So the river it was then and a difficult day could be expected for the participants.
It was a good turnout despite the conditions and out of over 100 tickets sold 84 anglers turned up.
The event is the biggest match on the Bristol Avon with all proceeds going to the British Legion. In all the years I have fished it the best I have done is a 3rd and a 7th. At this event even some of the Commercial Anglers turn out such is the level of support given.
The organisation of the event is no mean feat lead by Ray Bazeley and a team of magnificent helpers who liaise with the controlling clubs, land owners, tackle shops, printers and the Pavilion Club in Keynsham to ensure the proceedings run smoothly.
Out of our Nomads Match Team we had 5 representatives fishing today, Chris, Sam, Brian and Stretch as well as myself.
Pegging details were as follows:
Sam is always keen to get as near the front of the draw que as possible so after the 2 minutes silence we were right at the front. Unbelievably Sam drew 77, Chris 76 and me 75 after the tickets were given a good mix up!!!!
So we were all up the Crane, Sam said we were in a good area on the day.... remember that....
We got parked up OK before the rest of the anglers arrived for this area and just as well as parking is very tight now. Walking up the patch alongside the river it looked pretty full and pacy. I was just hoping for a peg with a bit of slack. 2 fences later I arrived and to be honest the peg didn't look too bad given the conditions with a bit of a slack a rod length out and a rod length down stream toward some trees.
This would have been a great peg in normal conditions running the crow quill down the middle and the waggles across but hey ho.
2 feeder rods and a pole feeder rig was the order of the day.
30 grams held bottom initially close in were it was about 5 to 6 foot deep but as the match progressed I had to clip on another 30 and towards the end a 10 as the river got faster.
Starting of the on tip the leaves were a nightmare but I still fancied it for a few fish. An hour in I had a call from Sam who said he had one small dace on the pole feeder, Chris was blanking.
I picked up the pole feeder and after 20 minutes had a small roach.
Paul Benson came up the bank and said most were really struggling below me, he walked on up. When he came back he said Glenn Bailey had about 5 small fish, no one else above had anything.
After he went I had another small fish close to the bank so decided to see the match out on the pole feeder. Lots of false bites from leaves were annoying.
Darren Gillman came up for a walk with his family and reported it was still hard below me, when he came back Glenn was supposed to have had 11 small fish.
During the time left I added a few more ending up with 10 but they were small.
Glenn came down with the scales and said he had 1lb 1oz, I didn't think I had that and sure enough weighed 12oz. Glenn actually won our section with that!
Chris finished fishless and Sam weighed 9.5 oz which won him his section.
To show you all how hard it fished here are the section weights from Newbridge down....none by default.
4 - 01
7 - 11
1-14 -8
1- 01
3 - 01
0 - 04
1 - 03
2 - 06
2 - 0
4 - 11
8 - 12
2 - 03
2 - 05
2 - 0
1 - 01
0 - 09 - 08
1 - 02
1 - 0
19 - 12
9 - 01
So out of our guys Brian, Sam and Stretch won their sections Stretch also framed.
Paying out top 11 results as follows:
1. Craig Fletcher 19-12
2. M Jefferies 9-01
3. Kev Abigail 8-12
4. Andy Cranston 7-11
5. Stretch 6-08
6. M Cox 4-11
7. Mike Goodhind 4-06
8. Mark Harper 4-01
9. Nigel Wyatt 2-07
10. Andy Richings 3-04
11. Andy Jane 3-01
To date £2000 has been raised as a result of this event.
Sam won the lucky ticket draw and won himself a Preston Monster Feeder Rod and promptly sold it for £40 lol, I won a bottle of red for the wife (you know it makes sense).
Great match, great cause, great company, well done all.
Event organiser Ray Bazeley with the winner Craig Fletcher.
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