Pewsey Lake match .....sponsored by Night Nurse

My furious wife left behind me as I drove toward the Lake.  Frankly she couldn't believe I was going fishing after being poorly most of the week with manthrax. So dosed up with all manner of penicillin products and a cocktail of Night Nurse, I thought I would give it a go.  Also its to support the club and those who volunteer like Mark Russ to run these competitions.

Not the best of draws though with peg 5, its either a blinder or a blanker.  With my friends Brian and Mark either side of me , I huffed and puffed my tackle to the swim. parked up and vomited a load of fluid from my lungs.

The match was a drag we in the low numbers struggling for bites early doors . In fact after 45 minutes I was leading with 3 ounces 2 fish.  That was soon to change though as both Mark and Brian fishing their poles to the full extent tight under the far bank and starting to hit the bigger fish.

Try as I might with different shotting patterns and depths I couldn't get them going and soon I resulted to a comedic commentation on the efforts of Mark and Brian as alternately their elastic stretched to the limit.  If I was so bloody cold and frankly unwell it would have been funny.

I was getting bites , but for every half ounce fish that tried and I mean tried to pull my float below the surface the superstars either side of me had 8 oz to 1 lb fish.  I was being spit roasted and it didn't feel good.

A flapjack, banana and flask of hot tea made no difference.  A change to feeder, and a session on the method made no impact.  The cold ground its way into me and thoughts returned to my wife the fireside .  One thing was for sure, I would get no sympathy from her when I eventually made it home.

The feeling of hopelessness compounded a complete inability to attract a Carp. Just to keep warm I decided to scale down just to get bites knowing full well i would not catch anything that would make a difference.  Then the elastic stretched and a paper bag weight of a 2 lb Bream came slowly to the surface the barbless 22 hook just behind the fishes eye. I reached for the landing net just as the hook gave and bird nested around the end of my pole.

I wasn't even mad just resigned to the fact that today was not might day.  Oddly enough I then repeated the same trick, only this time the hook was between the eyes.  Maybe if it was a microbarbed or even fully barbed I may have got it in but no.

So it was with relief when Mark called it.  42 pissy little fish but sure I was rank last.

The weigh in was interesting with the bottom end doing well as always; the difference being that nearly all the carp had been caught in the last part of the match.  In fact Nic, had his 26 lb of Carp in the last 40 minutes.

The scores were good for such a cold day.

An expensive day for Jim he may have won the match, but he lost a load of Carp and he broke his pole. As for me (42 fish but so tiny), glad I held my own with  Mark and Brian in Silvers.  Well done to Bryan Jackson fairly new to the venue but a nice few skimmers .

So suck it up princess and come back fighting next week.  At least Flint and the new pup Fen were pleased to seem me when I got home .  Wife still not speaking .......chocolates required me thinks.

Final round Wx Winter League

First a big thanks to Reid's Tackle and Jimmy Finch in particular for the superb fix on my Normark Microlight, Great Job.

The day started well with one dog with the runs and another vomiting.  Then I couldn't find my Pewsey baseball cap only to find the dogs using it as a tug of war.

That sorted , I got under way with AC DC blasting from the stereo.  The crowd were chanting Angus, Angus, Angus for lead guitarist Angus Young and he didn't displease me or them with a great rendition of a "Whole lotta Rosie" .  Rather apt really because last night was the first proper storm of the year and it was named Angus.

The roads were badly flooded and covered in the wind driven detritus, it made for a dodgy journey.  Still got to the Golden Swan and had a lovely breakfast.

We discussed the day ahead, and I bemoaned the last trip my first team blank in 4 years.  I just wanted a pair of "eyes" I said just enough for a point.  At which point Bryan Jackson, said no probs today then Gaz here is a pair of eyes to weigh in.......... oh very funny.  Another joke on me.

Then we got our game heads on we may be a few points ahead but that means nothing in this league.  So we drew well Mark did. Peg 3 and I had section D .  All the sections were at Milkhouse so we braved the 18 inch deep flood on Burbage road and made our way to Milkhouse.

Long walk up and around the bend toward Pains Bridge fortunately its a lovely tarmac path.  I would have liked peg 2 its a bit of a flier protected from the wind and loads of features, but Ralph Hillier had that peg.  So settled in for the last match of the league.

Straight away it was clear that the my recent catches on this stretch with punch were not going to work, so I tried the Worm line a 1 ounce Perch was reward for 20 minutes.  The day ground on and we were struggling. Ralph to my right had a netable fish and we were all chasing him now.  Determined not to get too down I ended up working the 2 foot line for squat fish.  It was hard work with a bite every 5 minutes or so but i was patient. And kept at it.

Gary (Isis) too my left had to be beaten and so did Radcot to the left of him.  So head down and keep focused. Ralph reckoned I was catching him but he did have a a couple of  fish that were not bad .  Mine were about 4 to the ounce.

The day grew cold and I did try my other lines but with no joy.  A 5lb Pike was ramming my keep net and I had lost half a dozen hook lengths to smaller Jack pike.  The squat fish were now getting picky, the dotted down float barely registering movement.  Time and again I hit a bite to find a tiny pair of eyes hanging on to the tip of a squat only to drop off when I shipped in.  I must have lost at least a dozen fish like that.  Very frustrating.

The hot drink was pressing against the bladder and it was a struggle to get the layers of clothing off with numb fingers so that I could pee.

After 5 glorious hours that I will never get back the all out was called.

Peg 6 DNW , Pegs 5 (radcot) and 4 (Isis) weighed in 15 oz each, then me Peg 3 

1 lb 5 oz, Ralph next from the flier 2lb 2 oz the netable fish the difference between us. Finally Martin Aris 1 lb 3 oz with a couple of reasonable Roach on punch.

So back to the pub for the results:

Radcots Graham Didcot taking a point on Pewsey to close the gap with Pewsey Graham Godwin a creditable 2nd, and Leo 36rd

Section B next.

Another section win for Arran Pickett he has been consistently good through this comp. Well done to Mark Russ for his second so that's 2 seconds keeping us just in front.

C Section

Felt sorry for Chris Rushton  (reigning Winter league champion), plagued by toothache and earache, he has been mullerd on both sides, which wipes out the lead we had specially with ISIS and Radcot first and second.

Its squeaky bum time as we get to D section. But another 2nd in section from me keeps us in the hunt.

E section, around by Pains Bridge out of the wind and the weights (fish ) have moved into the shelter better weights here. Bryan Jackson (Summer League Champ) beaten by both Radcot and ISIS A, makes it very tight again and the sweat is on again.

Finally the longest walk and section F by Pains Bridge.  Brian was not looking forward to this area its not been the most productive for him.  However, he should not of worried as he won the section , indeed he had framed.

But with ISIS A and Radcot 2nd and third, the squeeze was on had we done it?

So back to the Golden Swan for the final results lots to add up , not just the match results today but the final tallies for the teams and the individuals . Who had won the Brian Webb trophy.


So to the Individuals, well done Arran Pickett, pipping Brian Shutler by 1 point to pick up the Brian Webb trophy.  Graham Godwin third.

The team results next and the reverse order announcement adding to the tension, finally relief as we realised we have won it.  Get in!!!! Step forward team Captain to pick up the trophy, and the cameras start clicking to record the moment  for  posterity.

  

Pewsey 1 = 126

Radcot = 121

House of Angling = 113

ISIS A = 111

Pewsey 2 = 82

ISIS B = 71

I maintain it was a club effort one team wins it, and the same team throughout except one match were Mark was on holiday.  So although Team 1 pick it up it was great to share the moment with all Pewsey Anglers.

The trophy is passed around.

The TEAM Captains.

See you next week

Wx Winter League .....Fishing Tackle for Sale

The day started with a scrape of the windscreen as a proper frost had gripped all around.  Got underway with the tunes blasting.  After a chat yesterday with a friend ref generational music I had mixed a good playlist.

My friend was of the generation above me and was enjoying, Janis Joplin, Neil Young, Carol King Bob Dylan and many other protest music that had much to say.

Me well I came in a few years later with a bit of punk / SKA etc.  So the tunes varied from SHAM 69 to Elvis Costello and "Pump it Up" through a bit of Madness , Bad Manners and Roxanne from the Police.

The beautiful crisp morning flew by the windows of the van and the music slipped into album mode.  AC DC Back in Black bit of Meatloaf and then Rumours Fleetwood Mac.

Finally I pulled into the Radcot draw venue Clanfield Football club. Fish was in full flow and              " Lavenders blue Dilly dilly , lavenders green when I am King you will be queen".

Sausage Sarnie swallowed and washed down with Tea, meant the draw was close and I ended up with E6.  Bottom end of the second field below the Swan at Radcot

A boys peg by all accounts stuffed with monster Chubb and Bream.  We  all tackled up and Marc Kay and Chas Short came down to make a s much noise as possible behind me.  We exchanged pleasantries.  As the clock ticked down to the start .  Marc was starting us with whistle so went on back to his peg.  I had 14 feet deep in front of me and 10 feet across where the Chubb lived.

No flow and clear as gin. I could see the carpet of leaves that lay strewn on the bottom.  More leaves showered down like confetti on the virtually still water  and the grind began.

I started slow with bait dropperd licky bread and punch over hemp. and a worm line at 16 meter.  Getting bait across to the waggler was hard with the first proper finger numbing north easterly straight in the face.

I saw Leo two pegs up swing in a couple of small silvery fish but no one was catching or even getting a bite. The only one who seemed to be catching was Chris on E3.  In fact that was it until 3 hour mark when Fred above me thought he hooked the bottom and instead it was a 12 oz Perch.

Marc Kay up on E2 had six sections of pole in the air and was snagged in something.  Other than that , that was it till the end.  Apart from Leo offering me a a cup of hot sweet Tea, as he had a quick stroll to warm up.  Of course the tea went straight through me and panic ensued as I desperately struggled with a stuck bib and braces zip and 20 layers of clothing to expose my cold affected privates before I wet myself.  Nothing like peeing on your wellies, oh the relief.

So to the weigh in I was shot.  I had to beat ISIS A, and I hadn't even had a bite - blanked DNW for the first time in ages.  Relief , though as ISIS had blanked too.  Marc's snag turned out to be a 2 lb 12 oz Perch , jammy bugger.  Chris Bowen had 2 lb 10 oz of Gudgeon.  So apart from Chris Leos, 2, Freds 1 and Marcs 1 bite meant there had been only "4 bites" in the entire bloody section.

Chris Rushton was our angler in A section but after getting a puncture and knackering his spare he didn't start fishing until 12.30 but managed a creditable third.  Well done to Colin Weston getting third in the match and Brian Shutler for second.  With good results from Brian Jackson and Graham Godwin , we had come from 2 points behind ISIS to 7 in front.

Last round on home water at Pewsey in two weeks. Can we hold on or will we be gazumped at the end.  Squeaky bum time.

As for the massive Chubb and Bream in my peg, the locals tell (after the match) me the conditions were wrong, cold water a hard frost and a north easterly means they drop down to the section below.  Lesson learned for me.  Fish your own match, don't get suckered into going for fish that are not there.  Well done to Marc Kay for winning his section as guest of House of Angling.