Wednesday 15th November - Trinity Woodlands

Fourteen of "F" for fish company of Dad's Army turned out for muster on a very pleasant Wednesday morning.    Looking around I thought it must be sick parade, especially George, who had a very large swelling on his face, which brought some unkind comments from his so called mates.       Fair play to you George, it didn't keep you in bed.

Misha and Lilly looked after our needs today.   I did the business, assisted by the Sheriff.   The pegs were selected, twenty nine being the golden one, which was drawn by Tivi Dave.

The draw completed, we trooped off to our positions ready for the assault.   I was sandwiched between Danny and George, a rose between thorns!!

Nothing complicated today,  just caster and maggot, with not even a sniff of ground bait,   twenty hook, two pound line, I would start with maggot, moving on to caster.   At ten o'clock I was tooled up, so I phoned Marilyn and ate a doughnut, then I shouted all in.

It took about half an hour to start catching, in which time Danny had  a flyer with three to four pounds of silvers in his net.    George had a nice sized perch, and I was playing catch up.   I could see quite a lot of the lads, who all seemed to be getting a few fish, turning it out to be a very good match.    Even Tonto got his second carp after twenty plus hours of fishing.

Three o'clock came all to soon, and it was all out with the weigh in to come.   Ninja on peg six won overall, with the Wizard second.    I  was second silvers, my bag contained a tench, perch, skimmers, and some good roach.    Danny took my nugget with 19lbs 5ozs to my 18lbs 3ozs.

Today 110lbs of silvers were caught, with six double figure weights, and just under 90lbs of carp; not bad for November.

   On Sunday it's Summerhayes longs, and next Wednesday its Avalon.

                       I want your bodies.

                               Lets catch fish.

                                         Chair Bob

Sunday 12th November 2017 - Landsend Match Lake

When i woke up i looked out of the window half expecting to see a hard frost .. it looked ok but cold !!

I Loaded the car, made a flask, and made my way to mac Ds in Street  for breakfast (landsend café was closed today which was a shame as it the best breakfast in Somerset) ...

We got to the fishery early to find that only 15 were booked in so all on one lake ..had a walk to see what pegs to use and the first thing that we noticed was the  cold wind ...so it was going to be another hard day !!!

Me and Lord C had a look at the lake and one half was flat calm (6-12,13-18))and the other was choppy (1-5,19-24) ..peg 15 was looking good as it was fizzing like mad... so this looked like the peg to have!!! Also peg 13 looked like a winner ..

Paid my money, and i got my pound from last week from the guru tart!!! Collected the golden peg money and put my hand in the bucket of dreams ...peg 17 looking at me ...happy with that .

Peg 17

The golden pegs were pegs 8, 19

Golden pegs went to Tony on 8 and Mr consistent on 19, I was thinking the golden peg might go as Danny is very hard to beat on the silvers.....

I got to my peg to find Bolton’s finest on 16 and sausage on 18 so a nice quiet day, then the guru tart turned up on 15 “bang go’s my peaceful day” !!!!!!

Thinking that 15, 16, 18 &19 were going for silvers it would be carp for me ...

I set up a rig to fish at the bottom of the far ledge, a rig to fish on the shelf (never used) and a rig to fish in the track, i didn’t bother with a margin rig as i could see the bottom. Bait wise i had maggots and micros and 6mm meat and some 4mm expanders and corn .

Went for a walk and found Bob with his new ground bait in a can!!! 

Only to find on my return that my rigs had been messed with !!!  i do mark my pole sections Phil, Paul.....very funny.... well it made me laugh, so i re plumbed just to check

On the “all in” i went straight over to the 14.5 m line with a single piece of 6 mm meat on the hook and toss potted in 3 cubes and had a carp with in 5 seconds...with that one in the keepnet i did the same again ,5 minutes later his mate was in the net with him , them number 3,4,5 then i hooked and lost a big carp .....so with a hour gone i had 30lbs but lost a big carp!! But happy .... looking around it looked like the silver boys were finding it a tough day but Mr consistent on 19 had a few better skim bobs , Bolton George on 16 was trying to catch white bait and sausage was also struggling !!!

Back out on the 14.5m line 6mm on the hook and 3 pieces of meat in the toss pot and repeated the process and it just sat there .....half an hour later and still no bites.. moved 1.5m to the right and started a new line “no bites there” then moved 1.5m to the left and also had no bite here  ..um time for the track line ..thinking that i would get a few on the micro  and expander but i never had a bite .

By now Danny on 19 was get a few silvers but the “guru tart” had  2 good skimmers ,i was thinking that Danny was a sure bet to win the golden peg from what i could see ..

I went 2.5 hours without a bite from all lines and then out of the blue a good perch and better skimmer on the long line .. and  then the “Tart” on 15 had another good skimmer and i was still thinking Danny was winning the silvers see but it would be close..

The last 20 minutes Bolton George started to get a few bites next door  and the “Tart”  had another skimmer i then had 2 carp in 2 put-ins and then the whistle went  ...i packed up and went to help with the scales, Lord C on peg 22 said he had a few carp and Pete on peg 24 also had 5 or 6 ...we started on peg 1 ....Bob was winning the right had side of the lake on peg 11 and then Mr spurs went into the lead on peg 13 ..then “Guru” put on 8-4 of silvers to go into the lead on the silvers ...

”please do not let him win ...”

Bolton George put on 4-14 of white bait  on peg 16, i put on 48-4 to go into the lead and then it was Danny on peg 19 and the G/P and i was sure he had more than “guru”  ...But no Danny had 7-9 .....so the G/P was safe but the “guru tart” had won the silvers ......then “Lord C” on peg 22 had 32-8 for 2^nd overall and Pete had 28-15 3^rd

So Mr guru had won the silvers ...omg!!!!”

Phil do the lottery mate ..dreams do come true!!!!” Danny was 2^nd  (well done mate) i was lucky to win overall  and Lord C was second (Martin, Vic. Bush needs your number!!!....you the man)

So it was a hard day and winter is here but another close match which is good

Thanks to landsend.. and all that helped ,next week is Summerhayes .

Please book in with Phil...

And as Phil has picked up he is offering a free car wash to any one who lives in Bridgwater ........god you got to love him!!!!

Have a good one  

Wednesday 8th November 2017 - Viaduct Campbell lake

We had a sharp frost today, with the promise that the temperature would not pass double figures.    So why did I have fifteen of Dad's Army parting with their ackers, laughing and joking, without a hint of complaint?    I must assume they all have some sort of problem with their heads!!!

We were at Viaducts today, the lads were going to tackle Campbell so there was plenty of space.   We didn't expect great weights but knew we would have some fish.    Matt looked after our needs today, he also drew the Golden Peg 115, which was drawn by Tivi, who had Bad Boy George on his right and myself to his left, all fishing for silvers.

Horny tooted and we were off, or should I say The Nasty Sheriff was, he was catching small skimmers and roach, as was Big Bird, they were both on the other side of the lake.   I could not see any carp being caught, and there was very little movement on the surface.    My little marbles were so cold,  I thought I'm in for a gender change?  Dave next door said the cold makes him pee more, as he sidled up to a willow tree;  but there was not a moan from my mate George.

We were finishing to three o'clock, and I thought we were all relieved when the final toot sounded, and Matt arrived with the scales.   I could not see the weigh in taking long, which is unusual at Viaducts, but it had been very tough.

The few carp caught came from the car park end of the lake, with the Wizard winning overall with 43lbs 3ozs, Ninjar was second with 27lbs 7ozs.    The silvers was won by that collector of nuggets Danny who beat Rob by ounces.

Well done you intrepid men of Dad's Army, a successful day under pressure.

    On Sunday it's Landsend, and next Wednesday the platoon will visit Trinity.

                                      Get your longjohns on!

                                                     Chair Bob

Sunday 5th November 2017 - Trinity Woodlands

Hi folks, we have a new Sunday Blog Man...... Steve King

The HLS crew were back to the lovely trinity waters today, and with 21 fishing Martin had to think about the pegging but the fantastic Misha had already  done this; thanks!

Golden pegs were picked and they were pegs 19,29

The weather was cold ,windy, and Saturday night Bridgewater had loads of rain so it could be hard !

I asked "Phil guru Beards" if he would like a pound side bet and he agreed !!!!!! he had a few side bets today.  "that’s why he went home early "

A quick  look at the lake and pegs 2,3,6,31,32 had no wind on them and the rest were choppy !!!!! so into the draw bag and I pulled out peg 17 ,a great peg but  would have the wind in my chops all day , it is a good carp peg and with pegs 16,18 not in I was a happy bunny.

Peg 17

Pegs 16 & 18

I asked Misha how the peg was fishing and she told me that last week it was not good but fish have fins.....

My plan was to fish towards  peg 18 and also midway towards peg 16 and a silvers line at 2+3 just in case the carp did not feed and a method rod to fish in the open water

So at the all in I put some ground bait and pinkie on the 2+3 line  and some micros towards peg 18 and maggots towards peg 16,  and out with the method, after a bite less hour on the tip (not to be used again ) it was time to try the pole. I had a look down the edge on the micro line and  it just sat there!!! Ummm, I will catch on the maggot line towards peg 16, ummm NO! ..time for a drink and looking around nobody was catching !!!

Time for the silvers me thinks !!! I put a single red on a 20 and placed it over the ground bait line ummm it just sat there after 20 minute I had a lift bite and a 3oz skimmer in the keepnet .It was hard going but over the next few hours I had a few small skimmers in the net, I didn’t have a bite in the margins all day ?????

As the scales went around, it was obvious it was a very low weight match, Paul and Mike  had sneaked a few better silvers in and I was sure they both beat me but I had just enough ....happy days!

It was a hard day but a close match and to be honest I like that !

And Phil you owe me a nugget !!!!!!! you tart!!!!

1st  overall - Tony n           25-8                                    

1st silvers - Steve k         10-2

2nd overall - Eric                 21-4                                    

2nd silvers - Mike d         9-8

3rd overall - Dick b          16-13                                  

3rd silvers - Paul b            8-3

Next Sunday its Landsend please book in with Phil

Wednesday 1st November - Emeralds Fishery

We were back at Emeralds today, thirteen of Dad's Army were tooled up and ready for the assault.    George volunteered to do the pegging, and Danny assisted me.

Alan asked if he could check and move the fish we catch at the weigh in.   We decided to fish 10-00 to 3-30, mainly because of the light, and I beleive it will be just five hour matches until the spring.

I collected the cash,  sorted the pools and Alan, so it was onto the draw.   The Golden Peg was three, drawn by Kev, with myself on two, and Chef Pete on one.   Horny tooted the all in, so off we went.   I plumbed my swim,  found the better depth was in short, and decided this was the place to fish.

It was light gear and hook size 20, my usual for silvers, with maggot and caster for hook bait.   At the start I caught roach of various sizes, but it slowed down as time passed, but I managed a couple of crucians which helped.   After three hours the silvers dried up completely and the carp moved in.    At this point I noticed Bend It having a chat with Bad Boy, after ten minutes he walked back to his peg, lifted up his pole and pulled in a plump roach!!!    Is this his new approach to fishing?

At the all out toot, everyone has caught fish; it's was a tough but enjoyable day.   I weighed in just 5lbs 3ozs of silvers, and to my surprise it was good enough to win

The overall went to John with 48lbs 13ozs.  Second was Peter with 39lbs 2ozs.

            On Sunday it's Trinity, and next Wednesday Viaducts.

                     My very large Hot Toddy is sliding down as I write.

                                              Chair Bob

Sunday 29th October 2017 - Avalon Fisheries

With the Isle of Avalon on the horizon, 21 HLS guys arrived at the Avalon Fisheries. The immediate discussion was the colour of the water and that it didn't favour a good days fishing. I think they were getting their excuses for failure in early!!

The weather was forecast to start cloudy and then clear and the wind to get cooler as the day progressed. It swung around to northerly during the match and gave the guys on the easterly bank a good chilling.

Pegs 4 and 12 were drawn as the golden pegs, of which George got 12 but I didn't hear any moaning. Shane got peg 4. I hoped for a high teen/early 20's peg, so of course I drew 30.
I tend to come to Avalon set for silvers as you can usually get plenty of bites from the good stock of skimmers and bream. When I got to the peg, I decided on three pole lines; 8m out front, 5m at 10 o'clock and the left margin. I also set up a tip rod with a small cage feeder and a 12" hooklength with size 18 hook. Two of the pole lines could be fished with the same rig. I chose my favourite Nick Gilbert 1g pencil float with a size 20 hook. I tend to choose a float with a black tip to see it easier against the water. With the margins having a good depth in them, I also had an identical rig in the box but shorter depth.
Bait was a selection of 4mm expanders, corn, casters, dead reds and worm. For groundbait, I was trying Tom Thick's black, 'intelligent groundbait'. I mixed it 50/50 with some Baitech silvers crumb as I was advised by Mike Bendell. That's my failure excuse sorted!!!

Peg 30

At the all in I fed the pole lines and cast out the feeder baited with double dead reds. I immediately got bits pulling at the maggots but no takes. I continued this for 30 mins before going to the 8m line. With an expander on the hook I got bites, all be it from small roach. Changes to other baits got the same fish or nothing. After an hour it appeared to me that a single dead red was getting more bites than the rest of my baits. My first put into the margin got a carp who tore off down the margin and snapped my elastic at the dacron connector. This is not the first time this has happened and I'm wonder what's the best way to connect to the light elastics I use for silvers. Answers on a postcard please? I didn't get any change in bites from the 5m line so tended to concentrate on the 8m line. I tried a small worm and dead red cocktail. this gave me a bite from a large common. I played it carefully but the small hook gave way at the net. Another time I hooked into a common and the hook came out. My perseverance got me a nice bream of 4lbs and some better quality skimmers.
My only fish on the tip was a 4lb common, taking a piece of corn.

As for the guys around me, there was Paul Bowyer on 29 who seemed to being slightly better than me. Dave Tunstill next to him who was doing better again. On 27 was Martin Western who did not have a good day and went home at 2:30. Next to him was Tony Fry who had found the carp and steadily caught for the first 5 hours.
There was no one on my immediate left but Horny Beards was the last man on 32. He made a declaration that if he didn't catch a carp from that peg then he'd give his rod and reel to Kev Hayes. I must admit I went on before the this presentation happened. I'll ask Kev how he's getting on with the rod/reel!!!!
Other guys I could see was Danny on 16 who was catching steadily and entertained me when he hooked a carp, only for his elastic to break at the bung at come out the pole. The carp didn't swim off and so Danny was able to get hold of the elastic and retrieve his rig. The carp was lost. Danny, your get some luck!! I didn't trouble the scorer but reckon my total would have gone around 10lb.

At the end of the match, the two winning weights came from the two northern pegs. Tony got overall with 83lb 4oz and Bobby Pascoe put together a very respectable silvers weight of 20lb 14oz.

Wednesday 25th October 2017 - Shiplate Hawthorns

It was another Wednesday, and we were at Shiplate Hawthorns on a perfect day weatherwise for fishing.   We had ten lads, the perfect number to fish this fifteen peg lake;  BUT  there was a humungous amount of cold rain overnight, and the water level was up!!

We were very spoilt today, with Carol, Steve, and Reggie looking  to our needs, and  so no weighing in to be done.   I got the guys to part with their cash, while Carol wrote out the draw numbers, and selected the Golden Peg which was number seven.

At the draw Bad Boy got twelve and was happy!!!  while the Sheriff got golden.  My peg, the last in the hat, was three.   I had Tivi to my left on one, and Tonto on peg four.   Tonto's first question was "How far into your swim Bob can I cast" some things never change.

For me, like most times, it's keep it simple, just caster and red maggot over small amounts of ground bait laced with caster, fed regularly.    Horny tooted and I realized it was going to be tough, with just three small roach to show after two hours of effort.   Dave was struggling, as was Tonto who had one carp and  lost one, commenting what a silly boy he was, there was no answer to that. 

Steve had said the fish tended to feed later, so with patience I persevered with my plan, and was rewarded with a good second half session.   I had a dozen or so roach, some skimmers, and a small tench, which gave me 10lbs 4ozs in silvers,

plus 35lbs 4ozs of those pesky carp.  This was good enough for the match, and some more of those precious nuggets!!  All  thanks to the humble red maggot on a twenty hook.

             This Sunday we visit Avalon, so always room with plenty of pegs.

                   Next Wednesday we return to Emeralds.

                                    "Dog and Bone" Phone PLEASE

                                                     Chair Bob