Sunday 27th June - S W Super League Round 1 King Sedgemoor Drain

Here we go again, another year another Super League, doesn't time fly.

There was 16 Teams of 4 originally booked in for the League this year but at the last minute a Team withdrew. The pegging had already been sorted so the 4 sections of 16 remained and if you had a blank peg next to you that was just the way it was.

The 37 Club in Purition was the HQ and apart from wearing face masks everything else was near normal as opposed to the ''on line process'' last year.

Although it was big Sections of 16 there would be two Mini Sections of 8 for payout and points making it a tighter League.

Our Nomads Team today was....

Me, Chris Hook, Sam Johnson and Andy Thomas ( all that was missing was a Scotsman).

After a hearty breakfast the draw got underway with Dave Micklewright and Chris Parr in charge. We had put in our Team Sheet quite early and paid the pools so were about the 4th to draw.

No end pegs this time, Chris was in A Section (Bradney Up) on peg 2 and one up from where he was the week before. Sam was in B Section peg 21, I was on peg 39 in C Section and Andy on peg 55 above Parchy Bridge.

So apart from Chris who was near to an end peg the rest of us were middle diddle.

Personally after the practice last week I was not expecting big weights.

As I left the 37 Club the Devizes guys asked me where I had drawn.....another end peg I said.....well the response was FFFF£%&*@$!!!!!! .....then I said ...only joking lol.

No parking issues at Parchy Bridge and we rammed the car park as instructed to stop any paddle boarders etc.

I walked down the cycle patch to my peg and Dan Squire was below me on 38. Dan's response was ... there can't be many fish around here if you have drawn this area.  Err ummm last week I was 3rd don't you know.

I looked at my peg and the flat area was well down below the bank but it was in a bird cage which would cause problems casting the feeder. I set to work pulling down branches as best I could with a weed cutter and breaking them off and after about 30 minutes it was much better but still a bit awkward. I asked around for a saw but no one had one (I have ordered one now to keep in my bag).

My peg after some tree work

The peg did look nice with plenty of cover across and some lilies so I would target this for better fish. Same set up on all lines as last week, well it did work to a degree.

As fishing was from 11 - 4 there was plenty of time but it's surprising how quickly it goes.

8 feeder fulls went in at the start across, 2 balls went in at 13 metres and 1 at 5 metres. 2 gram rig long in case the tow picked up and a 1 gram rig short. I also baited up a tench line with worm and caster plus a little corn.

After 10 minutes feeding etc I started short and as expected a bite straight away, a small skim bob and as i brought it in a pike attacked it making quite a bite of noise. Dan heard it next door, so not a good sign.

I could hear Dan catching next door but my inside line was quiet but I persevered for 10 minutes and had a few small roach. The inside line died again quite quickly forcing me out long after 30 minutes. A small skimmer took the bait almost immediately. That was the only fish I had long.

Coming back short I had the odd bite and felt things would improve but not really.

My first chuck across with the feeder at 12:45 gave me a little pull which I hit and it was a bream, not huge but much appreciated.

Dan heard me land it and followed suit by going out across himself.

I had a few blades across but no bonus fish and only a few blades short. Thank goodness I had that baby bream.

At the end of the match the word on the bank was that it was a struggle in our section.

Ruben came up with the scales and he was best with 5lb 14oz which included two skimmers, he took the mini section.

My fish went 4lb 1oz which was 3rd best in the mini section so 6 points which was worth having from 8. Maybe I should have gone across earlier on the feeder?

Chris was 2nd in his section with 6lb 11oz so 7 points and a £40 pick up, Sam had 6lb plus as well but his section fished pretty well and had 4 points, Andy had 7lb plus but it was only worth 2 points which is hard to believe, had in been in the other half of his mini section he would have won it I think.

Anyway because of the new points system lots of teams tied at the top and we ended up with 19 points and 5th, the top team Gordon League Black had 24 so not a lot in it.

The match was won overall by James Carty with 17lb plus (4 bream) so well done to James (he's part Irish you know).

Back on the KSD for Round 2 next week and I may go back to Evesham on Wednesday.

Wednesday 23rd June - Evesham Qualifier

 I decided to go up to Evesham today instead of Staverton as I might be fishing in a Team Qualifier on the venue at the end of July. The venue can be rock hard and it's a real test in terms of fishing and at times mental stability!

Last year was the first time I went to the Warks Avon at Evesham and I done ok. The matches were well attended mid week due to loads of people furloughed but today saw an entry of 45, still a great turnout.

I didn't know anyone else that was fishing today but it doesn't matter as its all very friendly but on arrival I soon got chatting to John Tocknell and Rob McKenzie. Rob especially knows the venue very well and is very free with advice.

Last year I picked A5 on the battleship type grid to reveal my peg but by the time it was my turn to select it had already gone. I can't for the life of me remember what I picked but I ended up on peg 26 my first time in the lowish numbers and just below the town bridge.

Team mate Sam Johnson showed me this area on my first visit last year. It's very shallow and therefore a much faster pace than the pegs below. Across were the permanent manicured moorings but no boats, lets hope they stayed away. Downstream on the far side was an inviting willow tree.

When I drew I spoke to Rob McKenzie who told me there were lots of pandocks in the peg and he was correct. when I was plumbing up they went beyond a third the way across so so nearside line today.

I set up 2 waggler rods one at full depth which was barely 3.5 foot and one at 2 foot. A maggot feeder rod and a 10 x no4 stick for down the middle.

Chublets were topping across and bleak were all over the place but very very small.

The draw was at 09:00 with fishing from 12 - 5 so plenty of time to set up. The trouble is you can set up too much because you have time.

It was a pretty warm day 22 degrees and was forecast to get warmer.

Starting off on the waggler shallow right across I had some small chublets straight away (3 to 4oz) and the odd bleak. I was able to feed pretty tight across with maggot and hemp but also fed caster down the middle for later on.

The first hour passed and it was pretty good but as expected the bites tailed off. Going on the deeper waggler produced some small roach but at least I was putting something in the net. 

Halfway through and just below the willow tress was a boat and the guy decided to do some maintenance so lots of banging just were I was nicking a few fish.

Coming in on the stick float line I had some perch and more small roach every now and then but it was hard work.

The guy in the boat then decided to hang his feet out over the boat and wash them! Once he done that he started playing a guitar ffs.

Anyway ......

I thought I gave it 100% and my fingers are sore due to feathering the line, goodness knows how many casts I made. I had a little look on the feeder but no joy.

The results board speaks for itself ....I got battered both sides but looking at their pegs they did not have any pandocks.

You have got to report the bad as well as the good, lets hope there are not too many of these.

KDS on Sunday for the first round of the S W Super League.

Sunday 20th June - S W Super League Practice Match King Sedgemoor Drain

I had the choice of 2 matches today, a Club Match on the River Kenn or the Practice Match on the KSD. 

It had to be the KSD as the 1st Round of the S W Super League begins on the venue next Sunday. The Sensas 88 guys were running the match today and always do a good job in terms of organisation and swim clearing. The 37 Club in Woolavington were our hosts for the breakfast, draw and results so thank you to them.

Only 2 of the team of 4 were fishing today, Chris Hook and myself. 

There were around 50 anglers fishing and there was one section at Brandney Up and the others above and below Parchy Bridge.

Bream were likely to dominate the winning weights and Sensas 88's Paul Purchase had a nice bag on the pole on Opening Day. The KSD can be a bit of a fish race with roach, rudd, perch and pommies but the odd tench can feature as well.

After breakfast I was well done in the draw que with rich Whitmarsh behind me. Rich did comment that there were a lot of scales not drawn and he was sure I would end up with a set.

Chris Parr drew me ''green milk bottle top'' 13, Bradney Up, scales but it was an end peg so more than happy to carry the extra weight to an end peg. When Chris drew he also had Bradney Up and the first peg, so another end one.

Parked up after following Chris to Brtadney Bridge and there were plenty of good anglers in my section, well they all are in this League to be fair, all hardened natural venue anglers.

It was a nice easy walk up to my peg and looking at the KSD there appeared to be a tinge of colour in it but this can trick you because of the peaty bottom.

Got two my peg and it was very comfortable, clear of weed on the inside and so pads right across.

I set up a feeder rod, 2 short pole lines at 6 metres and 1 long at 14 metres. 

It was full top 4 deep in the middle and top 3 at 6 metres. I set up 2 identical rigs at 6 metres because it it turned into a fish race and you tangle up then you don't waste time setting up again. I have learned this from experience and it has cost me the section.

We had plenty of time to set up as fishing was 1030 - 1530.

At the all in 2 balls of roach mix went in short and 2 balls of skimmer mix went in with chop and caster long the 8 feeder fulls of fishmeal, chop and dead maggot right across.

Starting off short I was expecting a bite right away but nothing! Lifting and dropping brought a perch about 3 oz after 10 minutes. Loose fed pinkie over the top brought a very small roach and a pommie but it was painfully slow. 

After 40 minutes I went out long and had another small perch first drop then a stamp roach and it went quiet but stuck at it for 30 minutes before having a look on the feeder.

Gave the feeder a go for 15 minutes but no indication at all so came back in short, I had been loose feeding over the top of both pole lines.

Another small pommie short and then nothing, out long nothing, then I saw a big bream roll across just to the right of my far line feed so had to chase it.

After casting and within about 15 minutes it was bream on. A good fish of around 6lb was netted. It was still a bit rough around the head so they have spawned late on the KSD. Re-cast and had a skimmer around 1.5 lbs. 

I knew I was doing ok as I could hear anglers below talking to each other about how hard it was fishing.

I had a drop back and it was another bream. As I was playing it about 4 of the anglers below came behind me which was a suprise, not as big as the first bream but at 3lb defo worth having. The guys behind confirmed most others were struggling and off they went.

I still fed my pole lines but given what I knew my mind was made up to fish the tip the rest of the match.

It must have been about 30 minutes before the tip flew around and just kept going. I thought it must be a carp as there are a few in the KSD. The fish went downstream at a rate before I managed to turn it and then it came on the inside and still went down stream lodging itself in lillies. I cringed as I put pressure on it and thankfully it came out. Not sure how the 0.13 hook length held but it did. A good tench of 4lb plus, simply lovely as Mike Martin used to say. I was buzzing.

The rest of the match was very quiet but I did add the odd small skim bob and rudd.

Ended up with 15lb 2oz in old money which was more than enough to take the section.

As you can see it fished hard, couple of photo's of my catch below.....

Back at the 37 Club I first spoke to Ben Matthews who informed me my weight would get me 3rd overall, Ben was going to be 2nd from Parchy Down with Steve Priddle winning it from end peg Parchy Down. Mike Berntsen was 4th from end peg Parchy Up.

Full results below coverted to Kg ..... very European down in Somerset!

I am booked in for Evesham on Wednesday to try and qualify for the final again and then back on the KSD Sunday.

Wednesday 16th June - Staverton Open

 With the amount of time and effort I have put in to my local Club water, the River Kenn most people expected me to go there on opening day. Looking at the weather forecast I felt it would fish hard plus it would be very busy.

The Staverton Open's are very popular and the fishing is comfortable and you can park behind your peg. The weights are not mega and you need just into double figures to win.

The draw is at 14:00 with fishing 15:00 - 20:00, entrance is £15.

30 anglers turned up today which is one of the largest turn outs I have seen, usually it's around 20.

Team mate Leigh Wakefield also turned up as we have a Super League match on the venue in a months time. Former Cadbury Angling boss Dan Hurley was also in attendance.

I drew peg 35 which is one I have never fished before and Leigh was on 40 so not too bad with plenty of cover across.

Plumbing up down the middle it was quite shallow and just under match top 3 deep. Across under the tree's it was only about 4 foot.

2 balls of choppy and caster went in down the middle and I started on the waggler at full depth feeding hemp and maggot. As expected some small chub lets came quickly in the bright sunshine. I was expecting a few better fish as the float travelled under the branches of over hanging trees but it didn't happen. 

40 minutes in I went on the pole and second trot down the 2 gram float sailed away, 6 elastic came out ....but it was a 4 oz perch. No more followed and after 20 minutes went back on the full depth and half depth waggler the rest of the match.

I had a few bites and kept putting small fish in the net.

I sort of knew it was fishing hard immediately below me as I could hear the anglers chatting to each other.

After 18:00 the sun went in and I had a couple of better chublets and roach and at the end though I might have around 3lbs.

When Kev Grant came along with the scales I weighed 4lb 12oz.

Rich Chave who has a good record on the venue won the match in the last 30 minutes catching 3 decent chub. The good thing is I was in his section and picked up the £30 section by default!

Richard with the 3 chub that got him out of jail.

Kev Bennet took 2nd place with a mixed bag.

Dan was on 23 and had 2 chub for 6lb odd but lost a load which is tragic as that was the golden peg worth £200.

Weigh sheets below......

King Sedgemoor Drain on Sunday for a Super League practice match.

Sunday 13th June - Port Talbot Docks Open

 Back to Port Talbot Docks for what will probably be my last match here until the Autumn.

It was forecast to be a pretty warm day with bright sunshine so a good peg was needed i.e. not in a shallow area. I pulled up outside Bro's Cafe around 07:40 and as usual the food was top nosh. There was a pretty good turnout when I arrived in the Dock so the payout would be very good.

I was hoping to avoid the early numbers for a change and when I was drawn peg 18 I was pretty happy. Not fished it before but I know from experience that its a reasonable area to catch skimmers. Clive Roberts confirmed this but also said it was a good short pole / whip peg.

It went off deep very close in. I sent up an 11 metre pole where it was top 5 deep, a 5 metre whip at full depth, another 5 metre whip at half depth and a feeder rod.

I had Clive Branson next to me on 17 and Shaun Parsons on the other side peg 20.

I threw in 2 jaffa's short at 5 metre's and 2 long at 11 metres (black lake and gros gardons wit some mole hill soil). Bream and skimmers have not showed that much of late but I had a fishmeal mix made up anyway to try later on the feeder.

It did not take long to get a few roach long but after 20 minutes it went quiet so re-fed and came in on the whip at full depth. More roach followed but the bites tailed off.

I was also loose feeding hemp and caster and had a few at half depth but it was slow. I chopped and changed around the float lines but did not think I it was going anywhere. Clive next door was getting bigger roach up in the water on the waggler when the wind allowed him to present it properly.

At around 13:15 I decided to have a look on the feeder to try and get some bonus fish.

After about 6 casts 5 minutes apart at 20 turns the tip went around and a skimmer was netted, not bit but at around 12 oz was worth having. Another followed straight away so this made my mind up to stay on this line and method the rest of the match.

It wasn't fast and furious but I did get fish on a regular basis and had a days fishing.

Team mate Clive Roberts easily won the match again with 26lb plus of roach and Richy Candy was 2nd with 21lb again all roach. These guys are deadly on the whip. Owen Davis on end peg 21 had a couple of proper bream and mullet on the whip for 20lb plus and third place.

My 16lb was ok and wish I had of went on the tip an hour or so earlier.

Owen was the only one who had bonus fish.

Thanks to Geoff Brierley for the refreshments after the match.....

Staverton Open on Wednesday 16th June next...

Sunday 3rd June - Gloucester Canal Spring League Final Round (4)

 Firstly a huge thanks to Mark Treasure and all his helpers who have made this League possible including Kev Forty from the Canal and River Trust and the Farmers who gave permission to park on their land. It has taken a lot of organising, I applaud you all, simply brilliant.

On a personal level the League had done my head in as I have had a diabolical draw every time. The fish have not played ball due to an unseasonal May but even if they had I would still have not been on fish.

Team mates Sam and Chris have drawn pretty well and have done very well with Chris having a section win and a 6th overall. Sam has had a section placing and a 3rd overall. Leigh and I have been blocked from phoning the Samaritans its been that bad. In fact a comment from Lobby's Andy Jane summed it up....as the draw is done and communicated on the Saturday evening you have over 12 hours to think about your bad draw!

This latest round was no different for me, peg 33 on Hempstead Straight. I was gutted, Sam had this peg in an earlier match and 1lb was good ffs!

Sam had an end peg at Castle Down, Leigh was just out of the bay at Saul Junction and Chris was just out of the bend at Hempstead peg 50.

Meeting up at McD's Cribbs Causeway Bristol for breakfast the guys knew I was a bit down, the tell tale sign was probably the bandages around my wrists. 

The night before it was made worse when Clevedon Club mate Kev Perry text me to say he had an end peg (Kev fishes for Sensas 88 and rarely goes up to the Glossy unless someone puts his arm up his back).

So up the M5 we go and I parked up at Hempstead Bridge to walk down past the better pegs (nothing unusual about that). Peg 33 is the Gas Pipe peg, there is a valve or something in the hedge almost directly behind you and you do smell gas all day. You are also right on the tow path so care is needed. 

While tackling up a baby rabbit kept coming out of the hedge......

Usual Glossy set up (2 pole rigs short and long and 2 feeder rods).

I was set up in plenty of time and took a walk down to see Chris. Spoke to DGL's Lee Green on the way who was on 37 and he said Skimmers should feed and we'll get a few bites, I said I'd hold him to that. Stopped to talk to Gary Gross who was on 43 and prevented him stepping on a pole section. On the bend was Dave Micklewright and Mark Harper so no mistakes are going to be made there. Got to Chris who said bream were rolling in his peg and 51!

I never walk the bank before the match but looking at the other anglers set up's confirmed mine was the same (just needed a better peg).

I started off on the bread right across about 2 metres out from the tins and after 20 minutes and 3 chucks had a 6oz roach which surprised me. 10 minutes later another roach but around 3oz. 2 more chucks and a drop back resulting in a 12 oz skimmer. I thought it must have been lost.

After an hour and 15 minutes I was out on the long pole line which I had fed. The float disappeared but when I struck ....nothing. Put in again and the same thing happened but I had it this time, a boot lace eel.

Over the period of the match I put a few boot lace eels in the net a small perch and a few skimmer blades.

I knew I would be way down in the section due to the peg but was pleased that my 3lb 1oz beat 5. I thought I fished a good match and don't think I could have done any better.

I had knew Sam had had a good match but was surprised when he told me he had 12 big skimmers for 28lb plus, this gave hime 3rd place in the whole match. Leigh got out of jail with a bream in the closing minutes beating 8 in his tough section and Chris had 4lb odd, the bream didn't play ball in his peg.

Overall and Section results as follows.....

GLOUCESTER CANAL SPRING LEAGUE RESULTS SHEET ROUND 4 

INDIVIDUAL WINNERS

	NAME	TEAM	WEIGHT	PEG
1	Mark Brush	DGL Black	36-13-0	440
2	Paul Kaye	Team Hereford	31-10-0	456
3	Sam Johnson	Sensas Nomads A	28-2-0	443
4	Rob Kerslake	Maver Harescombe	27-15-0	471
5	Tim Frampton	Misfits	27-3-0	65
6	Mick Nowicki	GBMV	24-0-0	472

SECTION WINNERS

		NAME	TEAM	WEIGHT
A1	1	Nigel Baker	Sensas Lobbys Red	14-10-0
	2	Chris Rushton	GBMV	14-5-0
	3	Sean Grange	Misfits	11-14-0
A2	1	Pete Goulding	Team Hereford	18-3-0
	2	Kev Perry	Sensas 88 A	13-0-0
	3	Lee Trevitt	Preston Innovation Thatchers	12-4-0
B1	1	Mark Harper	Preston Innovation Thatchers	16-15-0
	2	Andy Powell	Sensas Lobbys Red	16-12-0
	3	Dave Micklewright	DGL Black	15-7-0
B2	1	Mark Bisset	Gowna Dreamers	13-12-0
	2	John Hanna	Browning West Midlands Xitan	12-4-0
	3	Glen Calvert	Sensas 88B	12-1-0
C1	1	Scott Geens	Woodys Tackle	21-5-0
	2	Luke Downing	Rive Fishermania	20-9-0
	3	Steve Ward	Browning West Midlands Sphere	19-8-0
C2	1	Ian Hingley	Milo Bait Tech Midlands Red	19-3-0
	2	Paul Jeffrey	Evolved Baits Midlands Match	12-2-0
	3	Guy Manton	Preston Innovation Thatchers	9-12-0
D1	1	Adam Palmer	DGL Red	23-10-0
	2	John Pantrey	Browning West Midlands Sphere	19-5-0
	3	Rob McKenzie	Mix and Match	8-12-0
D2	1	Mark Gaylard	Sensas Lobbys Green	10-11-0
	2	Ian Didcote	Garbolino/Dynamite Baits Diddymen	9-13-0
	3	Clive Raynor	Gowna Dreamers	8-3-0

Final League Table........

So that's it well done to DGL Black for the win.

The SW Super League starts soon so that's summer sorted along with Evesham and Staverton matches plus s bit of pleasure fishing on the Kenn.