Sunday 16th July 2017 - Avalon Fisheries

Numbers were  slightly lower than our usual visit to this popular fishery, but we managed to attracted 18 of the most ugly specimens for 6 hrs of fishing and stupid banter. These 18 were to be distributed between peg 3 and 30. The golden pegs came out at the higher pegs 27 and 29, Martin Western and Pete Cooke. The favoured peg 5 was drawn, yet again, by Steve King.

I settled into peg 26 and decided to fish for silvers at about 10m and a top kit for the margin. The bait tray held a multitude of offerings including caster, corn and numerous soft and hard pellets. I also tried some paste later on in the match. At the all in I fed the 10m line with silvers mix groundbait laced with caster and a few nuggets of corn and then let that settle while I fished short for any bits and pieces. I got plenty in the margin for 15 mins and my first put in at 10m resulted in a good size skimmer. For the first hour I was getting fish; nothing exciting but I was getting bites. Then it went quiet. Martin on 27 was after carp on the lead and had lots of small carp. Then, his bites dried up. I then scratched around for fish for the rest of the match and ended up with a poor 8lb 14oz.

I could see and hear the activity from me to George on peg 30 and it was obvious that Ninja Searle was catch good size carp bur denying everything. Martin started catching well in the last 1 1/2 hours when he got the carp going on paste at 13m. George was his usual canny self and put together a good silvers weight of 22lb 5oz, including a 'conger' of an eel about 4lb.

At the end, it was the predictable result of Steve King working the magic with the pellet waggler and putting together the top weight of 97lb 14oz. Tony Newell knocked the smile off Georges face when he posted 25lb 10oz for the top silvers. With no Danny today Bob was hoping to keep hold of his nuggets but George out did him for one of his gold specimens.

See the results below....

For Sunday matches ring Horny Phil and Wednesday matches ring Bob.

Wednesday 12th July 2017 - Shiplate Hawthorns

It was Wednesday and we were attacking Hawthorns Shiplate.   Fifteen of Dad's Army arrived to assault the fifteen pegs available.   The weather looked set fair, and the lads were in good shape!

Steve and Reggie were in the shop, they couldn't wait to tell us the rumours how it's been fishing? only George believed them!!    There was no problem choosing pegs, they were all in.   Peg three was the Golden Peg, which Nasty Sheriff drew; would he put another fifty pounds into his deep pockets??

I completed all the business, and the draw was made;  I got peg one which was not ideal for me.  Off to the bank to prepare our kit and wait for Horny to toot.   My main bait for today was caster with two different rigs, one with the bulk weight a foot from the hook, on a one gram float, fishing just over depth.   The other a 0.2 gram float set to drift down slowly, hoping to catch any silvers at all levels,  well that was the plan.

It was ten o'clock and we got going.   I started with the positive rig and caught a few roach, but as time went by I knew it was not enough.   I changed to my lighter set up, and started to catch a few rudd, but mostly the float reached the bottom, where I started catching  mainly carp.

Cockerel Colin on peg two was losing more carp than he landed.    He decided to try and pull the tree on the far bank towards him; the air was blue and I was having a good laugh, only to pull out one of the pests, and was up a tree myself!!!

Horny had one of his usual disasters; he lost two sets of top kit, so he packed up early, plus his tooter stopped tooting so he had to shout all out.

I had a good day's fishing, plus entertainment;  I weighed 9lbs10ozs of silvers and 24lbs 4ozs of carp.   Top overall went to Tony Newell, with the Chef second.   Big Bird won silvers, with "They'll Come George" second.  

The average weight being around 40lbs from fifteen anglers.   Thanks Shiplate for another great day at your excellent fishery

     On Sunday its Avalon, and next Wednesday Woodlands Trinity.

                         Plenty of room so get on the phone.

                                         Let's do it.

                                             

                                                           Chair Bob

Sunday 9th July 2017 - Viaduct Campbell Lake

At 5am I rose to let our 4 legged beast out and was greeted by a clear blue sky.... bugger!! Those weather men had promised cloud. I am never a favourite of fishing in bright sunshine.

20 HLS guys turned up at the Viaduct fishery full of enthusiasm for a day on Campbell. The aerator was doing it's best to put oxygen into 'green' water and the scum on the top suggested the south end of the lake would be interesting. All was well organised between Horny, Tony and Kinger and the draw was made 10 mins early as every one was there. Most were favouring a sheltered spot on the east bank and others were taking a brolly for shade.

I needed my brolly as I drew 132, so I was to do battle with the sun and the scum. Before the off I had a few words of advice from local man Colin Dyer and made my number one line to my right under the trees where there was a some shade. Number two line was in front at 11m and third approach was a straight lead to the end bank.

There was a huge amount of fish in evidence and so I also put up a shallow rig for mugging and possible slapping. It turned out to be a hot and frustrating day where the only line that gave me anything was under the trees. 6 bites and 4 carp which I didn't waste Steve's time with at the weigh in.

The only action I could see from my position was Horny opposite, Martin W next to him and then Tony Newell. All of them were getting regular fish but nothing special. Next to me was Danny and he did his usual of putting together a good silvers haul. The winners came from a few pegs up; Steve King taking overall with 94lb 11oz of carp and Paul Bowyer with 41lb of silvers.

On Wednesday it's Shiplate Hawthorns (talk to Bob) and next Sunday it's  Avalon (phone Horny).

Wednesday 5th July 2017 - Summerhayes Sellicks lake

There were twenty willing chaps including our three guests from Bolton at Summerhayes today.   It was scorching hot and sombreros were the order of the day.

Peter was on good form with another of his jokes which no one understands!! but at least he sorted out the peg numbers and made breakfast and drinks for the lads.

The  Golden Peg today was fourteen, and at the draw the Wizard got lucky.   I drew one which was a nice short walk.   I did the business, so it was time for the bank and decision making.   Number one is a good swim, Pete informed me  there are plenty of small tench and Crucians to be had??   I had zero of these species.   After three hours trying for silvers and losing several rigs on my light gear, I decided to strengthen up and get some carp.

Big Bird to my left was catching steadily, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and so it was.   At the weigh in Ninja had caught 82lbs 15ozs for first overall, with Bolton Mark second with 72lbs 3ozs.   There was  a shortage of silvers Bend It winning with 10lbs 5ozs, and Nasty Sheriff second with 7lbs 15ozs.

It was another of those good days fishing with Hook Line and Sinker, no complaints and the craic's good.   The full results are below.

   Sunday we fish Campbell Viaducts which is full, and Wednesday next its

                          Hawthorns Shiplate which is also full.

                                         It's Getting Better.

                                                    Chair Bob

Sunday 2nd July 2017 - Avalon Fisheries

Today nineteen turned out to fish Avalon, on a warm sunny day with very little wind.   The lads looked and sounded in good form, ready to do the business.

Vic selected the pegs to be fished, the Golden Peg was twenty one, Tungsten got lucky, and also three which Tony Newell drew.

I collected the money, sorted the pools, and paid Vic.  Next was the draw.   No surprises,  George drew fourteen and moaned, all back to normal, everyone else would have run to this peg.     I got peg twenty, and was more than pleased.   Tungsten was on my left, and an empty peg to my right.

The car- park emptied and we trundled off to set up our gear.   My platform was large, giving me plenty of room, just the ticket.

Horny tooted and we got underway.   I persevered with sweetcorn at nine metres, and just the right hand margin   From the off it was slow, except, that was, for the Nasty Sheriff on peg twenty three, who landed a skimmer and a carp before I had a bite.  Tungsten couldn't buy a bite.

As the match progressed Horny caught a pike, a rare fish on the lakes.   Of course we told him it doesn't count in our matches!!   This made the normally noisy Hedgehog even louder, saying he wants a change in the club rules etc.  Don't tell them your name Pike.

At the final toot we got on with the weigh in.  Vic  only did the board, because he had flower commitments in his village??

The weights were not bad, "Man With No Name" won overall with 91lbs 6ozs, and "They'll Come George" won the silvers with 25lbs 7ozs  The full results are below.

           On Wednesday we visit Summerhayes Sellicks, and next Sunday it's

                              Viaducts Campbell which is full.

                                                   Let's do it

                                                            Chair Bob

Wednesday 28th June 2017 - Sedges Tile Lake

A good turnout of eighteen, well kitted out lads of Dad's Army fishing at Sedges Tile today.    The downside of the day was, it rained steadily all through the match, stopping just in time for the weigh in.

Jaime selected the pegs to be fished,  Denise made the drinks and drew the Golden Peg, which was peg twenty two.   Tivi Dave got the chance of a little bonus.

I collected the cash, paid Jamie, and sorted the pools money, so next it was the draw.    It was thirty three for me, two up from the Nasty Sheriff on thirty five;  was this another flier??   Everyone seemed happy enough, even George, an unusual thing to happen!!

My aim today was to fish caster and corn, five sections with a small amount of groundbait.   Surprise Surprise!! it worked, I had ten pound of skimmers in the first hour.   Alas it all went pear shaped, I got just another seven pounds, plus a couple of carp, in the remaining hours.    To my left I could see Danny's landing net pole going into meltdown with all the work it had to do,  and at the weigh in it was

 another forty pound bag of silvers , plus some carp.

Over in corner peg thirty Chef Pete was going quietly about his work, and got overall with ninety two pounds.

It was a very good match with lots of fish caught by everyone.   Our thanks to Jamie for a great venue.  

I was so wet I had to change right down to my knickers when I got home, it was that kind of day;  so much for waterproofs.    But!!  another great day with lots of craic, the full results below

   On Sunday its Avalon, lots of room phone Horny and Wednesday its Summerhays phone Bob.

                            Still drying out!  Hic

                                              Chair Bob

Sunday 25th June 2017 - Viaduct Cary

It was Scary Cary Viaducts for the twenty lads who booked in for today.   The weather was overcast, with a threat of showers, but this didn't put these hardy chaps off.

 I collected the money and paid Badger;   I much prefer Helen, no wonder this place is packed!!!    Badger selected the pegs, the Golden Pegs were 76 and 88, these were drawn by Ninja and Martin.

I was off to the bank to set up stall for the off.   I decided on caster and corn for the hook bait, but no ground bait, to avoid the scaly critters;  as  I was on peg 81 there was no much chance of that. 

 Horny tooted and we were off.     It took an hour to catch my first fish, a small roach.   All that was moving in front over my loose feed were swirling dervish, so it was down the margins.   I got some success with skimmers, roach, and a nice tench for 13lbs dead, plus a couple of carp. 

I had, what I thought was, an interesting day's fishing, the rain had held off.    I was quite content until  I heard that Nasty Sheriff had amassed 43lbs 14ozs from the flier peg 77; there is no keeping my hard earned cash out of his deep pockets;  I am getting desperate!!!  

"Big Bird" got second silvers, with "They'll Come George" third.    First overall was Tony Newell with 71lbs 14ozs, followed by Tonto and Martin.

Well done everyone on not the easiest of days.   The full results are below.

          On Wednesday it's Tile Sedges, and next Sunday we visit Avalon

                                 Phone Horny for Sunday

                                                          Keep it coming

                                                                            Chair Bob