Tuesday 24th May - Pleasure session with Dan on Llandegfedd Res.

 Just a quick summary concerning my first visit of the year to this wonderful water.

We fished the East shoreline after parking in the North Shore Car Pk.

What a day loads of big hybrids and bream after taking advice from a local angler who turned up the same time as us, thanks Steve.

Simple approach ......

Fished at 45 turns

Loads of particles in window feeders (maggot, hemp, caster and corn)

Size 14 wide gape hooks to 6lb hook lengths which were 1 metre long.

Braid used with 8lb shock leaders

Keep the bait going in every 5 to 10 minutes

Hit the clip every tip and sink the braid and be prepared for a bite on the drop

Bites are very positive.

Dan with a big hybrid

Dan had 10 big bream and some hybrids for 60lb, I had mainly hybrids and 3 big bream for around 50lbs.

What a place.

Sunday 22nd May - Gloucester Canal Teams of 4 League Round 3

 I put my name forward for this round (it's the only one I can fish this year) and was pleased to get a place.

It's the first time this year the Boy Band of Chris Hook, Sam Johnson and myself have fished together as a team, Russell Millward made up the the fourth member.

We met up at the Gordon League Rugby Club for the draw for a breakfast roll and coffee, paid our Pools and completed the Team Sheet plus entered the Super Pools. Unfortunately the draw went under way before everyone had a chance to enter the Super Pools, some anglers were also still arriving when the draw was taking place so a lack of co-ordination. Not a criticism on my part, it's a big League and takes a huge amount of organising and perhaps needs a little more admin support on the day.

Sam, Russell and I waited outside for Chris to come out with the draw.

I had a premonition that I would be on Permali High Wall (I had packed the 4 metre keepnet) and this was the case ...... peg P3. Sam was laughing as he knew I didn't want that area, it was even worse when I was informed 4oz had come off it the previous match.

On paper the draw was probably below average especially Russell at Sims 17, Sam needed to be further along at Castle Down and Chris needed to be about 10 pegs short of where he was down the Pilot end.

The drive to my peg from the Rugby Club was no more than 5 minutes. I had never seen this area of the Canal before. Parking was easy as well and I only had to carry the gear about 30 metres from the van.

There were houses directly behind me and I was told to expect lots of walkers and cyclists.

Sam informed me the depth was pretty even all the way across and it was. Top 4 deep at 13 and the same at 7 metres. A couple of metres out from the tins across I had around 8 foot.

Given the atrocious weight that came off the peg the previous match I scaled down to 0.09 hook lengths with 20's and only fed one ball on both pole lines at the start then it was across with fishmeal and a couple of dead reds towards the tins.

Lee Green on P2 had an early bream on the tip within the first 15 minutes so the pressure was on straight away. He followed it up with another fairly quickly .... oh dear.

Then on the 30 minute mark I had a rattle and managed a small hybrid of around 4 oz so blank avoided.

90 minutes in I was still on the tip when Sam rang me, he had had a few skimmers including one about 2lbs. As we spoke the tip flew around and I connected with a great fish, the phone ended up in the maggot box. It took quite a while to net it as it stayed very deep. A great fish at 4lb plus.

I rang Sam back to tell him the good news.

A few casts later I had a couple of liners so definitely fish in the peg.

I had a look on the short pole line and missed a sail away bite, put it back in again and hooked a boot lace eel. Next put in another!! I thought sod that and had a look at 13 metres.

Not a sniff and then just as I was about to ship back and go on the tip again I had an eel.

By this time Lee was catching bream on the pole and the angler below him on the end peg by the woods.

I had another bream on the tip which gave me a bit of a lift and thought I was now only 2 fish behind Lee.

Well the rest of the match I hardly had another bite but Lee and Andy Jane on the end continued to catch bream on the pole.

I did think though that given how the section had fished the match before I would still get good points.

Well I dd get 10 points from 17 which wasn't bad but the surprise was 30lb won the section, well done Steve Long and there was also a few 20lb plus weights. The lad to my right also done well and the thing is I only saw him net one bream, must go to Specsavers.

Sam ended up last in Section with 7lb plus, unheard of tbh with that weight.

Overall the Canal has fished its head off with regular glossy anglers saying they never seen anything like it. 

Several weights over 30lb, loads of 20's and good mid teen weights.

49lb won the match from the best peg on the canal, 456 upstream of Saul Junct.

As a team we bombed out big time so it's taxi for Nomads.

The last round of the league is on 12 June but I'll be on Llandegfedd.

Sunday 15th May - Angling Trust / Canal and River Trust Pairs Qualifier, Bridgwater and Taunton Canal

 Team mate Chris Hook and I usually enter this competition, we made the Final a few years ago qualifying on the Gloucester Canal and fished the big money match on the Staffs Worcs / Trent and Mersey up near Stafford. We done well but missed out on the money by one place.

We didn't fish any qualifiers last year due to clashes with League Matches.

The first Qualifier in our area was done near Taunton on the Taunton & Bridgwater Canal. We had not fished the Canal for a number of years and that would have been in the autumn in the Teams of 4.

After booking us both in I contacted Dan Baldwin who runs the matches for Taunton AA to see what sections were being used. Dan informed me one section would be at Creech and the other at Charlton. He also gave me a little bit of info on each section. Big fish (Perch and Tench at Charlton and silvers at Creech.

A few days prior to the match Dan contacted all entrants to say there would be 2 sections at Charlton due to a low entry (13 pairs), one above the bridge (a section)  and one below (b).

I had just returned from a Cruise and had done some prep before I went plus Chris and I both had a late night on the Saturday. 

It was an early start as the draw was at 08:15 aside the Canal. We met at Sedgemoor Services for a coffee before following Sat nav.

Just after going through the village of North Petherton I could see a couple of people walking in the middle of my carriageway a short distance away. Surely they will move to the side I thought ... no they didn't. It soon became obvious why, both had big bottles of alcohol and looked totally bombed out. Not sure if they also had a late night or was it an early morning.

Sat nav took us more or less right to the venue and I recognised the location, been here once before.

As we parked up in the field I could see it was in the main local anglers so in terms of knowledge of the venue and methods we were up against it a little bit.

It was nice to finally meet Russell Hilton, Russell used to write a blog when he fished the Grand Western Canal. He had a break from fishing but it now back fishing local matches again in Somerset.

Prior to the draw Chris and I agreed I would fish A section and he would fish B not that it made a lot of difference.

3 pairs would qualify for the National Final today which is on the Leeds Liverpool Canal in October.

The draw got underway and I was well towards the back. I drew peg 2 for me and peg 20 for Chris.

Paul Purchase asked me what I drew and when I told him he said not great as my section has been fished quite a lot. 

It was an easy walk along the tow path and the pegs were well prepared and trimmed.

A nice reed bed across, apparently the field across used to be a Golf Course.

Plenty of space between the pegs.

The rigger platform barrow came in handy in order to set up down in the waters edge, the long legs at the front were just about sufficient.

It was only 12 metres right across so nice and comfortable plus the reed bed on the inside acted as a pole roller.

The Canal flows left to right but not hard. 

There were lots of small fish topping and signs of feeding. Down the track I had about 4 foot and set up a 4 x 14 with 0.12 fluro hooklength and a drennan 20 carbon match, elastic was a number 4 to catch anything. Inside and downstream about a metre out from the bank was a 4 x 12 in 2.5 foot of water with a B611 18 to 0.11 power line, elastic was a number 6 for perch over worm. Across in 2 area's was a 4 x12 in 2.5 foot of water (tucked into the reeds) with a B611 18 to 0.11 power line, elastic was a hollow 12.

I had just set up with 15 minutes to go and another angler came walking up suggesting I was fishing a bit light. I decided to stick with what I had and would play it by ear as the match progressed.

At the start chopped worm and caster went in on one line across and the same with some chopped sweetcorn on another line across. 2 balls of Sensas Black Lake and a little Black Magic went in down the track with caster and dead pinkie and neat chopped worm on the inside.

Starting off down the track it took a while to get a bite and the firs fish was a bleak. I got it sorted and fished about a metre downstream of the ground bait a soon had small silver bream. They were small, not even hand sized. Some guys were fishing the whip so would be a lot quicker than me if they continued to feed. I gave a track a good hour and had about a pound of small fish but bites had slowed up so re fed one ball and put a little bit of chopped worm in it.

First look straight across on the 2 lines and no indications at all after about 20 minutes so a top up was done and then a look on the inside with a worm head, nothing there either so topped up again.

It was hard to tell if anything was being caught as I could see anyone properly.

First slow trot down on the track with pinkie gave me a dumpy roach about 4oz, that's better I thought and a few more smaller ones followed. I then hit something solid, thought it was weed and then it started to move, remember I only had a number 4 elastic. At first I thought it was a big perch but soon realised it was a tench. The number 4 elastic performed exceptionally well and I just hoped the small hook held. I managed to break down to the top 3 and use the puller to control it safety into the net. Lovely tench around 3lbs.

I fed more worm in the ground bait and left the track line after the commotion.

No one was walking the bank and I hadn't spoke to Chris so you didn't know how it was fishing although i did hear a bit of splashing on end peg 1 to my left.

We were about 2 hours in now and a look across and nearside didn't give any hint of fish, it also started to rain.

When I came back on the track line it was also pretty dead but then a sail away bite (on pinkie which looked like a bream or skimmer bite) was hit and it was solid again, another tench. This one gave me the run around going right over and it came up to the top. Bigger than the last one and took longer to get back. When it finally came on the inside it went into vegetation but swam out. So 2 tench in the net and a couple of pound of bits, got to be worth good points I thought.

Topped up the track again and went over with maggot on the heavy gear.

The float dipped and big fish on, another tench and much easier to get in with the 12 elastic.

The track produced next to nothing the rest of the match and I had nothing on the inside, I did however snare another small tench across. 

I knew I had double figures which would be good on the day.

My bag went a level 14lbs

As I walked back to the van the only person to beat me with 15lb 1oz was the angler on the end peg downstream.

I ended up 2nd in the match but sadly Chris struggled so no qualification for us.

Section boards and pairs overall as follows....

Good luck to those pairs who qualified.

Tuesday 3rd May - Head to Head Round 4 Bristol Feeder Canal

 Had to squeeze in a Tuesday session for Round 4 of the H2H with team mate Leigh Wakefield as I'm off on holiday again this week.

Leigh was currently 2 -1 in front so needed to do the business today!

I arrived to park on Feeder Rd at 06:40 and took a walk over to have a look at the water before Leigh arrived. Looking down to where we usually fish I was astonished to see 2 anglers setting up. One was just downstream where I normally fish and the other was bang on where Leigh sets up.

Leigh arrived and I told him the news, there is plenty of room though so it was a case of going further down or go up from the slipway.

We walked down the towpath on our way to the Feeder Rd Munch for breakfast. The angler on Leigh's usual peg recognised me as he reads these blogs. It was Gary Skuse and he had been following our H2H's with interest. "I suppose your going for breakfast first" he said, lol, of course I said.

I said I'd make him famous, so took a photo.

Gary's Dad was on the other peg.

We walked down toward Avon St. Bridge and there were plenty of options but decided to go up above the slipway as it was a shorter walk and we wouldn't disturb Gary and his Dad coming down with our gear.

Next it was into the Feeder Rd Munch for a fry up and very nice as usual.

Cars unloaded and then it was onto the Canal. We decided on 2 pegs and tossed for who picked first.

I won the toss and chose the peg just upstream of the slipway as it had a nice overhanging tree across.

Leigh went up about another 35 metres and also had vegetation across.

After setting up my 3 usual rigs I walked up to Leigh and gave him some caster, hemp and maggot (I do look after him).

Started off cupping one ball in at 13 and one at 7. There were fish topping and the colour looked spot on. The canal was flowing toward the City and it was quite strong.

Started off holding back across with the 2 gram rig at 13 and run it through time and time again for 20 minutes or so, not an indication so cupped in another ball and fished at 7.

10 minutes and not a sign of anything, seriously! Re-fed the 7 metre line and went back out at 13 with a 1 gram rig. Float sailed away, hit the bite and it was a daddy ruff, not a good sign.

I kept looking up to see how Leigh was doing and he also seemed quiet.

Just before the end of the first hour I hit a bite across and the number 3 elastic came out quite a way. Skimmer I thought, no, a dace foul hooked in the belly, ffs.

I re-fed both lines and took a walk up to Leigh. He had a few roach but in the main he was struggling.

I did get a a couple of roach short but the bites were few and far between. 

At 13 metres you could see the float tremor but not go under, small dace or ruff.

I couldn't work out what was wrong and tried coming off the bottom on both lines and going a few inches over and holding back.

A few perch graced the net along with a few more roach and dace but bites came out of the blue. If you fed and went over it straight away you would get 1 or 2 bites and then it would go dead. The bites I had were seldom sail away ones.

Dave Morgan who comes to watch us occasionally came down and said it had fished hard over the weekend, I did get a net roach while he was there.

Just before packing up Gary Skuse and his Dad came up and Gary said he had caught 5 - 6lbs of roach fishing top kit plus 2 over hemp and maggot.

We packed up at 3 p.m.

I weighed Leigh first and he had just over 4lbs.

I didn't think I had that much and the scales proved me right. I weighed just over 3lbs.

So ... he's now 3 - 1 up, not good.

A nice day though and you had to work hard for the bites.

I also done a litter pick and half filled a black sack after some of Bristol's finest visited the venue at the weekend.

Off on holiday now so no fishing unit 15th May when I am fishing an Angling Trust Canal Pairs Qualifier on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal with team mate Chris Hook.

Sunday 1st May - Gloucester Canal Spring League Practice / Open

 Even though I cannot fish the Spring League on the Glossy this year (except one of the four matches on 22nd May but may not get selected) I will try and fish the practice / open matches.

Dave Clapton, Liz Stone and Jon Tocknell are kindly running this matches and it is much appreciated. Thanks must also go to Kev Forty from the Canal and River Trust who maintains the pegs and sorts out parking etc.

I made team mates Chris and Sam aware of this match and 3 of us booked in.

The sections to be fished were Castle Up, Castle Down and Pegthorne Bay depending on numbers.

33 booked in so it was just the Castle sections.

I had a look through my Glos Canal Blogs just to refresh myself on pegs and weights over the last few years. When we met at McDonalds near Cribbs Causeway and shared this with Chris and Sam.

It was then off up the M5 coming off at Junct 13 as the draw was in the Whitminster Hotel.

Pools / Peg fee was £25 but there was also a £5 Super Pool which we all entered.

At this time of year it can be very hit and miss on the Glossy as the bream huddle up in pockets ready for spawning. Everyone knew it would be "bream bingo" and the draw would be important.

Sam drew Castle Up (can't remember his peg, Chris drew 370 which had a decent weight the previous week, 18lbs I believe, also Castle Up. I did inform him it was a good peg. I drew 442 which I was more than happy with, Castle Down.

I would have preferred 440 or 441 as these pegs have plenty of cover across but the lily pads are showing now and if the bream are around they won't be far off them.

It's a fairly long walk to the peg but all on the flat. There was a bit of drizzle but little wind and the temperature wasn't too bad.

Fishing was 11 - 4.

Tins and the odd lily across

The famous sunken barge peg (440) Liz Stone was on that.

Standard Glossy set up today, 2 pole rigs middle and 7 metres but apart from plumbing up and cupping in at the start I never picked the pole up after that!

I started off on the fishmeal ground bait cage feeder, 20 gram with 8lb shock leader, 0.11 power line hook length and a 16 B560 hook.

Bait and feed is very simple, dead reds, dead pinkie, live maggot and pinkie, worm and caster.

At the start after feeding the pole lines it was straight out in front about a metre off the lilies where it was about 6 foot deep. There was a slight tinge of colour but only just.

I had 2 dead reds on the hook and dead pinkie and dead red in the feeder but only a few.

A few minutes after casting I brought it in and found the maggots had been smashed, didn't see any indication but a good sign.

3 casts later I had my first skimmer going about 2lb. 15 minutes later another about the same size.

Mark Brush who wasn't fishing came along for a walk with his wife and asked how I was doing. I told him and he said Liz on 440 had one as well so there were a few about. Other than that nothing the upstream side of the sunken barge.

I had however seen Andy Pollard to my right net a couple of fish but didn't know what they were.

10 minutes or so passed and I had another skimmer.

Mark came back along after going up to end peg 456 and said there wasn't a lot happening and Andy's fish were small skimmers.

While he was with me I had a small knock a slight pull round which I missed, think it was a liner.

I was getting a few bites (liners again) so tried worm on the hook tipped with a pinkie and chopped a little worm up as well.

As a substantial barge went through the tip flew round and it was a better fish but had to dip the rod end in the water to avoid the boat, thankfully it stayed on.

Sam rang me after an hour and I told him I had 6 fish at that point.

Looking down to my right I couldn't see a lot being caught and Liz on 440 was fairly quiet.

Towards the end of the second hour added another few big skimmers but it definitely slowed up, it was also getting colder.

Sam rang again at the halfway point and I told him I had 11 decent fish now, he said Chris was getting a few as well. Sam however was struggling with a few small skimmers and bits.

It got even colder and I was shivering at one point, there was a very fresh upstream breeze.

Bites were few and far between now but reducing the feed right down and swapping the hook bait I did get a further 6 fish and a couple of rudd.

The "all out"was called but just before that Gloucester Legend Tony Davis came walking down after packing up and said it was poor to my right except for the end peg (456) who had a good weight and Andy Pollard who had about 12lbs.

The scales and board came down and I saw that peg 456 had weighed 58lbs !

I knew I didn't have that and as I only knew of Chris having a few besides me I hoped to frame.

My Section board, it would be section by default as a minimum.

My catch, thanks to Chris Jones for the photo

As I got back to the car park Liz informed me I was 3rd overall, Chris had weighed 41lb and was 2nd so a good day for Sensas Nomads.

Here is a video Sam took of Chris weighing in ........

Here are the results, including section winners....

Hope to fish the Bristol Feeder Canal on Tuesday.