day:

1. Sensas Strike

2. Maver Harescombe

3. DGL Red

4. Maver Cadbury Angling

5. P I Thatchers

6. Devizes

7. Harescombe

8. DGL Black

9. GBMV

10. Senses 88

11. Misfits

12. Mix & Match

13. Drennan Oxford

14. DGL Gold

15. Senses Lobbys

Final League Table:

1. DGL Red

2. Sensas Strike

3. P I Thatchers

4. Misfits

5. Sensas 88

6. Maver Cadbury Angling

7. Sensas Lobbys

8. DGL Black

9. DGL Gold

10. Maver Harescombe

11. Harescombe

12. Mix & Match

13. Devizes

14. GBMV

15. Drennan Oxford

So in our 3rd year of fishing this league we are progressing. The key as always is having a stable team and I think we are starting to build on that again after loosing a couple of anglers.

On a personal note I have been given some good advice by a certain person (you know who you are) which has helped me a lot on this moody and difficult venue.

SW Super League starts week after next and the first match is on the Gloucester Canal with a practice match this coming Sunday (might as well move to Gloucester).

Sunday 21st May - Practice Match Gloucester Canal, Rea Bridge to Pilot Inn

This match was advertised earlier in the week on Facebook so sent a text out to the Team to let them know as we would be on the same stretch for the final round of the Spring League 28th May.
Due to commitments it was only Team Captain Chris Hook, new signing Dave Hoskin and myself that could make it.
Draw was at McDonalds Bristol Rd 08;00.

As I approached the turn off for McDonalds I could see the road ahead and on the new Hempstead Swing Bridge was closed by police.
According to Gloucestershire Live 2 vehicles were involved and 3 people including an 8 year old girl was taken to hospital so hope they recover ok.

Photo from ''Gloucestershire Live''

There was another match on at Hempstead and the anglers could not get to it, they were hold up in McDonalds. Our stretch on the canal was south so unaffected by the closure.

So... on to the draw.... talk was pegs in the 220's would be the place to be today. Chris goes and draws 220! I draw 212 and Dave draws 194. Chris and I head for the Pilot Inn and walk upstream, Dave goes in at Rea Bridge.

Chris follows me but Sat Nav took me into a housing estate on the other side of the canal but we got there in the end. it was a long walk whatever end we decided to come in on and after a few breaks we got to Chris's peg on a big bend. Match organiser Andy Jane was next door on 222 and told us he fished it for a few hours very early the day before and had about 30lbs on the pole. I was told I was probably out of it by a number of anglers as I passed them, they were not too optimistic either.

Got to 212 and to be honest it looked nice across with a few lilly's, a gap then a tree. I had loads of time to set up so after stripping down to the T Shirt I set about the uncomplicated task of setting up the feeder and a pole rig at 13 meters. The distance I had clipped up from the last match was perfect so job done and only a minor adjustment needed to the top 5 rig for down the track.

Ground bait for both lines had been semi prepared the night before and I was ready with 45 minutes to go.

I took a walk down to Chris and saw that he had the same set up plus a top 5 with a bait dropper. Andy elaborated a little more on his session the previous morning but did not say which peg he had fished. With 15 minutes to the all in I headed back. As I passed Dave Clapton on 214 he was shouting at a cyclist who was going too fast down the narrow tow path in his own unique manner (lol, he gave more words of advice during the rest of the day!). He also said we would not catch much.

I cupped in 4 big heavy balls down the track at the start then went over on the tip, far shelf to the right of the lilly's. I had a rattle 3rd cast and hit it connecting with a perch of around 6oz so blank avoided. 

A large fish rolled down the middle on 214.

Dave below me had started on the tip as well and also had a n early perch but was soon on what looked like 5 meters out on the pole and caught a small roach. I gave it an hour and fifteen minutes on the tip without any indications so went on the pole. I think it was around about then when Dave landed a good bream on the tip and that as far as I could see was the best so far.

After a few minutes my float sailed away and small skimmer of around a pound graced the landing net. I had a couple of dips on the float but nothing positive so fed another big ball and went back out on the tip with 2 dead reds. 

I had an indication straight away and left it. The tip then went right around and it was a big skimmer of 2lbs. Casting out again my tip took ages to bend slightly as the feeder dropped through the water. I thought this is not right thinking it had hit some floating debris so I struck only to discover a bream of around 3lbs had taken it on the drop! Happy days.

I stayed on the tip for the next hour and missed a couple of bites, think some were liners and one or two I couldn't hit properly due to boats passing through.

Back on the pole I added another couple of skimmers a perch, eel and a ruffe before it dried up so re-fed.

The rest of the match was fished swapping between the two lines every 45 minutes and I did get a few more big skimmers on the tip before the all out. I had not seen much caught so thought i had done OK.

Andy was doing the weighing in and I was last to weigh in the Section. Alan Jones DGL who was on end peg 238 just around the bend was best with 19lbs 4oz, I knew I did not have that.

The scales registered 13lbs 5oz for me so a pick up was coming as the payout was top 2 overall and top 2 in each Section.

Todays catch

Chris struggled today having only one bite which gave him an eel. Dave also found it hard going at Rea with 1lb 4oz.

A and B Section Sheets as follows..... you can see the amount of DNW and Blanks.

Top 6 as follows:

1st Troy Weaver DGL 28lb 10oz - A Sect
2nd Mark Traves Sensas Strike 27lb 15oz - A Sect
3rd Alan Jones DGL 19lb 11oz - B Sect
4th Aaron Nash 17lb 12oz - A Sect
5th Ivan Currie Maver Cadbury Angling 13lb 5oz - B Sect
6th Andy Jane Sensas Lobbys 11lb 12oz - B Sect

So.....

Back on the Gloucester Canal next Sunday, probably fish the Bristol Feeder Canal Tuesday and evening match at Acorn Thursday.

Tuesday 16th May - 6th Session Bristol Feeder Canal

Old angling mate and former Royal Mail colleague Leigh Wakefield had been following my posts concerning the Bristol Feeder Canal and contacted me last week to arrange a meet up as he had a weeks holiday.
Today was the chosen date and I met Leigh who travelled from the Chippenham area around 07:00 on Feeder Rd. Parking in the area was at a premium today for some reason and Leigh had to park in a side road.
We decided to fish around the slipway in front of Auto Choice Motor Sales and gave ourselves a bit of room setting up approx 25 meters apart.
Ground bait mix was the same....sensas black lake and noire plus we had hemp, caster and maggot. Float rigs were also the same 1.5 gram.
There was a nice steady flow toward the city and a bit of colour due to the rain the day before. it was dry and warm but rain was forecast later in the morning.
We started fishing at 08:00 and I was into small dace and roach after 15 minutes while Leigh took a longer to get his first bite but he was up and running not long after me.
My fish were coming quicker letting in run through were as Leigh was hold the float back hard. We were both getting net roach and dace but then Leigh had a big skimmer about a 45 minutes into the session followed by another some 20 or 30 minutes later.
Although he had better fish I was getting more.
The canal was flowing steady most of the time but there was periods when it remained still and around the middle of the session we both had a quiet spell.
We were topping up with ground bait fairly regular and around 11:00 I had a decent skimmer, two more smaller ones followed along with better quality roach.
The rain that was forecast came just before 12:00 but was pleasantly warm.
At 13:40 I started to pack up while Leigh had 5 more minutes and it paid off as he managed a try bream just before 13:45.
I thought he would do me good and proper but when we weighed our catch I had 15lbs and Leigh had 15lbs 15oz so those roach I had made the difference.

Leigh with his last gasp bream

My level 15lbs

Leighs 15lb 15oz

So another enjoyable session.

Cadbury Angling evening match this Thursday then practice match on Gloucester Canal Sunday.

Wednesday 10th May - 5th Pleasure Session Bristol Feeder Canal

With plenty of bait left over from the Gloucester Canal match on the Sunday I was keen to get back on the Bristol Feeder Canal for my 5th session even though it means a very early drive into Bristol. I did wake up a little late which meant I did not arrive at Feeder Road until just after 07:00 and had to park in a side road instead of my usual spot.
It was a fresh morning, around 8 degrees but a very nice day was promised by the BBC Weather site.
I headed to my usual spot in front of Manor Scrap given that I have had a few nice bags here plus the bream have showed as well but no more than 3 in a session.

It did not take me long to set up as my 2 rigs were still OK from the last session, it was just a case of changing hook lengths and re-plumbing.

Ground bait was a mix of black lake and noire plus a little leam. 

At 08:05 I was ready to start and cupped in 4 big balls down the track containing caster, dead pinkie and a little chopped worm. The canal at this time was motionless and fairly clear.

Starting off on the maggot I did not get my first bite until 08:40 and it was a tidy roach around 5oz. The canal had just started to move a little toward Bristol City Centre but then stopped again after 10 minutes during which time I had a few small dace. 

At around 09:15 I fed 4 small balls and went out with double caster and the canal started to move again. I had a sail away bite and once I hit it the No.4 elastic came out quite a bite and the nodding action told me it was a bream, not big but at around 2lbs very welcome.

I caught quite a few roach afterwards, they were clean so must have finished spawning. 

Good friend Mike Endicott came down for a look after finishing his night shift and I did not catch an awful lot while Mike was there.

After Mike went home I decide to go for broke and put in 4 big balls heavily laced with caster. I had bites straight away and had another big skimmer on the double caster. Plenty of dace and roach followed due to topping up with ground bait on a regular basis. 

At 12:45 I had another tidy fish in the form of a hybrid around 11/2 lbs.

I called it a day at 13:15 and had a pic of my catch taken by the former Postmaster and his wife from Feeder Road PO who still live above the Office.

Word is getting around due to these posts about the Feeder Canal on this blog and the Bristol Feeder Canal Facebook page. I have had lots of enquiries from local anglers keen to give it a go.

Back for a 6th session on Tuesday 16th May with a mate from the Chippenham area..... wonder if he will have a pound on it lol..... update to follow.

I fished the Cadbury Angling evening match at Acorn Fishery the following day and had 99lb 13oz of carp on the paste. Mark Bromsgrove won it with 140 lbs and Kev Perry was 2nd with 128 lbs.

No fishing this weekend due to birthday celebrations.

Sunday 7th May - Gloucester Canal Spring League Round 3

I missed the 2nd round in this popular league due to being on holiday in Cuba so was looking forward to Round 3 as it was pegged on the lower part of the Canal.

Todays ''Sections'' where Splatt (downstream and in the lovely village of Frampton on Severn) and ''Purton''. The draw and results where in the Gordon League Rugby Club at Hempstead, Gloucester so quite a drive back and forth. Team today was Chris, Sam, Glenn and myself.

At the draw the talk was the favoured place to be would be ''Purton'' as at this time of year a lot of bream show especially around the mouth of the old Timber Ponds where I had a few good pleasure sessions last year (details on older posts labelled Gloucester Canal).
Out of the 15 Teams we were halfway to draw and Chris came back with......

Me - 627 Splatt
Sam - 810 Purton
Chris - 838 Purton
Glenn - 614 Splatt

Glenn and I made our way to Splatt where there was organised parking in a field. Glenn remembered he had fished this ''section'' many years ago and thought the early and end pegs would be the best with the middle a scratch match. Indeed others said the same. Glenn was 5 pegs down the beginning of the ''section'' as i passed Andy Jane of Sensas Lobbys who was the 2nd peg in he said the 3 end pegs at the bottom of the ''section'' would produce and all the rest would struggle (remember this comment).

3 set ups today...pole at around 12 meters (just to get over some weed which seemed to end at 11 meters) at top 5 deep with a 1.5 gram AS, 18 hook to 0.12 fluro, pole at 8 meters just pointing downstream where it was top 4 deep and fairly clear with same float and hook etc, finally the feeder rod with 25 gram cage feeder with 18 wide gap to 0.11 power to fish the far shelf (5 foot of water).
Ground bait today was F1 dark and Noire for the feeder and F1 dark, Match and Leam for the pole lines.

Due to the distance from the draw and long drive fishing today was 11:00 - 16:00.

3 big cups of ground bait with a few dead pinkies, caster and a little bit of worm went in on the longer pole line and 2 on the shorter line.

I started off on the bread feeder across with a piece of 6mm punch and had a roach about 4oz second cast which avoided a blank, happy days and always good to get a fish early on the Gloucester Canal.

I had a couple more knocks and small pull rounds but did not connect. 

Looking up and down the canal as you do to try and see whats going on I could see a few landing nets going out further downstream after 30 minutes then the angler below me had a decent bream on the tip across.

I had a couple more pull rounds on the bread and came to the conclusion that they were liners. 

An hour had passed now so gave up with the bread and switched to my F1 mix with 2 dead reds. Second cast the tip went round and it was bream on, not a big one but at around 2lb very welcome. In the next 30 minutes I had two more before it went quiet.

Looking down the canal I could see a few poles up in the air with elastic coming out so went on my 12 meter line. First put in the float sailed away and the No.6 elastic slowly came out, it was a good fish and in 18 feet of water put up a good fight and the 18 hook held as I nervously played it to the net. I was thinking to myself at least I have a few Team points today.... hmmm.

I stayed on the this line taking 3 more bream, the most I have ever caught on the pole on the Gloucester Canal and could hardly believe it as it doesn't happen very ofter on this moody venue.

The angler below me was putting a few fish together on the tip as was Mark Treasurer 2 pegs below so I went back on it as well.

I was soon back getting bites and getting more bream after stepping up to a 14 hook with full or half a dendra tipped with dead reds.

The end of the match came and I knew the angler below me had a few more than me but thought i had more than the guy above me.

Brain Pollard walked past me with the scales to begin weighing in below us. it seemed ages before he came back in sight and there was good reason........ lots of fish to be weighed.

Look at this for a weight over 15 anglers.

The guy doing the board said there was 400 lbs plus of fish caught in the ''Section'', never seen anything like it, nor had many others on the Glos Canal.

My 37lb 14oz would have won most matches on the Canal but was only worth 8 points from 15 today. I was in the right ''section'' just the wrong end but what a lovely days fishing.

Oh....and remember what Andy Jane said earlier lol.

Part of my catch today

Glenn also done OK in his ''section'' with 8lbs plus for 10 points, here is his ''section board''.

Purton ''sections'' did not produce as thought.

Here is Sam's ''section''........

Little different you might say!

Did not get a photo of Chris's ''section board'' but it was a similar story with Chris doing OK with 12 points and 4lbs plus and just missing out on a 3rd in ''section'' payout.

Team points gave us 35 on the day ... beating some local Teams.

Team results on the day and overall after 3 Rounds from 4 as follows:

We have done OK as this is only our 2nd year fishing this League, last round is the end of May.

No fishing planned next Sunday but will try and get out on the Feeder Canal in Bristol on Wednesday and fishing the evening match at Acorn nr Thursday.

Thursday 4th May - Cadbury Angling Open, Paddock Lake Acorn Fishery

Cadbury Angling who are now located at the Acorn Fishery Complex are running a series of Thursday evening opens during May and June and possibly into August, here are the details......

I have just returned from a fabulous week in Cuba and booked in prior to going. I had enough pellet and only needed some Swim Stim to make up paste.

I was always going to fish short as my No. 8 Section was not coming back until Friday after standing on it a few weeks ago.

I got to the Fishery at around 16:40 and there were a few there already. Toby and Dan who own Cadbury Angling were also fishing making 11 in total. 

The draw was done a little early and we were to start fishing when everyone was ready.

I had already loaded the trolley to walk to my peg wherever I drew which was just as well as I drew peg 2 on the island. Some of the other guys ran to there vans / cars lol in order to get set up quickly.

The only other angler on the island was Rob Fogg on peg 5 and I had team mate Sam Johnson to my right on bridge peg 34.

I set up 2 identical rigs for down the edge to my right for paste as there was a strong cold wind blowing left to right and 1 for top 2 plus 2 out in front for soft pellet. 

Not sure when we started but it was before 18:30 and I cupped in 2 big pots of pellet down the edge starting out in front with soft pellet over micro fed via a cad pot.

Lots of fish were showing along the far bank ledge but I was quite happy to fish short, no other choice really.

After 10 minutes I had a small 5oz carp followed by a few more and a crucian, then I had a proper carp around 4lb. I was only getting dips of the float indicating small fish so switched down the edge with paste after 45 mins.

It did not take long for the float to disappear and I was soon playing a carp which I landed quickly.

I was getting lots of bites but missed them and then lost a foul hooker.

I made a few adjustments to my rig and put on a bigger bit of paste which was much better taking a few more 4lb fish.

Then disaster.... I hooked a carp and it tore off toward Sam and my No. 5 section snapped. All I could see was my top 4 and 1/2 heading down the track. I shouted to Sam as it was being towed towards his bank. Sam managed to grab it and I ran over to him. As I got there he was playing the fish on my puller bung and I netted it. It was properly hooked and I put it back.

I came back and put the 2 parts of the No.5 inside each other, shipped out and caught another carp much to Rob Foggs surprise.

A couple more followed but I was nervous using my sleeved broken section. I had another No.5 but it was not a power section. 

I was first to weigh and had just under 26lbs, I could have done a lot better. Rob did not weigh as he only had 1 carp and some bits.

Top 3 were.....

1st Paul Nichols 97lb 14oz - peg 17

2nd Mark Bartlett 88lb 9oz - peg 10

3rd Rich Lovering 54lb - peg 8

Paul also won the first golden peg.

Toby and Dan laid on hot dogs and cider after the match which was well received.

Looking forward to next week.

No. 8 section which I stood on Good Friday is now back after being repaired and power No. 5 ordered.

Teams of 4 match on the Gloucester Canal this Sunday.