Blakey's Fishing Blog

I drew Peg 17 and fished light to start on the pole (18) elastic though) with close the weed bed on the right hand side and started to put together a bag of Roach and Rudd using Maggot over pellet.

I stepped up once I had indications of Carp in the Swim and went to pellet – Instantly had a small Black Common. Then went to paste – Nothing , watching around watch everyone else was doing - felt I needed to switch back to silvers – so went back light 18 / 2.5lb Line / single Red Maggot.

At 8pm typically got a slide away bite and the elastic pulling right out. I proceeded to play it for 25 minutes – Gary Somerfield arrived said marvellous you don’t get those on Sunday do ya?.. I replied I have not got this one yet. Several lunges up & down the swim it made for the other side of the Island a ping the hook link snapped. Oh dear. Never Mind I finished 3rd – I think Kev keeling or Mick Byrne Finished 1st / 2nd or may have been Visa Versa – my Memory is not that good.


17th June 2006
Big Johns Sunday League – Bury Hill Fisheries – Dorking Surrey – Bond’s Lake

Having managed 4 hours sleep on my return from France – an early 0530 drive to the lakes was in the offing – I had company in the form of Mick Scoles for the drive so I keep him entertained and myself awake recounting the France experiences.

On arrival the long walk and draw at Bonds Lake. I drew Peg 11 I think, with Kev Keeling immediately to my left and Mason Mills immediately to my left in corner (car park end). A bit tight would be the call. Mind you me and Mason are use to fishing in each others pockets.

The island look prime and lots of fish movement there, but we had about 8 feet between four of us – and we each elected one inlet in the bank as markers – Mind you this was going to require some accurate casting.

The Island which 4 of us shared

I started off on the Pellet at 20 feet as fish were just blow the surface – not a bite – went the ordinary waggler and maggot in the same spot – Nothing. Resorted to the maggot feeder to the island nothing- - Not a bite. Mason had a couple from the island on the feeder but was finding you had to get right in tight – if you cam two feet out – no good – I got tight in to the island and finally got a small Common at 11:15, 2 ¾ hours in the match.

We had a mid point weigh in anticipation of large weights but nothing much doing at our end of the Lake – Mick Byrne and Ed Pearce on opposite sides of the Island with the long straights with space were doing well. Mick led at the ½ way stage with around 35lb.

The afternoon session improved once you could get into the Island and you managed to stop the fighting fish from picking up everyone else’s’ gear – a few Lost fish to this – Also both Mason and myself were loosing more fish than we were catching. My hook links were snapping– 6lb Preston, Obviously do not like feeder work.

Kev could not get anything from the Island but cam in at 9 meters on the Pole and Paste and after a lot of frustrating missies finally started bagging up – Seeing this I tried also and immediately Had a 5b Common , but that was it – reverted back to the feeder and managed to scrape another few carp for a Total of around 34lb, which at the weigh Gary commented you can’t do that when it’s matters (referencing our partnership on the League Chapel Sunday matches to which I have been performing very poorly).

Ed Pearce won with around 110lb.

This weeks catches! Big John's Angling fished Bonds last Sunday with all anglers bagging plenty of fish. The day was won by Ed Pearce who managed 116lb 2oz from peg 11 which he took on pole and paste. Second was Olly Wagg with 74lb 6oz taken from peg 7 on feeder and maggot with John Pearce taking third place with 72lb 5oz which he caught on feeder and worm.

Wednesday 20th June
Lee Chapel Stan’s Memorial Wednesday League – LCL All In

Around 14 Members for this one. I drew peg 25 which Olly won the Silver Fish match from the previous week with ~ 20lb whilst I was in France. I did my 10:10 mental model and with the Wind blowing from the South West and with Olly, Mick Wagg, Mick Byrne, and Paul Pratley situated in pegs 16-20 I knew the top 3 or top Four would come from there.

I tried my usual tactic of starting off Light – maggot over pellet – plenty of Roach Rudd and small perch but no sign of a Carp, they have all followed the wind and as predicted coming out on pegs 16-20 or as reported to me I could no see from behind the bush to my right.

There was very little activity to my left where Steve Ellis and Terry Middleton were although Terry was pulling in some silvers the far side they were all going for the big ones. Terry Packed up at around 8pm and I heard him murmur that he a coup[le of Pound of Roach.

Come the weigh in only 5 of us did so, Much to my amazement I finished Fourth with 5lb of Silvers beating Olly who had one small carp for 4lb Mick Byrne had over 30lb followed by Mick & Paul Pratley – So my 10:100 was right with the shock exception of Olly

Wednesday 27th June
Lee Chapel Stan’s Memorial Wednesday League – LCL (Silver Fish)

Only 4 of us turnt up for this - The weather which I did not check and last weeks result probably being major influences. So, Mick Wagg, Mick Byrne, Paul Pratley and myself drew for a walk off, Mick 1st chose Peg 9 Mick, Peg 13, me Peg 25, Paul Pratley peg 18, I told them all that they will get Carp there !.

I had travelled light for this – Just a silver fish Keep net, Pole seat box, a few bank sticks and 2 pints of maggots left over from the past few weeks. But oh dear no landing net handle – I improvised using the longest Bank stick I had, still too short really. Then the rain came and did not stop until 2100 -. Not having checked the forecast I had only brought my Thermal Coat as I thought it might get chilly later that with Shakespeare Match Bib kept my dry.

I was getting regular roach and the occasional nice Perch, Mick had had a nice bream – he was targeting them but as I predicted all 3 of them got into the Carp. Mick Wagg must have had 3or 4 of them and Paul the same amount.

I felt quite confident – although Mick Wagg was catching regularly hey were smaller than mine. That was until the last 4 minutes when he landed a large Perch. I shouted across too late I’ve got 4 of those, little did I know that it was bigger than I thought. Come the weigh in which Olly turnt up to do (had been with Boozy in the Maver pair’s completion at Barfeild Lakes in Norfolk - where the conditions were also bad and didn’t finish last as he put it). I managed 12lb and was well chuffed – Paul 8ozs Mick B 5lb and so Just Mick Wagg – Oh dear see the size of the perch and the rest of the Silvers – scales go round to 12lb 12oz – he’s done me again !!!!!! Time to pack up and dry out.