Wednesday 28th December - Roy Carter Memorial, Gloucester Canal

 This match is held annually between Christmas and New Year and organised by Steve Long and Dave Clapton. It's £25 to enter with £10 going to the Stroke Association, no peg fee and the rest in section and overall pools.

It is usually well supported with anglers looking to get out of the house after 2 or 3 days of festivities.

I kept checking the weather forecast leading up to the match and it didn't look good. Heavy rain and strong SW winds were coming our way.

I was up just before 06:00 and heading up the M5 at 06:40 to the draw in Widden Rugby Club. The forecast was spot on. Heavy rain, strong winds and spray, I did question my sanity but carried on.

I stopped in McDonalds in Hardwick and the only other anglers there were Jon Tocknell and Andy Jane which was a bit concerning as there are normally quite a few who call in there before a match on the Glossy.

When I got to the Rugby Club and booked in with Steve he said he originally had 46 but it was now down to 37. The weather plus sickness had put a few off, it was also the day of the funeral for Mike Pollard so some would be going to that. Still a decent match with 37 fishing.

Pegging today was simple, every peg in from 23 to 65. Obviously you needed to draw on the bend and anywhere between 45 and 49 would be nice plus 63 or 64.

I was 3rd in the draw queue and my drawing arm let me down again badly on the Glossy, peg 32 was my home for 5 hours in the wind and rain, bloody hell I thought, must have killed a robin on the way up.

I hate this area of the canal and have drawn it several times now and never, never done any good.

Simple set up today, bread feeder, ground bait feeder and short pole (top 7) due to the wind.

I fed all lines with a little bait before starting off on the bread, 30 minutes went by and not a sniff. Dale Maplas to my right on 33 landed a small roach as did the guy on 31 to my left, hmmm. 

Went on the ground bait feeder for 30 minutes still nothing, saw a couple of fish caught on the feeder to my left but nothing substantial. Had a look on the pole when the wind allowed and not a touch either.

Was thinking of packing up just before 13:00 when the tip went round, couldn't believe it, a small skimmer. Knowing that my section was fishing rock hard I'd have to stay.

I had another bite which I missed at 14:50 and that was it. I weighed in 11 oz.

There were blanks in my section but it was won by Chris Jones who took a few fish on the pole and tip for 2lb 3ozs.

It was a different story down in the 40's as you will see by the results.......

1st Tony Davis 27 - 05 peg 43

2nd Mark Brush 24 - 06 peg 48

3rd Nigellas Baker 24 - 01 peg 45

Sections ....

23 - 32 C Jones 2 - 03 peg 30

33 - 42 A Storkey 20 - 12 peg 41 

43 - 52 N Pickering 18 - 12 peg 46 default

56 - 65 N Richards 7 - 02 peg 64

The draw beat me today but £375 was raised for the Stroke Association.

Well done the legend that is Tony Davis, Tony has helped me up at Evesham this summer which I am grateful for.

No more matches this year. 

I have had an enjoyable year again and looking ahead I'll be on my local river Kenn, a few trips to Evesham and perhaps fish the Glossy over the next few months.

Happy New Year everyone and tight lines.

Sunday 18th December - Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club Christmas Match River Kenn

I fished the Kenn on the Thursday prior to the match with Matt Davis when it was -5 degrees and frozen over. After breaking the ice and the tide had turned we both managed double figures of roach each.

The weather for this match was much better with only an overnight ground frost and temperatures during the day forecast to be around plus 5 degrees. Strong winds and rain was also forecast.

I think the weather put some anglers off as we had 36 originally booked in but 9 cancelled. Can't blame them really as the weather coupled with standing or sitting in the mud is not the best advert. 

The Kenn in winter can be feast or famine, there's not much in-between but I love it.

We met at Angelina's Restaurant in Warrens Village for breakfast and the all important draw.

Match Secretary Rob Fogg had pegged from the Car Park just below Kenn Road down to peg 22 below Strode Road bridge. 

Rob was paying top 4 plus 5 sections and of course it being a Christmas Match everyone would get a prize. Scott Smallwood was also running a raffle.

Fishing was 1015 - 1515.

Breakfast at Angelina's we would also have the results etc in the adjoining club

Rob commenced the draw wearing his Christmas Jumper and tinsel covered bucket at 09:00 sharp. I was about halfway in the queue and finally dipped my hand into the bucket of doom. I had been to a carol service the evening before so I hoped the man above would reward me with a decent draw!

I was reasonably happy when I opened the peg card to see number 38, not one you would run to but not bad either. I fancied pegs 33 to 37 would be hard to beat.

It was a very short drive to the river along with a short walk. I had all my gear with me but left the pole in the van as I was going to get down in the mud (the level of the river is dropped by nearly 50% during the winter).

You need to go prepared for winter fishing on the Kenn i.e. lined waders or chest waders, a bait waiter, some bank sticks for rod rests and basin and hoop to store items of tackle. I wear chest waders and a gor tex jacket. I have also have adapted my storm shield tray with lid to take 2 broom handles so I can stand it up in the water and keep bait etc dry.

It was a simple set up take wise today ...... 2 waggler rods and a maggot feeder rod.

Both waggler rods had 2.5 AA floats on them, 18 B611 hooks to 0.11 hook length, it's best to gear up in case big perch and tench show up. One was set to fish the far shelf where it was about 2.5 foot deep the other for down the middle where it was just over 3 foot.

Loose feed only today, red maggot and some bronze for the hook.

There was still a fair bit of ice in the margins and ice coming down the middle of the river.

Scott Smallwood was above me on 39 and the angler on 37 below was a newish member. These pegs are quite tight together. Scott was down in the water like me but the angler on 37 below me was a bit high off the bank so I guessed he wouldn't fish the peg as hard as I would.

On the all in I put in a pouch full of red maggot across and another pouch down the middle.

Second run through across the float dipped and it was roach on, a tidy stamp fish but for some reason it came off just before the net. I glanced up and Scott was in on the waggler as well.

Back out again and this time success landing a 4 oz fish. I was aware high tide was around 13:45 so the river would back up around 13:00, it was important to catch well before this.

Feeding is always key on the Kenn in winter and you really need to discipline yourself and get in a rhythm otherwise the fish will move away.

I had a few more stamp roach and felt it was going well, feeding regularly and swapping lines kept the fish coming but the size of the roach got smaller. A couple of grebes diving in my swim might have spooked the better fish. I could see Scott getting regular fish as well swapping between the wag and long whip.

About and hour and a half into the match I was surprised to see Kev Perry behind me. Kev was down on the most comfortable peg on the river, 36A. He said he had cramp and asked if I was catching. I told him I had around 30 roach but most were on the small side. Kev said he hadn't that many and off he went.

I carried on working the peg on both lines. Best results were by using bronze maggot on the hook, single and double.

Just over halfway through Paul Nichols came behind me. Paul had packed up and said he hadn't had a bite up in the 40's which was the same for others.

About 14:00 the wind got stronger as did the rain, Scott shouted down "I want to go home" lol, I was quite comfy.

Cracking on working the peg I was getting fish regularly but mainly fish in the ounce to 2 oz range. I would get the odd stamp roach but they were few and far between.

At the end Simon Carvallo came up with the scales and started off with weighing Scott.

Scott had done well putting just over 12lb in the net.

Scott

I was next to weigh and knew I didn't have as much as Scott. My catch went 9lb 12oz. Simon said I'd be well up with that as below Strode Rd has struggled as had the Car Park section.

Me

I walked down to see the angler on 37 weigh 15oz and then watch Kev weigh in just over 14lbs on 36A.

Kev

Kev said he had heard Glenn Calvert had a good bag on peg 40 so I walked up and weighed him in as he had the scales.

Glenn's net went just over 16lb

Back to Angelina's for the results and raffle it soon became clear that some sections had fished hard especially the Car Park at Kenn Rd and the section below Strode.

Rob got the results under way starting with the sections .....

A Section pegs 20 - 25..... They all blanked so the sections was decided on a lucky dip draw which went to Mark Bartlett

B Section pegs 29 - 34 ..... Simon Carvallo 2lb 9oz peg 33

C Section pegs 35 - 39 ....... Lee Smallwood quadrupled default 1lb 15oz peg 36

D Section pegs 40 - 44 ....... Andy Devereux 2lb 1oz (default)

E Section pegs 49 - 55 ........ Jeremy Salisbury 0.0.1 dram !!!!

Top 4 .....

1st Glenn Calvert 16lb 9oz (Team Sensas 88)

2nd Kev Perry 14lb 6oz (Team Sensas 88)

3rd Scott Smallwood 12lb 9oz (Garbolino CFWAC)

4th Ivan Currie 9lb 12oz (Team Sensas Nomads)

Some nice prizes for everyone which made it a great day.

The raffle was also good with prizes donated from Cadbury Angling and Reel Fun Fishing tackle shops.

Next match for me is the Roy Carter Memorial on the Gloucester Canal 28th December.

Have a good Christmas everyone.

Sunday 4th December - Brian Britt Memorial, Kennet and Avon Canal, Bathampton - Claverton

In previous years this match was known as the Commercial House League Christmas Match but is now in memory of Brian Britt who was involved with the league for many years. Brians daughter Nicola and son Andy donated a trophy to be fished for every year in his memory.

Access to the town waters in Bath is difficult now due to the Clean Air Zone and residents parking only extended to 7 days a week. It's a real shame as the town stretch is quite prolific.

There was 26 booked in originally for this match but 3 anglers pulled out. They probably looked at the weather forecast. 

I was surprised when I left the house that there was no frost but it was cold, 2 degrees. I had joggers on underneath the jeans and a couple of layers on under the fleece. 

Due to the parking and access issues in Bath the match was pegged between Bathampton and Claverton so no parking issues.

I really didn't fancy Meadow Farm. There were a couple of decent pegs either side of Meadow Farm bridge but didn't relish the walk back up the hill afterwards. 

The pegs at Bathampton fished ok in the final league match in November as did the pegs at Claverton.

I got to the Crown in Keynsham around 7:30 after being up in the night a few times with stomach problems, really didn't want a breakfast so declined that but they were able to sell the one I had booked.

Paid my pools etc and bought some raffle tickets, the prizes were donated by the Crown Pub which was brilliant of them.

I was about 6th to draw and pulled out peg 19. Quite happy with that as it was at Claverton halfway between the bay and Ferry Lane bridge.

Fishing today was 10:15 - 15:15.

Off I went the long way around to Claverton avoiding the Bath clean air zone (up over Haycombe and Combe Down), it takes about 25 minutes.

I parked up in the car park, unloaded and proceeded down to the canal bridge which you have to go down the side off through 2 gates. When I got to the bridge Andy Cranston was going to unload his trolley but I said with a bit of help there's no need. Between 3 of us we helped each other down the side of the bridge onto the towpath.

The pegs were well spaced out and Paul Purchase was right in the middle of the turning bay which is a good area for skimmers when there is colour and I mean colour (brown), it wasn't clear today but not that coloured either.

I soon got to my peg were a guy was sitting pike fishing, he had only been there 10 minutes and went off without any problems.

I was a bit high off the water and there was only one feature across, a den of twigs and a couple of over hung bushes but there was a little gap in the middle. The canal was quite narrow here, 8 sections to the far bank so easy enough. Depth down the track was about 4 foot and right across in the feature was about 2.5 foot. 

A 4 x14 for bread down the track, a 0.4 choppy float for in the feature with worm / caster and a 4 x 14 for the far shelf with pinkie.

While tackling up I had a visitor ........

                                            

That robin stayed around me all day and even landed on my knee !

Back to the match .....

After putting in one cup full of liquidised down the track I fed some sloppy minced worm and caster over to my snaggy feature and a few pinkies in ground bait at the bottom of the far shelf.

Starting of on the punch down the track the float was motionless for 5 minutes. I fed a little more bread but didn't make any difference. Jan Van Myzak was to my right and was fishing the same, he shouted down "I think we are in trouble". After 20 minutes I knocked it on the head.

I went over onto the worm line, a bit too easy for my liking but needs must. I had about an inch of red worm on an 18 and the float soon dipped and headed off. A micro perch which I thought was a daddy ruff at first, it was about 1/2 an ounce.

Back out and the same again, really bagging now lol. A few minutes passed and a boat went through so re-fed some more worm slop and a few pinkies on the far shelf as well as a pot of worm down the track.

Went back out over the worm and had a better perch, well I say better, it was about 2 ounces.

It went quiet again so had a look over the bottom of the far shelf. I didn't see the bite but bumped a fish when I moved the float, didn't think it was very big though.

Over the worm line again and a few more micro perch.

Jerry Pocock came walking down and said they were all blanking to my right and he walked on down to see how they were doing. He came back and said Andy Cranston had about 6 oz as did Andy Britt and that was it. When he was there my float went under and the 5 elastic came out. A jack pike of about 2lb which bit me off eventually.

A few more perch came in spells and then Andy Britt came down for a walk off the end peg above Ferry Lane. He asked me what I had. I said about a pound, with that he said your winning the match. Meadow Farm and Bathampton were struggling.

The end of the match couldn't come soon enough as it was now freezing.

Andy Cranston came down on his way back to the car park and stopped to watch me weigh, he had weighed 1lb 4oz and that was about 30 perch and a roach on bloodworm and joker.

My perch and a minnow sized dace went 1lb 6oz which was top weight at Claverton.

Back at the Crown I found I was 2nd in the match with Kev Boltz catching a 2lb perch when he lifted his float 30 minutes from the end! Better to be lucky than good Kev lol.

Kev with his trophy and prize presented by Nicky and Andy

Here is the full report and results by Vince Lunn .......

The Sensas Commercial House Xmas match has been renamed this year to the Brian Britt Memorial match, as Brian was involved with running the league for a long time.

It was fished on the Kennet & Avon canal from Meadow Farm to Claverton (22 pegs).

Thanks to Angling Direct for donating some prizes for the raffle. Also thanks to Cameron Malin for donating some nice engraved glasses for all of the winners.

The drop in temperatures made the fishing extremely hard for everyone, with not many fish being caught other than tiny perch. The canal was fairly clear and there were not many boats moving around.

The winner of the match was Kev Boltz (Midland Spinner), who was pegged 1 to the right of Claverton bay. In the first 4 1/2 hours he managed to catch only 1 micro sized perch. With 30 minutes to go, he was fishing a small piece of worm on the inside when he lifted the float to try another line, but hooked into a large perch. After a bit of a battle he had the perch in the net which gave him a winning weight of 2 lbs 0 ozs.

He won the Xmas hamper and is also the first angler to get his name on the memorial trophy!

2nd was Ivan Currie (Sensas Nomads) who was drawn 4 pegs to the left of Claverton Bay. He had a decent feature over and fished really tight to this with small red worms over chopped worm. He caught lots of small perch to weigh 1 lb 6 ozs.

3rd was Andy Cranston (Sensas Nomads) who was drawn next to Ferry Lane bridge. He had all of his fish on bloodworm, catching mainly perch next to the concrete wall on the inside and then right over on the far side. He weighed 1 lb 4 ozs

4th Nicola Goodhind (M & N Electrical) - 12 ozs

5th Shane Caswell (Midland Spinner) - 8 ozs

6th Andy Britt (Mosella Bathampton) - 6 1/2 ozs