YEWTREE, 17/3/13 ~ Pato finishes top of the molehill

A farcical turnout at Yewtree. Only 5 members and a guest fished this one. Hardly mountain climbing to win it, more like a molehill, but Neil Paterson topped the pile with 39lb.
£25 win money, and a bonus peg £50, so a worthwhile exercise for the big man. Well done Pato.

Information from meeting, 5/3/13

Especially for Dennis, but everyone else too.
It was decided at the meeting that club matches from April to October would be used to determine who represents the club in the Garbolino Club Angler 2014. Fish as many as you like and your best six results will count.

HAMPTON SPRINGS, WILLOW, 3/3/13 ~ Robb rustles up a winning menu

Midweek reconnaissance indicated that there had been a gudgeon boom in the Willow lake. Hoardes of tiny fish had made life difficult, with bait selection crucial.
After two hours of fishing on the incredibly patchy fishery, half the field were bemoaning the fact that they couldn't even get a gudgeon! One wag shouted, " Wish I was on the canal, there's plenty of them in there." A swift response came back, "Wish I was in the canal, with concrete boots on."

It wasn't all despair though, as masterchef Paul Robb found carp from the off, fishing 16metres to the island with maggot and pellet. He served up a winning net of 49lb. Well done Paul, a tidy effort.
Dave Lynch proved his pedigree by catching donks not gonks and put 44lb of big lumps on the scales to clinch second spot. Dead maggot at 10metres did the damage, nice one Spadger.
Completing an impressive frame was Lee Pickup, who also went down the maggot route. Fishing halfway to the island, Our Lee had some good sized barbel in his 35lb bag. Spot on, and not a 'cesspit' comment to be heard, great stuff.
After a mid-match walkabout, with one bite in the first two hours, Jamie Pickup must have returned to a shedful. Copying Robbo, on the next peg, he went on to record 29lb and secure his section win.
Dave Cargill took the other section with 22lb of carp and barbel caught on maggot over micros. Well done to both section winners.
Once again Sumo Edwards led the 'walkers of shame', closely followed by Norman, Cooke(S) and Yozzer. For the record, I tipped back 4 blade skimmers, 2 gonks, 2 grains of corn and 3 maggot skins. Yippee! can't wait to go back.

LLOYDS MEADOW, BADGER, 17/2/13 ~ Coleman visits Bag-up City and hits the Jackpot

I didn't go to Badger because I didn't fancy a grueller! I really feel like a donut after this result (and not the jam kind either). When a Sumo text at 12.05 read "Ladies and Gentlemen, take your partners for the Walk of Shame", I thought I'd made a good decision to stay away. However, by the end, a Cargy phone call told me I had missed a bagging match, DOH!
Steve Coleman fished an absolute blinder, and remarkably for the middle of February, he smashed the club record with a brilliant 115lb 06oz. Steve caught carp from start to finish, bread to the far bank being the successful approach. Congratulations Steve, fantastic.

not saying it was solid or anything, but.........

Trailing in his wake, but with another outstanding weight, of 54lb 08oz, was Gary Chambers. Fishing the more traditional bait of bread at 16metres, rather than pickled whelk or whatever, he had a catch that would normally be more than enough to take the honours. Well done Gary.
Dennis Jones atoned for a dismal effort at the last Badger event by putting 34lb 08oz on the scales for an honourable third place. Nice one Den.
Proving that there was strength in depth, the sections were won with good weights, too. Jamie Pickup won one with 31lb 06oz, while Kenny Stuart had a netful of silvers to win the other with 21lb 02oz. Good scores, lads. 

COMMENTS

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RULE CHANGES following A.G.M.

Following the A.G.M. on Tuesday 8th January 2013, there have been several amendments to the club rules.

Guests will now be allowed to participate in section pools only.

Any member abusing another member, verbally or otherwise, will be expelled.

Applications for membership will be discussed at the monthly meeting and voted upon via a 'black ball' system. If one third of the meeting blackball, the application will be declined.

The existing rule apertaining to fishing a venue 24 hours before a match is abolished forthwith.

J. Pickup is appointed as vice Match Captain, to help the Match Secretary, and run things in his absence.

Members must fish a minimum of 6 matches each year or have their membership revoked.

Keepnets must be laid out to airdry and placed into the water 15 minutes prior to the all-in.

Tackling up time is extended to 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Matches shall be of 5 hours duration, with the option to extend 'on the day'.

50lb net rule is amended. Two nets will be required at all venues, and fishery limits will apply.

CONWY, 6/1/13 ~ Drawbag Paterson enjoys a banjo bonanza

Following nearly a week of milder temperatures, it was predicted by some that we would see big weights at Conwy. It was partly correct with an impressive winning weight, but it was down hill fast after that.
Neil Paterson was planning to put a roach net together, in the hope of cementing his lead in the Club Angler series. At the all-in, however, with a ripple blowing in to his bank, and the light all wrong to see a pole float, he decided to sit on the banjo until things changed. After ten minutes the tip went round and Pato was into a decent carp. The tip continued to go round on a regular basis. Some big fish went into his net, with Neil estimating the biggest to be about 15lb (that'll be 8 then!). At the weigh-in, following a scintillating performance, the final total was 90lb, and we hadn't heard a moan all day. Amazing.......fantastic effort Pato. It wasn't really "duelling banjos" as no-one came close. More a case of the Tango advert,...." You know when you've been BANJOED"

Sing along together, "THE WHEELS ON THE BUS"

In a remote 2nd was Ian Simpson, who put together a first half net of roach, followed by four decent carp and finished with 32lb 08oz. Usually regarded as a good catch for Conwy, today it paled into mediocrity, but was still worthy of praise, so well done to Simo.

On his very first attempt at the Golden peg, Yozzer had his usual all roach net for a level 32lb and a comfortable third place. Consistent if nothing else. 

John Edwards made the most of his end peg draw to clinch the first section. A decent carp about an hour into the match set Sumo on his way. Topping up with a few roach, he seemed to be going nowhere and the walk of shame was beckoning, but in a triumph for perseverance, John caught two good carp on the teabag in the last 30 minutes, and boosted his weight to 24lb 08oz. Perhaps he'll stay in future, well done Sumo.

Continuing his good form since returning, was Gary Chambers. Struggling to catch his trademark Conwy skimmers, which have done a disappearing act, Gary plodded on and ended with 18lb 01oz of mainly silvers to take the other section prize.

On reflection, an average match for the venue, slightly overshadowed by the performance from the Big Fella, but nonetheless a decent day out.