Sunday 18th October - Clevedon Club Match Brick Lake the Sedges Fishery

I made the decision quite early in the week to fish this match as there was nothing else on in the form of a river match. I have only been to the venue once and that was last year and on Brick Lake which we were fishing today. I drew Peg 9 last year and came 3rd with 103lb mainly on the pole but that was in the spring. Lance Tucker was next door to me then on 10 and he beat me by about 10lb and came second. Kev Perry won that match with around 145lb catching on pellet on the straight lead.

Kev had received a text from Match Secretary Adie Baker asking him to run the match as he was still busy after only just moving house. 13 had booked in and fair play they all turned up including another new member (from Surrey Kerry Pickering who was staying with relations down this way). Between Kev and Denise the fishery owner the pegging was sorted and draw organised. I was 3rd last to draw and out comes peg 9 so happy with that and wondered if it would be a repeat performance. I had end peg 10 in the corner to my left and was hoping it had been left out but new member Kerry turned up on it while I was sorting myself out, still plenty of room.

The blue arrow shows my peg.

Two pegs to my right was Dave Stevenson and next to Dave was Kev. Opposite me in the top right hand corner was Nick Harvey and directly opposite me across the lake was silvers basher Andy Devereux (prob spelt his name wrong again). I could see almost everyone except the anglers on my bank below Kev so would be able to judge how the match was going. I had planned to fish mini popped up bollies but not allowed at the fishery so bread would be the replacement. Due to me winning a recent match on the bread at Trinity a lot of the guys brought it today or were asking for a few slices from others. Two top kits set up today, both for banded pellet and both exactly the same for fishing at 13 meters where it was about 7 feet deep at 10:00 and 14:00. The 14:00 line fed with groundbait with dead red, hemp and micro the other line just 6mm and 4mm wetted pellet. The margins were too riskly due to the overhanging vegitation and looked too dangerous. Finally the straight lead for fishing bread or pellet.

The 'all in' was called at 10:15 so fed the two pole lines and went straight out on the bread up to the floating pipe that goes down the middle. There were a lot of fish topping and I could see a could went out on the waggler. I was expecting the tip to bang around fairly quickly but after 25 minutes it didn't!

Looking around no one was catching and just as I looked down again the rod was coming off the top of the keep net which I was using as a rest. I didn't land it as it snapped the hooklength just before the net and it was a right lump. Back out on the bread and not a touch after 20 minutes so changed to banded 11mm and no sooner had it settled when the tip went around in a slow but positive way and it was fish on. It was a good fish as well at around 10lb. I had a couple more smaller ones up until around 12:00 but it was not exactly action packed but then there was still not a lot being caught from what I could see. Gave the bread a try again for a change and a carp of around 6lb took it on the drop, this time I landed it. A quiet spell of around 20 minutes saw me go back on the pellet, all the time I was feeding both pole lines but no fizz to be seen.

It wasn't fast and furious but I was putting fish in the net up until around 14:45 when it went very quiet so tried the pole lines for 20 minutes and only manged a small skimmer so decided to see the match out on the lead. Paul Nicholls on the far bank was getting a few fish on the pole towards the end including one of 18lb plus!! Mark Bromsgrove below him was also getting a few.

The all out was called at 16:15 and Kev done the honours of weighing. I had 72lb 8oz which was top weight on my bank. The weights were better opposite with a couple of 60lb pluses. Mark Bromsgrove did well and put 90lb on the scales, immediately below him on end corner peg was Lance Tucker who had 72lb 12oz.

So I had 3rd place again. Top Silvers went to Andy Devereux by default.

Results as follows:

1st   Mark Bromsgrove Sensas Thyers 90lb 8oz

2nd  Lance Tucker Sensa Thyers 72lb 12oz.... check them scales please

3rd   Ivan Currie Maver Cadbury Angling 72lb 8oz

Silvers

Andy Devereux Clevedon 9lb 4oz

Weight sheet...

Sunday 11th October - Somerset Teams of 4 league River Parrett Langport

This is a great league and in it's second year, for me brings new venues and with 15 teams booked in makes it competitive as well. Another positive point is the money is very well spread out paying top 3 in the section.
The Parrett was a first for me, the only time I have really seen it is going over the tidal stretch on the M5 or while in the center of Bridgwater.
It was difficult to find information on the stretch we were fishing around the market town of Langport, I did search a few blogs and got some information but then came across the match results on Langport AA's website when there was a match between Taunton and Langport, here are the results.

Straight away I could see that a number of anglers fishing it used it as a practice match for a league the following week. There was a bit of a write up to go with the results and the river condition was not good with little or no flow and a lot of weed in some pegs as you can see a lot of anglers struggled, so not good.
Only a little bit of prep needed on the Saturday and also obtained my caster, maggot, worm an groundbait from Cadbury Angling http://www.cadburyangling.co.uk/
Draw was 08:00 at the Langport Arms Hotel right in the town and arrived in plenty of time to meet up with Sean, Don and Chris. It was very busy inside with lots of breakfasts on order and a bit like Faulty Towers with regard to service.
Captains went up for the draw and we went outside to sort ourselves out, I was on peg 8 and chris was on 19, best part was we could walk from the car park.

 

Shortest walk I have had on a river ever, looking back towards the car park from my peg.

There was a decent amout of colour in the river and a bit of pace, in fact it looked very good with lots of small fish topping.

My peg was an end peg upstream with the nearest angler about 100 meters away, so some advantage.

Upstream end peg 8 and looking down the early part of the section, 9 to 15 was upstream of me.

Simple set up today, 13 meters at full depth (approx 6 feet) with a 2 grm float where there was some area's of the bottom which were clean but a lot of streamer weed. 5 meter line down the inside with a small 0.80 grm float for fishing between two lots of bull rushes (where there was around 4 feet) with chopped worm for perch and finally a waggler for all the way across where I had about 5 feet of water. I mixed up a little bit of groundbait for cupping in with the chop and caster.

Looking down the match length below me a lot of guys had set up whips, pole and wags.

At the 'all in' I thought for a moment I was on the Avon as all the anglers below me balled in big jaffa's, around 5 each. I thought why! if you cannot get through the weed on the bottom what you doing putting bait on the deck or was I going to be battered. I decided not to follow suit and kept to my plan so cupped in 3 soft balls on the inside, loose fed caster in the middle and on the far side. Went across with the wag first and had a small chublet of around 2 oz immediately, several more followed and the odd small roach. kept this going for the first hour and from what I could see I was doing better than anyone below me. I tried the middle while still feeding across and got fed up after a while not being able to get a clean run through due to the weed. A look on the inside produced one small roach so went back on the wag for the rest of the day. Fish were not big but they kept coming despite a rubber dingy going through. I did get a bonus fish in the form of a 12oz perch at the end of the swim at around 2 o'clock. By the time 3.30 came and the end of the match I knew I had probably beaten the seven pegs below me but what about the others upstream that I could not see.

I walked up to see the weigh in and there were two 4 plus kilo weights and I wasn't sure I had that. The scales confirmed I hadn't but I was third in the section of 15 with 3kg 650grm so happy with that.

My section results sheet

Back at the Hotel Sean had also come third in his section and Don and Chris finishing in a reasonable position as well. Top weight on the day was Kev Perry with a high 5 kilo, followed by Lance Tucker with 5 kilo plus as well, both Sensas Thyers (Gold I think).

We came 3rd on the day so good result on a river we have not fished before. Seansa Gold and Silver finished 1st and 2nd Both Sean and I picked up money so thats my third pick up in three weeks.

Next week is a Clevedon Club match on the Sedges (Brick Lake).

Sunday 4th October - Clevedon Club Match Avalon Fishery

It was unusual to have another Club Match immediately after last weeks one at Trinity but Avalon is another big Commercial Fishery with lots of options. A text message from Adie on the Saturday morning asking for more anglers concerned me a little as he has had to cancel at times this year at the last minute. I text him to see what the risk was but he assured me it would go ahead. Numbers would have been impacted by the start of the Viaduct Silver Fish League but on the morning we had 10 so not a disaster in the current climate.
Another cold start saw me put the bread in the bait bag again, if anything it was colder than the previous week with the car temperature showing 5.5 just as I passed the Burnham on Sea junction on the M5.
On arrival at the fishery we were unsure who was running it as Adie ad recently moved house so no doubt was still busy with that. Rob Fogg took charge and arranged the pegging with owner Vic Bush and we had all the left hand bank looking down from the car park. I held back one from last and drew 17 which doesn't really mean anything to me as I only fish the venue when the Club arrange a match.

Peg 17 with the mist still clearing at around 10:15.

No one was below me so I had an end peg and on 16 I had recent new member Matt Roden who came third last week.

Simple set up today, straight lead across, pole at 13 meters for banded pellet plus two other rigs for 9 meters, one silvers and another banded pellet in case carp moved in.

At the 'all in' I fed my 9 meter line with groundbait which also had dead reds, micros and hemp in it, 3 big balls went in and I left it to settle. I had the straight lead clipped up for just behind the island using banded pellet and intended to loose feed pellet on the 13 meter line while waiting for the tip to go round. The truth is I spent the first twenty minutes or so squirrel fishing loosing a couple of hooklengths before I got the hang of it. I was getting lots of indications every cast but only had two wrap rounds, landed one which was a small stockie of about 2lb. After just over an hour I gave up on the lead and decided to stick to the two pole lines. First put in over the 9 meter line with worm the float sailed away and a 2lb skimmer was landed after lauching itself out of the water, another couple followed before I hit into a carp which almost bottomed out the number 10 hollow elastic. It was a right munter, a big ghosty of around 10lb, happy days. Matt next to me was not doing too well and had the elastic come away from the connectors on two of his top kits, he also had a spell squirrel fishing with the pellet wag, but I did get one of his wags back for him as it came past me during the match. I kept topping up with groundbait and while it was settling took a bream of about 3lb on the banded pellet at 13 meters, I lost a couple as well as they flew out of the water after being hooked. 

The groundbait line was by far the best and I kept adding carp from it on the worm as well as banded 8mm. It was hard to say how the match was going for everyone else as I could only see the two pegs up above me and I was confident I had more than them.

Vic came down and done the weigh in starting with me.

Part of my 57lb 8oz, 8lb of which was silvers

Matt on 16 had 14lb 10oz.

On 15 was new member Mike Pickering who had a PB Perch last week had a good day.

Mike with his 40lb 10oz

Andy Deaveraux who won the Silvers looked to be in contention again with 10lb 7oz

3rd in the Charity Match a couple of weeks ago Paul Randall had 15lb of Silvers so went ahead.

Silvers wise Rob Fogg soon put a stop to that putting 18lb of quality skimmers on the scales.

My old mate John 'the duck' Wolstencroft had a good day mainly on the pellet waggler and on a peg he has drawn before and done well. I must mention that just before the start of the match John had a pair of swans and six signets behind him in a drain immediately behind his peg so he does attract the birds (feathered variety), please to say he did not hook any of them. John had to do a couple of weighs and it did take me three attemps to get his pic, here they are.......

Attempt number 1

Attempt number 2

Attempt number 3....almost but not quite

All joking aside John did great putting 83lb 8oz on the scales for first place.

1st    John Wolstencroft 83lb 8oz

2nd   Ivan Currie 57lb 8oz

3rd   Rich Heatley 42lb 2oz

Silvers

Rob Fogg 18lb

Full results as follows...

 

Next match for me is next weekend on the River Parrot which I have never fished before in the Somerset Teams of 4 League.

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

Dave Fowler Snr Memoral Charity Match River Kenn 20th September

I could not fish this match but here is the Press Report:

There was an excellent turnout for the Clevedon Freshwater Angling Clubs annual Charity Match in memory of club founder Dave Fowler Senior which was held on the river Kenn. Leading up to the match the river had been fishing well producing good nets of fish to pleasure anglers. A bright day, clear water conditions coupled with a mid-day tide made the fishing really difficult and fish were hard to come by. Jeff Surman drew peg 30 just below Strode Road and fished the long pole all day with maggot on the hook enticing two big bream and a smaller skimmer for a match winning 11lb 12oz. Paul Faires was second with a bag of small fish for 6lb 13oz followed closely behind by Paul Randell with 6lb 3oz for third place. Mike Owens won the ‘Guess the winning weight’ prize by only being 1oz away. More importantly £630 was raised for the charity Men Utd v Prostate Cancer. The club would like to thank the Blue Flame for their hospitality, Ecolab and local angling shops Veal’s, Cadbury, Oliver’s and Reel fun for their sponsorship.

Winner Jeff Surman (right) being presented with the Charity Shield by Chairman Steve Bonwick

Ireland 2015 - Arva

First time staying in the Arva area of Co. Cavan and our base was the Breffini Arms which is a 2 star hotel but more than adequate. The hotel is also the HQ for the Arva Festival which was on at the same time but we chose to pleasure fish and get aquainted with the area.
First couple of days we fished Gullado Lake and had easy access to what is known as the narrows but still 100 meters or more across.

Steve with a nice bag of mainly roach

25lb of roach and hybrids on the pole at 14 meters

Tony struggled a bit at the top end of the narrows mainly because Andy (aka Turtle) was talking to him non stop for 6 hours, Turtle had a bit less, he don't like his pic taken.

For the next 3 days we concentrated on the deeper part (30 feet) of Glasshouse lake and kept to the same swims as it was noted for bream and a couple of ex pats were there as well giving us advice.

My peg on Glasshouse for 3 days

Steve connected with a bream quite quickly but would there be more>

Tony netting a skimmer

Difficult day 1

I managed 1 half tidy fish, rest were skimmers

Tony stuck at it and had a few skimmers

After his connection was fixed Turtle was in contact with the rest of the world or was it the porn channel!

Day 2 on Glasshouse was a little better for me

On the Friday we fished Town Lake in Carrigallen which was only about 7 miles from Arva, we took a look at it late Thursday afternoon and were informed a couple of anglers had bream out on a point, there was evidence of ground bait in a couple of swims. Sadly on the day the fish only showed for Steve.

3rd in the John Smiths 1996  Steve with some of his tidy skimmers

Turtle also beat me off the platforms much to his delight.

Just 5 minutes walk if that from the hotel was the huge lake Garty and I decided to fish it on the last day (Saturday as we had a night crossing), the other guys declined. Reports suggested it was full of roach and only around 5 feet deep. I did set up the pole but at 14 meters it was only about 2 feet deep so set up a waggler instead and found around 5 feet at around 25 meters with a 3AA wag. I had a great few hours putting 13lb of quality and I mean qualty roach in the net.

Town end of Lough Garty

My catch of quality Garty roach

As an overview of the Arva Festival, here are the final weigh sheets as you will see a lot struggled

A couple of the team also fished the Inniscarra Festival at the same time and anglers down there also struggled. Still and enjoyable week away and rubbed shoulders with Kev Ashurst.

We were also keeping an eye on Steve Ringers Facebook concerning the World Pairs and saw on the last day on his way to the venue he got taken out by a Royal Mail Van. I was tempted to ask to stay for another week to do the investigation! Thankfully no one was hurt and Ringer Bros cleaned up anyway.

Not fishing the Clevedon Charity Match tomorrow due to family committements.

Off across the water

Within 10 hours I will be heading off to Cavan for a weeks fishing with 3 mates and I am just about ready.
Anglers within the South West please note the following....

Details can be obtained by telephoning Adie Baker on 07988736722

The Kenn has been fishing really well with good mixed bags and there are bream showing if conditions are right. Go on give it a go and support this worthy cause.