Pewsey - Bowdens bridge and the Usual suspects.

Continuing Health issues kept me awake most of the night.  Much to the annoyance of my wife nothing it seems will stop me fishing.  It is the one thing that keeps me going.  I look forward to it all week.  So I left under a cloud literally and figuratively this morning cloud and spitting rain, and after stubbornly refusing to stay home my wife was giving me "picture - no sound"

Seriously I suppose I will have to find a gap in the diary to answer the hospital letters and get myself fixed.

Still back to the fishing  The ever reliable match secretary Leo Pocock already pegged the Wilcot to Bowdens stretch.  Nice bloke is Leo, in fact all the Pewsey guys are.  Some fishing talent stalking the canal edge this morning; going to have my work cut out to gain championship points.  Bit of a blow really, having missed two matches and blanking at Ladys bridge I am languishing mid table after a good start.

  Despite everyone paying in for pools and super pools, lots of additional "quid" side bets between individuals were agreed , and after drawing peg one, I watched everyone "stomp" their way up the canal hoping to push the fish to their peg.  Quality anglers Kev Chubb, Spanners  and the ever reliable Si Burden had drawn the three end pegs the other side of Bowdens bridge a favoured area and thankfully the talented James Carty was in that section as well.  In fact with Leo and Chris Rushton also in the section it really was going to be a battle of the egos.

My peg looked a dream a bush right in front of me, nobody to my left, nice colour.  No boats/  What could go wrong.  Well not a lot really, whilst it looked great there were not many fish and I worked hard for my bites. Couple on the inside on punch, then try the choppy line 16 mtrs to my left down the track. Float slid away on the worm line and  a 1 lb Pike crashed on the surface.  It was a beautiful fish glorious markings and bristling with attitude.  The commotion seemed to kill the swim as I had no more bites for an hour.  Eventually I saw sign on the far side and dropped in a pinkie to be rewarded with the obligatory 2oz Perch.  Two more 5 gram roach and then wallop as I hooked another pike this one aground 3.5 lb gripped the fish neatly across its jaw and steadily pulled out the number 3 elastic till it bottomed out and the 07 line broke.

No use bleeting, get on with it.  It was painfully slow, I tried caster, I tried maggot, and I tried punch. All with occasional but inconsistent success.  The hot sun and the sleepless night were having an effect.  The niggly problems like no room to move, unable to push pole left with high nettles, also unable to ship back because of a dense thicket of a hedge.  Were all combining to make the day less than pleasurable.  Decide to get up and walk away, have a pee and a drink and start again.

 Slightly worried as my pee looked blood tinged, but it must have been the stack of beetroot I had yesterday coloring it up.  So that aside it was with renewed vigour that I started again.  The boats are becoming an annoyance and there is a definite difference between how holiday makers and regulars respect fisherman.  Still its the same for everyone.  I am getting about one bite every 15 minutes, just by moving around.  Slight movement at the full 16 mtrs to my right in the reeds makes me try an area I had not tried. A single pinkie, comes back sucked dry three times in a row.  So I got out the scissors and cut a pinkie in half.  Tried again and bingo two tiny Ruffe followed by a couple of 5 gram Roach.  Then yippee an elastic puller!!  Perhaps not - another Pike! .  Three now shame they don't count.

Eventually the all out is called and being on the board I pack quickly and walk up to Will on Peg 2.  Ready to go says I lets do the weigh in.  I am not doing scales he says I have a Pool match to get too, and I haven't caught anything so see you later.  So I grabbed the scales and walked the 300 or so meters up to Bowdens bridge and the three pegs the other side. It was quickly obvious that's were the fish were as Kev weighed in 5 lb 1 oz(140 fish) and Spanners 5 lb 2.5 oz (143 fish).  Si Burden weighed in 4 lb +(100+ plus fish). Back under the bridge, and back toward my peg.  Banter and abuse was high and those "quid" bets were settled. I weighed in last a better that expected 1 lb 15.5 oz.  Not enough really. 7 points I think, out of 15 so I suppose Midsectionblues.

In general I am pleased been Canal fishing for a calender year and the results are getting better.  Still a way to go to beat the Usual Suspects, but if they look over there shoulder I am always in the shadows.

I felt for Mike Marsden, James Carty and Si Burden today.  All over 4 lb with a hundred fish each. At least Mike and James got their section by default, Si missed out for a change.

Spanners 1st ( middle)

Kev C 2 nd (left)

Dave Johnson 3 rd

ARMY 10 + AGM at Viaduct.Pipped by the Doc

A cool morning greeted me as I popped into Solstice park to fuel up Nigella (my Volvo).  The flyer was in for MOT - more on that later.  I love my car she is a beautiful drive, comfortable fast and just like the real Nigella lovely air bags!  Who should be fueling up in front of me but JD.  He looked like shit, eyes held open with matchsticks as family commitments meant he had started out on the road at 2 AM this morning!  Dedication to the fishing cause is that.

The Group funds had funded a free breakfast for us all - Thanks guys, it was lovely.  My team the ORPHANS gathered for a team photo.

From left to right John Goddard, Dave Critcher , me Big Dog, Carl Amman and Gary Black

9.15 saw the start of the AGM.  Its been a tough year, Operational commitments mean the matches have been down on average 15 anglers per match.  I was asked to brief on the Bait Tech match,  Masters/Club man pairs, and the annual Match against Andover.  Awards for hard work, achievements etc were handed out and then we got down to the draw.  

I was on Scarey Carey (peg 85) good draw. Every man and his dog told me Andy Power had won this competition and that competition from that peg.  Well done Andy say I, but whilst I have improved my skill level, I am a long way of yours.

At last as inaugural winner of the Masters Club man pairs (with Daz Mayers) I get to hold the shield.

Mr Seymour above picks up his best newcomer award. 

Craig Micalef, Commercial venue cup winner

Mick Craddock Runner up Natural venue cup.  Other Awards below, Carl Amman special award for Hard work for the group.  Team Champs Nomads - again! Dave Critcher picking up for the absent Mike Poolman Champion Angler for the year+ winner of Natural Cup.  Brian Shuttler runner up individual tied on points with Mike Poolman but lost out on count back.  Chris Perry Dave Farragher this years Pairs winners.

My match started quietly with 1 bite on the half hour at noon, a four pound carp.  4 Hours later after trying everything except diving in to see if there were any fish in my swim, I was losing the will to live.  My grumblings about packing up and going home were dismissed, by fellow anglers.  

Generally it was suck it up Princess its a team event.  Keith shouted across, to remind me I had won the most enthusiastic angler award , because of my optimism and general hard work.  I petulantly said take it back I don't want it, and sat there bottom lip protruding in a sulk worthy of a 3 year old.  

I had the excellent Mr Dave Docs Docherty on the next peg, he too was struggling for a bite and we both looked enviously to the other side of Carey were Dave F, Tree Sansom, Chris Perry and Keith Armstrong were well on the way to ton+ weights.

3.45 saw Docs have a purple patch with three Carp one after another.  I inquired to tactics and bait, and it appeared I was fishing pellets which were too big.  I scaled down and at 4 pm had my second bite of the day.  I shouted my delight - I think they heard me in Glastonbury.  Its weird how the ignominy and embarrassment of a low weight of a flier peg piles the pressure on.

I noted movement in the corner to my right and pinged an under arm cast to the tree there.  The rod ripped around and in short, I had 5 fish in the last hour.  

I also lost one where my landing net pole snapped in half as I lifted a fish that had to be 25lb+!!!!!  It must have been a comical sight as I crawled on my knees then belly in my peg to grab the business end of the net before it sank.  Incredibly the fish was still in the net, but on grabbing the net the fish "flipped"  into the lake.  Still hooked it took off under the bush to my left dragging the rod behind it.  I just managed to grab the rod , when the fish bolted back under my keep net and under the platform.

Talk about keystone cops! I was left with just the landing net pan in my hand trying to balance on one leg reaching precariously out toward the fish.  Nice fish too.  Prodding around like a virgin in the dark eventually I forced the fish out from under the platform, where I watched wistfully as it swam away.  Gutted.

Craig on the next peg lent me a landing net handle to finish the match -Cheers Mate.  The all out was called and half the lake shouted fish on, including me.  I eventually reeled in a branch and a pile of terminal tackle from previous anglers.

Controversy now.  Docs on the next peg was still playing a Carp, and it was rapidly approaching 15 minutes after the whistle.  Pressure mounted from around the lake as he was barracked and people counted down to the allowed 15 minutes

My view is he got his landing net under the fish with 5 seconds to go.  But it was tight.  I shouted to all the lads on the lake - "should we allow it" it was 51 % to 49% in favour he could have it.  Well done Docs, pressure fishing at its best. 

I packed quickly and raced to help Steve the lake owner with the weigh in.  I needed at worst 5 points 6 or higher would not be good enough to reach my season target.  With depression I realised it was going to be midsectionblues as I weighed in ton weight after ton weight.

It turns out my first Carp was 4lb and the five I had in the last hour added up to 66 lb!!!!! Five fish for 66 lb what an awesome venue. One of my clonkers, which I had confidently predicted when I landed it was 25 to 30 lb, looked smaller when it came to the weigh in, and actually weighed in at 19 lb 15 ounces, still a great fish see below.

My total weight was 70 lb 1 oz, Docs unbelievably had 71 lb 1 oz.  That last minute double giving him the five points I needed. Me I had 6 points and had missed my season target.  Oh woe is me.

Midsectionblues 6 out of 12 to finish the season - a broken landing net handle costing me, or was Docs fish in time?????  Of course it was, well done Docs.  To top it the moble rings, and my van the famous "Flyer" will pass the MOT , but needs welding - Cost £175.00 - really!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt like asking the lads, if anyone would like to kick me in the testicals to top a great day!! 

Results.

Keith wins, despite having one net reduced to 70 lb for overfilling.  Martin Holmes 2nd, and Jimmy Bond 3rd.

The Lads - The End of 2012 / 2013. For all those who qualified for the Army Festival in September all the best from the Big Dog.

Ruddy Hard work Summer League Pewsey

A blisteringly hot day greeted my first ever trip to Horeshoe Lake Lechlade.  The home of the Carp Society, it is a gorgeous venue and I have to say it was a pleasure for Fisherman to receive conditions normally afforded to Golfers.  Surely if Fishing is to modernise, this is the way forward.

The Lake it self is around 105 acres in size and absolutely gin clear. I cannot stress how clear, on this hot day I wanted to strip off and dive in.  The lads fearing a tsunami, warned against.  I think they are jealous of my lithe' frame.  After strolling to the near pegs and salivating at the black patches , which turned out to be shoals of fry and Rudd.  We settled on a cuppa and tried to contain our enthusiasm as we dipped out nets in a sterilising solution.

The Tea and Banter flowed as we chomped on Cheese burgers and marveled at the facilities.  Purpose built BBQs in the beer garden environment, wonderful ablutions - you could eat your dinner of the toilet floor.  There was soap, electric hand dryers, showers yes showers and in general a light and airy clean modern environment.

A far cry from some of the venues I have the dubious pleasure of visiting.  Clearly the Carp guys respect the place, there is no graffiti, chewing gum stuck to the floor, or dog ends littered around.  Every swim is a picture, no rubbish or discarded tackle, tins etc.

Lily pads are crawling with wildlife, I cant recall how long ago it is since I have seen so many Dragonflies and Damsel Flies.  Stepping into the lake (more later) I disturbed a layer of silt on the golden gravel and a cloud of blood worm vortex-ed in the crystal clear water.

We had met earlier in the week for a team meeting - match members discussing Chris Rushtons practice trips and to formulate a plan.  Rough order of the agreed plan was not to target the big Tench, but to go all out for the Rudd.  It was felt going for the Tincas would risk a blank.  We needed points to catch Swindon ISIS.

Lechlade A started the draw and delighted all by drawing peg 1 for their team members and the scales, to roars of delight.  I fancied it and decided to go a quid with Spanners, in the hope he would feel pressurized and drop a couple of points.  He won the first two legs of this comp, and I had, come 3rd and 4th.

I drew peg 5 (Midsection ) for the boys, with B5 in summer bay for me.  Arriving at the peg, (drive to your peg!) I noted the water was much shallower than the our Tuesday night team brief had suggested.  I was expecting 6-7 feet in fact I had 3 to 4!  Team brief had also suggested Rudd - shallow - would be the way forward; but to be honest the massive shoals of 4 lb Rudd were not in evidence.  Fry yes.  7 Carp between 18 and 30 lb, yes, but no big shoal of Rudd.

Standing on the wheel then bonnet and up onto the roof of the flyer (parked at my Peg) I surveyed with little bino,s the scene before me. Weed , more weed and even more weed.  The shallow gin clear water had allowed Canadian pond weed and other varieties to grow up from the gravelly bottom to within around 

 inches of the surface.

There was a gap around 18 x 6 feet between the thicker weed, at around 5 or six rod lengths out.  In addition right across the swim from left to right a gravel bar about 3 feet deep where the weed came thickly right to the surface like Hadrian's wall.

I raised the tackle box on its legs waded out into around knee depth water where it started to shelf off to 4 feet.  Set up two wagglers, an old favorite Silstar spliced tip whippy rod, very soft on the strike.  Closed face ABU 706 and 2lb mainline, completed by dumpy crystal Drennan puddle chucker float ( black top for the bright conditions) Size 16 hook.  The other a Preston 13 foot carbon active "Excel" with Diawa team match 2058 reel, 3 lb line insert crystal size 18 hook.  

Plan A . Using bait dropper  - hemp and caster, choppy worm into a tiny clear patch in weed, 10 feet to my right for later on pole.  Fish the whip out in front up to Hadrian's wall, fish on the bottom or mid water.  Change later (after exhausting inside line) to fishing long to the gap with waggler pinging loose fed caster and maggot.

Plan A, failed.  Hooter signaled the 3pm start to this afternoon /evening match. I pushed the whip out and swung the long lined rig out.  Pinged a handful of maggot to get em going, and the 100 or so Rudd whic had just moved in, immediately vacated the swim, clearly spooked by the whip over their head in such clear water.  Slung the whip behind me.  Bait dropper area is already fizzing so instead of waggler I think I will give it a quick try.  Grabbed the pole and went over the bait dropper , slightly deeper water - hoped the fish on the bottom wouldn't see the pole.  Small fish tugged the worm side to side but didn't really take it.  

There was indication of bigger fish so I - on impulse - placed a grain of strawberry red sweetcorn on the hook and dropped it in again. Whoosh it was away in a maelstrom explosion of activity.  Red Hollo immediately bottomed out as a train of a fish ploughed into Hadrian's weed wall. After 30 plus minutes of tugging bag and forth and putting the Tourny X under unwarranted pressure, I pulled in by elastic hand over hand, what looked like a sack of weed. Panic set in as it got close and I realised the most beautiful common carp of around 25+ lbs in amongst the weed.

Stepping gingerly of the platform box I slid the landing net underneath and to my dismay it wasn't big enough.  The carp was benignly calm, as I cleared the hook and weed away. Holding it upright in the water to allow it to get its breath, it then just slid away. Bol****s! No photo. who will believe me?  Who cares a treasured moment with a beautiful fish is imprinted on my mind.  Typical catch a decent carp in a match and it don't count.

No further action this side of Hadrian's weed wall me thinks.  So waggler time.  After 20 minutes got my first bite, a glorious Rudd around a pound and a quarter.

Ruddy Marvellous.

Trouble was they got smaller not bigger.  It was a hard job getting the fish.  I lost several trying to get them through the weed, before I worked out a routine. Strike, hook, stand up , reach up high and lift over weed, hoping the fish wouldn't flip off barbless hook.  I worked hard trying different depths and shotting patterns but settled on 10 inces deep no shot on the line. 

I also realised despite the float being clear crystal it was spooking fish. So I used a waggler as weight to get a tiny carp blob float out to the feed area, the reeled the float to the edge of the weed, and used the blob with as an indicator with the bait 10 inches deep in the "clear patch"  Worked a treat.

The day was blighted by my line inexplicably getting tangled behind the spool on the close face.  To be fair I was thinking of scaling down to an 18 hook any how, as Rudd were not at the predicted weight.  So that rig was placed aside and out came the Preston.  Being a longer rod it helped getting the fish over the weed.

Other irritants on the day was the willow herb fluff at one point the lake looked like it had a frosted covering, and it was a nightmare.  It bunged up the eyes on the rod, wrapped around the spool and in general made it Ruddy Hard Work.  Spanners to my right was catching steadily but all the fish were small.  I am sure I wasted an hour in the match just cleaning fluff off to make it possible to cast. Bonus news came along the bank, that the ISIS bloke in our section was blanking.

The Hooter blew for the all out.  The weigh showed the three blokes to my left including ISIS man had all blanked.

Me - 5 points - 4th with 7 lb 2.5 oz.  Spanners had taken a quid of me catching 67 fish for 10 lb 2.5 oz for second in section. Lechlade 12 lb + on home water. Martin - 3 points-  in A section had 7th with 2 ounces 

Will = 2 points -had 8lb 10 oz for 6th in his section and Steve Dean - 6 points -had fourth in his section.

Pewsey Blue had been pipped 3 to 1 by Red on the day. Despite the blank, in my section ISIS picked up well with 3 second places in the other sections. A weird day look at Will and Martin. Will had 8 lb but got less points than Martin with 2 oz.

We all sat and took the results in the lovely facilities.  Winner (blue shirt front right) 22 lb half of which were Tench the other Rudd.

Pewsey Blue (57 points) back up to third tied with Bankers.  Pewsey Red back to second (61 points) and the team to beat ISIS stretching to a 13 point lead.  ISIS (rather big headed I thought) convinced they have already won.  Still we will see 25th August Bristol Avon for last round.  Gonna try my damnedest to overhaul them.

Viaduct with the Army on Wednesday for AGM and last match of this 2012/2013 season.

Pewsey - Lack luster Lethargic Lake

The day dawned with the oppressive heat we have had for a week now.  Arrived early at the lake didn't want to rush and get all sweaty.  Only 12 turned out for the day, hardly surprising.  Nice day but too hot to move.  Stories of sleepless nights abounded as we recounted the very very humid and uncomfortable night just gone.

The draw, is quick and we get underway. I managed to draw peg 9 again the peg I won off, last trip here.

  The lake has had a massive algal bloom in the last few days, and I wonder if my lightweight rigs will actually get through the green scum? I am in section one with some good anglers Si Burden, Chris Rushton and the ever consistent Spanners.

Spanners "Mr Consistent"

Chris getting ready to sack up.

On my right starting the next section our club Chairman Jimmy Brooham flashing some very white legs and white ankle socks. Very stylish.

My peg was still no movement or fish sign.  Pea soup green, and distinctly short of any thing that would suggest I might catch.  

My casters and pinkie at the ready, I look to my left to see Chris, preparing his chopped worm.  Jimmy shouts the all in and I drop a 7 foot rig in the middle on top of a ball of ground bait with around 10 pinkie in.  My rig is the new range from Dino floats "0.7g Long stem bream" float.  Double bulked with 3 number 12 shot to indicate sail away and lift bites.  I am praying the tench I caught last time is still around and still hungry .  

Half an hour gone and already tales of big carp landed at the far end in the bay are coming along the bank.  To be honest it dents the confidence.  Still, another four and half hours to go; any thing might happen must not let it play on my mind.

Chris is ploughing through a match pack of worm catching small to medium Perch with a nice one of around a pound.  He has just lost a carp, and jimmy to my right. Has broken a top kit playing a Perch.

I bash away float dipping and lifting regularly, but no decent fish.  Mid day comes and the bites stop as the sun reaches its zenith above the lake.  Its a sultry lack luster day, where just sitting still drains your energy.  One o'clock sees me bite less for an hour, and grabbing the wand bomb rod. Large 16 hook and piece of strawberry corn are launched in under the far bank trees.  Didn't have time to place the rod as it is nearly ripped out of my hand.  The fight is over in a milli second as the carp bolts into a mass of twigs and branches opposite. Immediately it goes solid, so I gradually pull in a sunken branch around 2 inches in diameter. I must have landed my rig straight on the fish, who when disturbed bolted foul hooked for cover.

 No more bites the rest of the day despite trying different combinations of bait, depth etc.  So Jimmy shouts all out.  To be honest people are already packing up.  Tales of lost fish and what could have been, are topped by Will Tappers news that the nice Chubb he has to go with his Carp has just lept' clear of his keep net.

The weigh in begins with Si Burden recording an impressive volume of little fish and a big perch for 3 lb 5 oz. Spanners for once has struggled and the dog Perch from Chris (3 lb 9 oz and 8 drams.)
 has pushed me back further.

I have worked hard for my 2 lb 11 and a half ounces.  Some Championship points, but not enough.  The big prizes go to Steve Hiscock 10 lb 12.5 oz of big carp (the Carp was 9lb+).

Steves big un

Will's two Carp note the missing  3 lb Chubb

My Hard earned bites.

Fair play to Will T.  He does fish for Carp or nothing catching his on Meat.  Steve Hiscocks got a big un at 9 lb +  A few silvers to go with it, his 10 lb 12 oz pipping Wills 10lb 1 oz, the leaping Chubb costing him the match.

Well done to the lads they made the most of the Carp favourite pegs. Paul Gidding also has a carp on the end peg.  So these three end pegs take the day.  See below from left to Right, Paul Gidding 3rd, Steve Hiscock 1st and Will Tapper second.  Well done to Chris taking our section and the silvers pool with his bag of Perch the pound dog Perch making the difference.

Summer league next week at Horshoe Lake, Lechlade.  Apparently its Rudd up in the water, as its a silvers only match.  Good -  perhaps I will fair better not being beaten by the big Carp.

Banter Time

One of the great things about fishing is the banter.  I know my mate John likes my nickname for him,Yoda, but is also a little embarrassed to be referred to as Yoda.  Seeing himself modestly, not as a master Yoda or superstar, simply someone who has offered tips to a fellow struggling mate on how to improve.

The tips have been replaced over the last couple of seasons, as I have gone from rank loser to occasionally picking up and occasionally just occasionally challenging the better angler on the day.

After being on the receiving end of Banter, and friendly abuse, JD proved today he can give it too.  Note  below.  The photo of me from the weekend pole float stuck in my head (see previous blog entry) and a reminder that the emerging Luke Sky-walker has a long way to go to challenging Master Yoda regularly.

Brilliant note the pole float, I love the anglers sense of humour.

Army Group 2 (South West) V Andover AC - Sizzling Sunday

Witherington Farm was once again host to the annual Challenge Shield between Army group 2 and Andover AC.  Initiated in 2011 which was won by one point by Andover. 2012 saw Group 2 win by one point to take the Shield back.

Withy was really busy, with matches on the inside snake. As well as our match on the outer ring.  A match on Cottage and lots of pleasure Anglers on Selwood and Barnmoor.  Tony was drowning under weight of anglers wanting breakfast.  So I dived in and buttered rolls, and washed plates, made tea etc.

Quickly grabbed my own breakfast, just in time for the draw.  The match was sections of two, so a group 2 angler versus and Andover angler. 1 point if you won your match, 2 points for second and three points if you blanked.  Blank not likely you might say no chance but trust me the snake water lacking oxygen, air temperature 30 degrees and the fish cruising around mouthing the surface - a blank was entirely possible.

I drew peg 15 along the dead stretch, against a tough opponent James Hillier. I decided just to enjoy it today, I wasn't expected to win my match.                                                                          

James Hillier Peg 16 Outer Snake              

Arrived at the peg to find it absolutely baking hot. After my accident with pole elastic lube last week, I carefully searched out the sun cream.  After a liberal smothering, I looked like somebody had tipped a tub of ice cream over me; but I didn't care; no skin cancer for me.

After looking at my peg it was clear it needed some gardening.  Nettles and foliage was high.  Grabbed my shears and scythe and walked around to the inner snake.  If I was going to fish tight to the far bank I had to clear the hog weed and stingers.  Withy is a great place don't get me wrong but there is a lot to do to keep on top of it.  Can't be easy for Eastleigh the host club. They could do with some on site help with the day to day maintenance of this big site.  I know Reids tackle get out and do a bit, but its not really their place to do that. Still I am sure Eastliegh are grateful.

 Good job done.  I was glad I took the time to go around the stingers , reeds and other foliage was thick and sub surface, something I couldn't see from my peg.  I could now fish tight, in the only bit of shade I have.   Cleared a spot about two feet long.  Back round to my peg and another 10 minutes digging out and cutting back the nearside bank so I could fish down the edge to the blank peg on my right.

Time is racing on toward the start of the match, so hastily I set up three rigs.  Meat rig to the left, ground bait caster /worm to the right for the skimmers. A rig for the bottom far bank which was around 2 foot 6 inches deep on the shelf.  Seeing the fish sunbathing and gulping air on the surface , I thought the fish may be up in the water.  So I set up a roach rig for mid water and a banded 6 mill pellet rig at around a foot deep for the far side. John shouted the all in and I shipped across some micro pellet, few grains of corn and a a few 6 mill pellet.  Cupped in a ball of ground bait , chopped worm and caster.  Shipped across the shelf rig. Two minutes in and it dipped and a 4oz Rudd had taken my pellet.  Memories of the mid week match at Todber came flooding back - will it be silvers again!  Another ship across and another roach, then a skimmer.  Followed by a 6 oz Crucian / Goldfish. 

 Fixed a shallow toss pot to the end of the top kit.  Got into a rhythm of shipping across tipping in 20 or so micro pellets and a couple of 6 mill pellets.  Started chucking a few 8 mill meat cubes on the track line to my left.  Haven't had a bite for  10 minutes but the constant feeding of micros, has brought the fish up in the water. Swapped to my up in the water rig.  Several missed liners then nothing.

Potted in more bait and left it for a rest.  15  bite-less minutes over the meat. Changed to my skimmer rig and went in over the chopped worm.  2 minutes and the float dived under. Caught on the hop, I couldn't ship in quick enough, and the hollo blue 9 elastic ripped directly toward me.  After the double figure Carp crashed into my keep net doing about 30 mph.  It promptly, transferred the hook to the keep net.

Gutted I had lost the fish I pulled in the net unhooked and chucked the net out again.  Dropped in over the ground bait again this time the worm was took on the drop and it ripped off in the other direction straight into the far bank and it went solid.  This time it meant pulling the elastic by hand to avoid breaking top kit.  Wincing against the break I kept my hands low in case the float catapulted out and into me. It wouldn't budge so I looked back toward it and changed the angle.  Promptly it fired out like Usain Bolt out of the blocks and stuck itself in my forehead dead center.  Blood dripping of my nose and sun tan cream running into my eyes. It was not going well.  Lucky not to lose an eye!!

After half an hour on the worm and caster and only a couple of tiny skimmers, I decided to go back across the fish were clearly still there and gasping on the surface.  Shifted my foot deep rig up and was now fishing at around 3 to 4 inches deep.  3 Carp in a row around 2 lb a piece, couple of them the milky white ones stocked by Eastleigh last September.  Stuck with it for a bite less hour.  Back over the worm and started feeding the edge, with 6 mil pellet.  Steadily built around 1 lb 8 oz of Roach and tiny Rudd.

Back across and the fish are coming steadily at 3 inches deep. Probably 6 carp in a row. James has just had three munters down the edge, but I think I might be shading it - just. Last hour down the edge without a bite. Its gonna be tight unless I have miss judged it.

 The weigh in.  James has weighed 18 lb 1 oz.

 Me a creditable 26 lb 6oz.  £10 section win in the bag and most importantly 1 point for the team. War wound , dead center of fore head - the bloody trickle dried in the sun.

 Score sheets below show its tight.

Clearly the weights on the other side of the Snake were better.  Gerry Blunt , made the most of his shaded boys peg 54, with a excellent 631b 2 oz to win the match Stevie Pierce just to his right on peg 48 had a storming last hour to weigh in 57 lb 4 for second place.  Nige Gregory not realizing the 3 points for the DNW had chucked his fish back,knowing Nick McCartney had beaten him.  So three points instead of two. Would it cost us?

Kev East was 3rd with 34 lb 14 oz.  Me well 9th over all.  John Dewberry was looking good to beat Barry Giles off the next peg with 47 silvers and 3 Carp for 10 lb 10 oz.  But Barry pipped him with one Carp in the death throws of the Match which weighed an incredible 17 lb + .







Prompting the Kodak moment and much laughter from fellow Browning Anglers.

Barry grabs his tenner with glee, from a sporting John.

The scores are totted up and amazingly another close match.  The Army Group 2 team retain the Shield by one point again!!

 Great day thanks to Andover AC, especially to James H, not only did he give me two Paracetamols for a raging headache - dehydration I think; but he very sportingly shook my hand an congratulated me on fishing well. 

Pewsey Lake next week, back on the Championship chase, lots of ground to make up after my blank at Lady,s Bridge.