Wednesday 27th September 2017 - Avalon Fisheries

On a damp and breezy morning a dozen of Dad's Army arrived at Avalon.   Autumn has arrived, it's getting colder, and there were lots of leaves on the water, which can be a nuisance.

The lads reluctantly parted with their ackers,  I did the business and sorted out the pegs to be fished.   The draw was made and Martin got the Golden Peg number thirteen, with the last peg in the bag seven for myself.    I was happy, with a couple of empty pegs to my left, and Tony Newell on my right.

At ten o'clock I shouted the all in, and the ground bait started to go in, the little darlings were having their late breakfast.    My day started slowly, I was fishing worm over caster and ground bait at five sections.   I had a second swim down the right hand margin, which looked promising, time would tell!!!

Tony next door started catching scaleys on a regular basis, looking set for a good weight,  while The Chef struggled on peg five.  Two hours in with not a lot to show, I had tried the margin but it was just bits.    Back out in front I got my first flyer of the day, I got hopeful, it was a bit late in the day at 2 o'clock I thought.

Time was up, I shouted all out, and the weighing began on peg twenty two with Bad Boy George who was moaning,  what a surprise !!!    He was also telling little porkies to all the lads about weights on his way back to the car park.

The final result was a win overall for Tony, with a very respectable 92lbs 1oz. Martin won the silvers with 21lbs, and myself second with 20lbs 6ozs, just one fish short.    The only consolation being I had Danny, George, and Tivis' nuggets deep in my pocket.

      Thanks to everyone for a great days entertainment, this includes Avalon fishery.

 I have taken the first few names for the Fur and Feather already!!

        On Sunday it's Trinity Woodlands, and next Wednesday Shiplate Hawthorns.

                    Christmas is coming and the fish are getting fat? to much cider!!

                                 Chair Bob

Sunday 24th Sept 2017 - Summerhayes Longs Lake

On Sunday 24th September and there were seventeen of us at Summerhays Longs.   Peter was in good form, and we had to listen to his weekly joke, but at least he made hot drinks for our sufferance.

Treasure took charge of the money, and I sorted out the pegs and the draw.  It all went smoothly, with Sausage and Tonto getting the Golden Pegs.

Everyone was in position with weapons loaded.    I shouted all in, and we got underway.   I drew the best peg on the lake, but I was not feeling to good, so I had to see what sort of mess I could make of it.    From the off I caught two small skimmers and a roach, and it was looking good;  but like most quick starts it went downhill, and bites were hard to come by.   I looked around, and from what I could hear most of the others were having problems.

Ninja caught well from peg eight and won overall,  with Martin second and Tonto third.    The silvers was AGAIN won by the Nasty Old Sheriff; I had to settle for second, with Tivi Dave third.

Well done Pete, new keepnets, that's another step in the right direction.

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

                   It's time to book for the Christmas Fur and Feather. Names please!!

                                           Chair Bob

Wednesday 20th Sept 2017 - Landsend Match Lake

My apologies for this short blog. It's not because the Nasty Old Sheriff hammered me, but Marilyn has a long list of SMALL? jobs she has to do!!

We were fishing Landsend Match today, and there was a very cold wind freezing my marbles off; I was on peg one and not catching a great deal either.   It was hard going, but some of the lads did okay.   Danny won the silvers with 26lbs, and the  "Man With No Name" who was on a hot run, slipped 70lbs plus of carp into his nets.

Sadly we loose Ballcock for the winter, he is doing his refereeing duties, the officous little git; we love you really Martin.   He assured me he would be back in late spring.

         On Sunday we visit Summerhayes Longs, and Wednesday it's Avalon.

                        Get your long johns on, Winter's coming. 

                                                   Chair Bob

Sunday 17th September 2017 - Shiplate

Today we were at Shiplate Main Lake, just fourteen were competing due to holidays and other commitments.     The temperature has dropped, and I was thinking so would the weights; there was also a cold northerly blowing down the lake, or was I making excuses!!!

It's always a pleasure fishing here, we got our usual warm welcome, along with information which we can believe?  There was no Treasure today, so I collected the coin and completed the business.    Carol had sorted the pegs, so the draw was made; Tivi Dave and myself went golden.

I drew next to Bad Boy George, who said all the silvers were on the other side of the lake, but he wasn't moaning!   To my right was Shane, who was having an intelligent conversation with Ninja "Well Ah, Aye Man"  conversation ended.

The Horny Hedgehog tooted, and after just a few minutes in George was not moaning,  just complaining he had a carp,  it was soon followed by another.  My day started slowly with just a few roach and a skimmer.   The fish seemed to come in twos and threes, I was building a little weight, but it was not good enough.

At the weigh in Tonto, on the flier peg fifteen, failed with just 22lbs 12ozs, I suspect he was sleeping on the job.   Our Cordon Bleu Chef had 20lbs 2ozs of silvers, which was good enough for second; I was third with 18lbs 10ozs, which beat the Nasty Old Sheriff by 4ozs, so I collected his nugget.    Martin on peg six with 23lbs 12ozs won the silvers, as George predicted, the truth at last!!

The fish seemed to have collected aroung pegs eleven and twelve,  Man With No Name was top at 92lbs14ozs, and Horny second with 82lbs 4ozs.   The full results below.

             On Wednesday we visit Landsend, and next Sunday Summerhays Longs.

                             I'm nugget hunting,

                                           Chair Bob

Wednesday 13th Sept 2017 - Sedges Brick Lake

Dad's Army were fishing Sedges Brick on a blustery damp day, and  thirteen intrepid lads were making the assault.    There were not many of us with previous military experience, just Willie Parker Highlanders, Horn Blower RN and myself One Para

First was the business, I collected the money, paid the dues, so we were all legal.  Next the draw, the Golden Peg was eighteen, which went to Big Bird, and I got peg one.     There was no George today, so no moaning.

Then it was off to the bank to prepare for action.   I was fishing my usual two swims, five sections to the front, and the left hand margin, feeding a mix of ground bait with sweetcorn and castors, a double red maggot on an eighteen hook.   After two hours I had approximately 5lbs of silvers, and thought  I must do better, so I upped the feed a little.

I then had a visit from Ballcock, who was all dressed up in his referees outfit, he immediately threatened me with a red card for language.    He then wandered off only to return with the news that Tungsten was catching well, but the Sheriff was struggling.

My day took a turn for the better, with a steady flow of good fish feeding over my ground bait until the all out.    It was then time for the weigh in, and the usual rush of willing helpers, namely Danny and myself.   THIS HAS GOT TO CHANGE!!!

I was the first to weigh, with 40lbs 6ozs of silvers; a good days fishing.   Tungsten had 38lbs, but that Nasty Old Sheriff, who just can't tell the truth, hauled out 52lbs 1oz!!  Well done mate?  Chef Pete dished up 73lbs 4ozs of mainly carp, with Spod Coombs second with 56lbs 12ozs, giving bruv Tonto another hammering.

It was a rough day weatherwise,  but we enjoyed some good fishing, with excellent silver weights.

        It's Shiplate Main Lake of Sunday, and Wednesday next Landsend.

                              Use the Dog and Bone!!!!!

                                                Chair Bob

Sunday 10th September 2017 - Todber Manor, Hill View Lake

This was my first 'away day' with the HLS lads. I have been to Todber Manor before but not the Hill View Lake, so I was looking forward to the event. I had been told that the lake was full of fish although match weights had been down lately. Well, what I wanted was a day of catching fish and staying dry/warm. I got one of those wishes!!!

When I arrived, I met Chairman Bob in the tackle shop. And what a shop it is; I even saw a 'kitchen sink' for the bivvy boys. Bob was sorting the pegs for the 20 of us and asking the owners to spread us out as best as possible. A local chap was asked to select the golden pegs and bizarrely picked out 40 and 41. Bob decided that the away day ritual was to throw the draw cards into the air. My pick-up was peg 58. I had a lot of space between George to my left and Dick to my right but with the right to left breeze I saw very little of Dick's performance!!!

Upon getting to my peg, I decided that it was a pole only day, primarily for silvers. The forecast said increasing winds so I chose a 2+3 line infront, top kit slightly to my left and 2+3 down the edge. My baits were 4mm expanders, 4mm meat, caster and some flavoured 4mm soft pellets. I fed the front line with gb laced with casters.

From the off I got bites. Casters produced small silvers and meat produced the better fish. However, when I say better fish there was nothing better than a 3lb common. It was a very active and enjoyable day but not a weight building day. The wind increased at times and made me just fish the topkit but it was worse for some who had it directly in their face. All said, I did enjoy catching my fish.

Whenever I looked around it seemed that all were playing fish. Who had the better fish would have to been seen at the weigh in. Full respect for Martin Western for first overall considering he had the wind in his face and fished his top kit for a 93lb 12oz. Bolton boy George, on my left, also did well to get the 2nd in silvers considering he always seem to be playing carp for most of the match. King of the silvers on the day was our senior man, Bob, with a wonderful bag of 45lb 5oz

Mother Nature had the last laugh when the wind and rain died as the weigh in was conducted and also gave us some sunshine to finish our great day.

Please see the full results below.....

Wednesday 6th September 2017 - Summerhayes Sellicks

It was Summerhays Sellicks'  fish who were going to be fed today, and I am sure the lads were generous.   Peter was late, and there was some speculation about the reason for this delay, some thought even a bucket of cold water might be the solution?? Lucky old dog!!

The pond looked good, and the weather not bad, so we collected the loot , made the draw, and got on with it.   Wizard drew peg twenty one which was the Golden Peg.   I drew peg one,  which was in a corner full of carp!  with Bad Boy to my left and Big Bird in front.

I shouted all in, and immediately those hungry carp were feeding.   George was complaining, but not moaning about the hooks he was loosing, but eventually he did catch a few skimmers.  The carp are of a more managable size here, and it was more like match fishing, even I ended up with 42lbs 10ozs of mostly carp.

At the weigh in Tonto had hooverd up 115lbs 11ozs, and according to the Wizard he is being very secretive about his methods!!   Chef Pete got second with 76lbs 4ozs, which just edged out Rob who had 74lbs 3ozs.   Full results below.

                  On Sunday it's Todber Manor, and next Wednesday we visit Sedges.

                                               Get hooked

                                                        Chair Bob

Sunday 3rd September - Viaduct Campbell

Viaducts Campbell was the venue for this, the first Sunday in September.    The forecast was for rain all day!! but this did not deter eighteen of the lads drawing their pegs, heading for the lake,     all determined to capture a heap of the lake's residents.

The Golden Pegs were 112 drawn by Bad Boy George, and 125 drawn by Martin Western.   I drew 124 with Martin on my right, and The Burb to my left, two flyers read on.    I was not unhappy, my intentions were to fish sweetcorn to my front, and a margin swim to my left with caster.

Horny tooted and the lads got busy.   From the off there were lots of fish being caught, but not in my swim.   After two hours of trying with little reward, and getting soaking wet, I took the easy option and fished the margin.   I have never enjoyed being under an umberella, and today was no different.

Martin was having a good day until he lost a four section into the lake, and also Tony Newell had a large scaley go straight through his landing net;  what planet are these guys from??.

When finally we were tooted out Badger started the weigh, unfortunately Man With No Name overloaded one keepnet which got disqualified.    Martin had 41lbs of silvers, and a total weight of 148lbs 3ozs.   Bad Boy George on flyer peg 112 got 39lbs 7ozs  of silvers, and wanted to claim Golden Peg by default if Martin won overall!  Sorry no way George.  The problem was resolved when the Wizard, who was last to weigh totaled 154lbs.

The highlight of the day for myself, and I know a lot of the others, was KEV weighing in 111lbs7ozs, which was his first ever ton.   Well done you popular old dog.

The weather may have been bad, but the amount of fish caught was great.   Our thanks to Badger, this was the third consecutive time he has got soaked weighing us in, but without any complaints?

        On Wednesday it's Summerhayes Sellicks, and next Sunday it's our Away Day

                        at Todber Manor

                                          Get your names down.

                                                        Chair Bob