Blakey's Fishing Blog

19 of the 22 core fished and Dan Keeling participated (under match conditions) in lieu of Steve Barrett, who I suspect was nursing a hangover from a 'Family' birthday somewhere south of the River Thames. It was result for me as I had Steve in the Knockout so have a bye through to the Quarter Finals - As did Mason Mills and Roy Digby as a result of a no show from Mick Scholes (Lift Problems) & John Buck (in Normandy for D-Day Celebrations).

The weather well it tired to rain went humid and still for a while and apart from the Traffic noise from the adjacent A12 went to still & airy for a while.

I drew peg 28 I have had before and like it.

Set up the In Line Maggot feeder and Pole on 9m and Margin Lines. After the whistle - Rob Blackburn opposite me on Peg 12 (another good peg that always does well) had one 1st Chuck on cage feeder (bait unknown) this was going to be a feature of the day - Rob Chucks in up and down the Islands in his and the adjacent swim to his right and invariably will have the rod tip pull round within seconds or occasionally a couple of minutes.

I struggled to find the right area to start with around my islands - I did stay in my own swim for a while but came in on the Pole when had a Jacuzzi on the bait at 9m. Could not find them though tried bottom and all heights to 12" below the surface on maggot & pellet plenty of line bites - but no takes. So back out on the maggot feeder went from double to single - Red maggot that seemed to work and by going up a& down as Rob was doing was producing Fish of all varieties but all of a smaller stamp and lots of Chub, Barbel and carp all in little pockets - the carp would go then I have a rune on Barbel, Chub etc.

I moved to the islands in the to my left in just in the vacant swim (Peg 29) this seemed to be producing slightly bigger fish, then at 2pm I really get them going there -- Rob sees this at chucks his just the other side and was pulling in as well. I was totally unsure at this point what weight I had and Steve Elliss on peg 30 who also seem to pulling them in all day went for another Net so did not exceed the 70lb in a net rule - which would mean disqualification, Rob had did the same, I thought play safe and got another one, although I don't think I have got anywhere near )(not experienced in catching this amount of fish in a match). Well that's the kiss of death for me a Steve - I had two more as did Steve, Rob on the other hand didn't make a blind bit of difference.

Kev Keeling (Peg 10) & Mick Wagg (Peg 14) seemed to be having there own Silver Fish Competition with just the occasional carp.

At the weigh-in which is always a struggle here as the big white bucket we have to use -it takes ages as the scales just never settle.

No surprise to me that Rob comes out on top but unseen was Roy Kirby & Dean Peters bagging up down on Pegs 4 & 5 to finished 2nd & 3rd respectively.

Other notable results were that BJ beat Ed by 5 Ounces - Steve Elliss pipped Olly Wagg for 6th Place by 1 (ONE) ounce.

The Silver Fish match between Kev & Mick was won by Kev (44lb), Mick (38Lb). Dan Keeling had done very well and had perfect symmetry with his catch 17lb Silver/ 17lb carp (this would have given him 17th place in the match - One to watch !

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