Monday, May 19, 2008
Big Johns Sunday League Match - A12 Cuton Lakes Chelmsford - 18th May 2008
27 Anglers congregated at A12 Cuton Match Lake alongside the A12 (funny enough) adjacent to Chelmer Village. This was a late replacemnt for Churchgate Fisheries Top lake - which we could not fish as it under re-modlelling.
We had our own Car parking facility and after an Orderly Draw - One Line !!!- (I will do this at our next Lee Chapel Match). I'm surprised to see motors started and the majority driving to their pegs - Oh what Luxury ! I'd already unpacked mine and having drawn Peg 1 had the furthest walk, which when said and done was not that far - I have longer and more arduous - Horseshoe at Tyler's spring's to mind. Do you think I am padding this intro out well I guess I am, that was the the highlight of my day and I guess a fair few others.
When I got to Peg 1 - what a lovely swim - everything you could wish for - overhanging Trees, a reed lined island with hole in the reed bed exposing bits of the island allowing a tight approach and lots of open water - Look at the pictures I took from my phone - apologies for the quality The video may or may not play.
But and I mean BUT, I saw no real fish activity, well not the sort you would except at this time of the year, but the wind had changed from that lovely south westerly to the North-East and had been cold for the past three days or so coming off a real hot spell. Olly said I had the 'Hot Peg' perhaps he was right - too hot for the fish and they have moved off to a cooler peg - Funny how this turnt out not to be too far removed from the truth.
I decided on a three pronged attack - feeder (method/maggot) to the island gaps, a pole line at 9m straight out and under the tree to my right with any bait that 'goes' and Paste in the margins later on.
With Ed texting me the night before to bring the LCFC Weigh Sling as he lost his, it was not a surprise when Ed phones' me at 0845 for me to blow the whistle as yes you got it BJ had forgotten his again!!
Duly done at 0900 straight on the method to the island whilst gently feeding the other lines. Hmm! Not a murmur, recast several times to different 'holes' over the next 20 mins - still nothing, I have just decided mentally to give it 2 more minutes then make a change to the maggot feeder when slam the tip goes round violently - I managed to get the big fish out of danger by the Island reeds and it makes for the gap down to the Peg 40 but put the power on get it back then it makes a dive for the reeds on my right - Nope not having it - wrapped around the reeds so it game over hook pulls and its gone.
Little did I know that was the last bit of action I would see until 1130am. In the meantime I tried everything in my armoury on every line, Sweetcorn , pellet of all flavours types maggots, worm, meat Paste of various flavours hook sizes down to 22 - Not a Sausage, no not the meat - the slang term for not having a bite !. What am I doing wrong ????? - Well I'm not alone several of my peers have walked past at are having similar experiences - Some thing is amiss here.
Then at 1130 just after chatting with my fellow suffers I thought I'd knocked my rod of its Perch - ( No not the fish !) - So lifted up and there was a commotion over in the Island reeds - My word I've Got a fish on - the Adrenaline is pumping now that wakes me up & what a cracking fight - A small Mirror of around 2lb in my net !!! - Well I ain't blanking.
The morning moves into the afternoon the sun pokes it head out for a while but disappears behind the clouds before too long - I can't even have a pee in the bushes as there seems to be a Charity Walk going on along the Canal - A day long procession of 'I bought the Green event T shirt' clad people all day plodding along.
The only Actvity in my swim are the Terns swooping down and picking off what ever Fly's are hatching thorough the water surface. I would like to say they were Mayfly's but did not look big enough - More like Gnats - So good on you Terns. The only other actvity to report were the Ducks squabbling and a pair of Wood Pigeons repairing their nest on the overhanging tree to my right and myself being awoken by my snoring as I nod off.
By 2pm my silver keep net is out & dried everything apart form the pole at 9m set on my Preston Pole Holders (I knew they would come in handy one day.) at 1439hrs (how precise is that bored or what) the float dips - I'm almost too shocked and momentarily freeze, but recover to grab the pole and land my 2nd fish of the a 2oz Roach.
I blow the whistle at 1500hrs - Ed & Mick Wagg come round to pick up the weigh sling and proceeded with the weigh-in with me - 2Lbs on the button - Well I'm in the lead for a moment at least !. I 'm all Packed up by 1510hrs and on the walk to the car I rack my brain for the last time I had such a poor day on Match. I now remember - the very 1st Coarse Fishing Match I fished as 'Guest' with borrowed gear and no clue - I Blanked that day - but not since - when was it - September 2000.
The best pegs were on the Lee side of the Island - With John Buck & Rob Blackburn 1st & 2nd respectively - Rob tells me that he lost as many fish as he caught where they dived for the reeds. Same ratio as me then !
Whilst talking to Mick Scoles who fishes here regularly he said that the owner had concerns about the fishing in the last week and found the Oxygen levels were down and that Aerators were coming this week - I hope they are in time and the fish don't suffer - Hopefully it will be much improved by the time we come here in October for the Lee Chapel Match - Oh and I finished 20th - 2 guys did not even weigh in !!!
We had our own Car parking facility and after an Orderly Draw - One Line !!!- (I will do this at our next Lee Chapel Match). I'm surprised to see motors started and the majority driving to their pegs - Oh what Luxury ! I'd already unpacked mine and having drawn Peg 1 had the furthest walk, which when said and done was not that far - I have longer and more arduous - Horseshoe at Tyler's spring's to mind. Do you think I am padding this intro out well I guess I am, that was the the highlight of my day and I guess a fair few others.
When I got to Peg 1 - what a lovely swim - everything you could wish for - overhanging Trees, a reed lined island with hole in the reed bed exposing bits of the island allowing a tight approach and lots of open water - Look at the pictures I took from my phone - apologies for the quality The video may or may not play.
Peg one in the North East Corner
But and I mean BUT, I saw no real fish activity, well not the sort you would except at this time of the year, but the wind had changed from that lovely south westerly to the North-East and had been cold for the past three days or so coming off a real hot spell. Olly said I had the 'Hot Peg' perhaps he was right - too hot for the fish and they have moved off to a cooler peg - Funny how this turnt out not to be too far removed from the truth.
I decided on a three pronged attack - feeder (method/maggot) to the island gaps, a pole line at 9m straight out and under the tree to my right with any bait that 'goes' and Paste in the margins later on.
With Ed texting me the night before to bring the LCFC Weigh Sling as he lost his, it was not a surprise when Ed phones' me at 0845 for me to blow the whistle as yes you got it BJ had forgotten his again!!
Duly done at 0900 straight on the method to the island whilst gently feeding the other lines. Hmm! Not a murmur, recast several times to different 'holes' over the next 20 mins - still nothing, I have just decided mentally to give it 2 more minutes then make a change to the maggot feeder when slam the tip goes round violently - I managed to get the big fish out of danger by the Island reeds and it makes for the gap down to the Peg 40 but put the power on get it back then it makes a dive for the reeds on my right - Nope not having it - wrapped around the reeds so it game over hook pulls and its gone.
Little did I know that was the last bit of action I would see until 1130am. In the meantime I tried everything in my armoury on every line, Sweetcorn , pellet of all flavours types maggots, worm, meat Paste of various flavours hook sizes down to 22 - Not a Sausage, no not the meat - the slang term for not having a bite !. What am I doing wrong ????? - Well I'm not alone several of my peers have walked past at are having similar experiences - Some thing is amiss here.
Then at 1130 just after chatting with my fellow suffers I thought I'd knocked my rod of its Perch - ( No not the fish !) - So lifted up and there was a commotion over in the Island reeds - My word I've Got a fish on - the Adrenaline is pumping now that wakes me up & what a cracking fight - A small Mirror of around 2lb in my net !!! - Well I ain't blanking.
The morning moves into the afternoon the sun pokes it head out for a while but disappears behind the clouds before too long - I can't even have a pee in the bushes as there seems to be a Charity Walk going on along the Canal - A day long procession of 'I bought the Green event T shirt' clad people all day plodding along.
The only Actvity in my swim are the Terns swooping down and picking off what ever Fly's are hatching thorough the water surface. I would like to say they were Mayfly's but did not look big enough - More like Gnats - So good on you Terns. The only other actvity to report were the Ducks squabbling and a pair of Wood Pigeons repairing their nest on the overhanging tree to my right and myself being awoken by my snoring as I nod off.
By 2pm my silver keep net is out & dried everything apart form the pole at 9m set on my Preston Pole Holders (I knew they would come in handy one day.) at 1439hrs (how precise is that bored or what) the float dips - I'm almost too shocked and momentarily freeze, but recover to grab the pole and land my 2nd fish of the a 2oz Roach.
I blow the whistle at 1500hrs - Ed & Mick Wagg come round to pick up the weigh sling and proceeded with the weigh-in with me - 2Lbs on the button - Well I'm in the lead for a moment at least !. I 'm all Packed up by 1510hrs and on the walk to the car I rack my brain for the last time I had such a poor day on Match. I now remember - the very 1st Coarse Fishing Match I fished as 'Guest' with borrowed gear and no clue - I Blanked that day - but not since - when was it - September 2000.
The best pegs were on the Lee side of the Island - With John Buck & Rob Blackburn 1st & 2nd respectively - Rob tells me that he lost as many fish as he caught where they dived for the reeds. Same ratio as me then !
Match Result
Whilst talking to Mick Scoles who fishes here regularly he said that the owner had concerns about the fishing in the last week and found the Oxygen levels were down and that Aerators were coming this week - I hope they are in time and the fish don't suffer - Hopefully it will be much improved by the time we come here in October for the Lee Chapel Match - Oh and I finished 20th - 2 guys did not even weigh in !!!
League Positions
As they say - That's fishing and Our team is Still Bottom by an increasing Points Margin - Good job thereis no relegation in this League - Ed any prizes for the wooden spoon ????
Team Positions
Oh and Big Johns's If you have not been there lately the website I mean not the shop !
Labels: Big Johns League Match
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Lee Chapel Mead Memorial Sunday Match Series- Tylers Common - Willow Lake - 4th May 2008
After The Lord Mayor's show of the previous match at Monk's in was back to earth for the 2nd of this Seasons' Lee Chapel Linda Mead Memorial Sunday Match at what could only be described as a landmark date - Tyler's Common's within little or no wind - We should have the flags up at least they wouldn't have been blown away.
We fished Willow lake (the Middle lake on the top level at this complex). This match also included the Preliminary Round for the Summer Knockout competition.
Olly & Ed drew each others again - Ed's Smiling - Peg 14 in the North East Corner and which way has the wind been blowing =- yes you got it from South West - Olly was over on the West Bank (PEG 7). I drew last and fancied mine (peg 16 with Kev Keeling to my right in 15 & Luke Hyde to my Left in 17, I would get some good tips on how to Match Fish today.
At the whistle (all-in) I went for the method and pellet - nothing, changed to corn - nothing changed to maggot feeder - nothing. So went to my Method Float Feeder at 12" depth nothing - perhaps over feeding a tad, so went on the pole at dead depth at 11 & 9m - Nothing - so came up in the water a few line bites but no real interest. So went on the pellet Waggler -
I came into the margins after 2 hours of trickling in pellet and maggot feed. Loads of Roach & Rudd from a spot where it was reported that Dean Peters had over 100lb of carp out of on the previous Wednesday's Practice session.
John, Buck, Big John , Mason, Big Mick Byrne & Paul Hyde were regularly landing on a mixture of feeder and Pole, but Both myself and Luke were struggling as was Kev until around 1pm when the carp moved in to his margins to the right of the peg by the small reed patch. I was having nothing but Roach but did have a couple of 3lb carp spread over the two hours - I came to my right - no even any roach in there. Kev had really found them. Terry Middleton I noticed was also catching on a regular basis on the North Bank.
Pretty even weights until we get to the corner - Ed and Kev way out in front. Whilst weighing in I received a phone message from my Son that My Football Club (Southampton) had survived for another year in the championship - so it was not too bad a day - Caught fish, dry sunny and almost windless and we did not get relegated and was even further surprised when doing the results sheet that
I like my club had scraped thorough to live another in the knockout competition - Finished in 16th - the last qualifying place !!
We fished Willow lake (the Middle lake on the top level at this complex). This match also included the Preliminary Round for the Summer Knockout competition.
Draw was made nice and early and I still messed up the money - Couldn't count to save my life £2 under - then Ok then under - but finally got it right Found the £2 when Janet (Bailiff) came for the Peg Money.
Olly & Ed drew each others again - Ed's Smiling - Peg 14 in the North East Corner and which way has the wind been blowing =- yes you got it from South West - Olly was over on the West Bank (PEG 7). I drew last and fancied mine (peg 16 with Kev Keeling to my right in 15 & Luke Hyde to my Left in 17, I would get some good tips on how to Match Fish today.
I set up for 11m, 9m and margins with the Pole, In Line Method on the tip. - A good depth of water but fish were showing on the top. Going to be interesting.
At the whistle (all-in) I went for the method and pellet - nothing, changed to corn - nothing changed to maggot feeder - nothing. So went to my Method Float Feeder at 12" depth nothing - perhaps over feeding a tad, so went on the pole at dead depth at 11 & 9m - Nothing - so came up in the water a few line bites but no real interest. So went on the pellet Waggler -
Kev was having small success with his small Method Waggler and Ed was picking off a few on what look like free lining pellet at 12" on the pole. I sprayed some small pellet and managed to pick off a small Common and Mirror in quick succession. I didn't really have the right size feed pellet - too small when compared with my hook bait - poor preparation Blakey ! So it went dead - only the fish were having the last laugh - slurping down the floating pellet in my swim.
I came into the margins after 2 hours of trickling in pellet and maggot feed. Loads of Roach & Rudd from a spot where it was reported that Dean Peters had over 100lb of carp out of on the previous Wednesday's Practice session.
Kev had come into the Margins and was Roach Bashing as well - His were of better Quality than mine though - I had the occasional 5 ouncer though. Ed was pulling them out at very regular intervals at around 11m.
John, Buck, Big John , Mason, Big Mick Byrne & Paul Hyde were regularly landing on a mixture of feeder and Pole, but Both myself and Luke were struggling as was Kev until around 1pm when the carp moved in to his margins to the right of the peg by the small reed patch. I was having nothing but Roach but did have a couple of 3lb carp spread over the two hours - I came to my right - no even any roach in there. Kev had really found them. Terry Middleton I noticed was also catching on a regular basis on the North Bank.
3pm - All out - except the whistle sort of blew - petered out - but at least everyone heard - I Investigated and found that a maggot had found its way down the inlet stopping the correct flow of air to activate the pea. - Once out all working again.
Come the weigh-in some good weights on the South bank - in the thirties when we got to Mason's - Could not believe it - there must have been around 50 pairs of white carp lips feeding on the surface in Mason's swim - apparently had been like it most of the afternoon but all he kept getting was liners and foul hooks - Not surprised - Jacuzzi springs to mind.
Pretty even weights until we get to the corner - Ed and Kev way out in front. Whilst weighing in I received a phone message from my Son that My Football Club (Southampton) had survived for another year in the championship - so it was not too bad a day - Caught fish, dry sunny and almost windless and we did not get relegated and was even further surprised when doing the results sheet that
I like my club had scraped thorough to live another in the knockout competition - Finished in 16th - the last qualifying place !!
Match Result
All I can say is it is a good job my Pairs Partner (Ed) is winning - 227 points between us so far - my contribution = SEVEN !!!! Hey but I'm in the lead on something !!!!
Pairs Positions
Single Positions
The Draw For the Ist Round proper of the knockout Cup was made at the Work party on 10th May
Labels: Lee Chapel Sunday League Match
