Blakey's Fishing Blog

The draw threw up some interesting pegs in relation to the Knockout Cup where the mini-matches were effectively next to each other.

I drew peg 12 was next to Dean Peters on 13, Kev Keeling was on 10 with Paul Hyde on 9. The Other Quarter Finalists were a little further apart but could see each other - Mason Mills on 21 and Roy Digby on 14.

Today would be all about getting close to the Island, Kev Keeling and Paul Hyde had the ends of each Island. However there was a bit of good banter on who was fishing in who's swim during the set up - mainly due to the blustery conditions, however I did have to sort of arbitrate who had which bit of the Island for Kev and John Buck (a little tight there ) but amicable agreement was achieved.

I had my own problems trying to get the method to island accurately. And just before the off I snagged it on the Island - so did not get going until 5 mins after the horn.

Dean was in almost immediately but I could not get a bite whilst only fishing 3 yards to his left on the Island. Dean was getting into the Grass Carp - small but what lovely fish they are. After spending an hour and half without a sniff on all different baits with the Method and with any chance of a semi-final place in knockout gone with Dean landing further substantial Fish long gone I switched to the maggot feeder. Instant success 30 seconds after dropping it in a nice wrap round - but sluggish fight - thought it was a large Bream but was a lovely looking Common of around 4lb.

I then put on a Home grown Worm from my wormery which I have been developing since March. This was held on by two red Maggots on a size 14 /4lb 12" hook length to the Fox in line feeder.

Dropped on the mark again, but before I'd even sunk the line the rod tip goes round - Now this is a different fight - strange one but comes in quite quick and I see the long thin shape of a Grass Carp. I tried to net it but its sees it as is off I apologies to John for carving across his swim, but get it back but it ain't given in - and proceeds to runs around all over my swim. Finally after 10 minutes it ahs given up and in the net.

All Grass Carp here have to weighed & returned immediately which I do but not after getting Mason to witness the weight and take the Picture -

It went 8lb 2ozs - a new PB as this is the First Grassie I have captured and even better taken on a My own home grown Worm - a double 1st.

Did I say Mason - wasn't he on Peg 21 ??? - Well despite his best effort he could not get a bite round there and had come round for a chat with Dean. Both Fred Saunders (16) & Rob Blackburn (18) were also having trouble trying to coax the fish onto the hook as well - Roy Digby on 15 was fairing a little better having a nice Grass Carp.
Now other things seemed to be happening to my left and occasionally I would see Big Mick Byrne walking to the scales with a carp in the net through the gap between the two islands from his Peg 26.

Kev Keeling had his own little disco going in his swim on the end of the smaller island - they were 'hanging out' under the overhanging small tree mainly carp. In fact at one point he cast his feeder over the tree and dropped his feeder in amongst them with the Line settled in the tree. 10 seconds later the tree is 'rattling' but the fish does not seem to want to come out to the side. I am not sure if Kev got this particular fish in or not and I was busy with my own swim - by this time I was in a shoal of Skimmers. - Not big but still fish all the same.

Dean had landed another Grassie making 6 now and Kev asked him to send one down for him, as he like me Had not caught one as yet. Not 15 minutes later Kev has one on and then Paul Hyde has one - another 1st as he had never caught one before so 3 PB's in one match - Not often that could be said I Wonder.

Now every time I looked down my lake to my left Terry Middleton always seem to have a bend in his Rod but he had not visited the scales -so they were either below 7lb or he had forgotten the lake rule of any fish over 7lb needing to be weighed & returned.

Well Mason packed up & left shortly after 1pm and Rob Blackburn had also packed up at 2pm - Rob did that just in time as we had what could be described as a heavy shower - funny that contrary to a normal heavy summer downpour the wind actually stopped ! It only rained for 20 minutes or so but enough to make everything soaking wet.

Come the weigh-in it was very interesting and tight for key places & knockout Places ( well not for me - Dean had spanked me). Paul had just edged out Kev despite his 'Disco dancing' and Roy was through on the basis that Mason had thrown the towel in earlier. A couple of times comments' were made that I was being to pedantic about getting the exact ounce during the weigh-ins to which I retorted that matches are won 7 lost on a ounce - to which Dean said ' Yeah' tell me about it'

A couple of weigh-ins had fish close to the 7lb mark and close they were ! Luckily Terry did not have any but admitted that he thought it was just Grass Carp that needed to be weighed & returned and Olly was winding him up just prior to getting his nets out.

Now when we got round to Big Micks he needed 5lb 1oz to claim 1st Spot (5lb was a draw with Dean). Now when he pulled out his net he has one Common in there and looked about 5 lb. The tension mounted as the fish was put in to the weigh-sling and onto the scales. It went 5lb 3ozs and Mick had pipped Dean by those 3ozs. There was a close call further down the result as Big John pipped Terry Middleton by 1 ounce.