Thursday, August 30, 2007
Lee Chapel Wednesday Stan Memorial League Match 29th August 2007 (All-In)
A Lovely evening to end this years series – with Just Six of Us (Die Hard’s minus Ron plus Big John same as last week.
We had an early watercraft draw with Olly having 1st pick with me second – Olly did not go for Peg 25 but 16 – I went for peg 18. Mick Byrne on Peg 20, Mick Wagg on Peg 10, Big John – Peg 13 and Dean on Peg 15We were are setup and ready to go at 5.45pm.
Set up of my Bully Boy 14-16 Elastic New Pole rig with 5lb Straight through to an 18 PR / single red maggot. Straight in with the 1st put-in with small Roach. I was getting a small fish a chuck but putting weight in the net.
Mick Wagg had a small carp 1st chuck on a Peg I tested out my new On box Seat Box and accessories the night before and couldn’t get a bite! Olly and Dean were down the sides as far as they could to the red pole (Limit of Fishing). Olly had a small carp after an hour so I really need one of 5-6lb to stay in touch. I tried all over he swim but not even a big Raoch.
Mick Byrne had landed a small Tench and Dean had a couple of nice mid single Carp – Looks like he would be the winner on the night but was looking close between the two Micks’s for the overall title.
My prayers were answered for a carp at 7.30 pm unfortunately it was too big for my set up , it went tearing off down the lake with all 11.5 metres of my Hot Spot Pole and elastics in the water – it snapped the 5lb line in about 30 secs. That is the point that I effectively gave up on any chance of third place overall and the carp had destroyed my swim – with only a couple of small roach after that.
I’d just about packed up when Olly called time and he then instantly said Fish on which he played and landed with 1 minute left of his allotted 15 mins to get it in – Best Fish of the Night 10lb dead. We had weighed in everyone else by the time he landed.
So Dean was 1st – Olly 2nd Mick Wagg 3rd – me 4th with 3lb 14 ozs of silvers, Mick Byrne crucially 5th and Big John 6th.
So final positions:
1st: Mick Byrne by 1point from Mick Wagg in 2nd , Olly 3rd (122) me 4th (114)
How important were those 3 small fish that did not weigh an once between them that Mick Byrne caught over the last two matches that gave him 4 vital points!
I’d just about packed up when Olly called time and he then instantly said Fish on which he played and landed with 1 minute left of his allotted 15 mins to get it in – Best Fish of the Night 10lb dead. We had weighed in everyone else by the time he landed.
So Dean was 1st – Olly 2nd Mick Wagg 3rd – me 4th with 3lb 14 ozs of silvers, Mick Byrne crucially 5th and Big John 6th.
So final positions:
1st: Mick Byrne by 1point from Mick Wagg in 2nd , Olly 3rd (122) me 4th (114)
How important were those 3 small fish that did not weigh an once between them that Mick Byrne caught over the last two matches that gave him 4 vital points!
Labels: Wednesday League Match
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Lee Chapel Wednesday Stan Memorial League Match 22nd August 2007 (Silver)
A Wild, Drizzy & Windy evening – with Just Six of Us (Die Hard’s minus Ron plus Big John).
We had an early watercraft draw with me having 1st pick. I was going for Peg 25 or 24 but having watched nothing come out of there much over the past few weeks and Olly said it hadn’t fished well during the week – I asked if he was sand bagging me – No was the reply – I chose Peg 18 I thought would be a best combination of Fish and affording the best shelter from the swirling wind. Guess where Olly went – you guessed It peg 24 !!!
We were are setup and ready to go at 5.45pm. Set up of my Match Kit / Middy Hot shot to 2lb Size 18 /light Pole float single red maggot. Straight in of the 1st put in with small Roach – In fact by 6pm I had already caught more than I did in the whole of last weeks match. Had to keep going long / short to keep them coming – nothing big but consistent.
We were are setup and ready to go at 5.45pm. Set up of my Match Kit / Middy Hot shot to 2lb Size 18 /light Pole float single red maggot. Straight in of the 1st put in with small Roach – In fact by 6pm I had already caught more than I did in the whole of last weeks match. Had to keep going long / short to keep them coming – nothing big but consistent.
Couldn’t see what Olly was up to but Mick Wagg was already into his obligatory Carp over on Peg 9 on a Silver Fish match. Big John was very quiet to my left on Peg 16 on a mxture of Feeder /Pole
Mason Mills popped round as he normally does and I caught a couple of nice Roach whilst chatting to him. I said 50 of those and I will be happy – he said another 50 of those and you might catch up with Olly who has a few nice Roach ¾ to 1lb stamp.
The light deteriorated and by 7.30 pm I was struggling to see my float tip and with all the leaves / twigs blown off the trees during the day it was getting difficult to find a spot to drop the line.
Mason Mills popped round as he normally does and I caught a couple of nice Roach whilst chatting to him. I said 50 of those and I will be happy – he said another 50 of those and you might catch up with Olly who has a few nice Roach ¾ to 1lb stamp.
The light deteriorated and by 7.30 pm I was struggling to see my float tip and with all the leaves / twigs blown off the trees during the day it was getting difficult to find a spot to drop the line.
We called it a day at 8.15 weighed in and surprised to find I had 4lb 14ozs! Olly beat me by four ounces to win the match and jumped from 5th to 3rd in the standings on 107 with me 2 points behind on 105.
Now then Mick Byrne the long time leader is stagnating last week it was solitary baby perch – he went one better this week and had a baby Roach as well. That was enough to get him 3 points and with the point from last week – How important will those baby fish be next week in the final reckoning.
The 1st place is between the two Mick’s and third Place between Olly, Paul Pratley and yours truly. With the weather forecast looking a little better for next week and being All-In – we may have a few spoilers turn up.
Labels: Wednesday League Match
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Lee Chapel Wednesday Stan Memorial League Match 15th August 2007 (All In)
The Die Hards were joined this week by Kev Keeling , Paul Pratley & Big John this week.
After that it was just about getting dark so Olly called time. The weigh -in well I was in lead with 8ozs, well I was the 1st to weigh in -Olly next his 3 fish = 12oz,
Draw was odd's again - Me Peg 5, Olly Wagg 7, Paul Pratley 9, Dean Peters 13, Kev 15, Ron Price 17, BJ 19 , Mick Bryne 21 & Mick Wagg 25.
Set up on Bully Boy top kit 18-20 with Size 16 on 5lb line straight through - Maggot attack 1st off. BJ was into a small carp 1st chuck in up against the Island - Bites were hard to come by - Nothing doing on our side of the bank. Even Mick Wagg was not getting much on 25 - always a good Silver peg !
Kev Keeling landed in sizable carp up the end - looks like they have followed the SW wind into his corner. The wind was gusting . Paul Pratley gave up around 7:45pm not a bite - I almost felt like joining him - I went to match Kit wiyth 6 elastic ansize 20 to 1lb line - I managed to catch 3 fish - two Roach one Rudd the latter grabbing the maggot whilst shipping out !
Kev Keeling is into another one and after 10 mins that that expensive cracking noise as his top kit gives way in 4 places - ouch !!!
Best interest for Olly and I up to this point was the attention paid to us by he local Vixen (the four legged Fox variety !) - she really has no nerves now - 1st Off she sneaked up behind me as was gnawing away at my Pole Roller adjuster knob. I shooed her away when 2 minutes later she pooped up behind Olly ans started to sniff through his Rod bag only for Olly to reward her with some Paste - well he had no other use for it. Then later she sneaked up and ran off with his ground bait bag which had a little left in it.
Back to the fishing - sorry did I say fishing !!! Well that was only successfully managed by Kev who had landed another Mirror of 15lb. Olly had thrown on two maggots and lost a nice perch but he was using his shock stick but continue hoping something big would grab it - which an 8:30 pm did but alas got snapped off after 5 mins a combination of heavy Elastic rigid shock stik and 2lb Line - Dohh !!!
After that it was just about getting dark so Olly called time. The weigh -in well I was in lead with 8ozs, well I was the 1st to weigh in -Olly next his 3 fish = 12oz, It started to chuck it down!!! Some shower 5 mins of torrential rain. ( at Wickford where the nearest weather station is it recorded 8mm of rain at that time ! Dean was next - 3 fish also - better at 1lb - Then Kev who was going win anyway - but had his regular Chub - Gets it ever time he fished this Weds eve match - It goes 1lb 4oz.
Ron -blanked - BJ with 5lb 8 ozs 1 carp - 1 tench, Mick Byrne didn't trouble the scales but had 1 small Perch which took ages to find in the keep net but we gave him 1/2 oz for it. Gives him a point which could be vital come the end of the series. Mick Wagg was last with a couple of lbs - Give him 3rd and good points. I finished 6th so now have finished in every points scoring position this series !
Labels: Wednesday League Match
Friday, August 10, 2007
Pleasure & Trail fish LCL 9th August 2007
Whilst as on Vacation this week and the decorating completed with the weather set fair, I took the opportunity to have 1/2 days pleasure / test fish.
I set up on Peg 18 as Pegs 25 and 15 already taken. This is the 1st time I will have ledgered fished since coming back from France some two months ago. I set up a ledger on a reduce France set up of triggalink/ultralsilk combo to size 8 with a frozen combo of 7/8 K1G and 1/8 Scopex pop up and 1 oz lead placed under the tree of the East Side of the Island. Chucked half of dozen freebies around it.
I set up on the Pole to the weed to the right hand side fishing maggot over pellet. Had some small Roach 7 perch to start with then tried Tares - nothing at all - tried this several times during the day in several locations but no Joy - replaced the boilies 3 times during the day on the ledger - when to 1 & 1/2 K1G boilies at 6pm after a pick up and small run.
Swapped the pole for Feeder with in line Middy Method feeder to mid position Right of Island and bank- Only one bite during the day - a lovely 3lb Tench.
Swapped back to the Pole /Light rig that used earlier - 2lb Line to Size 18. Tried various baits - Sweet corn, Tares, Worm , Maggot, Paste, Pellet. When went to the latter and used 6mm Sonu
Halibut Pellets had a 4lb Bream ( new PB on this Lake and best caught on the Pole). Then two drops later had a sail way bite as Mr Carp decided he liked the Halibuts as well. Pole tip under the water but no way was I going to hang on to this one - It snapped my 2lb Hook link on the 2nd run.
I beefed up the Rig and put on the bully Boy with 18-20 Elastic but no big bites at all.
Had a Run on the Ledger - Lifted in a small Black carp but dropped the hook after 5 secs.
Decide that was enough - it had been a long hot dry day on not that successful in trail terms apart for the 6mm Halibut pellets - I might try them next in next Weds match.
Labels: Pleasure Fish
Lee Chapel Wednesday Stan Memorial League Match 8th August 2007 (Silver)
The Die Hards plus Big John (7 in total) fished this weeks evening match. Mind you Dean Peters had his wife draw and set up for him as she had booked in a driving lesson student for him that would mean that he would just be able to make the start. He arrived at 5.45pm
It was odd pegs this week - I drew 23, Olly Wagg 21, Big John, 25 - Mick Wagg 5, Ron Price 9, Mick Bryne 11, and Dean 19.
The weather was kind to us for only the 2nd time this year.
I fished my normal tactic of light rig / single red maggot with weight shot under the float for a slow drop. fished at 6 metres in an arc going out to 7 and 8 metres leater but found had to come into 5 metere late on and go 3" over depth. Sport was erractic have 2 then have to moved to fins others. Olly next to me was using the same tactics (I found out afterwards) was pulling in some chunky Roach wheras mind were on the small side.
Mick & Ron were into the carp hooking them regularly - Ron more so, he didn't have any time to catch any Silvers !
By 8.45pm it was getting difficult to see anything as disk settled in - so the whilstle went.
Olly won with 10lb + , I was second with 7lb 10oz, can't remember the order of the others.
It was odd pegs this week - I drew 23, Olly Wagg 21, Big John, 25 - Mick Wagg 5, Ron Price 9, Mick Bryne 11, and Dean 19.
The weather was kind to us for only the 2nd time this year.
I fished my normal tactic of light rig / single red maggot with weight shot under the float for a slow drop. fished at 6 metres in an arc going out to 7 and 8 metres leater but found had to come into 5 metere late on and go 3" over depth. Sport was erractic have 2 then have to moved to fins others. Olly next to me was using the same tactics (I found out afterwards) was pulling in some chunky Roach wheras mind were on the small side.
Mick & Ron were into the carp hooking them regularly - Ron more so, he didn't have any time to catch any Silvers !
By 8.45pm it was getting difficult to see anything as disk settled in - so the whilstle went.
Olly won with 10lb + , I was second with 7lb 10oz, can't remember the order of the others.
Labels: Wednesday League Match
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Lee Chapel Sunday League Match - Tylers Common - Horseshoe Lake - 5th August 2007
21 Club Members fished pegs 31 - 56 of Horseshoe Lake at Tylers Common. Umbrellas were the order of the day to shade the sun - yes Summer really has arrived. As always the wind at Tylers was greater than any where else at the same time, but was very welcome having that cooling Southerly breeze which was gusty at times.
I arrived just after 7.30 any most others were already down at lake side. When i got down there there was a rendition of 'One Wheel on my wagon' - which related to Olly Wagg's new Preston Space Station Shuttle left hand wheel breaking off at the axle stub. - Apparently there is a known issue withe the wheels on these units.
I didn't get a picture of Ed Pearce holding it whilst Olly pushed it to his peg, They went 10 yards but gave up, Ed off loading his at his near peg then going back and picking Ollys gear up and wheeling to his.
I drew peg 35, with the wind and Sun on my back made for a relative rare pleasant experience weather wise at Tylers.
I set up on cage feeder to work the islands, waggler for mid range and Pole close in.
Started off on the feeder in between then island slightly to my left which had an overhanging tree into the other swim ( not populated) on the other side. But every time I cats in there I got caught up on some line left there - I suspect from a feeder snag on the tree. This made it unfishable as if I did get a bite chances it would bump off on the stay line / feeder. So I worked my way down the island left to right. Only had one take - A small Mirror and that with the hook in the chin ! on mini -boilie/ Sweetcorn combo on the hair and red maggot on the size 14 hook. So not sure what is what after - I tried each bait on its own - no takers.
I came in mid way on the Waggler on single/ double/ triple maggot on size 16. Nothing - so went down to 18 and tried a the series again - Only single red maggot would produce - a few small skimmers , Roach & Perch - but it was start. Slowly built up the swim but no carp, yet again nobody else was catching around me either - both another club match on the opposite bank and our guys around me - John Buck to my right ha limited success on the feeder but like me not getting anything mid distant.
I came into the margins which i had been drip feeding - nothing in there on all baits, so back out on the feeder, nothing apart from small Roach and Perch.
I switched to maggot feeder (Fox) but no joy - Back on the Waggler - had one decent Mirror of ~3lb on the drop, - So I went back to my old favourite - Middy in-line Maggot feeder- casting into the gap between islands with almost instant results - got into a couple of 2-3lb carp in quick succession - so was John Buck - its 1345hrs and looks like they are coming on the feed. John has had a couple of lumps in quick succession and we are going one for one but mine are smaller - hey but its fish, Every time I glanced round at Kev Keeling on the last peg on the other side he has a fish on as well.
Sods law - You just get 'em going and its time for the whistle. I looked at the weather stats afterwards and noticed that the baro dropped 6 mb during the day 9am to 3pm - I wondered if that had anything to do with them coming on the feed (look at the weather chart here:
Upminster station - closest to fishing spot
I promised Gary Somerfield- my pairs partner I would get some points to keep us in the hunt for the Pairs competition as he was Holidaying somewhere - I wonder if it was a sunny where he is ?. We are still miles behind John Buck / Mick Wagg combination - less than half of their total 245 to 505 ! But still in with a good shout for 3rd spot. _ along way to go yet and the Winter ! when I normally do well !
In the Knockout Competition with 3 no shows, only one person would not progress - That was Mick Byrne - He was up the far end with the others down the Winward end.
I commented to Mason Mills as he passed me loaded up on his Space Station Shuttle to be careful that one of his wheels does not come off. later Ed returned to pick up his gear after taking Ollys' gear up the long hill top the car park, he reported that one of Mason's wheels has broken. Looks like Big John will be busy on the Phone to Prestons organising replacements come Monday Morning.
The various Competition Positions:
I arrived just after 7.30 any most others were already down at lake side. When i got down there there was a rendition of 'One Wheel on my wagon' - which related to Olly Wagg's new Preston Space Station Shuttle left hand wheel breaking off at the axle stub. - Apparently there is a known issue withe the wheels on these units.
I didn't get a picture of Ed Pearce holding it whilst Olly pushed it to his peg, They went 10 yards but gave up, Ed off loading his at his near peg then going back and picking Ollys gear up and wheeling to his.
I drew peg 35, with the wind and Sun on my back made for a relative rare pleasant experience weather wise at Tylers.
I set up on cage feeder to work the islands, waggler for mid range and Pole close in.
Started off on the feeder in between then island slightly to my left which had an overhanging tree into the other swim ( not populated) on the other side. But every time I cats in there I got caught up on some line left there - I suspect from a feeder snag on the tree. This made it unfishable as if I did get a bite chances it would bump off on the stay line / feeder. So I worked my way down the island left to right. Only had one take - A small Mirror and that with the hook in the chin ! on mini -boilie/ Sweetcorn combo on the hair and red maggot on the size 14 hook. So not sure what is what after - I tried each bait on its own - no takers.
I came in mid way on the Waggler on single/ double/ triple maggot on size 16. Nothing - so went down to 18 and tried a the series again - Only single red maggot would produce - a few small skimmers , Roach & Perch - but it was start. Slowly built up the swim but no carp, yet again nobody else was catching around me either - both another club match on the opposite bank and our guys around me - John Buck to my right ha limited success on the feeder but like me not getting anything mid distant.
I came into the margins which i had been drip feeding - nothing in there on all baits, so back out on the feeder, nothing apart from small Roach and Perch.
I switched to maggot feeder (Fox) but no joy - Back on the Waggler - had one decent Mirror of ~3lb on the drop, - So I went back to my old favourite - Middy in-line Maggot feeder- casting into the gap between islands with almost instant results - got into a couple of 2-3lb carp in quick succession - so was John Buck - its 1345hrs and looks like they are coming on the feed. John has had a couple of lumps in quick succession and we are going one for one but mine are smaller - hey but its fish, Every time I glanced round at Kev Keeling on the last peg on the other side he has a fish on as well.
Sods law - You just get 'em going and its time for the whistle. I looked at the weather stats afterwards and noticed that the baro dropped 6 mb during the day 9am to 3pm - I wondered if that had anything to do with them coming on the feed (look at the weather chart here:
Upminster station - closest to fishing spot
The weigh-in shows an interesting trend the bottom end of the lake where the wind has been blowing into proved to have the best weights with Rob Blackburn the best with 79lb on the end peg on my bank - Peg 31, John Buck on Peg 34 finished 2nd with 36 1/2 lb, Kev Keeling on the end peg on the other side 3rd just 12 ozs less on 35 3/4 lb and me a distant 4th with 27Lb 9oz.
This resulted in the single league lead position switching back to John Buck form 2 points behind Kev Keeling to going 18 in front.
My 4th spot moved me up 7 places in the Singles League from =20 to 13th. - I am on the move !I promised Gary Somerfield- my pairs partner I would get some points to keep us in the hunt for the Pairs competition as he was Holidaying somewhere - I wonder if it was a sunny where he is ?. We are still miles behind John Buck / Mick Wagg combination - less than half of their total 245 to 505 ! But still in with a good shout for 3rd spot. _ along way to go yet and the Winter ! when I normally do well !
In the Knockout Competition with 3 no shows, only one person would not progress - That was Mick Byrne - He was up the far end with the others down the Winward end.
I commented to Mason Mills as he passed me loaded up on his Space Station Shuttle to be careful that one of his wheels does not come off. later Ed returned to pick up his gear after taking Ollys' gear up the long hill top the car park, he reported that one of Mason's wheels has broken. Looks like Big John will be busy on the Phone to Prestons organising replacements come Monday Morning.
The various Competition Positions:
Labels: Lee Chapel Sunday League Match
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Lee Chapel Wednesday Stan Memorial League Match 1st August 2007 (All In)
I anticipated that given we had the unusual occurrence f having almost 3 days without rain and being a fine Summer's evening that there would be a good turn out and already had in mid what the 1st line of this posting would be. However it was only the 'Die Hards' that turnt up and even Paul Pratley had to borrow Kit as he did not have a chance to go home 1st.
We had a proper drw this weeks (Even Pegs) after 'dialogue' on the fact the Golden Peg was not drawn last weeks as we did a 'Walk Off'
I drew Peg 20 with Paul Pratley to right on Peg 20 and Ron Price on Peg 18, Mick Wagg to my Left on 18, Dean further down on 26, Olly Wagg on 8 & Mick Bryne on 14.
The weather was the best thing about this session for me. Mick Bryne was woken up but a screaming reel which resulted in a 16l 5oz carp, Ron & Paul had small carp to 5lb , Dean, Olly & I had small roach on the Pole, with single red maggot left over form Sunday but they died on me - (Too cold in the fridge I think), after the boys had caught carp I decided to go the In Line Method / sweetcorn/Mini Boilie on the hair close to the Island - No Joy though.
Mick '845' Wagg as he will now be called patiently kept going on the Pole and single red maggot and was 'rewarded with a Nice Tench and small bream and his now usual 8.45pm Carp. This time he was unable to land this particular fish which looked around mid double mirror as the hook pulled.
He then recast almost immediately got into another of around 8lb right on the whistle.
The weigh-in was short and sweet with Mick B 1st, (24lb) Mick '845' 2nd (18lb- that lost one would have won it for him) Ron 3rd (5lb+) , Paul 4th (5lb+) - surprisingly me 5th (3lb) Olly 6th and (2lb+ ) Dean & 7th (2lb+)
Next Stop - Sunday 5th at Tylers Common Horseshoe lake
I drew Peg 20 with Paul Pratley to right on Peg 20 and Ron Price on Peg 18, Mick Wagg to my Left on 18, Dean further down on 26, Olly Wagg on 8 & Mick Bryne on 14.
The weather was the best thing about this session for me. Mick Bryne was woken up but a screaming reel which resulted in a 16l 5oz carp, Ron & Paul had small carp to 5lb , Dean, Olly & I had small roach on the Pole, with single red maggot left over form Sunday but they died on me - (Too cold in the fridge I think), after the boys had caught carp I decided to go the In Line Method / sweetcorn/Mini Boilie on the hair close to the Island - No Joy though.
Mick '845' Wagg as he will now be called patiently kept going on the Pole and single red maggot and was 'rewarded with a Nice Tench and small bream and his now usual 8.45pm Carp. This time he was unable to land this particular fish which looked around mid double mirror as the hook pulled.
He then recast almost immediately got into another of around 8lb right on the whistle.
The weigh-in was short and sweet with Mick B 1st, (24lb) Mick '845' 2nd (18lb- that lost one would have won it for him) Ron 3rd (5lb+) , Paul 4th (5lb+) - surprisingly me 5th (3lb) Olly 6th and (2lb+ ) Dean & 7th (2lb+)
Next Stop - Sunday 5th at Tylers Common Horseshoe lake
Labels: Wednesday League Match
