HAMPTON, WILLOW, 1/4/12 ~ Lee edges his way to victory

With everyone in buoyant mood following a couple of weeks of warm weather, the good old British climate threw a curve ball on Sunday at Hampton. No ice on windscreens, but the display in the car read 1*c on the way there. I think it caught everyone out, and a little too much initial feed made the whole day a struggle for most. Although it felt like a scratch around for a few bites, the overall weights were still as impressive as any.
Lee Pickup had worked hard on the method with only a couple of fish to show for it, but a look down the edge with an hour to go transformed his day. It was a fish a chuck till the end and Lee finally put 47lb 12oz of meat loving carp onto the scales. A great performance and a well deserved win.
The lottery peg was drawn by Gary Brislin, who had guessed at 52lb and it looked likely that he would go close with his own catch. Hauling a net full of carp up the bank to the scales it was indeed a possibility but in the end he fell short with a level 45lb and had to settle for the silver berth. A good effort from Gary though.
At the other end of the lake, Yozzer had overfed a couple of his usual close in lines. A switch to 6metres on corn brought about an improvement and having caught carp slowly but steadily throughout, The Gnome managed 37lb 10oz which was enough for third place.
John Heald has pleasure-fished Willow a few times and the experience told. After a slow start, a scum drifted into his peg (probably from Old Trafford) and he began to catch. A number of proper barbel, a few carp and some small tench on meat added up to 28lb 08oz and was sufficient to give the Benidorm chariot driver a well earned section win.
The other section again showed off Andy Lawton's feeder fishing prowess. Using the method with meat hookbait, Andy caught on and off all day to finish with 26lb 08oz of mainly carp. Nice one fella.
Pete Delmaine had a day to forget. Pole fishing up to his number 5, he reached for his tangled feeder rod, which gave a crafty mirror the opportunity to whip the pole from his relaxed grip. As the pole skipped across the lake, Pete lunged to grab it, missed, and his head went past a waterside bramble. Standing up, his hair was dripping, his sleeves were soaked, and his face was scratched with blood trickling down it. Meanwhile the offending carp had taken his pole through several pegs and was nearing the bridge. Jamie and Kenny Pickup both chased after it but missed, and when Zimbo came along, it was he who hooked the elastic with another top kit. With carp still attached he made his way back to his peg, netted and unhooked the mirror, before accidently breaking the attached top 2!!! To finally compound the disaster, the Club Chairman then announced to Pete that the fish must go back as he had left his peg. Never mind Zimbo, it could have been worse...... it could have happened to me (only joking). I think you took the incident remarkably well.
Another match not on the calendar, a possible bagging fest on Moreton Brickworks, Sunday 15th April. Phone Cargy for details and to book on. 

Weston Pools Canal, 25/3/12 ~ EFC...Easy For Col... on his Weston return

There have been far more important things in life than fishing for Colin Cook over the last couple of years. How fitting then, that on his return to the sport with Eggy Ferry, a glorious spring morning greeted him and the other members at Weston.
The script gets better as everyone had a reasonable day's sport, a few bites and a few fish. A fitting end to proceedings too, as Colin ran out a comfortable winner with 44lb 04oz. Fishing 4mm pellet, he had the customary mix of F1s, cruies, tench and ide, but crucially he also found a number of better carp, which generally proved elusive during the match. Great to see Colin back on the bank, but as KP said, you're supposed to hold the thick end of the pole.
Another tidy performance from John Edwards, who also found some carp to add to the general mix, this time mainly on maggot. His total of 32lb 12oz was more than enough to put him in first loser position. Getting better Sumo, keep it up.
'Team Kenny' were in the money. 2oz separated the pair, with Ken Stuart edging into third with 23lb 02oz of tench, cruies, ide on maggot, while Ken Pickup was left to win the section money with his level 23lb. He too found a few better carp on pellet, to boost his mixed net. Well done the Kennies.
The other section was a noisy affair. Stevie Coleman was pegged in a corner. In the adjacent field was, presumably, a rugby match. The vociferous crowd cheered and sang all morning. It coincided with Steve having a golden catching spell, so every time we heard the crowd roar and sing, we looked over to the corner and there was Steve with reams of elastic out of his pole. That encouraged us to cheer and sing too.
The support proved to be in vain as the Gnome had plodded through the match, steadily catching 4oz ide on maggot, and despite dropping a number 4 section in the lake, (whatever was he doing with that much pole out of the bag???) Yoz managed to bring a level 22lb to the scales for a section win. Thanks to some much appreciated help from several members, the offending 4section was also retrieved. I am eternally grateful.
Another enjoyable outing, and not long to wait for the next one as Dave has managed to book Hampton Springs Willow pool for Sunday 1st April (no it's not a wind up).

LLOYDS MEADOW, BADGER, 11/3/12 ~ Dennis is a menace to Lloyds carp

Well, a pleasant surprise at Badger this time. Following a few dodgy visits in the past, there now appears to be a good variety of fish in the lake, which are well spread out too. Plenty of quality silvers and a mix of carp, crucians and crossbreeds meant that there was something to target for everyone.
Dennis Jones showed us that he's not just a gudgeon basher, as he plundered a net of quality carp from the far bank. Den fished meat and pellet to amass a level 39lb and secure his first club win. A great effort.
Steve Coleman continued his recent run of good form, and having caught some decent skimmers early, he too found some better carp late on,again from the far bank, but this time on corn, and recorded 22lb 13oz to clinch a well deserved second place.
Proving that the fish were indeed well spread, Kenny Stuart was pegged on the other side of the lake, and caught an assortment of good skimmers, rudd and roach, as well as a mix of stockie carp and crucian types. Using pellet, he finished with 21lb 06oz which put him in third spot, well done the master.
Following an honest, hard day's angling, John Edwards also put together a net of mixed carp and crucians, which went 17lb on the scales and gave Sumo a genuine, well earned section prize.
Back on the match scene with a vengeance is Gary Brislin, and following last week's success, he was in the money again. 5 carp, a decent chub, and some big silvers, caught on meat at 16metres, Gary weighed 20lb 14oz and won the other section.
Next peg to Gary was Mr.Lucas, who unfortunately broke a section rather than winning one. Sumo reckons the rare venture into pole fishing by the maestro was doomed to disaster from the start as he only had one roller for 16metres!
Only two walks of shame this week, as Lee went with about 2 hours left while Yozzer doubled last week's effort by staying for 4 hours.
Spare a thought for Neil Paterson, who had eight proper carp on meat and would probably have won the match. Disaster struck when some lousy f****r shouted allout at 3.30. He didn't start catchin till quarter to four!!!!!!!

CHESTER LAKES, 4/3/12 ~ Do you really want to know?

Another dismal day out at Chester Lakes. I did the walk of shame after 2 hours!!!!!
Result (roughly) was as follows:
1st  Gary Brislin........4lb summat
2nd Dave Norman.....3lb
3rd  Pete Lucas.........2lb odd
Sections, Lee Pickup and Tony Byers both had less than 2lb
Nuff said, well done the framers.
That new batch of fish stocked the previous day made all the difference.......not.

A BANJO TUTORIAL

The link may be of interest to members wishing to know more about the infamous banjo feeder. Apparently a mate of Tony's will be able to explain more if needed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZBv1QCRFKc&feature=share

GORSTY HALL, 19/2/12 ~ Lucas lights up a dour Gorsty

All seemed well setting off , with no frost on windscreens and a sunny sky. Reaching the canal outside Nantwich suddenly started the alarm bells as a dusting of hail/snow appeared in the fields. By the time we'd got to Gorsty it was icy roads too. No ice breaking involved, but a grueller was a distinct possibility.
No negative thoughts from the maestro though, as Pete Lucas reached straight for the method feeder. Demonstrating why he is the Method Maestro, Pete caught 5 carp, which he backed up with a few pole caught silvers to dazzle the opposition with 11lb 08oz and a runaway victory. Congratulations Pete, on a well deserved win.
Comfortably securing second spot was Jamie Pickup, who pole fished 4mm pellet over micros at 14metres and caught skimmers throughout the match to record 6lb 02oz. Another consistent showing from JP, who's concentration was awesome. At intervals during the match, golf balls were landing behind him. Each time he hurled abuse towards the golf course. Not once did he notice Dave Norman lobbing them at him from 2 pegs away...Nice prank Dave, anything for a blog mention aye?
Another podium finish for Tony Byers. 4lb 02oz of pole caught silvers was enough to put crafty in the frame again. Cheated though, as he used double pinkie! What do you think this is, a winter league outing?...............Oh, I suppose it is really, well done Mr Treasurer.
'Team Kenny' were both section winners, Stuart winning outright with 3lb 12oz of small roach and skimmers, while Pickup shared his section, weighing 2lb 15oz of skimmers, crucians and roach on pellet. The other share went to Banjo Paterson, who managed a carp, and added a few bits on pole. The big man even learned a few tricks too as he was pegged next to our winner.
We now have a new head to head, as Jamie and Jedward are fishing for a pound at every match. With John only weighing 2lb odd, Jamie has taken an early lead in the 'Sumo Sovereign'.

LINGMERE, 12/2/12 ~ Kenny wins the island showdown.

Despite the heavy frosts for over a week, Lingmere was in perfect condition for a good match. Their aeration system had kept the lake ice-free, and even allowed for a waggler or feeder chuck if desired.
Master-catcher Stuart drew 'in-form' peg 5 and went out on a waggler with maggot. The right tactics for the peg and it was game over as Kenny caught carp and barbel throughout the match. He recorded 25lb 15oz at the whistle for a fine victory.
Pegged next door was last week's winner Andy, and he proved his worth once again by putting carp and barbel totalling 20lb 06oz onto the scales to claim runners-up spot. Well done again.
That crafty chap known as Tony Byers also went down the waggler and maggot route. He had obviously learned from the last couple of successful anglers in our recent visits, as he had 4 decent carp, most of which reversed into his landing net. Adding a few bits n bobs, Tony finished an honourable third with 19lb 04 oz. A good effort from our new treasurer.
John Edwards had F1s and skimmers on pole-fished maggot, all of which were legitimate, lip-hooked specimens. He was about to celebrate a podium finish as the needle flickered above Tony's weight, but sadly for Sumo, it settled at 19lb 03oz, and he had to be content with a section win. Still, another decent result for John, although his lottery estimate (38lb) was wide of the mark.
Picking up an envelope for the third consecutive Lingmere outing was Mark Ormond. Once again Mark pole fished pellet to net a steady stream of F1s and skimmers to the tune of 18lb 12oz. Another solid effort, and a section win so well done.