With Mrs Pikey off work all week, I made the diplomatic decision not to attend the “OAP’s, Skivers and General Layabouts” usual Wednesday match at Sumners pond. I think my decision was justified when I looked out of the bedroom window at 10am and everywhere was still white with frost !
Nevertheless, after a leisurely breakfast and a trip to the local dump, we decided that the weather was just right for a drive about in the countryside as with the sun streaming through the car windows and not a cloud in the sky, it was actually a very nice day.
Our first stop was Willinghurst where they were apparently going to be doing some netting of the lakes and moving some fish around. However, we couldn’t find anyone around but with the lakes mostly frozen, I wasn’t really surprised. With Horsham only being 14 miles across country, our next destination was Sumners Pond !
We arrived to find that the lake had remained ice free and for the first time in ages, there was hardly a breath of wind on the lake. I left Carole to sit in the warm reading the newspaper and went for a wander round. Nobody in the “fliers” on the left hand bank seemed to be catching much and I think Dave Churchward, Neil Jakes and God (Steve Gardener) were probably leading that bank with 5 carp each. Surprisingly the other bank was faring a bit better with Gadget fishing the long pole (16 metres) and corn and admitting to 12 carp whilst my Leatherhead team mate John Swann was catching well on a pellet waggler cast to the island. I stood behind John for 15 minutes or so and in that time he had 2 carp of about 3 or 4lb and also lost one that snagged him up. He said he’d tried the pole and the lead earlier in the match and only set up a waggler half way through the match cos he saw Dave Churchward catching a few fish on it on the other bank !
By this time, I could sense that Carole would have finished reading the newspaper and it was time for me to return to the warmth of the car ! With Swanny still catching, and Gadget with 12 carp in the net, I had no doubt that they would be finishing in the first two places but third and 4th place could be between anyone who could stage a late run of fish
I rang Swanny in the evening (seen above practicing his Irish dancing) for the result and although the weights might not be entirely accurate, the top 4 places were:-
John Swann 86lb
Gadget 60lb
Neil Jakes 36lb
Steve Gardener 26lb
On Sunday it is back to Gold Valley for me as once again I’ve been conned into fishing for Leatherhead DAS in the Surrey Winter League and after my last three visits to Gold, in which I have caught 2 carp and not a lot else, I must say I’m not that excited by the prospect.
Nevertheless, after a leisurely breakfast and a trip to the local dump, we decided that the weather was just right for a drive about in the countryside as with the sun streaming through the car windows and not a cloud in the sky, it was actually a very nice day.
Our first stop was Willinghurst where they were apparently going to be doing some netting of the lakes and moving some fish around. However, we couldn’t find anyone around but with the lakes mostly frozen, I wasn’t really surprised. With Horsham only being 14 miles across country, our next destination was Sumners Pond !
We arrived to find that the lake had remained ice free and for the first time in ages, there was hardly a breath of wind on the lake. I left Carole to sit in the warm reading the newspaper and went for a wander round. Nobody in the “fliers” on the left hand bank seemed to be catching much and I think Dave Churchward, Neil Jakes and God (Steve Gardener) were probably leading that bank with 5 carp each. Surprisingly the other bank was faring a bit better with Gadget fishing the long pole (16 metres) and corn and admitting to 12 carp whilst my Leatherhead team mate John Swann was catching well on a pellet waggler cast to the island. I stood behind John for 15 minutes or so and in that time he had 2 carp of about 3 or 4lb and also lost one that snagged him up. He said he’d tried the pole and the lead earlier in the match and only set up a waggler half way through the match cos he saw Dave Churchward catching a few fish on it on the other bank !
By this time, I could sense that Carole would have finished reading the newspaper and it was time for me to return to the warmth of the car ! With Swanny still catching, and Gadget with 12 carp in the net, I had no doubt that they would be finishing in the first two places but third and 4th place could be between anyone who could stage a late run of fish
I rang Swanny in the evening (seen above practicing his Irish dancing) for the result and although the weights might not be entirely accurate, the top 4 places were:-
John Swann 86lb
Gadget 60lb
Neil Jakes 36lb
Steve Gardener 26lb
On Sunday it is back to Gold Valley for me as once again I’ve been conned into fishing for Leatherhead DAS in the Surrey Winter League and after my last three visits to Gold, in which I have caught 2 carp and not a lot else, I must say I’m not that excited by the prospect.
