With Fifteen anglers fishing, it was decided to put 8 on Top lake and 7 on Horseshoe. I didn’t really mind where I drew as I haven’t fished there for a few months so wasn’t sure where was fishing anyway ! With two pegs left in the bag I drew Top 16, which I didn’t really mind, the peg has the only tree on the lake hanging in the water up to about 4 metres from the bank and as carp in winter quite often shoal up next to some cover, then I thought I might at least hook a few fish near it, even if I couldn’t get them out. The added bonus was that the very cold easterly wind was blowing from behind me so at least I wouldn’t be frozen like John Clifford on the opposite bank !
I set up two pole rigs, one to fish under the tree and one to fish at 13 metres and also set up a lead to chuck all over the place in an attempt to find some carp, which I suspected could all be in their usual winter haunt up the other end of the lake.
After two hours without a bite, not even a liner, 4 anglers up the other end had all caught one or two carp each so I decided to go and look at Oaktree and Cherrytree lakes to work out the pegging for Sunday. Arriving back at the lake half an hour later, I fished for another half hour and then decided to pack up as I was clearly not going to catch any carp and had no maggots to fish for silvers.
So, that was it for my first match of 2008 not a brilliant start I have to say, but typical winter fishing at Willinghurst ! The only good news was that I'd had a pound side bet with Malc Fowler and luckily he blanked as well !
Paul Taylor won the match with 3 carp and an F1 for 36lb – (two of them went 28lb) on luncheon meat from peg 15 on Horseshoe Lake, just pipping Sponge Bob (Bob Ward) who had 7 carp from Top 8 on the lead and corn for 34lb. Ian Covey had his first pick up for 29 matches with 25lb (4 Carp) from Top 2 – where I hope to draw on Sunday.
Result
Paul Taylor Horseshoe 15 36-0-0
Sponge Bob Top 8 34-0-0
Ian Covey Top 2 25-0-0
Ken (Lee's Dad) Top 6 16-8-0
Mick Keeper Top 19 14-8-0
Donald Garnish Horseshoe 6 13-0-0
Alan Harington Horseshoe 2 9-10-0
Jeff Dickinson Top 4 7-14-0
There were 7 DNW's !
Sunday sees the start of the Willinghurst Masters, a 6 match league with 9 teams of 6 competing – hopefully it will be my turn for a decent draw or it could be a bit of a struggle.
Sunday sees the start of the Willinghurst Masters, a 6 match league with 9 teams of 6 competing – hopefully it will be my turn for a decent draw or it could be a bit of a struggle.
