CONWY, 27/11/11 ~ Roach or carp?...I'll take the roach thanks

Certainly at this time of year, and with the current mild weather it's a dilemma at Conwy. Do you guarantee a weight of sorts by targeting the roach, or do you go for a winning bag of carp with the chance of bombing out?
The Gnome always shies away from the carp pegs, and was delighted to draw the side bank at the far end. He put the blinkers on and went roach fishing right from 'the off '. A couple of  5 minute spells looking for a bonus carp didn't pay off, but roach were in abundance and he put 42lb 04oz of them on to the scales for what turned out to be a comfortable victory.
John Heald made the long journey to the fishery he calls home and his decision was that carp were the way to go. Pole fished meat secured a number of decent fish, along with a few roach and skimmers. He chucked out a hair-rigged acorn on the method when trying for a bonus squirrel, but all he succeeded in doing was losing a hook in the tree! John weighed an honourable 30lb 08oz and took the runner-up berth. Well done.
John Edwards made the dog in the photo look happy. Having failed to make anything really work in the early stages, he went for the usual walkabout. Upon return, he caught a few skimmers on pole, when for no apparent reason his number 11 pole section broke in half as he struck at a bite. In a tantrum a five year old would be proud of, he slung his pole up the bank only to hear another sickening crack....his number five section was now in half too! Sumo took a deep breath and went for another walk. Back at his peg, he tidied up his pole and chucked out the method. It promptly went round and he brought in a decent carp. With no alternative, he chucked out several more times and came back with carp or goldfish. He ended up with 27lb 08oz and third place. How lucky is that???
Neil Paterson was again in the money following last week's win at the brickies (good performance that one). He caught five carp on 8mm pellet and added some roach to take the section with 24lb 15oz. Nice one Pato.
Gary Chambers brought his legendary paste and with two early carp it looked like a winner, but alas, it didn't last. A couple of method carp and some roach and skimmers did bring his final tally up to 24lb 02oz, enough to win the other section. Another steady job, well done Gary.

HAMPTON WILLOW, 13/11/11 ~ Gnome fends off the Welsh duo

A dry morning with a gentle breeze greeted us for the latest outing to Hampton Springs. Despite the fact that John H and Jamie had practiced in the week, and are now as much regulars at Hampton as The Gnome, one or two were describing this as a Yozzer benevolent match. Gary Chambers was one of the first to weigh and set the target with an excellent 40lb 06oz mixed bag of maggot n caster caught fish.
Next of note was John Heald, who had some proper carp (probably on meat), and the scales went 35lb 15oz. At last he's learning something during practice. Well done John, you'll make a goodun yet.
On to yozzer. He was adamant that he could only muster 30lb at best, but as always he only tells lies when his lips move, and he weighed in a level 42lb of carp, tench, skimmers, cruies and barbel, all caught at 3 metres on maggot and pellet.
Having looked like going home after 3 hours, John Edwards had only gone walk-about and sought advice from the gnome. He'd only had 3 fish up till then, but went back to his peg and ended up bringing 35lb to the scales for a well earned section prize. Confucius say " man who catches nothing must use brain". Nice one Sumo.
The other section went to another Hampton officionado, Jamie Pickup claiming the prize with a mixed bag which went 26lb. Sumo said something about double default, but I say Jamie did well ....off that flier.
Although not in the money this time, a brilliant piece of advice to all members from Tony Byers. When asked where he had caught, crafty cockney declared the immortal secret....."in the waw--er". Jeez, have we been facing the wrong way for all this time?