Blakey's Fishing Blog

The Views from The South End

Labels: Team Matches

Location – Aveley Club Lake – Cranham

Weather:
Sunny Occasional Cloud
Temp 22 to 27 deg C
Wind SW / Variable 7-15 mph
Baro 1012 mB falling

1st Things 1st – What a fabulous day organised by my host Martin Haimowitz. I think around 35 Anglers mainly from the Aveley Club plus myself fished 1000-1500 hrs and raised around £750 for Whipps Cross Hospice.

I turnt up at 0730 greeted by martin, promptly paid my fees and raffle and tucked into the tea and freshly barbeque Burger and sausage.

With draw at 8am – I picked peg 15 – by all accounts not on the right side of the lake – Did not mean anything to me as I had not even see the water at this point. Trekking from the car park down the road and into the lake area passing through a witch hazel tunnel up the stairs and got my 1srt view of the lake – wow, Very pretty shielded on the west bank by beech tress with features of lily pads in almost every swim..

As I walked down the peg I was proceeded by my next swim partner for the day Fred who kindly provided me with information on what method and where to fish as we were fishing the wrong side as the fish have been coming out on the shaded west bank. Remember this has been a terrifically hot week – but the gods were shining on us today – comfortable temperature and a nice SW breeze which became a swirling westerly later on.

I off loaded my gear in the Bivvy areas behind the swim and had leisurely set up period until 1000am.

The depth varies from 3 feet in the margins to 9 in the centre down a steep shelf at 12 metres out (add another 3 feet for winter).

Maggot was the indicated bait to use so I went out deep on the maggot feeder but nothing doing, so cam into the margins on the pole with single maggot – had a few small roach and Rudd. By 1100 there was movement in the upper layers and the lakes resident Light coloured Grassie was parading around with a mate in tow. Moved to the waggler at 30 yards – a challenge with the 9 foot depth and a facing swirling wind. Literally sprayed loose maggots against the wind, but had immediate results with the small chublets that were introduced last year began to take a on the drop on size 16 and 3lb Hook Link top 5lb mainline. I shallowed up a little then had a screamer. The reel screamed on and off for the next twenty minutes as I wrestled with a submarine that proceeded to kite up and down the lake from Peg 10 to 16.
She finally cam up and I had a glimpse she did not like coming up the shelf into the shallow – what a beauty all of 20lb, then disaster – we picked up Fred’s feeder rig, who put the bait runner on, but I made a fatal mistake – I eased off to try an release the waggler from the feeder cage and she slipped the hook. To my amazement I didn’t even swear, Fred was very apologetic but I assured him it was not his fault and I should not have backed off. How ever Fred would continue to ribbed about it all the way to the Plough (local pub) for the after match Shandy.

Not dismayed I rigged up the same as before as I have caught 21lbers on this rig / rod before and cast – had a few chub but then on the 3rd cast had another screamer – not as big this time – felt about ½ the weight of the lady that got away. I decided to gain control on this one but still had to play it for 5 mins in close to my net but success – Ian kindly did the weighing honours and tip the scales at 12l 10oz and what a pretty Common – see the Picture.

At 1.30 the local farmer decided harvest to the wheat in the adjacent field on the west bank, with breeze coming from that direction treat us all to loose chaff. The oddest thing to me about this was a perception we were in Greater London and I turn your leave metropolitan area and there is the country staring you in the face.

The carp continued to swim in the upper layers but all the fish were coming out of the East bank not the west as was widely anticipated. Couldn’t get into any carp but was provided with good sport with the chub and a continuous supply of burgers and sausages freshly cooked on the barby by Ian and Wayne – thanks guys much appreciated and boy those Asda 1/4lbers were great “!

Half an hour before the whistle had Bream bubbles a where I had been feeding all day – Had a small skimmer on the waggler – went onto the feeder on the hope of picking up one of the big bream that frequent this water (average 6-7lb) best at around 10lb. But not can do was the order.

After the weigh in and presentation and raffle I discovered that I’d finished THIRD, not my best match position wise but Best match performance when all factors considered, - 1st sight / fish of a lake and 36 other anglers to compete against when it is normally 20 max.

After helping to pack up we retired to the local hostelry and Barry Newton and Martin treated us to a couple of Shandys’ and we reflected on what had been a good day. I look forward to next year’s event – if I can attend /invited.

Well done Martin – Great day

Labels: Charity Matches

Weather
Sunny
Temp 20 to 28 Deg C
Baro: 1015mB falling
Wind Sw Light > 5mph

Picture left: Ed Conducting the mid match weigh-In






16 Anglers Raised £100 for St Lukes Hospice by taking part in what can only described as a Red Letter Day.

Olly Wagg won by 6 ozs from the Steve ‘The Bridesmaid' Barrett not remarkable but when they both weighed in 236lb+ each then you start to see the picture of the day.
At least 7 of us obtained new personal best match weights and 7 had over the ton.
The total weight for the match was 1715lb 6 1/2 oz an average of 107lb 3oz.

For Steve Barrett this is the 6th match in a row that had finished 2nd, hence the new nick name of the Bridesmaid.

For my part I managed a new PB of a mere 65ln 14oz. Philip (my son) also had a new PB of 43lb 3oz.

Both Olly and the Bridesmaid were fishing with the ‘secret' paste on the pole- Olly fishing under the tree on the left and side of Peg 22 and Steve fishing out 9 metres in front of peg 28. Olly also used small pineapple boilies on the pole rig as well.

Ed Pearce had three small carp but put together a 62lb 8oz bag of Silvers (mainly nice Rudd).

I used mainly 8mm Skintz on the feeder out 20 yards – As on the top fishing was banned for this match could not get through the Rudd in the top layers, so went on the method to draw the carp to the bottom, just got them going then we had a weigh-in at 1130 am for fish in the nets under 5lb – Given the weather and normal club rules anything in the 4-5lb+ bracket had to be weighed and returned. I had 41lb at this stage and was on target for my 1st ton, however after the hour break bites for me were hard to come by, then when I did get one on they were 'big' and I lost 6 in a row – I estimate around 60lb of fish and did not land one for a whole hour, in contrast Olly and Steve were matching each fish by fish other both ‘weighing in’ 17 fish each in the afternoon session.

That man Boozy on the other hand had a totally different experience – the sound of breaking carbon resounded around the lake – Two broken sections and the slow catch rate – Boozy called it a day with an hour to go.

My own loss rate was high being equal in number with landed fish – if I stepped up the gear the bites disappeared – as soon as I went back down to Size 14 / 5lb line I got bites but landing was another thing – I was bullying to keep them out of Arthur’s and Ed Swims. Must learn to let them go where they want to or get the balance of rig/playing right.

All in all what a day – everyone except Boozy had a good one.

Entire Farm Match Result

Pos Angler lb/oz
1 Olly Wagg 236 /11 pb
2 Steve Barrett 236 /5 pb
3 John Pearce 163/ 5 pb
4 Alan Gammon 147/ 14 pb
5 Kev Keeling 142/ 1
6 John Buck 113/ 7
7 Mick Wagg 104/ 8 pb
8 Rob Blackburn 89/ 3
9 Ed Pearce 79/ 11
10 Kev Naylor 72
11 Paul Blake 65/ 14 pb
12 Lyn Naylor 64/
13 Gary Somerfeild 58/ 8.5
14 Arthur Morkunas 57/ 5
15 Philip Blake 43/ 3 pb
16 Steve Boozy 41/ 7
Total Weight 1715 lb 6 1/2 Oz
Average per Angler 107lb 3 oz

St Luke's Hospice Charity League after Entire Farm
Pos
1 Steve Barrett 26
2 Olly Wagg 23
3 Paul Pratley 22
4= Rob Blackburn 20
4= Cory 20
6 Ed Pearce 18
7 John Pearce 15
8 Jim Cook 13
9 Roger Naylor 12
10 Alan Gammon 10
11= Mick Wagg 9
11= Steve Boozy 9
11= George Webster 9
14 Kev Keeling 6
15 John Buck 5
16 Paul Blake 4
17 Philip Blake 3
17= Postman Tim 3
19= Gary Somerfeild 1
19= Kev Naylor 1
19= Lyn Naylor 1
19= Arthur Morkunas 1
19= Tony Pennycock 1
19= Richard 1
19= Rodney 1
19= Ron Price 1

NEXT ST LUKES CHARITY MATCH 17th September
Venue Stambridge Fishery

Contact Ed for a Place - Lets hope for another Red Letter Day

Labels: St Lukes Charity Match

Weather:

Wind: Easterly 15mph Breezy
Temp: 25 > 19c
Baro: 1030 mB Steady
Sunny:

Apart from the gusty breeze what an evening to go fishing. had a couple of hours ledgering with Frozen Pineapple boilie under the tree off the island from peg 16 - resulting in a couple of line bites but no runs. However had a flat in line method feeder on the tip out in the middle between pegs 16 & 17, using Swimstim method with Sweetcorn and Skintz feed pellets. Hair-Rigged, double sweetcorn and a Skintz pellet on the the hook. Two nice little 'Black' carp to 2lb and a skimmer bream - - Within a year these Skimmers will become full blown bream, they are starting to build up some weight.

All in all a pleasant evenings' fishing with Ann & Suzy for company. Olly Wagg fished at the same time as me off Peg 21 using maggot feeder lost one small carp but landed another and some nice Roach.

Labels: Pleasure Fish

More Pictures from the Challenge Match on the 9th July.

Labels: Team Matches

Lee Chapel Fishing: Inter Club Challenge Match - Lee Chapel vs. Aveley Angling - 9th July 2006 - Lee Chapel Lake

Labels: Team Matches

Photos:
Top. The two teams post match.
Centre. Boozy 1hr into his epic battle.
Bottom. Yours truly tweaking the feeder.


Weather:

Overcast/Sunny later Drizzle at times
17 to 22 C
Baro: 1010 mB falling
Wind: SW 17-25mph gusty / breezy

Teams 10 per Club - However Lee Chapel fished with 9 after 2 no shows but Steve Boxall kindly fished for the Club after turning for a day's pleasure fish - Thanks Steve.

The Draw produced a reasonable distribution of the teams around the lake (Pegs 1,2 30 & 29) were removed from the draw and these a re shallow and do not fish well in matches.

Not the best of days fish wise very sporadic - no general pattern - Single red maggot seem to be the best option on Waggle Pole / maggot feeder.

I lost a big carp early on due to the fact like a divvy I had not set my clutch right - fundamental mistake !!.

Steve Ellis finally managed to land one of four carp - and it was the 'Frenchie' amazingly has lost a couple of pounds since last caught earlier in the year - now coming out at 18lb 2oz.
Our guests struggled all round - But Martin Haimowitz enjoyed his day and was well pleased with his 5lb 8ozs of Roach from peg 19.

Biggest cheer of the day went to that man Boozy. Took 1hr 20 mins to land a 17lb 8 oz mirror from Peg 3, one of only 3 bites he had all day. Steve Barrett had his best bag from the lake in a match (surprised me that) 18lb 12oz.

Result:
Lee Chapel 90 points, Aveley 123 Points.
So Lee Chapel take a 33 point lead into the second leg at Aveley lake in September

1. L. Steve Ellis (16) 19lb 12oz
2. L. Steve Barrett (11) 18lb 12oz
3. L. Steve Boozy (3) 17lb 8oz
4. L. Olly Wagg (10) 9lb 13oz
5. L. Paul Blake (21) 6lb 0oz
6. A. Martin Haimowitz (19) 5lb 8oz
7. A. Barry Newton (15) 3lb 2oz
8. L. Paul Pratley (25) 2lb 10z
9. A Danny O'Connor (28) 2lb 8oz
10. A Barry Cope (12) 2lb 0oz
11. L. Ed Pearce (7) 1lb 2oz
12. A. Jim Ramsey (4) 0lb 14oz
13. A. Linda Cope (20) 0lb 10oz
14. A. Mick Green (24) 0lb 8oz
16= A. Len Barden (27) 0lb 1oz
16= A. Fred Gregory (6) 0lb 1oz
16= L. Steve Boxall (17) 0lb 1oz
20. L. Kev Butler (23) DNWI
20. A. Brian Hobbs (8) DNWI

Labels: Team Matches

Pos / Angler / Points to Date
1 Olly Wagg 42
2 Alan Gammon 33
3= Steve Barrett 29
3= Kev Keeling 29
5 Ed Pearce 28
6 Paul Pratley 23
7 Kev Naylor 23
8 Mick Wagg 21.5
9 Paul Blake 15.5
10 Ron Price 15
11 Linda Ellis 10
12 Gary Somerfeild 6
13 Arthur Morkunas 5
14 Steve Boozy 4
15 Steve Ellis 4
16 Rob Blackburn 3
17 Mick Scoles 3
18 Lyn Naylor 2
19 Ron Ellis 2
20 John Pearce 2
21 John Buck 2
22 Kev Wagg 1
23 John Lee 1

Labels: Lee Chapel Sunday League Match

Venue: Clavering Old Match Lake - Weather High pressure 1020mb and Temperature 22 to to 31C Not a cloud in the Sky. Wind South West 25mph (Breezy - Gale in Winter)

Its has been almost a month without wetting a line, due to work commitments and Wife's ill health. With such anticipation I was late getting to Clavering - Not because I got up late but a breakdown in communication. Being a 'long drive' and the popularity of the Clavering venue with Club regulars meant an early start for the organiser (KK) to 're-peg the venue, however I was told that although some were arriving early the draw would be at the normal time of 8 am but fishing was 9am-4pm. Well when I got there at 7.30am the draw had taken place and everyone was setting up. I managed to dovetail in on a spare peg (repositioned #4). I just managed to get set up for the whistle at 8.15. The swim did not offer much in the way of features and as the very hot day progress bites from this side of the lake had to be worked for. The Carp had followed the wind and were on the surface over in the far North and West banks and bream were in the South corner meaning leaving those of us on the east bank fishing for the scraps. This is the 4th time I've fished Clavering in the heat of the summer and always drawn the east bank - Avoid it like the plague - get to the west / north banks when a South westerly is blowing in the summer.

Paul Pratley was picking them off the top for most of the morning opposite me on the The North West Corner peg and Alan Gammon was pulling then in off the bottom on the adjacent corner with Paste, as was Steve Barrett in the North East corner peg next to me. Needless to say where the winner was coming from.

In the south east/ west corners Bream / Silvers where coming out - The Bream are something special here some real slabs 6-7lb average - Both Lin Ellis and Garry Somerfield landed some nice Bream. Lyn's net was not big enough so borrowed Paul Pratley's who did not want his Silver Fish Net as " he would have to fish on the bottom for them" Nice Gesture Paul.

Quietly and unseen by me as they were tucked around the a tree on the Southwest corner Olly Wagg and Kev keeling were pulling in a good mixed bag all day - Olly had his rig smashed early and did not bother to re float it and was just free lining for most of the Day Kev Keeling bagged 40lb of Silvers alone !!! Both he and Rob Blackburn having shoals of carp at their feet but soon as maggots were introduced they would spook or when lowering the bait they would catch a Roach !!

A tremendous hot day and a couple of PB's in terms of match weight - Congratulations to Steve Barret and Alan Gammon on Ton pluses. Although it was soul destroying to watch Alan, Steve and Paul getting a fish a chuck whilst i was trying everything to entice them into my swim - It was pleasure to watch these guys achievements. I did managed a 32.5lb mixed bag.

Result:

Alan Gammon 134.5
Steve Barrett 125.25
Olly Wagg 86.5
Paul Pratley 78
Kev Keeling 67.5
Gary Somerfeild 63.5
Ed Pearce 50.13
Rob Blackman 43
Steve Boozy 36.63
Linda Ellis 35.25
Kev Naylor 35
Mick Scoles 32.63
Paul Blake 32.5
Mick Wagg 24.88
Ron Price 23.5
Ron Ellis 14.5
Arthur Morkunas 4
Steve Ellis DNW
Lyn Naylor DNW
John Pearce DNW

Labels: Lee Chapel Sunday League Match