Monday, October 29, 2007
Big Johns Angling Sunday League - Tylers Common Horseshoe Lake 28th October 2007
A week later than originally planned the final round of Big Johns Angling Summer League was held at 'Windy City' Tyler's Common Horseshoe Lake. The weeks delay meant that summer had officially past with the Clocks going back during the night and a forecast that did not want you drawing a peg facing South /South West. - Rain and wind (Wind - well that is given assumption at Tyler's). British Summer Time had truly ended.
That said we had a tussle for the Championship - Ed Pearce and Olly Wagg - Ed has been leading all the way but Olly still had a strong chance if he won and Ed finished well down the leader board. Only 6 points in it going into today’s match
We all felt that the draw could decide this with Peg numbers in the low 30's being favourite being at North East end -the recipient of the South Westerly with Peg 31 in the corner being the 'HOT' one.
As per normal Olly and Ed drew each others Pegs and somebody was smiling like a Cheshire Cat - That was Ed - Olly had drawn him Peg 31, and Ed had drawn 39 for Olly. It would appear that Ed would only need to wet his line to win.
I was suffering from the remnants of a heavy cold and of course drew a facing wind peg - My age - 51. As we made our way up the 'arm' of the horseshoe Olly was calling for Ed to came and look at his peg - he deemed to be unfishable as he would not be able to use his feeder because of the tufted Grass, Mine and Mason Mills' response was that we had fished from worse swims this year and he should just get on with. Ed reviewed and agreed for Olly to move up a peg to peg 40.
My approach was hunker down and fish with maggot feeder today - I not also that was how Olly had set up also. I tried to set up my Brolly but would not afforded any protection, so gave it up as a bad job - Put some waterproof trousers on Zipped up my thermal jacket and prepared for the rain. Boozy to my right on Peg 50 also tried to set up his brolly but it immediately gave way under the pressure of the wind. I think Rob Blackburn lent him one for the day.
Talking of Rob Blackburn - our prime candidate for 'Entertainer of the Year' it was reported that he had caught an empty Mackerel Tin on another lake somewhere, The Lads - (who will remain nameless) had put a empty can stuffed with two Mackerel into his landing net. He would remain oblivious to this until the weigh-in.
At the All-In as if to say welcome to Winter the rain started - light at 1st, then hard, light, then drizzle. This went on like this all day, I used my 'bulk' to keep my maggots dry. I had a good start a couple of small Commons of 1 lb a piece form the Island - I was having trouble casting to the same place against the swirling wind. I reckon I only hit the same spot 5 times during the day.
This was my 1st real session on my new 10ft Abu Enticer Feeder Rod which I had purchased from Big John a month or so ago - What a lovely little rod it is - It played the bigger fish (7lb) just the same as the smaller 1/2lbers - great through action and makes the fight really sporty.
Mason to my left two pegs down was also going well on the pellet spring feeder in the opposite swim between his Islands whilst Boozy was on the Pole and not doing anything much. Sport was erratic during the day for me, I tried Various setups on pellet, Sweet corn, maggot combinations but had best take rate on 12" 2.5Lb size 16 Hook link with Double red maggot to Fox in Line Maggot Feeder at Mid distance. I had a right purple patch between 1.20 and 1.40pm and must have put 15lb in the net. I think Boozy spotted this and he moved into the middle on the feeder and started to bag up - he 'nicked' my fish.
From my position I could not see what was going on behind me on the Olly front - but when I did look round he appeared Quiet, whilst I could see Ed down on 31 and did look to be doing much at all.
At the weigh -In we started at the point of the 'arm', and having the usual how did you do chat as you do - Rob Blackburn indicated that Olly had bagged up and he himself landed a nice 7lber but did a 'Boozy' missed the keep net with it - Perhaps the Carp had an aversion to the Mackerel.
Big John himself weighed in 1st with 17lb 10oz then Mick Wagg with 21lb 8oz. Next Up was Rob Blackburn who immediately found a Mackerel Tin and threw it out with a few choice words. I tried to record on my phone Video but he was to quick
He weighed in 30lb 2 oz to have the last laugh. Across to Boozy - Wow - he really did bag up in that last Hour – 42lb 6ozs in total (What would have happened if he hadn't messed about with the pole for most of the Day ? Back across To Olly - Out came the net and Ed's face was Picture of realisation that perhaps he was not going to win. Two weigh-ins for him for 57lb 8ozs.
Then across to me - Much to my surprise 32lb 10oz - I thought I had about 20lb then to Mason no surprises here had a good weight having watched him pull most in during the morning session (he went walk about three times - Boozy had thought he packed up at 1pm).
The weights started to drop away which is totally the opposite of what we expected at the outset - last time we were here in similar wind conditions the lower 30 pegs were the big catch holes - not today the big pegs were in the middle - the wind had been blowing from the North / North east for most of the week and only South West for the past two days so perhaps they were on there way down there when Olly, Boozy, Mason and myself intercepted them ?
Ed was the last to weigh in and could only muster 7lb - A complete shock and with it his Championship Dreams - How cruel is that - All I can say is pick your own pegs next year !
Top three today – Olly, Mason, Boozy - Oh I finished just out the Money yet again - 4th - Perhaps call this 'Done a Moses' From the joke God said to Moses come Forth - he can fifth and God Lost his beer Money - Na don't work does it
Given the conditions a brief trophy presentation took place and the exchanging of side bet money.
Every picture tells a story – what do you make of these:
Of course no visit to the Horseshoe Lake is not complete without the long push all the way up the hill to the car park against the wind and the rain. But that is no it – that is topped once you get home of washing all the Goose S**t from your tackle etc.
Final League table
That said we had a tussle for the Championship - Ed Pearce and Olly Wagg - Ed has been leading all the way but Olly still had a strong chance if he won and Ed finished well down the leader board. Only 6 points in it going into today’s match
We all felt that the draw could decide this with Peg numbers in the low 30's being favourite being at North East end -the recipient of the South Westerly with Peg 31 in the corner being the 'HOT' one.
As per normal Olly and Ed drew each others Pegs and somebody was smiling like a Cheshire Cat - That was Ed - Olly had drawn him Peg 31, and Ed had drawn 39 for Olly. It would appear that Ed would only need to wet his line to win.
I was suffering from the remnants of a heavy cold and of course drew a facing wind peg - My age - 51. As we made our way up the 'arm' of the horseshoe Olly was calling for Ed to came and look at his peg - he deemed to be unfishable as he would not be able to use his feeder because of the tufted Grass, Mine and Mason Mills' response was that we had fished from worse swims this year and he should just get on with. Ed reviewed and agreed for Olly to move up a peg to peg 40.
My approach was hunker down and fish with maggot feeder today - I not also that was how Olly had set up also. I tried to set up my Brolly but would not afforded any protection, so gave it up as a bad job - Put some waterproof trousers on Zipped up my thermal jacket and prepared for the rain. Boozy to my right on Peg 50 also tried to set up his brolly but it immediately gave way under the pressure of the wind. I think Rob Blackburn lent him one for the day.
Talking of Rob Blackburn - our prime candidate for 'Entertainer of the Year' it was reported that he had caught an empty Mackerel Tin on another lake somewhere, The Lads - (who will remain nameless) had put a empty can stuffed with two Mackerel into his landing net. He would remain oblivious to this until the weigh-in.
At the All-In as if to say welcome to Winter the rain started - light at 1st, then hard, light, then drizzle. This went on like this all day, I used my 'bulk' to keep my maggots dry. I had a good start a couple of small Commons of 1 lb a piece form the Island - I was having trouble casting to the same place against the swirling wind. I reckon I only hit the same spot 5 times during the day.
This was my 1st real session on my new 10ft Abu Enticer Feeder Rod which I had purchased from Big John a month or so ago - What a lovely little rod it is - It played the bigger fish (7lb) just the same as the smaller 1/2lbers - great through action and makes the fight really sporty.
Mason to my left two pegs down was also going well on the pellet spring feeder in the opposite swim between his Islands whilst Boozy was on the Pole and not doing anything much. Sport was erratic during the day for me, I tried Various setups on pellet, Sweet corn, maggot combinations but had best take rate on 12" 2.5Lb size 16 Hook link with Double red maggot to Fox in Line Maggot Feeder at Mid distance. I had a right purple patch between 1.20 and 1.40pm and must have put 15lb in the net. I think Boozy spotted this and he moved into the middle on the feeder and started to bag up - he 'nicked' my fish.
From my position I could not see what was going on behind me on the Olly front - but when I did look round he appeared Quiet, whilst I could see Ed down on 31 and did look to be doing much at all.
At the weigh -In we started at the point of the 'arm', and having the usual how did you do chat as you do - Rob Blackburn indicated that Olly had bagged up and he himself landed a nice 7lber but did a 'Boozy' missed the keep net with it - Perhaps the Carp had an aversion to the Mackerel.
Big John himself weighed in 1st with 17lb 10oz then Mick Wagg with 21lb 8oz. Next Up was Rob Blackburn who immediately found a Mackerel Tin and threw it out with a few choice words. I tried to record on my phone Video but he was to quick
Mackerel Anyone
He weighed in 30lb 2 oz to have the last laugh. Across to Boozy - Wow - he really did bag up in that last Hour – 42lb 6ozs in total (What would have happened if he hadn't messed about with the pole for most of the Day ? Back across To Olly - Out came the net and Ed's face was Picture of realisation that perhaps he was not going to win. Two weigh-ins for him for 57lb 8ozs.
Then across to me - Much to my surprise 32lb 10oz - I thought I had about 20lb then to Mason no surprises here had a good weight having watched him pull most in during the morning session (he went walk about three times - Boozy had thought he packed up at 1pm).
The weights started to drop away which is totally the opposite of what we expected at the outset - last time we were here in similar wind conditions the lower 30 pegs were the big catch holes - not today the big pegs were in the middle - the wind had been blowing from the North / North east for most of the week and only South West for the past two days so perhaps they were on there way down there when Olly, Boozy, Mason and myself intercepted them ?
Ed was the last to weigh in and could only muster 7lb - A complete shock and with it his Championship Dreams - How cruel is that - All I can say is pick your own pegs next year !
Top three today – Olly, Mason, Boozy - Oh I finished just out the Money yet again - 4th - Perhaps call this 'Done a Moses' From the joke God said to Moses come Forth - he can fifth and God Lost his beer Money - Na don't work does it
Given the conditions a brief trophy presentation took place and the exchanging of side bet money.
Every picture tells a story – what do you make of these:
Of course no visit to the Horseshoe Lake is not complete without the long push all the way up the hill to the car park against the wind and the rain. But that is no it – that is topped once you get home of washing all the Goose S**t from your tackle etc.
Final League table
Labels: Big Johns League Match
