Blakey's Fishing Blog

What a change from the previous weather wise, 10 hardy soles braved the windy conditions (gusting to 45mph at times) to fish this weeks Wednesday Stan Memorial league match. I had decided on Monday after seeing the weather Forecast that being an all-in match that I would be on the tip and going heavy with Method / hair rigs bait not matter which swim I ended up with. As it t happens I was well down the pecking order at picked Peg 12 the closet. I could get to the Easterly End of the lake.

Why - The wind had been blowing from the South west for days and this is where I Think the fish would have migrated to, It would appear I was not alone in This Theory as most others had gone to that end. - Big Mick Byrne who walked off 1st wet to his normal Road Bank Peg 14 and Matt Keeling who was 2nd off went to peg 16 the other prime peg in these conditions.

I set up on the ABU Enticer feeder with a maggot feeder to start and I decided not to put in any keep nets - I figured they would get wet for nothing - If I was going to catch it was going to be big so there would be no need for them anyhow. At the whistle 1st cast drop just short of the island but the long hook link blew on in the wind and caught the edge of the bush on the island - Snapped off trying to release so had to set up again. Next cast a little shorter no sooner had it dropped to the bottom a Fierce Roach Bite but not hook - So up the anti - to double Red maggot - no real bites, Started to feed the area under the tree immediately to my left in preparation to drop one in there later.

Ted (Billy No Mates) over all alone on the meadow Bank on Peg 26) had landed what looked a small carp over on Peg 26. I conducted a sweep with the maggot feeder around the island - result = One very small perch 1/2 the size of my Thumb - I chucked it back but as doing I thought to myself that could be important but dismissed it as I was going big tonight.

I switched over to the Korum flat method with Hair Rigged double sweet corn on a Size 14 2" Hook Length I tries several places by the Island and Mick Wagg who had set up on his normal Carp Alley peg 10, was soon into a lump on the Middy Hot Spot pole - even with 16-20 Elastic was giving him the right run around. I put my bait runner on and went over to observe - After a 10-15 struggle the size 16 hook pulled - We think it may have been foul hooked as all we saw was the paddle of a good size Carp - easily a Barney Rubble.

I went back and gingerly positioned the method under the tree with a AAA shot positioned 23 feet from the method to pin the main line down on the deck as I was fishing almost on top of the tip ( a mini back lead I suppose). Nothing doing 1st off I rebaited a couple of times and on the next drop within 30 secs had a slow pull round - I gently leaned into it - It was a good fish but had not raised yet that it was hooked. It took me 15 minutes to get it up in the upper layers for my 1st Glimpse of it which did not look all that big but I was managing to keep it in my swim. Kev Keeling gestures across looking at his wrist watch - Yeah I said must be fouled hooked.

Anyway after 20 minutes I finally get it into the landing net - Just ! The hook was right in the scissors of the Mirror Carp - This was a double - When weighed better than I though at 12lb 12 ozs. No further fish though - Big Mick to my left lost a good fish I believe, then I noticed the elastic being pulled on Matt's Pole - His fight did not last along as Mine & landed in pretty good time a good looking Mirror which went 10lb 10zs. Now Mason had told me that he seen Matt Land a good Perch of over a 1lb and I had seen him land other Silvers so I had already given up winning tonight.

At the whistle it was an easy pack up as nothing to weigh in - no wet nets to dry but it had just started to rain.

Weigh-in conducted - Surprise - Surprise Both Matt & I had the same weight of 12lb 12oz - what price that small perch now!!! - It would not have trouble the scales and I would only expect to be awarded a 1/4 ounce for it but it would have been the winning fish ! That said justice was done - I normally fished medium set up on these matches similar to Matt did here and normally get a few fish so only having one fish I should not really win on weight -alone whereas Matt had a few more so really is the Moral Winner tonight.

A shake of hands of mutal congratulations between us - What a great sport this is !

Labels: Wednesday League Match