Monday, March 17, 2008
Big Johns Angling League Match - Newlands Hall Moat Lake - 16th March 2008 -
1st match of the New Season but felt like Winter not Spring! The good weather of the previous week had the lake Fishing well but alas the day we turn up – Cold Drizzle and Light rain brought in a Fresh Easterly.
30 Anglers fished this inaugural 2008 Big Johns Angling League Match – with quite a few new faces. This year the League has the addition of 6 teams of 5 and Mystery Weight Money prize in match.
Draw made – Ed pulled out fancied #1 swim for Olly Wagg who was smiling like a Cheshire Cat. I drew Peg 22 which turnt out to be in the middle of the South bank in wind!
I decided to try the Pole given that reports where Corn & pellet on Size 16/14 had been catching all week and the fact it was only a couple of feet my thought was that too shallow for the feeder.
2nd drop at 9meters on Corn had a strong take and 1 a minute later a 2lb Common was in my keep net – Good Start but the wind and the rain picked up, the wind swirling it was difficult to get good presentation ,but I persevered at varying lines – with only a small F1 to show. Tried various pellets and smaller rigs no Joy. Steve Barrett to me left was catching regularly at 9m on Pellet, (I found out afterwards – soaked in Aniseed!)
I thought I’d use the planned mid-match weigh-in to set up on the feeder but Ed came round and cancelled that due to the poor catch rate.
I was just rebaiting my rig and the wind took the top section in the trees to my right – So nearly had a ‘Blakey’ Moment trying to retrieve it (falling in that is). So that was it – Time for the feeder, - Small cage feeder to size 16 12” 2.5Lb Hook link Sweetcorn Bait – Dynamic feeder /maggot/Sweetcorn in cage.
1st put in at 15 meters (4m From the Island) get a pull round but miss it, then again I drop in the same place and ‘climb’ into my seat. Get another stonking bite – Fish On but somehow I have managed to get the line round the bottom of the boot! Must have caught it whilst climbing!
Not deterred I patiently keep going – and was rewarded with a bite every now & again to keep me occupied. At the rain eased off in the afternoon.
Thanks god the whistle went at 3pm – My hands are frozen (not literally just really cold).
The weigh-in took an Hour, and weights were interesting with End pegs doing well yet the main banks variable. Top weight was an impressive 104lb with a couple in the 80-90’s. Olly weighed in around 60lbs, As for team 2 (the team I’m in Mick Wagg ‘had a bite’ after his blanks on his last Two Lee Chapel matches weighed in around 17lb, Kev Keeling 23lb. Mick Byrne cannot remember I managed 19 ½ lb (I was pleased with that given the date and the conditions beats some of my summer weights!) the Other guy – David I think went home early.
Terry Middleton won the Mystery weight prize of £20
Next BJ Match – another new one for me – Monks near Maidstone.
30 Anglers fished this inaugural 2008 Big Johns Angling League Match – with quite a few new faces. This year the League has the addition of 6 teams of 5 and Mystery Weight Money prize in match.
Draw made – Ed pulled out fancied #1 swim for Olly Wagg who was smiling like a Cheshire Cat. I drew Peg 22 which turnt out to be in the middle of the South bank in wind!
I decided to try the Pole given that reports where Corn & pellet on Size 16/14 had been catching all week and the fact it was only a couple of feet my thought was that too shallow for the feeder.
2nd drop at 9meters on Corn had a strong take and 1 a minute later a 2lb Common was in my keep net – Good Start but the wind and the rain picked up, the wind swirling it was difficult to get good presentation ,but I persevered at varying lines – with only a small F1 to show. Tried various pellets and smaller rigs no Joy. Steve Barrett to me left was catching regularly at 9m on Pellet, (I found out afterwards – soaked in Aniseed!)
I thought I’d use the planned mid-match weigh-in to set up on the feeder but Ed came round and cancelled that due to the poor catch rate.
I was just rebaiting my rig and the wind took the top section in the trees to my right – So nearly had a ‘Blakey’ Moment trying to retrieve it (falling in that is). So that was it – Time for the feeder, - Small cage feeder to size 16 12” 2.5Lb Hook link Sweetcorn Bait – Dynamic feeder /maggot/Sweetcorn in cage.
1st put in at 15 meters (4m From the Island) get a pull round but miss it, then again I drop in the same place and ‘climb’ into my seat. Get another stonking bite – Fish On but somehow I have managed to get the line round the bottom of the boot! Must have caught it whilst climbing!
Not deterred I patiently keep going – and was rewarded with a bite every now & again to keep me occupied. At the rain eased off in the afternoon.
Thanks god the whistle went at 3pm – My hands are frozen (not literally just really cold).
The weigh-in took an Hour, and weights were interesting with End pegs doing well yet the main banks variable. Top weight was an impressive 104lb with a couple in the 80-90’s. Olly weighed in around 60lbs, As for team 2 (the team I’m in Mick Wagg ‘had a bite’ after his blanks on his last Two Lee Chapel matches weighed in around 17lb, Kev Keeling 23lb. Mick Byrne cannot remember I managed 19 ½ lb (I was pleased with that given the date and the conditions beats some of my summer weights!) the Other guy – David I think went home early.
Terry Middleton won the Mystery weight prize of £20
Results
Next BJ Match – another new one for me – Monks near Maidstone.
Labels: Big Johns League Match
Monday, March 03, 2008
Final 2007-08 Season - Lee Chapel Sunday League Match 2nd March 2008 LCL
You may remember that in my Last Blog entry I described that the Final Podium Positions for the Single & Pairs Competitions would be going down the wire and could be tense affair - Well it was, you will also recall that I mentioned the Nightmare Scenario for Myself and partner Gary Somerfield in the Pairs competition - If Olly Wagg and Rob Blackburn were to finish 1st & 2nd Gary & I would need to muster 80 points to hold onto 3rd Place. Well read on.
14 Members fished this last Match of this Season - there were some notable absentees (they know who they are) that had decided to go & fish Entire Farm -"so they could catch fish"
That's easy my 7 month old Granddaughter would be able catch fish there. One of them had given up the chance of Landing a trophy !
Enough said I'll get off my soapbox. Yes it was hard but it is Winter and getting a bite was going to be difficult but with a predominantly SW wind during the week and no Frost the draw would be Key - but the wind has moved round to the NW. End Pegs should do well.
Draw Made - Key Protagonists / Pegs - Rob Blackburn - end peg 15, Kev Keeling peg 17 (Nobody on 16) - Paul Hyde Peg 10 (end Peg), John Buck Peg 22, Mick Wagg Peg 21, Gary Somerfield (Peg 12- 1st Time on the Road bank this Season!) Me Peg 23, and Olly Peg 25 End Peg who actually fished Pegs 25-30 and 1-8.
I chose to fish the In-Line maggot feeder and move around up / down levels on the Waggler. 2nd Put in on the Feeder had a slight shy twitch on the tip - Struck in and was rewarded with a Small Bream of ~ 1.5lbs.
Rob Blackburn had made a steady start 'bagging up on small roach. Everyone else was struggling to get bites, Fred Saunders and Roy Digby were getting Beam on the feeder from Pegs 20 & 19 respectively. Kev Keeling was getting odd one or two good Roach & Skimmers, I could not see what Olly was up to but it seemed Quiet -I had a Nice Tench from the feeder at 10 am, but Rob I think had landed a Carp - small enough to go in the Net. Given that I had a few Pounds I was quietly confident that we could hold on to that 3rd Pairs position even though Gary was struggling to get a bite opposite.
John Buck could not get a bite neither could his partner Mick Wagg in the next peg, despite trying everything. Around Midday Gary stopped by as he went to Van to change boots for Trainers as his feet were too hot. He had caught a few tiddlers and reported that Rob's Carp was around 4lb, he also said the He (Olly) was bound to catch a Carp. Kiss of Death no sooner had Gary returned to his Peg then somebody noticed that Olly was wrestling with something big - Yep a carp and big one to - He coaxed in into his net after a 15-20 wrestle on his light gear. Went 14lb 7ozs.
Now we were really in trouble the Nightmare scenario - Olly & Rob in 1st & £2nd with me potentially 3 or 4th with Gary Nowhere but fish in the bag - But hang on - the tip bangs and I strike and I am into another Tench which feels slightly bigger than the last one . Olly proceeds to insert his keep net in my backside as he returns to his Peg after weighing the Carp but I hung on an land it - That will help - Gary manages a few more Tiddlers whilst Paul Hyde lands a few goodish Roach but unfortunately looses a coupe of Good Sized Bream.
Kev is catching regularly on his Waggler, At 2pm it looks like Kev will take the Singles as John Buck has not had a bite and is already packing up one of his rods when he notices that his Float has disappeared below the water - Lifts in and has a ~ 1.5lb Bream. The 1st position for both the Pairs and Single is up for grabs at this Stage especially when John Gets another mid size Bream, and Olly gets another Carp on his next put in and Rob seems to have Dried up and Mick's Not getting a Bite.
The weigh-in Reveals All -
Olly is the Clear Winner with 27 & 3/4Lbs but those vital podium positions will be determined by Ounces !
I'm next My 2 Tench go 5lb 12ozs and the Bream and another small Roach make for a total of 7lb 12ozs, Not enough even for 3rd as Roy Digby has amassed a good bag of Bream for 9lb 3ozs But Good enough for 4th as I pipped Kev for that position by 8 ozs. John Buck weight was 3lb 12ozs -
So Kev was the Singles Winner, so for the pairs 1st & 2nd would be as you were but fore 3rd Pace it all hung on the next 4 Weigh-ins - No need to guess who came 2nd in the Match Yep Rob with 10Lb 4 ozs. So the nightmare scenario was on where was Gray going to Finish ? Mick Byrne managed two more Roach than last time for 4 ozs, Fred Saunders Had weigh-in 1lb 8ozs, Paul Hyde despite his woes Weighed in 4Lb 1oz. I roughly calculated that Gary need around 1lb 8ozs to keep us in 3rd Place, but alas 2ozs short. Which meant when we tallied up we lost out by 6 points. (just one little roach away.
A little more tension as we were totting up the results / points that Olly may have sneaked 3rd place In the Singles - but Paul Hyde Hung on.
Final results in the Tables below
Total weight : 2007: (4127lb): 2006 (3255lb)
Average Members Per match: 2007: (19) : 2006 ( 17)
Average Weight per Member per match: 2007: (18lb) 2006 ( 14lb)
Interesting that we had a bad year this season the best data to use is not the Total Weight but but the Average weight per Angler which increased by 4lb per match as we had more people fishing
Closest total of weight between Members this year was between Me and Olly we fished the same matches. (Olly 245lb 15ozs - Me 245lb 3ozs - 12 ounces delta - a 'gnats cock' over a year would you say )?
14 Members fished this last Match of this Season - there were some notable absentees (they know who they are) that had decided to go & fish Entire Farm -"so they could catch fish"
That's easy my 7 month old Granddaughter would be able catch fish there. One of them had given up the chance of Landing a trophy !
Enough said I'll get off my soapbox. Yes it was hard but it is Winter and getting a bite was going to be difficult but with a predominantly SW wind during the week and no Frost the draw would be Key - but the wind has moved round to the NW. End Pegs should do well.
Draw Made - Key Protagonists / Pegs - Rob Blackburn - end peg 15, Kev Keeling peg 17 (Nobody on 16) - Paul Hyde Peg 10 (end Peg), John Buck Peg 22, Mick Wagg Peg 21, Gary Somerfield (Peg 12- 1st Time on the Road bank this Season!) Me Peg 23, and Olly Peg 25 End Peg who actually fished Pegs 25-30 and 1-8.
I chose to fish the In-Line maggot feeder and move around up / down levels on the Waggler. 2nd Put in on the Feeder had a slight shy twitch on the tip - Struck in and was rewarded with a Small Bream of ~ 1.5lbs.
Rob Blackburn had made a steady start 'bagging up on small roach. Everyone else was struggling to get bites, Fred Saunders and Roy Digby were getting Beam on the feeder from Pegs 20 & 19 respectively. Kev Keeling was getting odd one or two good Roach & Skimmers, I could not see what Olly was up to but it seemed Quiet -I had a Nice Tench from the feeder at 10 am, but Rob I think had landed a Carp - small enough to go in the Net. Given that I had a few Pounds I was quietly confident that we could hold on to that 3rd Pairs position even though Gary was struggling to get a bite opposite.
John Buck could not get a bite neither could his partner Mick Wagg in the next peg, despite trying everything. Around Midday Gary stopped by as he went to Van to change boots for Trainers as his feet were too hot. He had caught a few tiddlers and reported that Rob's Carp was around 4lb, he also said the He (Olly) was bound to catch a Carp. Kiss of Death no sooner had Gary returned to his Peg then somebody noticed that Olly was wrestling with something big - Yep a carp and big one to - He coaxed in into his net after a 15-20 wrestle on his light gear. Went 14lb 7ozs.
Now we were really in trouble the Nightmare scenario - Olly & Rob in 1st & £2nd with me potentially 3 or 4th with Gary Nowhere but fish in the bag - But hang on - the tip bangs and I strike and I am into another Tench which feels slightly bigger than the last one . Olly proceeds to insert his keep net in my backside as he returns to his Peg after weighing the Carp but I hung on an land it - That will help - Gary manages a few more Tiddlers whilst Paul Hyde lands a few goodish Roach but unfortunately looses a coupe of Good Sized Bream.
Kev is catching regularly on his Waggler, At 2pm it looks like Kev will take the Singles as John Buck has not had a bite and is already packing up one of his rods when he notices that his Float has disappeared below the water - Lifts in and has a ~ 1.5lb Bream. The 1st position for both the Pairs and Single is up for grabs at this Stage especially when John Gets another mid size Bream, and Olly gets another Carp on his next put in and Rob seems to have Dried up and Mick's Not getting a Bite.
The weigh-in Reveals All -
Olly is the Clear Winner with 27 & 3/4Lbs but those vital podium positions will be determined by Ounces !
I'm next My 2 Tench go 5lb 12ozs and the Bream and another small Roach make for a total of 7lb 12ozs, Not enough even for 3rd as Roy Digby has amassed a good bag of Bream for 9lb 3ozs But Good enough for 4th as I pipped Kev for that position by 8 ozs. John Buck weight was 3lb 12ozs -
So Kev was the Singles Winner, so for the pairs 1st & 2nd would be as you were but fore 3rd Pace it all hung on the next 4 Weigh-ins - No need to guess who came 2nd in the Match Yep Rob with 10Lb 4 ozs. So the nightmare scenario was on where was Gray going to Finish ? Mick Byrne managed two more Roach than last time for 4 ozs, Fred Saunders Had weigh-in 1lb 8ozs, Paul Hyde despite his woes Weighed in 4Lb 1oz. I roughly calculated that Gary need around 1lb 8ozs to keep us in 3rd Place, but alas 2ozs short. Which meant when we tallied up we lost out by 6 points. (just one little roach away.
A little more tension as we were totting up the results / points that Olly may have sneaked 3rd place In the Singles - but Paul Hyde Hung on.
Final results in the Tables below
Individual Final Postions
Pairs Final Positions
Overall Weights
Total weight : 2007: (4127lb): 2006 (3255lb)
Average Members Per match: 2007: (19) : 2006 ( 17)
Average Weight per Member per match: 2007: (18lb) 2006 ( 14lb)
Interesting that we had a bad year this season the best data to use is not the Total Weight but but the Average weight per Angler which increased by 4lb per match as we had more people fishing
Closest total of weight between Members this year was between Me and Olly we fished the same matches. (Olly 245lb 15ozs - Me 245lb 3ozs - 12 ounces delta - a 'gnats cock' over a year would you say )?
Labels: Lee Chapel Sunday League Match
