Monday, May 21, 2007
Big Johns Angling Sunday League Match - Blind Lane New Lake 20th May 2007
Weather:
Sky: Sunny
Temp: 10- 17°C
Wind E (8 mph)
Relative Humidity (%): 54,
Pressure (mB): 1015, Falling
18 anglers fished the 3rd Big John's Angling Sunday League Match of the Season at Blind Lane New Lake which was specially opened up for us to fish during the complex's Close Season.
After a couple of weeks of rain, dull and windy weather we were greeted by a cloudless sky and the merest puff of wind.
I drew peg 1 and was pounced upon by Olly Wagg to do a swap as he really fancied this swim - He had Peg 4. I had no idea where it was as I arrived just in time for the early draw (Boozy had not arrived so his drawn for him - peg 10). I declined Olly's offer thinking it might be a hot one if he thought that - or perhaps it was a double bluff - perhaps I should have taken him up on the offer ? Only time will tell. I believe you draw your peg yourself and fish where you draw.
Well I had the longest walk as the Peg was right down in the South East of the lake. A nice swim, I can see why Olly fancied it - Nice bunch of Reeds at 10 metres to the corner and easy cast to the point. It is no easy to describe the shape of the lake. The North and South bank face a Long Island so everyone fishing from these banks can fish to it and those on the North West Bank can fish to the East facing point. Those on the North East bank have very little, whilst those on the West bank have either of the Long Island or the South bank end points to fish to. The South bank is effectively a island but it joins the North Bank, hopefully my rough drawing here will help describe it.
Boozy arrived and set up by the off.
The Reeds in my swim where already moving as the carp were searching for food. I was already drawn to it - and rigged up straight away with my Middy Hot Spot Pole - Bully Boy Top Kit with 18 Elastic. I also set up a cage feeder for long work to the South Bank point.
The View of the Reeds in my swim
At the whistle (which was preceded by a barrage of abuse from Olly to Mick Wagg [his brother] to stop chatting and get back to his peg as he was ready and rearing to go at 8.45) it was like somebody had open the Iron Curtain (as my Granddad use to say) - the wind picked up from the East straight down at those of us on the West bank - I was fortunate as I was afforded a little shelter by the trees to my right.
I started with the Cage Feeder with Double maggot with an 12" Size 16 hook link, but my 1st cast fell well short of the Island point but I left it there and had a pull round straight away - 30 seconds later a beautiful slim Common of 1 1/2lb graced my net. Good start me thinks ! Cast to the same spot whilst feeding pellet to the reeds to my right (Thinking behind that is I would guess the owner would have been feeding pellet during the close season).
No further bites forthcoming on the feeder both at mid point and close to Island. So switched to the Pole by the Reeds - 1st with double maggot coupled with maggot / pellet loose feed. A couple of small Mirrors later the Roach moved in so I changed to Jellets Pellet (they stayed on the hook !)- another couple of Small Carp were landed, but the Roach moved in on those as well !!
I then preceded to get smashed up in the reeds despite doing the brave thing by 'striking' sideways into the Reeds - 'Striking' in & out made no difference got smashed up every time - luckily I as able to walk towards the reed and freed up OK. I noticed that around 10 carp of various sizes had moved into the Margins and feeding off the bank side with backs coming out of the water - Not hard to miss that ! - After the worm - try some in there me thinks.
I shallowed up my rig an laid it on there noses - trying to pick out the biggest - Of course as soon as I Hooked one the remainder spooked and I had to wait 10 minutes for them to coma back - So I embarked a period of catching one / resting the margin swim but trying to catch them on the way in - They did not want to know until they were sat the bank edge - muddying it up. I tried paste, sweet corn & pellet but the only bait they would have was the good old maggot. This cycle went on to Midday then they did not return until 2.30pm - Significant that the wind shifted slightly to East /SE - blowing straight at OLLY.
Gary Somerfield who was on the East bank reported after the match that he had Carp in the edges in his swim but they would not take anything not even Maggot !!
I tried the area under my feet and was rewarded with a couple of hard fighting 1/2lb F1's - One was so lively that as I was about to place in the keepnet it jumped out of my hands straight back to where it had come from. I thought to myself - "I wonder how costly that would be"?
During the time I was catching and concentrating on what was going on in my Swim, I did not take too much notice of what was going on elsewhere - Only the regular splashes of netted fish being landed on Peg 2 by John Buck caught my attention. When it went quiet in my swim the only splashing noise was coming from Olly's swim - One after the other for two hours !!.
At the all out whistle I felt exhausted mainly due to burning the candle at both ends for the past few weeks - and the concentration level of today's match.
Being the 1st to weigh in 29+ Lb of Carp and 2lb of Silvers for a total of 31lb 6oz.
I packed up and caught up with the Weigh-in near the end. I Looked at the weights and was surprised by the lack of good weights. When I looked at the associated pegs, nobody from the Island points from West to East had a decent weight, All the decent weights came from the Island points East to West - Wasn't that the way the wind was blowing - ah Yes.
But you will guess the next bit wont you !!! - Who had 118lb sat in a peg he did not want - You got it - Olly - I really should have taken him up on his offer to swap pegs !!. Notably he caught on Maggot not the special paste.
I finished 7th behind that man Mick 'Tiggy' Wagg who always seems to pip me by small amounts - this Time it was 5ozs - I told you that small F1 would cost me didn't I Out of the Points again in that middle ground.
Sky: Sunny
Temp: 10- 17°C
Wind E (8 mph)
Relative Humidity (%): 54,
Pressure (mB): 1015, Falling
18 anglers fished the 3rd Big John's Angling Sunday League Match of the Season at Blind Lane New Lake which was specially opened up for us to fish during the complex's Close Season.
After a couple of weeks of rain, dull and windy weather we were greeted by a cloudless sky and the merest puff of wind.
I drew peg 1 and was pounced upon by Olly Wagg to do a swap as he really fancied this swim - He had Peg 4. I had no idea where it was as I arrived just in time for the early draw (Boozy had not arrived so his drawn for him - peg 10). I declined Olly's offer thinking it might be a hot one if he thought that - or perhaps it was a double bluff - perhaps I should have taken him up on the offer ? Only time will tell. I believe you draw your peg yourself and fish where you draw.
Well I had the longest walk as the Peg was right down in the South East of the lake. A nice swim, I can see why Olly fancied it - Nice bunch of Reeds at 10 metres to the corner and easy cast to the point. It is no easy to describe the shape of the lake. The North and South bank face a Long Island so everyone fishing from these banks can fish to it and those on the North West Bank can fish to the East facing point. Those on the North East bank have very little, whilst those on the West bank have either of the Long Island or the South bank end points to fish to. The South bank is effectively a island but it joins the North Bank, hopefully my rough drawing here will help describe it.
Boozy arrived and set up by the off.
The Reeds in my swim where already moving as the carp were searching for food. I was already drawn to it - and rigged up straight away with my Middy Hot Spot Pole - Bully Boy Top Kit with 18 Elastic. I also set up a cage feeder for long work to the South Bank point.
The View of the Reeds in my swim
Olly sat ready & waiting on the Peg he did not want at 0840hrs -
At the whistle (which was preceded by a barrage of abuse from Olly to Mick Wagg [his brother] to stop chatting and get back to his peg as he was ready and rearing to go at 8.45) it was like somebody had open the Iron Curtain (as my Granddad use to say) - the wind picked up from the East straight down at those of us on the West bank - I was fortunate as I was afforded a little shelter by the trees to my right.
I started with the Cage Feeder with Double maggot with an 12" Size 16 hook link, but my 1st cast fell well short of the Island point but I left it there and had a pull round straight away - 30 seconds later a beautiful slim Common of 1 1/2lb graced my net. Good start me thinks ! Cast to the same spot whilst feeding pellet to the reeds to my right (Thinking behind that is I would guess the owner would have been feeding pellet during the close season).
No further bites forthcoming on the feeder both at mid point and close to Island. So switched to the Pole by the Reeds - 1st with double maggot coupled with maggot / pellet loose feed. A couple of small Mirrors later the Roach moved in so I changed to Jellets Pellet (they stayed on the hook !)- another couple of Small Carp were landed, but the Roach moved in on those as well !!
I then preceded to get smashed up in the reeds despite doing the brave thing by 'striking' sideways into the Reeds - 'Striking' in & out made no difference got smashed up every time - luckily I as able to walk towards the reed and freed up OK. I noticed that around 10 carp of various sizes had moved into the Margins and feeding off the bank side with backs coming out of the water - Not hard to miss that ! - After the worm - try some in there me thinks.
I shallowed up my rig an laid it on there noses - trying to pick out the biggest - Of course as soon as I Hooked one the remainder spooked and I had to wait 10 minutes for them to coma back - So I embarked a period of catching one / resting the margin swim but trying to catch them on the way in - They did not want to know until they were sat the bank edge - muddying it up. I tried paste, sweet corn & pellet but the only bait they would have was the good old maggot. This cycle went on to Midday then they did not return until 2.30pm - Significant that the wind shifted slightly to East /SE - blowing straight at OLLY.
Gary Somerfield who was on the East bank reported after the match that he had Carp in the edges in his swim but they would not take anything not even Maggot !!
I tried the area under my feet and was rewarded with a couple of hard fighting 1/2lb F1's - One was so lively that as I was about to place in the keepnet it jumped out of my hands straight back to where it had come from. I thought to myself - "I wonder how costly that would be"?
During the time I was catching and concentrating on what was going on in my Swim, I did not take too much notice of what was going on elsewhere - Only the regular splashes of netted fish being landed on Peg 2 by John Buck caught my attention. When it went quiet in my swim the only splashing noise was coming from Olly's swim - One after the other for two hours !!.
At the all out whistle I felt exhausted mainly due to burning the candle at both ends for the past few weeks - and the concentration level of today's match.
Being the 1st to weigh in 29+ Lb of Carp and 2lb of Silvers for a total of 31lb 6oz.
I packed up and caught up with the Weigh-in near the end. I Looked at the weights and was surprised by the lack of good weights. When I looked at the associated pegs, nobody from the Island points from West to East had a decent weight, All the decent weights came from the Island points East to West - Wasn't that the way the wind was blowing - ah Yes.
But you will guess the next bit wont you !!! - Who had 118lb sat in a peg he did not want - You got it - Olly - I really should have taken him up on his offer to swap pegs !!. Notably he caught on Maggot not the special paste.
I finished 7th behind that man Mick 'Tiggy' Wagg who always seems to pip me by small amounts - this Time it was 5ozs - I told you that small F1 would cost me didn't I Out of the Points again in that middle ground.
Labels: Big Johns League Match
