Wednesday 21st September - Trinity Woodlands

Plenty of the men of Dad's Army arrived on time for our match , 15 to be exact.   The weather was good, the lake looked Good, the craic Very Good, so all in all perfect.  Micha and Lily were looking after us today.   Lily drew the Golden Peg number 10 which was drawn by Welsh Wizard Brian, who said "I'll go for the silvers" but as he has never caught more than three in a match before???   Me thought, perhaps another fisherman's tale, but we would see!   So it was off to the lake to set up, shout all in, and get on with it.

I drew 26, a rose between two thorns,  George and Beaker, a thinking that backfired on me, George won silvers, and Beaker overall.  

We had some great entertainment from Shawn, ably assisted by the Wizard.   Shawn dropped two sections of his new pole into the lake  and promptly dropped his knickers and went in after it , supervised by Wizard on health and safety duty.  After an hour with no luck, Shawn returned to terra firma, dried off, got respectable, and decided to try with his landing net!! which was a total success, so a happy ending.

The match for me was a total disaster "por moi" amateur came to mnd.   Anyway a great day out with good friends, what more can one ask

        The full results are below.   On Sunday its Cary Viaducts, and Wednesday next Avalon.

                                                                      Chair Bob

Sunday 18th September 2016 - Shiplate Main Lake

Sunday 18th September and here we were at Shiplate, with just 15 of the lads fishing, but this meant plenty of space on the lake.  George brought photographs he took on our away day; you can imagine some of the comments as everyone compared the works of art on display, there were no Adonis to be seen!!

We were looked after by Steve and Carole, so everything ran smoothly with pegs selected and two Golden Pegs out of the hat this time.

The draw was next and Tonto got Golden Peg 4 and The King 14A.   I was sandwiched between Robot Duck on 1 and relegated George on 3, what had I done to deserve that?

It was a busy match for myself, catching lots of small fish for 22lbs 2ozs of silvers.   Even though the carp did not show in great numbers there was great sport had with the silvers, as the results show.

Stan the Man was the exception to the rule on the flyer peg 15 with 122lbs of mostly carp to win overall.   The King won silvers with 30lbs 4ozs and the Golden Peg,  I was not very happy, but at least the money was not out of my wallet like the last time!!!

I have given my regards and best wishes for a swift recovery for Di, Dave Allen's better half.   We have all seen Di on the venues with Dave, and I am sure I am speaking on behalf of us all when I said Get Well Soon.    Di was taken ill early on Sunday morning.

         This week on Wednesday it's Trinity and Sunday Viaducts Scary Cary.

                                                Let's get em

                                                           Chair Bob

P.S.   I am taking names and money for the "Fur and Feather" on December 18th at Emeralds.   Please remember all the prizes and hampers have to be paid for, which is the reason for starting now.  Thanks lads.

Wednesday 14th September 2016 - Sedges Tile Lake

A dozen good men were on parade for Dad's Army on a lovely warm day, with very little wind;  ideal conditions.    Jamie selected the pegs, and Denise picked the golden peg number 37, which was worth a few bob.

All the business completed and it was time for the most important part of the match, sticky fingers into the draw bag!!!.   It was the worst scenario,  Robot Duck got the Golden Peg 37, and I drew the corner peg 21, which is traditionally an out and out carp peg, but never mind we will do our best.

I particularly like this time of the year. the trees and rushes are fully grown giving everyone their own private space with no distractions.

Treasure is on my left, he's a carp man so I had a lot of water to myself.   At 10 o'clock I shouted all in, and started with a cup of my ground bait mix; the chosen line was nine metres, there were lots of bubbles at that distance, but what species were making them??  A couple of minutes passed then the float moved and I had my first skimmer about 1lb.  I was using corn which is my favorite bait for bream, especially at this venue.  I was then in for a lovely surprise. all through the match those slimies I like to catch turned up at regular intervals, resulting in 40lbs of silvers, which was enough to win silvers.   My only scaley weighed around 9lbs, which I gently returned to the water.

As usual at Sedges everyone caught plenty of fish, and had a good day.   Thank you Jamie.

That wiley quacker Robot Duck won overall and the Golden Peg,  just beating Wee Dram Willie.   The full results are below.

                   Sunday it's Shiplate Main and next Wednesday Trinity Woodlands.

                                                Keep it tight

                                                          Chair Bob

Sunday 11th September - HLS away day at Todber Manor

The 11th September and it's our long awaited first HLS Away Day at Todber Manor in Dorset.  I knew John Candy when he was just small fry with only one lake;  now I beleive it's eleven lakes, holiday cottages, and a massive angling emporium for the pleasure of anglers.   Anyway his son Matt with his mate made us very welcome, providing us with a picture of peg numbers, weighing gear etc.

A lot of the lads turned up early, followed by a convoy who had foddered up at Podimore Services.   The final count was twenty three of us fishing.   Many thanks to Sheriff for all his help at the draw, after which we were all set.  There were no long walks here, everyone parked behind his peg and sat on comfortable platforms.

Horny tooted the all in, and away we went   Right from the off everyone seemed to be catching, and not just carp, which on average were on the small side.   Horny seemed on form but just wouldn't stop talking, but most of us were to busy catching to take any notice.  As the match progressed I had the impression GWR was having a really good day but, as usual, admitting nothing, but at this venue nothing can be taken for granted as it's stuffed with fish. 

At the final toot there was a lot of surmising, but only the scales could decide.   GWR and the King were on weighing duty, and I would like to say many thanks to them.   George BAILY Fletcher insisted on taking  photos of every angler with his fish, this added another half an hour to the weighing in time.

The average weight per angler was 56lbs, so a lot of weighing.   The full results are below,

What a cracking day with no compaints, plenty of good vibes and compliments on the success of the day.

                                   On Wednesday it's Sedges Tiles and next Sunday Siplate Main Lake. 

                                                          Cheers

                                                               Chair Bob

Wednesday 7th September 2016 - Shiplate Hawthorns

The day was looking good for the eleven well turned out men of Dad's Army.   The weather was great with plenty of fish moving.   I always look forward to this venue, where the match can be won on any peg, making an even competition.

All the buisness was done and it was time for the draw;  I got peg 2,  with Tungsten on my left and Shawn to my right.   At the all in all my good intentions went, and I reverted to treble maggot on the inside , which if I had done from the start I might have won the silvers.  

As the result sheet shows everyone had a good day, with the pesky quacker Robot Duck coming out on top overall, and George wining the silvers.

Many thanks to Steve, Caro, and Reggie; we all look forward to returning.

Next up is our away day at Todber Manor, and next Wednesday it's Sedges Tile

                   Let's get on with it.

                  

                                       Chair Bob

Sunday 4th September 2016 - Viaduct Cary Lake

Confucious reigned on Sunday, and had me wondering what had I got wrong!  It turned out to be nothing unusual, I had just put the same name down twice on the start sheet!! This meant I had one peg left in the tin after the draw, so had me looking everywhere for the invisible man;  my eyesight isn't that good at the best of times.

Anyway everyone was happy, and after the buisness was completed, I returned the sheet to Badger and tried to explain the above, it was impossible, have you ever tried speaking to a badger?

I drew peg 94, and was quiet happy.   I intended fishing the margins with caster trying to avoid the Beasties, and protect my gear.  Tungsten was to my left followed by George.  Across from me I had Shane and the Sheriff, so all good silver anglers nearby.   From the off, that was Horny's toot, I was catching small fish, but after a while George was taking a "powder room break" told me Tungsten was getting bream and looking good, then Tungsten was telling me he was not as good as George!!  does anyone tell the TRUTH?   I was sticking to my plan, head down and catch the "White Bait" and trust the scales at the end.

At the weigh in George had 28lbs, was smiling and looking confident.  Tungsten had 25lbs 10ozs and said  " I told you so".  When caching small fish I'm never sure, but as I lifted my net out of the water I was thinking of my reply to all the untruths I had listened to.   Badger gave me a hand and read the scales at 36lbs 5ozs, he even said some complimentary words! I just thought of the nuggets in my pocket.

The carp boys had a good day, with Ninja Searle on top with 154lbs 1oz.

It was another good day for the club, and many thanks to the Badger team for looking after us.

                                   Chair Bob

Wednesday 31st August 2016 - Avalon Fisheries

There were twelve of Dad's Army all fit, equipment checked and ready for battle to commence.  

Ian and Dee had the task of keeping the lads under control, and making sure they obeyed the rules;  not a  job I would like.!!   The peg numbers were selected, Dee picked the golden peg number 9, and the money business was completed.   The lake and swims were looking good, and a great match was in prospect,  so we all got on with it.

At the draw Tonto got the golden peg, and George peg 16, he was not moaning until Tungsten drew the end peg 19.   Tungsten is drawing well and fishing likewise.  Sheriff drew peg 3, and was not so happy, thinking that it's another nugget lost!!   I was on peg 5 with "The Burb" on my right and Spurs Lambert to my left.  A rose between two thorns?

At the start I was thinking steady feed at five metres with corn, caster, and groundbait, to see what happened.   I have been told paste is the bait of the moment, but I'm not good at this method, but I'll have to master it, it's just a lack of confidence. 

Everyone seemed to be catching fish from the all in.   I had lots of indications before starting getting skimmers and bream on corn.   Alas it only lasted an hour, then it was back to very little not often, until the last hour and a half.   One bit of excitement in the calm, was a 11lbs 12oz carp pulling my old arms out, but safely landed.

At the weigh in Robot Duck quacked again with his usual 81lbs plus, just pipping Tonto who had 77lbs.  Tungsten did the business on peg 19, getting 46lbs 4ozs of good silvers, with myself a long way back coming second with 26lbs 2ozs, but with two nuggets in my deep pockets.

It was a really good day, with plenty of good fishing and banter, to put it politely!!

Next it's Viaducts Cary on Sunday, and Wednesday next Shiplate Hawthorns.

                        Cheers and Bottoms up (Horny)

                                              Chair Bob