Blakey's Fishing Blog

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