Team mates Sam Johnson, Chris Hook and I booked in for this match at the beginning of the week. As the week progressed the weather forecast did not look good with ''Storm Dennis'' coming in from the Atlantic.
I tormented myself all week looking at different weather forecasts hoping for a change in the forecast.
14 were booked in and this was the limit due to another Club having a small match on the dock as well.
Chris decided to pull out on Thursday due to the extreme weather forecast, plus he had never fished it before. Sam and I hung on, I think we were both waiting for the other to say they weren't going. On Friday I had a text from Sam saying ''we've got to go now as I've got my bait''. That was it then, fully committed lol.
Steve O'Mara who organises the matches posted in facebook that the 14 booked in had been reduced to about 4 due to the weather. Fair play he told me it wouldn't be a problem if we cancelled due to the weather and the distance we had to travel.
We still said we'd go, mad or what!
Sam was making his own way over so I planned to leave home around 06:00. I left home and went on my usual route to join the M5 at Gordano but didn't get far due to the police blocking the road after a tree came down in the storm. I turned around and gave Sam a call saying what had happened, he was on the road heading up the M5 from Weston Super Mare. I told him I would take another route.
To be honest it was windy but not too bad for driving and there was the odd heavy shower.
I got to Bro's Cafe were the draw is held at 08:45 and Sam was parked up. A quick natter before going in for a great breakfast at 08:00.
Steve was already in the Cafe and confirmed there was only 4 of us. But....£45 for 1st and £15 for 2nd plus another £45 in the golden peg. We drew for pegs 1 to 4 with the view we would decide were to fish in a row when we went over to the dock and a view to get the wind on our backs.
When we got on the bank fishing with the wind off our backs was not an option due to the height of the water, apparently the highest its been for 20 years.
I ended up on end peg 21, Steve on 20, Sam on 18 which was the golden peg and Chris Bradley on 16.
I only set up one feeder rod with a 45 gram feeder to punch it through the wind paired up with 6lb mono, size 12 B560 to 0.16. I was on a shallower peg than the rest but Steve advised me to go out 26 turns into the deeper water.
After we set up the dock level dropped about 3 foot and I ended up repositioning my box etc.
Here's a little clip showing the conditions, this was the calmest part of the day lol
With fishmeal ground bait combined with casters, corn, dead red and chopped worm I started off with 3 reds on the hook just to get a bite.
The 2oz glass tip was OK for the job although it took a while to figure out whether or not to leave it slack or tighten up in order to see the bite. After a bit of trial and error I started to get some small fish up to 6oz, roach, skimmers and hybrids.
It wasn't fast and furious but the odd fish was going in the net. The wind was getting stronger and it was raining as well. Waves were rolling in and hitting me and the rod rest had to be brought up higher to avoid them.
Sam turned up behind me after a hour or so and said he only had one roach. I told him I had about 7 fish.
About 12:00 I started putting worm on the hook which brought on a run of net skimmers. It was a horrendous day but I was enjoying it.
A positive pull around and I connected with a better fish but it turned out to be an eel.
At 13:00 the fish were responding better and getting their heads down and I lost what felt like a good bream when the feeder snagged in the nearside shelf rocks. I also noticed Steve was getting a few better fish, proper bream.
I started putting on bigger hook baits i.e 2 worms withe ends nipped off and tipped with a couple of casters. That seemed to make a difference and the bites became more positive.
I plugged away and was rewarded with a proper bream followed by more skimmers. 15 minutes from the all out the reel line got tangled under the spool and that was it for me.
Chris was the first to weigh and had 9lb 10oz.
Sam had 5lb 7oz
Steve had a great net of quality bream for 31lb
I done better than I thought weighing 16lb 9oz
Despite the weather I was glad I went, it's a great venue.
Not sure about this week, keeping an eye on the weather, Club match on the Kenn next Sunday weather permitting as well as number of entries.
Tough day but rewarding see you down the feeder canal
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