Sedges Tile 29.12.24

 

22.12.24 Shiplate Main Lake

 

Steve Kings Blog for the Xmas Match this year at Sedges

 Christmas Match at The Sedges

With 27 anglers booked into the Christmas match at Sedges Fishery, anticipation was high as we gathered to fish Tile and half of Brick Lake. The match was divided into three sections of nine anglers each, with everyone eager to draw a corner peg. Personally, I wasn’t too fussed about which lake I drew. 

As it turned out, I ended up on peg 2 on Brick Lake—a peg that had performed decently on Saturday with carp. However, looking at my section, I knew it would be tough to beat Mark Case on peg 10, a renowned hot spot. With that in mind, I decided to focus on the silvers, knowing we had a super pool payout for 1st overall and 1st silvers in each section.

I set up two silvers lines at 11 meters to fish maggot over groundbait, and a third line at 14.5 meters with meat and micro pellets. To cover all bases, I also set up a bomb rod and a second rod with a micro method feeder. My plan was to target silvers but be ready to switch to carp if the opportunity arose.

From the whistle, Brian on peg 1 started like a rocket, landing two carp within 10 minutes down the edge. Meanwhile, a quick glance up the lake revealed Mark Case on peg 10 already into a fish on the tip. It quickly became clear that my best chance was sticking to the silvers plan.

Over the next few hours, I worked my lines patiently. The meat line produced a few skimmers early on, while the maggot line added small roach to the net. However, after about 3.5 hours, the bites dried up completely. With time slipping away, I upped the feed on the meat line and managed to snare a few carp. Simultaneously, I began pinging pellets over my method line, which resulted in four carp towards the end of the match.

When the final whistle blew, I had managed six carp for 45lbs and around 10lbs of silvers, which was enough to win my lake overall as well as the silvers in my section. To my surprise, I even finished second in the entire match!

I’ll admit, it wasn’t my finest day on the bank—I fished poorly in places and relied on a bit of luck to pull things together. But as they say, it’s better to be lucky than good!

Results

 • Section Winners 21-30: Tony Newell(Overall) & Rob Dodd (silvers)

 • Section Winners 31-40: Martin (Overall) & David Allen (Silvers)

 • Section Winners 1-10: Steve King (Overall) & Lee (Silvers)

Special congratulations to Tony Fry for organizing the match and providing fantastic prizes, and to Tony Newell, who stormed to overall victory with a stunning 120+lbs. A big shoutout also to my good mate David Allen winning silvers overall.

Next up: Avalon Fisheries, Let’s hope for a good draw!

Xmas Match 15.12.24 Sedges Brick & Tile

 

1.12.24 Summerhayes Sellicks

 

Sedges Tile 17.11.24

 Steve Kings blog that he puts on Face Book I like to add them on here for all the non social media people out there 👍

A Challenging Day at The Sedges

Sedges Fishery’s Tile Lake in Bridgewater is a fantastic venue, known for its quality fishing and exciting matches. However, with the weather cooling over the past week, conditions could be tricky, as the fish tend to become less active. Sunday brought a glimmer of hope with slightly warmer temperatures, but the forecast of cloudy skies and eventual rain meant we were in for a challenging day on the bank.

When the draw came, I picked peg 21. My reaction was mixed. I’d been hoping for a peg in the 30s for a change, but peg 21 is known to hold a few carp, so I knew it could produce. With cautious optimism, I set up two rods: one for the straight bomb and another for a small method feeder. I also prepared an edge rig for fishing meat close in, hoping to pick up a few bonus fish.

The morning started well. I managed to catch a few carp early on the straight bomb and later added a couple more using the method feeder. These initial bites gave me confidence, but the session soon took a turn for the worse. For several hours, I couldn’t buy a bite. Paul, fishing peg 40, was in a similar situation during the middle of the match, but he’d already done the damage in the first 45 minutes, landing six carp in rapid succession to secure a solid lead.

As the match progressed, I needed a new plan. In the final hour, I switched tactics and moved up the right-hand bank, fishing meat close in. This decision turned out to be a game-changer. The carp I landed were absolute “crocodiles”, big hard fighting fish that bolstered my final weight significantly.

When the whistle blew, I ended the match with 71lbs, enough to secure second place. Paul Lock blistering start on peg 40 earned him the top spot with 89lbs, while Tony Newell on peg 35 rounded out the top three with over 50lbs. Meanwhile, Rob Eagle took the silvers pot with a solid 16lbs.

Reflecting on the day, I’m pleased with the result, especially given the tough conditions. Peg 21 proved to be a decent swim despite my initial reservations, and adapting my tactics in the final hour paid off. The next big event for me is the Avalon Fisheries Christmas Match, and I’m already looking forward to getting back on the bank. Until then, tight lines!

Sedges 17.11.24