Monday, April 02, 2007
LCFC Sunday League Match - 1st April 2007 - Coleman's Cottage Wood Lake
Weather:
Sunny 8- 14°C
Wind NE (19 mph) - Gusting to 30mph
Relative Humidity (%): 44,
Pressure (mB): 1026, Falling,
Visibility: Good
A Bright & breezy start to the new Lee Chapel Sunday League Matches. The traditional breakfast taken in the 'new' lodge delayed the draw and consequently the match by 1/2 hour. There is an added dimension to the matches this year. Gary Somerfield proposed the inclusion of a Pairs & a Knockout competition - I had volunteered to run this and put the proposal and format to the guys at the draw - Greeted with warm response.
We used the pegs drawn for today's match to determine who paired up together for the season with the highest number with the lowest then the 2nd highest with 2nd lowest and so on. Produced some interesting parings here is just a few:
Olly Wagg & Rob Blackburn
John & Ed Pearce (Father & Son there)
John Buck & Mick Wagg
Kev Keeling & Fred Saunders
And well you could not have scripted it - The idea maker and the Organiser - yes Me & Gary Somerfield !
On the fishing Front:
We had the whole of the lake to ourselves which meant that we were able to evenly space everyone out - not fishing the Odd Pegs.
I drew Peg 20 right down the end and in full face of the Quite substantial North-Easterly wind - Luckily it was sunny. My partner (Gary) was on Peg 14 at 90 degrees to me on the East bank - Kev Keeling was opposite me on the point that he dubbed 'Southend Pier' and Steve Barrett was on the hot Peg 26 opposite / left of me. Olly was over the hump so could not see what he was up to but that does not mean a lot as last time I didn't see him catch much at Tylers but he still did well !
Decided the only real option today was the feeder /method approach - to the islands in the middle (they marked the border between the opposite swims too windy for the pole and the Waggler (more of that later).
Gary got a small carp 1st chuck on the feeder, before I'd already put in - (to busy going round updating everyone on who they were paired with and info on the Knockout competition) . I voiced my appreciation, which met with the bantered response " Good job someone in this team is fishing" or words to that effect.
I started off on my favourite 3/4 Ounce in-line Middy maggot feeder with 12" size 18 2.5 lb Hook link -fished to the gap in the island straight in front of me. Made 4 casts but not a bite - shifted 2 feet to the left - Bang round the tip went - A nice chublet to 1/2lb fought well. Successive casts had a Chub a chuck then a a hard fighting fish. Wow what a pretty sight came up from the depths - A ghostie only about a 1.5 Lb fish but it does not matter - My 1st Ghostie - it is true they do fight harder. Safely in net net I had a smile as wide as the Dartford Tunnel.
But then after a few more Chub - all quiet - tried several places to the left and right and distances - nothing - back to where I started then had a very timid bite - pulled into it and fought really weird could it be a foul hooked - No it was a pristine little Barbel. I had another later as well.
I went onto the in-line Drennan method with a new mix. short hair rigged double Sweetcorn - persisted for 1/2 hour but no bites. Went back the Maggot feeder and having the odd intermittent Chub and a small Crucian.
Given that I was getting most of the chub shortly after the cast - I thought that they may be taking up the drop just before the lake bed as I had the long hook link, I decided to set up the waggler with an 2 AAA insert waggler. Having set it up with no dropping shot a few practice casts into that fierce wind, the 1st real cast resulted in a bird's nest on the reel. Turning round top sort it out the rod tip got snagged in a bush and broke - Arggh!! - Blakey lost his rag -after promising himself he was not going to do it this year !!! bang goes that one. it did not go unnoticed - Kev remarked on it later when my bale arm pooped out on my feeder set up as I was fishing the last 1/2 hour with that handicap. Kev said I should not throw my rod on the ground - that was the Waggler set up.
The award for best casting technique versus fish rate went to Kev Keeling who with his back to the wind literally flicked his feeder 90 degrees to his left in between the islands there - which happened to be the same place Gary was Fishing - I did comment that Kev was catching more fish than Gary, but the retort there was that Gary was feeding and Kev was catching his fish.
In the final hour I fished into the gap between the Island in Swim 21 - Getting a fish a chuck again including one more Barbel and a nice 3.5lb Large Plated Mirror.
At the whistle I was glad the wind had taken it toll.. The side effect of the pairs competition that everyone weighed in, and increase banter and 'buddy' comments during the weigh which was difficult with the wind and extra care taken as the weights were very close. The banter was characterised by Olly getsuring to pus me in, Gary said to Olly - "You mess me him you mess with me"
Looks good for a smashing season.
Weights & Positions for this Match
Pos / Angler / Weight
1 Kev Keeling 44lb 2 ozs
2 John Buck 42lb 6 ozs
3 Steve Barrett 37lb 10 ozs
4= Mick Wagg & Gary Somerfeild 31lb 0 ozs
6 Fred Saunders 26lb 6ozs
7= Steve Ellis & Rob Blackburn 23lb 10ozs
9 Olly Wagg 23lb 8 ozs
10 John Pearce 23lb 4 ozs
11 Ed Pearce 22lb 4 ozs
12 Paul Blake 21lb 8 ozs
13= Arthur Morkunas & Mason 21lb 0 ozs
15 Terry Middleton 18lb 4 ozs
16 Kev Butler 16lb 0 ozs
17 Mick Byrne 12lb 8ozs
18 Roy Digby 9lb 14 ozs
19 Ron Ellis 7lb 8 ozs
Total Weight 456lb 7 ozs
Sunny 8- 14°C
Wind NE (19 mph) - Gusting to 30mph
Relative Humidity (%): 44,
Pressure (mB): 1026, Falling,
Visibility: Good
A Bright & breezy start to the new Lee Chapel Sunday League Matches. The traditional breakfast taken in the 'new' lodge delayed the draw and consequently the match by 1/2 hour. There is an added dimension to the matches this year. Gary Somerfield proposed the inclusion of a Pairs & a Knockout competition - I had volunteered to run this and put the proposal and format to the guys at the draw - Greeted with warm response.
We used the pegs drawn for today's match to determine who paired up together for the season with the highest number with the lowest then the 2nd highest with 2nd lowest and so on. Produced some interesting parings here is just a few:
Olly Wagg & Rob Blackburn
John & Ed Pearce (Father & Son there)
John Buck & Mick Wagg
Kev Keeling & Fred Saunders
And well you could not have scripted it - The idea maker and the Organiser - yes Me & Gary Somerfield !
On the fishing Front:
We had the whole of the lake to ourselves which meant that we were able to evenly space everyone out - not fishing the Odd Pegs.
I drew Peg 20 right down the end and in full face of the Quite substantial North-Easterly wind - Luckily it was sunny. My partner (Gary) was on Peg 14 at 90 degrees to me on the East bank - Kev Keeling was opposite me on the point that he dubbed 'Southend Pier' and Steve Barrett was on the hot Peg 26 opposite / left of me. Olly was over the hump so could not see what he was up to but that does not mean a lot as last time I didn't see him catch much at Tylers but he still did well !
Decided the only real option today was the feeder /method approach - to the islands in the middle (they marked the border between the opposite swims too windy for the pole and the Waggler (more of that later).
Gary got a small carp 1st chuck on the feeder, before I'd already put in - (to busy going round updating everyone on who they were paired with and info on the Knockout competition) . I voiced my appreciation, which met with the bantered response " Good job someone in this team is fishing" or words to that effect.
I started off on my favourite 3/4 Ounce in-line Middy maggot feeder with 12" size 18 2.5 lb Hook link -fished to the gap in the island straight in front of me. Made 4 casts but not a bite - shifted 2 feet to the left - Bang round the tip went - A nice chublet to 1/2lb fought well. Successive casts had a Chub a chuck then a a hard fighting fish. Wow what a pretty sight came up from the depths - A ghostie only about a 1.5 Lb fish but it does not matter - My 1st Ghostie - it is true they do fight harder. Safely in net net I had a smile as wide as the Dartford Tunnel.
But then after a few more Chub - all quiet - tried several places to the left and right and distances - nothing - back to where I started then had a very timid bite - pulled into it and fought really weird could it be a foul hooked - No it was a pristine little Barbel. I had another later as well.
I went onto the in-line Drennan method with a new mix. short hair rigged double Sweetcorn - persisted for 1/2 hour but no bites. Went back the Maggot feeder and having the odd intermittent Chub and a small Crucian.
Given that I was getting most of the chub shortly after the cast - I thought that they may be taking up the drop just before the lake bed as I had the long hook link, I decided to set up the waggler with an 2 AAA insert waggler. Having set it up with no dropping shot a few practice casts into that fierce wind, the 1st real cast resulted in a bird's nest on the reel. Turning round top sort it out the rod tip got snagged in a bush and broke - Arggh!! - Blakey lost his rag -after promising himself he was not going to do it this year !!! bang goes that one. it did not go unnoticed - Kev remarked on it later when my bale arm pooped out on my feeder set up as I was fishing the last 1/2 hour with that handicap. Kev said I should not throw my rod on the ground - that was the Waggler set up.
The award for best casting technique versus fish rate went to Kev Keeling who with his back to the wind literally flicked his feeder 90 degrees to his left in between the islands there - which happened to be the same place Gary was Fishing - I did comment that Kev was catching more fish than Gary, but the retort there was that Gary was feeding and Kev was catching his fish.
In the final hour I fished into the gap between the Island in Swim 21 - Getting a fish a chuck again including one more Barbel and a nice 3.5lb Large Plated Mirror.
At the whistle I was glad the wind had taken it toll.. The side effect of the pairs competition that everyone weighed in, and increase banter and 'buddy' comments during the weigh which was difficult with the wind and extra care taken as the weights were very close. The banter was characterised by Olly getsuring to pus me in, Gary said to Olly - "You mess me him you mess with me"
Looks good for a smashing season.
Weights & Positions for this Match
Pos / Angler / Weight
1 Kev Keeling 44lb 2 ozs
2 John Buck 42lb 6 ozs
3 Steve Barrett 37lb 10 ozs
4= Mick Wagg & Gary Somerfeild 31lb 0 ozs
6 Fred Saunders 26lb 6ozs
7= Steve Ellis & Rob Blackburn 23lb 10ozs
9 Olly Wagg 23lb 8 ozs
10 John Pearce 23lb 4 ozs
11 Ed Pearce 22lb 4 ozs
12 Paul Blake 21lb 8 ozs
13= Arthur Morkunas & Mason 21lb 0 ozs
15 Terry Middleton 18lb 4 ozs
16 Kev Butler 16lb 0 ozs
17 Mick Byrne 12lb 8ozs
18 Roy Digby 9lb 14 ozs
19 Ron Ellis 7lb 8 ozs
Total Weight 456lb 7 ozs
Labels: Lee Chapel Sunday League Match
