Blakey's Fishing Blog

Decided to go again before the end of the year. Arrived and set up at 1030am on Fox Maggot feeder to size 20 / 1.7 lb hook link on Peg 16 - fishing to the right hand side of the island, Slow sport but getting the Odd Roach, went down to size 22 and 1lb Hook link. Had a small Perch of about about lb - whilst playing it softly, softly on the light link - it came in close and made a dart for the weed on the left - Felt a bit heavy thought had it weeded but when i looked at the location of the line it was out in front of me. A jack Pike had taken it - I managed to hang on for a minute, by which time I had 10 spectators -A family out fro a walk getting all excited but alas I was not able to to provide them with a banked fish as the inevitable happened - the hook link snapped.

The wind started to pick up as the Sun came out - But really pleasant day weather wise.
Kitted up again back to size 20 - within 1/2 hour had another good take - Felt like another Perch indeed it was and a nice one too !


Went 2lb exactly - 2ozs short of my personal best. The photo here does not do it Justice - The colours of the stripes and Fins was beautiful.




Recast and had another - slightly smaller at 1lb 12 ozs. Not a bad way to end the Year. I carried on until it was too dark to see the tip had a few more small roach an finished off with 1 1/2 oz Perch.

Labels: Pleasure Fish

My annual Christmas pilgrimage to Blind Lake Old Lake – As always over the Christmas Break I will spend at least one day on this most extraordinary Lake. No matter what the weather you always catch fish. The depth probably has something to do with it I have even caught fish after breaking the ice here.

This is what can be best described as an unkempt / unkempt lake – full of snags and fallen trees – but that is what makes it so quaint. Five of us made the trip today – Olly & Mick Wagg, Dean Peters and Paul Pratley- Boozy and Steve Barrett where coming but they thought it was Friday not today!

We had a quick walk off draw – Olly had 1st Choice and me second. Olly choose the 1st swim on the East far bank and I chose the point swim - opposite the Island Point.

I was a bit exposed to the South Westerly Wind but it was Mild and I was wrapped up sufficient.

Mick Paul and Dean spread themselves out down the East Bank

Chose the feeder as my weapon today as did Mick, Paul & Dean – though I did see Paul try the Pole on occasions during the day. Olly was on the Pole all day fishing tight up against the fallen tree to his left.

I was on the maggot feeder my trusted old ¾ Once Middy but got through this one and another smashing up against the trees on the island several times during the day – I varied my position throughout the day around the point as bites dried up but I caught fish all day.

The Point

Did not even have time for my Mince Pies – Nothing Big Plenty of lovely sized roach to 1/2lb and loads of Gudgeon - and small carp Mirrors and Commons with a few F1’s as well –This Abu feeder rod when set up with light gear is fabulous I was seeing every bite even form the Gudgeon.

The weight do not matter it was catching which was the main thing, however we had a bit of confusion during the weigh in we used my Avon scales – Mick weighed mine at made it 14lb 6oz – I did not think anything at the time apart from I am sure I had at least 18lb of Carp. until we got to Olly and comparing Fish to weight – I worked out that the scales were on Green as with mine and I actually had 24lb 6oz, Olly had 34lb – he was pulling in carp and nice size ones at that all day, but what did surprise me was how much Mick, Paul & Dean had got – I had not witnessed too much action from them during the day – but must have been pulling them in quietly all day also, I did not too much notice of Paul’s’ & Mick Weights as we were still ‘debating’ my weight – But I did Deans-though= 36lb., so I duly gave him my £10 winner takes all pools money.

But amazing who much fish we caught – far more than some lakes we fish in the summer and all that of two weeks of hard frosts – I am not sure if I will go fishing again this year – I think this may be a good way to sign off 2007 – But you never know

Labels: Pleasure Fish

The 'Home' winter portion of this years Sunday League started with fitting weather. - the forecast was for Heavy rain with SW wind Gusting to 31 mph peaking at Lunch Time.
16 anglers fished this match and the rain held off until we had drawn and set up. I was lucky in respect to my draw - peg 18 so would have the wind and more importantly the rain on my back.

Given the conditions I set up on the waggler and Maggot feeder and strapped my brolly down behind me to the Seat Box and into the ground.

At the all-in it started to rain - spot on the prediction - not hard though just the occasional squall.

On the fishing front I kicked with the waggler size 20 to 1.5lb Hook Link at 10 Metres with single red maggot. Took a little while to get a bite - had a couple of small Roach but dried up as soon as I got them going. Switched to a single Pinkie and had a few more. Then tried difference variations of cocktails - No joy, As we approached midday - It started to get violent and heavy rain squalls.


Kev Keeling had the right idea - Not setting up his brolly as he had to face into the wind over on peg 11. Although soaking wet he did not have to deal with a broken Brolly stem as did. - The constant buffering and attempts to implode on itself result in it shearing off the stem above the Seat box support. - Some repair work to do there now!

Couldn’t what happening around the rest of the lake - But Kev Keeling got into a small shoal of bream in mid lake on the feeder, Steve Ellis to my left pulled out a 3lb Bream on the cage feeder from the Island and Dean Peters had a small Common Carp of around 2lb.

At 1330 hrs and without a bite for 2 hours, and with Olly Wagg’s Elastic being pulled and Kev's Bream - I had to go big, plus I was getting tow on the waggler, (due the lake level rising and the chop.) So switched to the maggot feeder - trying my best to get close to the Island tree.

After a couple of chucks and my tip close to water in the lee of the swim I had had a slow and deliberate pull round - gently lifted in to a fish but at 1st was uncertain as to what is was - A bream as no fight but then it realised that it was hooked - Ah yes - carp - it made as dash for the weed to my left but just managed to pull out - had to go gently as only had 1 2lb Hook link. After a brief but air fight safely in the Net - Estimated to be around 5lb - instructed to hold to net and weigh -in at the all out. Nothing else though - Switched back to waggler - put a couple of inches on the depth to hold bottom - A few small roach and that was it.

Paul Pratley down on Peg 25 was having in elastic pulled but sadly lost it. Then just 30 seconds before end - the shouts from the other side - Go on ED - Ed Pearce was into something big. he managed to land it with just 30 seconds to spare of the extra 15 mins - a foul hooked Mirror of 13 1/2 lb.

We packed away and conducted the weigh-in Ed had already weigh in his big un as protocol demands. Section 1 best was Kev's Bag of Bream for 5 1/2Lb. We got to Olly’s and cry's of 'you jammy git' where exhaled as he pulled out his keep net containing a large carp - a few Roach. I couldn’t believe it - my 1st thoughts were I was going to Finish 4th yet again, then Olly returned it to lake - It was Ed’s. Had us going though!!! By the way Olly has Roach for 1lb 12ozs!! Round to the other side and Dean weighed in 4lb 2ozs - the me - Silvers went 1lb 12oz, the carp went 7lb 6oz - Bigger than I thought - Should have weighed when I caught it - oops! - Steve Ellis Bream went 3lb 12ozs, then I suffered another nervous bout as Paul Hyde pulled his net out on peg 20 - Some stonking Bream and the scales tipped at 8lb 8ozs, perhaps I will finished better than 4th !.

John Buck had 4lb 6ozs, Gary Somerfeild (my pairs Partner) had the best Roach of the day circa 1lb with some small bream for 3lb 2ozs, Terry Middleton packed up early after his brolly broke (I believe) and did not weigh-in and finally a disappointed Paul Pratley with 7lb to finish 4th. That meant I'd broken my run and finished 2nd instead of 4th and some prize Money!!!

The biggest disappointment was the lack of Big Roach and perch - they were just not feeding today.

Match Result and latest League Positions:

Labels: Lee Chapel Sunday League Match