Tuesday 27 May 2014

MEMBERS NOTICE

Dave Cargill memorial match is Sunday 20th July 2014 at Moreton Brickworks. Please inform Jamie asap if you are going.

Monday 26 May 2014

LLOYDS BADGER, 25/5/14 ~ KP is the nuts on Lloyds

Lloyds Meadow's Badger pool provided the setting for the latest club outing. Flat calm conditions meant everyone could comfortably fish long if they so wished, so no excuses. Intermittent rain showers threatened to spoil things, and to some extent they did. The carp population didn't feed in earnest, and when they did it was only against the far bank.
Kenny Pickup was one who found carp, including fish to about 8lb. Pellet to the far side was the successful method, although he did lose a few carp, along with some hooks, floats, and even a set of elastic. Supplemented by a few crucians and skimmers at 6m, Kenny totalled a creditable 49lb to secure a narrow victory.
Such was Ken's dominance that a well known member threw the towel in at one o'clock, and ended up talking to the Samaritans from the comfort of the Caernarvon Arms. Who's the Daddy?
Close behind was Our Lee (Pickup). He too fished mainly long to the island, this time with meat and caster, for another carp dominated catch weighing 47lb 06oz. A good effort once again, well done Lee.
A change to the new Garbolino baseball cap certainly revived The Wriggler's fortunes. Following a couple of quieter matches, Dirk was back on song, bringing 43lb 10oz to the scales. Like a lot of other members, he targeted the lake's silvers with worm and caster and a procession of decent ide, skimmers, roach and rudd gave the excellent return, and a bronze medal.
The final section was a close affair, with Spadger looking the likely winner. However, Steve the Cookie Monster had other ideas, and with 5 decent carp from the margins in the last hour, he inched ahead to total 33lb 10oz, and take the envelope. Nice one.
The 'challenges' now move on to round 3 at Hampton, with 17 still going for the 20lb, and 8 looking for another section win....interesting.

Wednesday 14 May 2014

******SPECIAL REPORT********* Garbolino Club Angler, Tunnel Barn, 14/5/14

When the entry form appeared this year in Match Angling magazine, there was a surprise. Two anglers from each club would be allowed to enter. From results throughout the year it was decided that me (Yozzer) and Dirk Wriggler would represent Eggy Ferry. We chose to follow Pato's lead from last year, and enter the Tunnel Barn qualifier. Pete Lucas had qualified through a Warrington club so a Premier Inn was booked for 3.
Arriving at 9.15, we made enquiries in the tackle shop. I have fished most of the pools on the complex, along with Luco, with the exception of New pool. This is where I fancied having a practise. Staff told us to fish pegs 3,4 and 5, so off we went.
With Dirk on his first TBF visit we decided to just get a feel of things till noon, before starting a 6 hour knock-up. Good job we did this because it was a shock to find the lake had been stocked over the winter with hoardes of 3oz F1s. I had opted to fish pellet to start with but it was apparent very quickly that this would be a waste of time. A change to meat was in order. Having found some 'beef and chicken' luncheon meat in the 99p shop, and cut up four tins, I thought I'd go with it. Oh dear! no wonder it was cheap, every last piece floated, much to the joy of the lake's duck population and their young. Plan C, and onto my trusty TBF favourite of corn n hemp. 
Pete and Derek both chose to do caster shallow and they were both into fish from the off. Unfortunately it was 6oz ide and other assorted silvers, and not the expected F1s.
By the time 12 o'clock came, we had each sorted things out to a degree. I was catching the odd decent F1 and the others were catching on the caster.
By mid afternoon I had progressed to catching slowly in the margins, as had Pete, who found that micros were working better than hemp for him and his meat also sank.
Dirk meanwhile, was battering F1s by fishing hard up against the far bank reeds and tapping 'mong' style. Banded red pellet was doing the damage.
At the weigh-in Luco's digital scales had flat batteries, DOH! so we admired each others catches, estimating that we'd all probably managed a ton, and tipped back.
We had a pleasant meal at a Beefeater pub, a few drinks, and a chat about the forthcoming match. By 10.30 we were all more than ready to sleep.
Now if the match had been a snoring competition, Dirk would have walked  it, and been an England International. Jeez, me and Pete struggled to doze off and to add insult to injury, The Wriggler awoke in the morning and tried to tell us he'd not slept very well!
Big match excitement meant we were at the Barn by 7.30 having breakfast  and talking to some people we knew, and some we didn't.
It was choc-a-bloc, and then they announced that there were 224 entries, and 21 qualifying places up for grabs. Spreads over 9 lakes on the complex, it was going to equate to roughly the top 2 anglers on each lake progressing to the final. Financially, there would be 5-peg sections paying £50 to the winner. Personally, it was a case of 'get a bite', get a fish and then if things go well, worry about the section. Mind you, it was good money for such a small section.
Draw time, and Dirk was keen to be at the front of the queue, worried that 2 hours wouldn't be enough time to tackle up. Lucas was chilled, and I would have been just as happy at the back of the queue.
Into the bag, and Degsy pulled out New 4, Pete's peg from yesterday. Gotta be happy with that, at least it was familiar territory. Luco drew Canal 14, which I didn't really fancy, but he seemed OK with. I ended up with House 18. Only fished the pool once previously, but was happy to give it a go.
After dropping Dirk off, I arrived at the lake and went searching for my peg. I liked what I saw, and really fancied a good day's fishing from it. Nothing special, but it felt right and I had a bit of room, a rarity with so many anglers fishing.
Starting on my top kit out in front, I went with 6mm pellet, Hampton-style. 30 seconds in and my first bite was converted into a 1lb F1. I'm happy. 3 more decent F1s came quickly, before a few silly missed bites had me thinking. Sure enough, it was those 3oz F1s again. Changing swiftly onto corn n hemp soon solved that. For 2 hours I caught steadily, getting 6/7 fish before moving a yard sideways to keep in touch with the fish, which would back off. It worked a treat, even if I did have to add a short 4 on occasions. I drip fed the margins on both sides from the off, and at midmatch, with action slowing, it was time for a look. Again, 4 or 5 fish from one side, then switch to the other, and then back again.
At the whistle I had 95 proper F1s. My initial thoughts were, I wonder how the others got on, Wow what a nice day's fishing, I might have won my section.
Phoned Dirk, 12 F1s, not good, 40lb has won his section. Rang Lucas, 26lb, his section won with 32lb, not good. Both lakes had not fished as hoped.
Seems that House pool would be last to get weighed, so I politely asked Pete if he had time to come down and lift my nets out for me. With Lucas getting more excited than me, I admit that I have a ton. An angler at the other end of my lake weighed in 111lb, and is currently in the lead. Second best is 100lb. I allowed myself to think I might qualify for the final, and possibly win my section. 3 weighs later and I totalled 134lb, which, unbelievably was going to be enough for me to win the whole qualifier.
After a photo session with Garbo superstars for the magazine, I made my way to the presentation. Again I was shocked when they announced that first prize was £400. Fantastic, but I would have been just as happy with no cash, as long as I can keep the buzz of winning.

Next time you win an Eggy section and pick up a 'measly' £21, think more about your Garbo Club Angler points. As the TV advert says, some things are priceless. This experience is one of them.

Monday 12 May 2014

LINGMERE, 11/5/14 ~ Yozz uses venue knowledge to good effect

Pretty standard conditions for Lingmere, with a stiff breeze blowing down the lake and occasional showers. The Cockney geezer bowed out without wetting a line, and Lee Pickup did 'the walk' after a couple of hours. Everyone else sat it out, albeit frustrated at how difficult it was to get decent presentation. Despite the weather, it fished very well, with some excellent weights being recorded.
Using his knowledge gained from fishing the 'dodgers matches' on a Wednesday, The Garden Gnome put together 65lb 08oz, half of which were quality skimmers, on caster and pellet. Yozzer scraped home by the skin of his teeth.....okay, he's got no teeth but you know what I mean, with the rest of the field close behind.
A rare club outing for Col Cook brought him a decent return of 63lb 12oz, again consisting of quality silvers to enhance the F1s. Well Done Col.
With none of the pre-match info working for him, John Edwards decided to chuck it and chance it. His method tactics proved fruitful to the tune of a level 62lb and a well earned 2nd loser spot for the in-form Fishomaniac, Awesome Sumo!
Pete Lucas also made his first appearance in ages, following his departure from managerial duties. Showing he'd not lost the old magic, The Maestro did brilliantly to put 35lb on the scales with his first net. Declaring that he had the same in the other net, it seemed like game over, but alas for Luco, it only went 25lb  and a total of 60lb 08oz. Good enough for a mere section win, and on the pole too. Maybe he's learnt a new trick or two in his absence.
Spadger bore the brunt of the wind and fished short pole for an excellent 54lb 14oz and a section win, while Dennis Jones again showed his scratching skills in the worst section, which he won with 31lb 12oz. Congrats to both.
A testimony to the quality of sport on offer was the fact that everyone who weighed in progressed to the next round of the 20lb challenge.

Tuesday 6 May 2014

*****MEMBERS NOTICE******

It was decided at the latest meeting to amend rule 4. Members must fish 6 matches. Only 3 visits to Lingmere will count, and 3 OTHER matches.

Monday 5 May 2014

BLUNDELLS, WEST LODGE, 4/5/14 ~ The Gnome ensures Sumo double chances go west

In contrast to our last Blundells visit, this time a flat calm canal greeted us, so everyone had the option to fish long if necessary. After last week's success, and subsequent abuse on this blog, John Edwards was keen to show he could win more than once. Drawing an end peg saw Sumo oozing confidence, and at the scales he set the benchmark at 47lb 08oz, with a mix of carp and F1s, caught on meat and pellet. A very good effort on the day.
Alas for John, The Garden Gnome, wielding 14metres of his not so sparkly new Tricast pole, foiled the double attempt. Pellet to the far bank, an alien approach for Yozzer, produced plenty of proper carp and a few quality F1s which totalled 64lb 08oz, to earn a comfortable gold medal.
Despite losing several rigs in far bank foliage, Lee Pickup managed to ship enough back with fish attached to register a decent return of 39lb 04oz, claim third spot, and maintain his recent run of form. Well done Lee.
One section wasn't as prolific as the others, and members struggled by comparison, with The Cookie Monster, Steve, again astounding everyone with his angling prowess. He brought 17lb 12oz to the scales and took a brown envelope away. Nice one Cookie.
With the next round of the challenges underway, Pato with 25lb, Jamie with 35lb. and Dirk with 25lb, all progressed with the framers.
 Although the massive head of silvers failed to show on the day, enough quality F1s and carp were caught to suggest that this venue is booked again.
See you at the meeting on Tuesday.