Wednesday 30th August 2017 - Shiplate Hawthorns

We were visiting Shiplate Hawthorns today, it was a pleasure meeting again with Carole,Steve, and Reggie.   It is always a good atmosphere here, everyone having time for each other, no matter how busy the day.

Fifteen arrived, but sadly Cockerel had to leave because his wife was taken ill, we wish them both well.

After settling all the money, it was time for the draw   Peg ten was the Golden Peg,   drawn by Terry.   Reggie drew peg five for me, I was well pleased.   I had already decided it was going to be a re-run of Sunday's effort, fishing short with caster as hook bait, and feeding regular amounts of corn, caster and groud bait.

I shouted all in, and off we went.   I was soon getting a regular flow of good roach, and as time passed, a smattering of skimmers, two carp, and some boot laces.   Ninja on my left was having a noisy day, blaspheming the ducks in his swim, and the lack of fish.   This did change in the last two hours of the match, as he notched up another win.    Roger to my right had a relaxing day, catching just a few carp with some choice comments.

At four o'clock it was time for all out;  the weighing started at peg fifteen.   I had no idea how much I had in silvers, but the jungle drums told me the Nasty Old Sherrif had 23lbs 6ozs; a good weight.  When the scales arrived my two carp  weighed 9lbs 1oz, I then lifted my silvers net, and I got this good feeling about nuggets coming my way.   It was no contest, I'd had a great day's fishing, the scales read 31lbs 6ozs.     The full results below.

                 On Sunday it is Viaduct Campbell, and next Wednesday  

                                             Summerhays Sellicks.

                                                          Bait up.

                                                                         Chair Bob

Sunday 27th August 2017 - Summerhayes Longs Lake

It was a really hot day with no wind, would the residents of Summerhayes Longs come out to  play?   There were sixteen, of HLS's finest, looking forward to putting temptation in their way, in the form of pellet, maggot, caster, and corn etc.

Before this could happen Treasure had to do the business, and the draw had to be made.   The Golden Pegs were fifteen drawn by Shane, and thirty drawn by Tivi Dave.    I was very happy with my peg number thirty six, with only a short walk.  Again my tactics were, a short pole , feeding maggot and caster, with small balls of ground bait, single caster on a eighteen hook to try for skimmers.   With the hot conditions and lack of wind, I didn't expect a great weight, it was going to be a day of patience.   My day started slowly, but improved as the fish found my bait.   I knew I would have to contend with some carp, but at least they are of a sensible size at this fishery.

On my left Martin was catching from the off, and looked set for a big weight, while Dick to my right was also catching well.  I could not see any other anglers from my position, so I "ain't" got a clue how I was doing, but the scales don't lie, not like some anglers I know!!

Horny tooted all out, and Martin started the weighing at peg two.   I was packing up and not getting involved.   When they approached my peg I knew there were some good weights carp wise, but how about the silvers?   I knew the Nasty Old Sheriff had done well, he had the board in his hand, which he would not let me see!!   I was told he had l2bs 15ozs so I knew it would be close.   Could that sneaky Bob take the smile off his face?  The answer with 14lbs was YES, so I had to accept the abuse and name calling with "Good Grace".   Another nugget in the bag.

Martin won overall with 125lbs 6ozs, and Ninja second with 94lbs10ozs.

I must say what a great pleaure it was having a "PEE" in Peter's new toilet block.   This is a great step forward, many thanks Peter from all of HLS.  We wish you every success.

      On Wednesday we are at Shiplate, and next Sunday Avalon.

                                      Keep at it

                                                   Chair Bob

Wednesday 23rd August 2017 - Avalon

Another  Wednesday, another trial by combat for Dad's Army at Avalon Fisheries.

There were fourteen on parade today, all kitted out and raring to go.    I'm afraid I started on a bad note, winding Chris up about pegs I'd not agreed on with Vic, I must apologize again mate.

So pegging sorted out, finances all completed, it was time for the draw.   Number six was the Golden Peg, which was drawn by Treasure.    I got peg three, with the Nasty Old Sheriff on my left, and Bagger Newell to my right.  Game on!    The weather was set fair, and the lake was looking great;  another perfect day.

Horny tooted, and we got to it.    I could see Danny's pole sticking out his usual eleven to thirteen metres, and a bit  of ground bait going in; but not for me, just a few caster and a little corn at the four section length, repeated regularly, with corn on the hook.   I was looking for quality not quantity, and I expected to be slow at the start.  My first fish was an unwanted carp, around five pounds, this was not a good start, but in the net it went.

Surprise!! surprise!!  the rest of my day was just what I planned, with a very nice bag of skimmer and bream weighing 28lbs 2ozs, which was good enough to win the silvers by ounces from Tungsten, who weighed 27lbs 14ozs.   The Burb won overall with 62lbs 14ozs, with Bagger Tony second with 53lbs 3ozs.

Bad Boy George, who drew flier peg nineteen, reckoned the fish had moved? Always an excuse!   Danny on peg four called me some rather naughty names, but that meant taking his nugget all the better!  that's four on the trot;  I'm not smiling honest!

          Sunday it's Summerhays, and next Wednesday we visit Shiplate Hawthorns

                       Can't wait for more nuggets!

                                          Chair Bob

Sunday 20th August 2017 - Viaduct Cary

Scary Cary beckoned and 20 of us were up for the challenge. It was a quiet start to the day cos the Horny Hedgehog was in capital city looking for culture.

I had loaded my bait bag with a variety of delights for the silvers. The draw gave me 98 again so I was well aware of what I had to do. Keeping it simple I set up a rig to fish 4mm meat, corn and soft pellet at 11m. Another rig was the same but close in. I intended to feed a bed of casters and fish over the top.

I had two master baiters either side of me in the shape of George Fletcher and Pete Cooke. I knew it wouldn't be a quiet day!!!

From the off, the three of us caught lots of skimmers and roach. It was a case of who could find the better fish. Half way through the match Pete started 'cheating' by fishing under the tree to his left and hauled in a number of healthy size bream. George and I knew we were losers to this tactic. Speed merchant George was getting the bits out now and showed me how to catch a lot of small roach.

I could see the rest of the guys were catching. Ninja Searle on 96 didn't have a bite for the first two hours then started catching large carp. However his main rival, Tonto Coombes was matching him and at the end beat Ninja for the overall weight by 2lb ish. The silvers was no surprise after catching those 'tree' bream but Pete was nearly caught by Mike Bendell, again about 2lb ish margin.

Please see the results below.....

Wednesday 16th August 2017 - Trinity Woodlands

It was Wednesday 16th August when Dad's Army HLS came to test their ability at angling.   Sixteen men arrived at Trinity Woodlands for that purpose, and also to give each other a taste of the verbals.

Misha, looking good, looked after us giving the chaps hot drinks.    She drew the Golden Peg number twenty eight, which went to Tonto.    I collected the money, squared up with Trinity, and sorted the pools, then it was time for the draw.

I got twenty three and was happy; it's not often I'm on the near bank.    To my left was Ballcock, and on my right Terry, that should have meant a quiet day, but I did not take into consideration the pair of bitches across the lake!!  namely Bad Boy George and Bend It.     George made comments on Mike's swim, saying how much he could catch from it.   He fished for Ninjas down the edge towards Mike, halfway through Mike fished down the edge towards George; who was fishing in who's swim?   I must say the dialogue was quite entertaining, especially when Mike lost his number four section in the water;  there was no sympathy shown!!   

My day was sort of stop and start,  I did manage 15lbs 8ozs of silvers, but that was not good enough to beat Tungsten with 20lbs 2ozs.    Tonto was looking good on the Golden Peg with two to weigh, but along came Ninja Eric with an outstanding weight of 136lbs 15ozs, game over.

It was a pleasant entertaining day, which is just like every Wednesday with the lads.   Keep at it, it's to good to stop.

       On Sunday we are at Viaducts which is full,  and next Wednesday  we visit

                             Avalon, all the more the merrier.       

                                         I feel a song coming on!!

                                                             Chair Bob

Sunday 13th August 2017 - Avalon Fisheries

At Avalon today there were seventeen of the lads trying their luck.    Ron was looking after us, he had sorted the pegs, so everything was ready.   I just had to collect the money, settle the bill, and sort the pools.

We were then ready for the draw, the Golden Pegs were nine and twenty five, which were drawn by Treasure and Stan the Man.    I drew twenty, and was sandwiched between Horny Hedgehog and Bad Boy George!   There was going to be a lot of chat over the next six hours, and not much of it complimentary.

It was ten o'clock, Horny tooted, and we got underway.   My idea was to catch in as close as possible using sweetcorn over ground bait, and hope it's the larger skimmer and bream that takes the bait.   I had to be patient and wait for the float to move, but it's the larger fish that I catch, and after two hours I was thinking of a sizable bag.    After midday it went quiet, with just another five fish in four hours, but I still weighed  18lbs 12ozs of silvers, enough for second.    Bad Boy George weighed 18lbs so was beaten by his next peg AGAIN.   That clown Horny reckoned he would get a nugget off me with three carp, but as Eric would say "they are only Ninjas" so more good news.

Man with No Name won the sivers withe 23lbs 15ozs, and overall went to Tony Newell with 94lbs 4ozs, he's never out of it.   Chef was second with 88lbs.

There were plenty of fish caught in very good weather. How else could a group of 'gentlemen' spend their day.

Next Sunday it's the Viaduct, and on Wednesday we're at Trinity Woodlands.

Until then

                                                             Chair Bob

Wednesday 9th August 2017 - Sedges Tile

Dad's Army were fishing Sedges Tile today, sixteen men? plus Flo the dog arrived, I wonder who will win!!   They all looked pretty keen, and there was plenty of speculation due to the return of the Nasty Sherrif, who has got a suspect back; I don't reckon that's all that's suspect.

I got on with the money business, and Jamie selected the pegs to be fished.    Everything was completed in quick time, and then it was time for the draw.    Kev got the Golden Peg number twenty five.   I drew thirty eight, and was quite happy with Tonto on my left and Baz to my right, followed by Tivi Dave.

I had a plan!! but a local expert told me different.    I had a dilemma, so I decided to start with my plan.    All went well for a couple of hours, until those pesky scaley backs moved in, it also persisted down with rain, and I wanted a wee wee!

Two o'clock arrived, the rain eased, and I was able to relieve my bowel discomfort; that was better.  I was still struggling, so I changed my bait, without much success.   I then succumbed to local knowledge forty minutes from the end, and caught a few more pounds of hard earned silvers.

The weather lightened, and we were ready to weigh in.    We started with Danny of the bad back, who tipped 32lbs of silvers and 24lbs 8ozs of carp into the weighing net?  He swore blind he didn't know where they came from; another of my nuggets into his deep pocket.

The weights were good all round.   Spod on peg thirty two had high hopes,  with 102lbs 6ozs, but Ninja next door cruised in front with 114lbs.   It was a good turn out, the full results are below.

            On Sunday we visit Avalon, and Wednesday next it's Trinity WOODLANDS

                                   plenty of room at both.

                                                          Bring it on

                                                                    Chair Bob

Sunday 6th August 2017 - Summerhayes Longs Lake

It was Sunday, the sun was shining, and Summerhayes Longs was the venue.   A measly fifteen turned out, but at least they were all keen to get to grips with it.

Peter was talking his usual CARP or have I spelt that wrong? but he  was on good form, the bacon butties and hot drinks kept coming.   He selected the pegs to be fished and pegs twenty eight and seventeen were the golden ones, which were drawn by Tonto and Dick.

I did all the business, paid Pete, and we made the draw.   I drew thirty eight, which was not ideal.   I had Martin to my left and Terry on the right.   There were lots of small roach and rudd present, but I was reliably informed, by the person who talks a lot of C---P,  that I could catch skimmers ?

Six hours later I was thinking, why did I not stay with the roach, as George won the silvers with just 6lbs 13ozs, and the Cockerel was second with 5lbs 14ozs!!   Oh what could have been?

The overall was won by Martin with 100lbs 6ozs of small carp, and the Man with No Name second with 97lbs 8ozs and the Chef third with 85lbs

Except for the shortage of silvers it was a good match, with plenty of fish caught.

              On Wednesday its Sedges and Sunday Avalon.   We are always receptive

                                   to phone calls.

                                                 Let's be having you

                                                                

                                                                   Chair Bob

Wednesday 2nd August 2017 - Landsend Match Lake

We were at Landsend today and struggling for numbers.   The forecast was for rain and wind, but we were quite sheltered here, and the rain turned out to be just one heavy shower, so it was not so bad.

I collected the money, selected the pegs to be fished, and settled up with Di.   Next it was the draw, and Dick drew for me!  giving me peg 17 which was the Golden Peg, so I was in with a chance.

We then went off to our positions and set up.   I had Tonto to my left and Chef Pete on my right.  There was plenty of movement in the water, I hoped it was not all carp.

Horny tooted and we got underway.   No ground bait for me, just loose feed at four sections, corn, caster and maggots, with double maggot on the hook.   It was not long before the first carp was in the net, followed by a good roach, a perch, and a two and a half pound tench.    What a pleasant change from catching carp and skimmers!!!  I also caught a nice crucian and some lumpy bream.   I had a great days fishing, my total weight being 83lbs 2ozs. which was 21lbs 6ozs of silvers, and 61lbs 12ozs of carp.

It's so refreshing to go to a fishery not knowing what species you will catch. Thanks Mike, I look forward to our next visit.

Stan the Man took overall from peg five with ll2lbs 5ozs, the lowest weight being 30lbs 6ozs.   Full results below.

        On Sunday we visit Summerhays Longs, and next Wednesday it's Sedges

                 plenty of room, so get on the phone please.

                                        Get your bums out there.

            

                                                       Chair Bob

Sunday 30th July 2017 - Viaduct Cary Lake

Scary Cary hosted 20 HLS guys on Sunday while PSV had Campbell and there was a Sunday open on Lodge. Viaduct is a very popular place and keeps Steve, Helen and Matt busy dealing with us all.

I was keen to note that the silvers weights have been improving and so was hoping my fingers would pull out 77 or 78 from the can. I was not to be, 98 came out and left me in two minds. Advice from the shop said that some reasonable silvers had shown from there but when I got to the peg I was seduced to the carp side. A pellet waggle and lead rod was set up along with a full depth rig, shallow rig and paste rig. Pellet and meat were my choice of baits.

To cut a long story short, I managed just one carp in the first four and a half hours. Graham on my right was fishing a pellet feeder and was getting regular bites. Where I had fed some green betaine and tried paste I got a lot of fizzing and bites from the silvers. So, with an hour and a half to go, I switched to a silvers rig, at depth and 4mm meat cubes and started catching nice skimmers and proper bream. A 10lb mirror crashed the party but I managed to land it on .017 line. At the weigh in my silvers went 9lb 14oz. If only!!!! Steve King on 96 had stuck to the silvers from the beginning and finished with 21lb 3oz. The little Bolton bar stool, George, had another charmed day and tempted the silvers into his net with the winning weight of 29lb 3oz.

As for the overall results, crafty Roger, on 81, had extracted 142lb 1oz of carp. There were rumours of him using the 'not quite floating bread' method but I can't believe Roger would visit the dark side!

Please see the results below......