Sunday 27th September - Clevedon Club Match Woodlands Lake Trinity Waters

I was in two minds whether or not to fish this event but halfway through the week sent Match Secretary Adie Baker a text to confirm my attendance. Woodlands is a decent sized venue and a pretty fair one at that with  a good head of silvers as well as the carp, pole, waggler and straight lead all work as well. The weather on the Saturday was glorious and another good day was forecast for the Sunday. Clear skies on the Saturday night meant it would be cold over night and the early part of the Sunday morning. With this in mind I put in some bread to fish 'popped up' style. I had read a report a few weeks ago were an angler done very well on the method even though it would normally be a winter tactic.
Got to the draw in plenty of time just behind Club Chairman Steve Bonwick who was running the match today in Adie's absence with the help of Club Secretary Barry Fowler. 15 were booked in and it was good to see some old faces and a couple of new members as well. The draw was pretty civilised and no diving in or pushing (think they were still in shock over the Wales v England game).

I pulled out Peg 27 which I was happy with as I believed it had form. It was also nice to see the new Peg Cards provided by Cadbury Angling.
For company I had Nick Harvey on 26, 28 was vacant and on 29 was SensasThyers Captain Lance Tucker. I decided to keep it simple to day with a pole line at 14 meters with banded pellet on the deck and another banded pellet rig for both margins. A shallow waggler rig and a straight lead rod were quickly assembled from the ready rod bag. The only bait I had was pellets and a 70p small white loaf.
On the all in I fed the two margins with micros and wetted 6mm and then went straight out on the popped up bread in the middle of the lake feeding 6mm with the catty on the 14 meter line while waiting for the tip to go round (I hope). Lance started off on the waggler shallow and had an early carp, Nick next door also started on the straight lead as did a few others around the lake. After 30 mins I could not see that anyone had caought except and those on the straight lead went on the pole. It was not looking good even though there were a few fish showing on the surface. I continued to feed pellets on the 14 meter line and pinged a few 8mm in the middle of the lake every few minutes over the lead line. I suppose it was about 45 mins before the tip went around and a 3lb common was netted. Another 20 mins passed before it went around again cloely followed by another. At this point in the match I still could not see anything being caught. Nick asked if I was catching on the bread and I confirmed I was. Lance came down for a walk which indicates how hard it was. I decided to stick it out on the bread and continued to put the odd fish in the net over the whole day. I did try the pole and wag breifly without success. On the all out I felt I had done enough to frame at least.

Barry Fowler was first to weigh and put some quality carp together for 40lb of an early corner peg.

Rich Heatley had a run of fish late for 45lb 10oz

New member Matt Roden went into the lead with 49lb from the bottom corner peg

There were a few lower weights over the next few pegs and then it was me, all carp on the bread for 72lb 6oz

Lance or Nick did not weigh, on the peg after Lance was new member Mike Pickering with a personal best perch.

Mike with his nice perch

Fellow Royal Mail colleague Paul Fairs was last to weigh in from corner peg 33 which he did not fancy but caught some right munters of the pole and pellet for 69lb 10oz

Results as follows....

1st      Ivan (the bread) Currie 72lb 6oz

2nd     Paul Faires 69lb 10oz

3rd     Matt Roden 49lb

Silvers

Andy Deavereax    11lb of nice skimmers

Weigh sheet

Another club match next Sunday at Avalon

Sunday 6th April - Clevedon Club Match Woodlands Lake Trinity Waters

I was in two minds whether to fish this match and was thinking of going 'fluff chucking' on Chew as I have not been out this year yet but looking at the weather report it would not have been much fun so booked in for Woodlands. I was determined to put a decent weight together and simply focus on one or two methods instead of messing around between carp and silvers. So the plan was pellet, meat on the pole and bread for the first hour on the straight lead. On arrival it turned out only 6 were booked in, this was due to the Kev Perry Series of 6 matches starting on the Clubs Paddock Lake, I think there could be one other clash but not sure. Weather was not as bad as forecasted and in fact most of the day was ok ish. Adie put us all in a row (no spare pegs inbetween just like it used to be)on the car park bank with the wind mainly coming from behind. I drew 29, Mark 'the paste' Walsh was next to me followed by Adie, then Rich Heatley, Lee Williams and John Wolstencroft. Fishing was when we were all ready which was 09:45 until 15:30 just in case in hammered down as forecast. I had on line at 14 meters for banded 8mm pellet, a shallow rig for the nearside margins which would also act as an up in the water rig and and a heaver rig for the margins just in case a few munters moved in. I cast out the popped up bread on the all in and kept feeding the 14 meter line with 6 mm pellet with the catty (continuously) the margins had been fed with mirco and a little meat. After about 10 mins I had a liner so cast out again a bit shorter and had a pull around almost straight away, I got the fish into the margins and it snagged me so one nil to the carp. Back out again and I had another after 15 mins, netted successfully this time and 5lb to my credit. One more followed before the first hour was up. Mark next to me was fishing paste short and feeding micro, lot of fizzing in his peg (skimmers) and he caught a few early on. The weather was quite mild and there were the odd fish topping. I had been loose feeding at 14 meters for an hour by this stage so went out on the shallow rig to have a look. The float dipped a few times but nothing on the end when struck, a fish came to the top and I must have put the pellet right on it's nose and soon an F1 of about 2lb was in the net. I went out with the 'at depth' rig and had a few fish, tench, skimmers, roach and decent carp but foul hooked and lost quite a few. Mark next to me had a mid match spurt on the paste but it died off, I could see Adie catching but he too did not land everything, foul hookers and the hook pulling out. I just stuck it out on the 14 meter line for the rest of the day. First to weigh was John Wolstencroft, John had a decent match catching in the margins during the latter half. Here is John with part of his catch and a big munter which weighed around 12lb.

and here is his munter...



Next to weigh was Lee, he had 3 weighs in total and did win the match, part of his catch below

Rich and Aidie were next but did not take a pic for some reason but Rich said he had only 20lb but had more than double that and Aidie had 90lb odd.

Mark even though he had a poor second half did well and included this 15lb munter.



I was last to weigh and included a 12lb - 13lb munter in my 88lb odd bag, part of my catch below.



So the weather was not as bad as forecasted and we all had a good day, here is the weigh sheet...



In summary....

1st Lee Williams 117 -06

2nd Adie Baker 90 - 08

3rd Ivan Currie 88 - 08

4th John Wolstencroft 78 - 04

5th Mark 'the paste' 67 - 01

6th Rich Heatley 52 - 03

494lb between 6 anglers!

Readers of this blog might remember I mentioned John Wolstencroft got a personal number plate for his new Audi, here it is....

Sunday 27th October - Clevedon Club Match Woodland Lake Trinity Waters

Press report only as I did not fish the match due to returning from hols yesterday.

After a quite spell on the competition front Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club held a match on Woodland Lake which is part of the Trinity Waters complex just outside Bridgwater. Competitors battled in strong winds and heavy rain, most were rewarded for their efforts and ‘Dunkirk Spirit’, the mild conditions for the time of year did help keep anglers focused. Carp up to 15lbs were caught and only one good fish separated the top six. Top weight on the day went to Highbridge Angling assistant Tich Williams with 84lb 2oz of carp who fished pellet shallow, second was John Page with 83lb 10oz and third Kev Lawer who put 77lb 12oz on the scales. First in the silver fish category was Don Sutherland with a nice net of skimmers and roach for 24lb. The next club match is on 10th November at Plantations and there are open matches every Tuesday and Saturday on the Paddock Lake, Acorn Fisheries, Kingston Seymour (contact the fishery for details).

1st Tich Williams 84lb 2oz
2nd John Page 83lb 10oz
3rd Kev Lawer 77lb 12oz

Silvers
Don Sutherland 24lb

Titch with one of his lumps

Press report Clevedon Club Match 4th Aug Woodlands Lake

Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club returned to Woodlands Lake Chiltern Trinity just outside Bridgwater for their latest competition. Anglers fished in changeable and sometime fierce conditions but kept focused on the match resulting in 11 of them weighing in over 50lb each, the lowest weight was 30lbs. Popular baits used on the day were Pellet, Luncheon Meat and Paste fished on the pole. Top angler on the day and who won by a considerable margin was Paul Nichols who from peg 31 caught a magnificent 154lbs 10oz of carp. Second was newcomer Simon Ryall who from peg 14 on the opposite to the winner weighed in 104lb 8oz. Third was regular framer Nick Harvey just three pegs away from Simon with 89lbs 8oz. On the silver fish front top weight went to Mark ‘the paste’ Walsh with a nice net of skimmer bream for 26lb 5oz, second in the silver fish category was Mark Bromsgrove with 19lb 8oz.

                                   Paul Nichols coached and sponsored by Darren Nudd and below                                                         Mark 'the paste' Walsh

Clevedon Club Match Sunday 21st April Woodlands Lake

My last blog was titled 'almost back to normal', well nothing could be further from the truth. I went to see my brother in NI Saturday 6th April who was suffering from what we thought was exhaustion and intended to come back a couple of days later.... I did not turn up for the flight as he was diagnosed with the dreaded cancer so I stayed all week, I return again this Sunday coming. He loves his trout fishing and fished a number of night competitions up in Co. Tyrone for a few years having a lot of success and qualified for the Trout Masters final in England. So.... things will be up and down with me for the foreseeable future.

I only booked in to fish todays match yesterday as I was not really feeling up to it but Julie my wife was working and suggested I go (that's a first).

Peg 33 was put in at the last minute due to an increase in numbers fishing and I drew it. I fished it for 5 hours and threw the towel in as I only had 2 skimmers. I did have one foul hooker on but lost it at the net, it would not have made any difference. My half of the lake was very slow except for Brian Slipper in corner peg 3.

Here is the press report which gives you the overview of the days match. I have inserted the pics of the anglers who framed.

Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club continued their spring match programme fishing Woodlands Lake which is part of the Trinity Waters Complex just outside Bridgwater. On arrival Fishery Manager Misha Herring informed competitors that the venue had been fishing well despite the variations to the temperature during the week but the big weights came from pleasure anglers so it was going to be interesting to see how the lake would respond during match conditions. The lake did produce big weights but from only one half of the lake. Andy Hembrow venue expert and one of the most consistent anglers on the Somerset circuit drew inform peg 23, Andy pole fished pellet shallow and at distance to land quality carp throughout the six hours for a massive 128lb 14oz and first place.

Andy Hembrow (his mum and dad were carp)

 On the opposite site of the lake Allan Oram was not far behind with 123lb for second, again fishing pellet shallow.

Allan Oram

 3 pegs away from the winner was Johnny Page who also fished the same method and just missed out on the ton with 93lb 8oz for third.

Johnny Page

The top silver fish place went to match secretary Adie Baker who from peg 19 put together 20lb 8oz of quality skimmers and roach.

The only angler to pick up prize money from the other end of the lake was Brian Slipper who took the second silver fish prize weighing in 17lb 10oz.

1st  Andy Hembrow 128lb 14oz - peg 23

2nd Allan Oram 123lb - peg 11

3rd  Johnny Page 93lb 8oz - peg 26

1st Silivers Adie Baker 20lb 8oz - peg 19

2nd Slivers Brian Slipper 17lb 10oz - peg 3

Sunday 24th February - Clevedon Club Match Woodlands Lake Trinity Waters

What a cold day it has been so understandable that a few did not turn up leaving only 9 of us to pitch our witts against the elements. I nearly did not make it myself due to slipping down a ladder yesterday afternoon while trying to prun some trees, fortunetly only bruised ribs and my pride was hurt. Mrs C did look after me calling me a few names at the same time oh and she also said ''I suppose you'll still be going fishing tomorrow'' too right.
Anyway back to the match, Aidie Baker booked us all in an Misha took food orders as well as providing the usual cup of tea or coffee on arrival. Due to the cold we fished 10:30 - 16:00. I drew peg 14 which is on the far side of the lake but you really need to be around halfway. Rich Heatley who won the last match here a few weeks ago drew the same peg again so he was happy (for a change). 3 pegs to my left I had Chris Fox, 2 pegs to my right was Kev Perry, above him 2 pegs away was Brian Slipper, more or less opposite me was Rich Heatley.

View from my peg

Rich Heatley opposite with the wind in his face

I had loads of various baits today but only fed sparingly, neat groundbait stright out at 13 meters, left and right hand margins with small amount of micro and dead read. No activity all match from the margins. At the all in I started out with popped up bread cast half way across, so did Kev but he was using lickly bread in a small feeder with a short hooklength. Kev had a carp first cast, I had a few liners, Brian Slipper up on 10 had one as well using bread. I stuck with the bread and had one on about 11:15 then it came off (foul hooked I think), the Misha came around with my tea just as I was playing another, I had it nearly at the net but it came off as well so Misha got the blame. Kev next door stayed quiet, Chris to my left was also struggling, Brian up on 10 was putting fish in the net at regular intervals and continued this all through the match. I chopped and changed all day between the pole and the lead, I did put a few silvers in the net on dead red but Chris was going all out for roach on the wag using caster and was catching quite a few all be it small. I decided to sit it out for carp on the bread as I was not going to catch as fast as Chris, I knew Brian was well ahead, Rich opposite me also had a few carp and Kev still only had 2. I did have a flurry of activity for about 40 minutes where I put 3 carp in the net but it wasn't enough today.

Brian won the match with 55lb odd, pic below

Rich was 2nd with 39lb dead, pic below (this boy is getting too smug)

Kev got 3rd overall but due to only paying top 2 and a silver he picked up the silver place - pic below

Top 6 results from 9 anglers

1st    Brian Slipper 55lb 4oz

2nd   Rich Heatley 39lb

3rd   Kev Perry 24lb 3oz

4th   Ivan Currie 14lb 5oz

5th   Barry Fowler 8lb 6oz

6th   Chris Fox 4lb 9oz (all roach on the wag and caster)

Silvers

Kev Perry 7lb 14 included a big F1 which did not please Chris, I am sure he will comment, check his blog http://maesknollmatchangling.blogspot.co.uk/

Press reportfor Anglers Mail and North Somerset Times as follows...

Brian uses his loaf

Clevedon Freshwater Angling Clubs latest match held on Woodland Lake Trinity Waters near Bridgwater was a predictable low turnout due to the cold weather. Despite the cold temperatures and snow flurries during the match some respectable weights were put together. Leading the way was Brian Slipper who from peg 10 caught some quality carp on popped up bread fished just off the bottom at regular intervals, he also added a couple using the pole at 14 meters with soft pellet for a total weight of 55lb 4oz. Richard Heatley was second from peg 23, a peg he drew only 4 weeks ago and won from so he knew exactly what to do and caught 39lb of carp using maggot on the hook fished at 9 meters up on the lake shelf. Kev Perry got off to a flying start catching a carp first cast on the bread but that was it for a few hours until he added another along with 7lb 14oz of silver fish on the pole fished at distance which was good enough for the silver fish prize.

Clevedon Club Match Woodland Lake Trinity Waters

What a cold day it has been but after arriving home at 17:20 I had a cold beer!

Anyway I was really looking forward to this match and had a plan, popped up bread on the straight lead orwith liqqy in a small feeder. It did not produce a bite (for me anyway but read on)!
I drew peg 24, Rich Healtey was on 23 and the rest of the anglers were spread out, it was like being put in the naughty boys corner at school and of course Richard had something to say about it (didn't he ever but he soon shut up, read on)
Apart from the bread I feed micro and small amouts of caster at 13 meters which produced 3 roach all day, iinside on the second shelf zero, inside on the first shelf zero so DNW.
Richard next to me had 10 fish on the second shelf on maggot, 2 or 3 fished at a time. The pic below is hinm landing his last fish at 15:15, I was packing up at the time.

The further pic below is him with his winning catch.

Nick Harvey did catch on popped up bread fished 3/4 the way across as there was no anglers opposite him, here is Nick with his catch and wearing a hat that is no good if the wind is behind you as someone set fire to it when he was at work! and yes I believe he was wearing it at the time!!!!!

Mark Bromsgrove was 3rd with a mixed net for 19lb 8oz, Mark was in the top corner and caught on various methods.
Top Silvers was Dominic Sullivan with and excellent 12lb 12oz on maggot and caster.

As I was packing up Kev (Perry) shouted over to me and made me witness him putting a small skimmer back so.... for the record Kev did not blank.

Press report to North Somerset Times and Anglers mail below.....

Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club held their first competition of 2013 on Woodland Lake Chiltern Trinity near Bridgwater. Temperatures remained just above freezing the night before and did not go much higher during the day despite glorious winter sunshine. Some anglers looked as if they were about to go on army winter training in Norway rather than try and catch fish. It was always going to be a difficult match due to the elements but some anglers did find the right method on the day and were able to put together some decent bags. Drawn on a peg  he didn’t fancy, Richard Heatley soon stopped complaining as he caught ten quality carp at regular intervals on the pole in 5 feet of water just over the nearside shelf on maggot for a winning 45lb 12oz. Not far behind him and on the opposite side of the lake Nick Harvey patiently fished pop up bread at distance for the same number of fish as Richard but a slightly smaller stamp for 40lb 5oz. Third was Mark Bromgrove with a mixed bag for 19lb 8oz. Top Silver Fish weight went to Dominic Sullivan with 12lb 12oz.

1^st R Heatley 45lb 12oz pic attached (RH Woodland jan 13) pic RH Woodland jan 13 showing Richard landing one of his fish

2^nd N Harvey 40lb 5oz pic attached (NH Woodland jan 13)

3^rd M Bromsgrove 19lb 8oz

Silvers Dominic Sullivan 12lb 12oz

The Clubs AGM is on 24th January, 19:30 Highcliffe Hotel Clevedon all members welcome.

I won't be fishing now until prob 2nd week in Feb, off for some winter sun at the end of the month.

Tight lines.

Sunday 28th October Woodland Lake Trinity Waters

Not much to say about today, very hard only ended up with 10lb but better than some who realy struggled. Started of with 2 fish on the bread then a tench in the margins - that was it!

Press report below.

Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club kicked off their winter programme of competitions at Trinity Waters just outside Bridgwater. Anglers were not only glad of the extra hour in bed but also the rise in temperature from the previous day. As usual competitors were greeted with complimentary tea and coffee on arrival and orders taken for superb breakfast rolls which were delivered to the anglers pegs an hour into the match. An hour into the match it was evident the fish were going to be hard to come by with just a few anglers catching despite feeding cautiously due to the flat calm conditions and the water still very cold. Andy Hembrow had fished the venue during the week leading up to the match and used up to date information to assist him win the match. Andy pole fished at 14 meters straight out in front fishing no more than 1 foot deep in 10 feet of water using pellet on the hook and spraying pellet at regular intervals for a magnificent 161lb of carp. Second and over 100lb behind was club match secretary Barry Fowler with 42lb 1oz, Barry had some quality carp backed up with some silver fish caught on the worm. Top silver fish net went to Mark Barlett with 12lb of bream, skimmers and roach.

Pic below of Andy Hembrow with part of his catch.

Sunday 15th July Clevedon Club Match Woodland Lake Chiltern Trinity

A mixed bag today, a lot of anglers struggled, this match was switched to Woodlands Lake instead of the larger Wildmarsh. Woodlands does have a good head of skimmers but it would always be the vermin that win the day. No match officals today so Glenn Calvert and Kev Perry ran the match, thanks guys and I did the adding up of the weights at the end, I new my Irish O Level in maths would come in handy. I weighed in a total of 28lb, more or less half silvers and half carp, next time I fish here I will keep it simple. Anyway here is the press report rather than torment myself and go through my match hour by hour.

Harvey nicks a win

Nick Harvey

Nick Harvey won the latest Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club match on Woodlands Lake which is part of the Trinity Waters complex near Bridgwater with a fantastic weight of 84lb 5oz. Nick took full advantage of peg 2 which was in a quiet corner of the lake and protected from the wind and .bright sunshine. He caught quality carp throughout the 6 hours offering and feeding 8mm hard pellet Nick fished shallow in 10 feet of water and no more than 6 meters out and to nearside vegetation. Second and just over 10lb behind was venue expert Andy Hembrow with 73lb 15oz from peg 27. Andy caught from the ‘all in’ and fished various methods during the day in order to keep the fish coming. Despite breaking a couple of sections of his pole and loosing quite a few fish Rich Lovering persevered and put 66lb 4ozs on the scales providing some much needed cash to help pay for his replacement pole sections. Top silver fish net went to Lewis Jones, as the scales came around Lewis was admitting to 8lb, he actually weighed 25lb!

Lewis Jones

If you would like to join or find out more about Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club please visit http://clevedon-fwac.webs.com/.

1^st Nick Harvey 84lb 5oz pic 001

2^nd Andy Hembrow 73lb 15oz

3^rd Rich Lovering 66lb 4oz

Silvers

1^st Lewis Jones 25lb pic 002

2^nd Paul Faires 22lb 15oz

Sunday 8th April Clevedon Club Match Woodlands Lake Chiltern Trinity

Today kicked of the Clevedon Club new events calander. The first match was on Woodlands Lake which is part of the Trinity Waters complex near Bridgwater. I have probably only fished the lake about 8 times over the past 3 years and have had mixed success, the most I ever weighed here was 58lb of carp up in the water for 2nd, I had a 1st back in February when it was freezing with 9lb and I have won the silver pool before with just over 22lb of skimmers. 19 Anglers today which was good given it was Easter Sunday and we had 4 new peple turn up as well. We were greated by the lovely Misha and her dad John with free tea and coffee just before the draw, they really make you feel welcome here and they put in an awful lot of effort and continue to develop the fishery.
08:30 draw and I pull out Peg 3, crap and not known for its bagging potential. A match was held on Good Friday and the top weights we were told came from the other end of the lake, great. To be honest my head was down and as Aidie Baker walked past me he made the comment ' you can't draw well on here can you Ivan' stating the obvious I know and was of little comfort. Anyway lets get on with it and keep it simple. 2 rigs straight in front at 14m, one with a banded maver16mt6 and one with a straight maver mt5, depth was about 10'. Margin rig for both left and right maver 14 mt5 for fishing the meat or paste and about 3' deep.
I was almost set up and Paul Faires came around for a walk, stopped by me and said this is not normally very good Ivan, or words to that affect, I was just getting over my mild depression as well! Must have been a tactic!!!!!
All in and I went straight out after baiting up all lines with mirco and 4mm, I had on of tescos finest prawns on the hook, after 10 mins the float dips and the 12 elastic leaves the pole slightly, an near 1lb roach comes to the top? After a while same again (on the prawn) but this time a 10oz skimmer! I had one foul hooked carp after and that was it for the 14 meter line. Kev Perry on peg 5 had a couple up in the water so I set up a shallow wag but after 30 mins an half a pint of 6mm and with nothing to show back up the bank it went. Paul Faires on 29 was having a field day catching carp up in the water on meat.
There was now just over 2 hours left and I started to see some bubbles in the left hand margin. First put in on meat I had a carp about 4lb, I stuck with it and had a few more including a zoo creature of about 8lb. I ended up assisting with the scales and there was only one set, it took ages. Anway Paul Faires won it, pic below with his catch and the press report is copied below. I ended up with just under 31lb, all in the last 2 hours or so, I finished in the top 10.

Clevedon Fresh Water Angling Club began a new series of events by holding a competition on Woodlands Lake which is part of the Trinity Waters complex at Chiltern Trinity near Bridgwater. Despite the Easter holidays 19 anglers competed in the variable weather conditions. The top half of the lake was bathed in sunshine and a light breeze while the anglers in the bottom half faced a head on chilly wind. On peg 29 was Nailsea Postman Paul Faires who had a red letter day and weighed in a magnificent 83lb 6oz, a first class performance. Paul pole fished luncheon meat up in the water at 13 meters straight in front feeding 4mm carp pellets for the majority o his catch although towards the end of the match he took a few fish from the lake margins.

Second on the day and from the opposite side of the lake was venue expert Andy Hembrow who caught on various methods and weighed in 54lb 8oz. Third and not far behind was Clevedon Match Secretary Barry Fowler who pole fished 13 meters out in front using maggot, worm and pellet on the deck for 53lb 11oz of which 21lb was made up of quality skimmer bream.

The next match is in 2 weeks time at Bullock Farm Kingston Seymour. Full details of Clevedon Freshwater Angling Club can be found at http://clevedon-fwac.webs.com/

1^st Paul Faires 83lb 6oz

2^nd Andy Hembrow 54lb 8oz

3^rd Barry Fowler 53lb 11oz

4^th Tim Lewis 53lb 9oz

2 weeks time we are on Ruscombe Lake at Bullocks Farm, not sure about next week yet.

Sunday 5th February Clevedon Club Match Woodlands Lake Trinty Waters

It has been a busy weekend mainly due to my youngest daughters 18th Birthday, the celebrations started Friday night but the whole week prior was a nightmare as we bought her a little run around as she passed her test on Friday 13th Jan!!!!.
Anyway I dragged myself out of bed at 06:20, looked out and it seemed ok, that was until I nearly went on my backside just outside the front door. The rain had stopped during the night sometime and everything had turned to ice. I was not looking forward to the trip down to Chiltern Trinity near Bridgwater. The temp on the car at home was registering 0.5c, by the time I was going over the River Hunstpill on the M5 it was 4c, that's better methinks until I notice the Huntspill was frozen over! I arrived at the complex and noticed Wildmarsh lake was frozen solid, I did not have an ice breaker either. Only two other anglers were in the car par on arrival and I looked across toward Woodland Lake, it was not frozen! Misha and her dad had kept it clear using a rowing boat and a digger, outstanding.  How many fisheries would do this?

ice free lake

Match Secretary Barry Fowler arrives and sorts the usual things out, walks around the lake and does the peg cards. Into the Sensas Bucket and out comes Peg 2, ummm, not quite the draw I wanted but hey ho. I arrived at my peg and it was full of broken ice! Barry takes a look and allocates me Peg 1 instead as there was plenty of room.

View from my peg

3 lines today, straight lead with anything, 13 meters with a 4 x 14 fished at 12 o'clock and 9 o'clock with dead maggot, corn or soft pellet, feeding mirco and dead reds. Straight out on the bread with the lead first, I was expecting some early indications but nothing, then out on the corn and i got a few liners just as my hot breakfast roll and tea arrived at the peg, yummy. While I scoffed this nothing happend on the tip. After an hour and a quarter the rod went behind me and I tried the 12 o'clock line at 13 meters with a dead red, after 5 mins the float shot under and a carp about 3lb was soon in the net. Back out again and the float dipped a couple of times, brought it in and saw the maggot had been nipped. Put it out again, slight dip, struck and into another small carp just over 2lb, cracked it I thought, wrong, nothing for 2 hours. Between the two pole lines I had a flurry of small roach and I mean small. About 2pm on the 9 o'clock line the tip of the pole was dragged under as I watched Barry Fowler net a good skimmer, he had been having a few silvers but I could not see much being caught, I managed to keep the fish on and soon put another 2lb carp in the net. The rest of the match I kept getting the odd small roach but they were to be of great benefit to me.

My 3 carp and small roach came to a level 9lb for 1st overall and £50 quid.

me with my 9lb

2nd Barry Fowler 8lb 12oz

3rd Adie Baker 5lb 15oz

Going to have a weekend off next week as will be working away in Manchester for a couple of days. Next match is on Apex Lake Highbridge 15th Feb so stay tuned. Thanks again to the Trinity Fishers Team for an ice free venue.