Last Sunday saw us try something new at Willinghurst in the form of a “Pairs Match”, ably run by Malc Fowler with a little help from Jeff Dickinson. I’d managed to drag Ross out of hibernation for the day and we lined up with 15 other pairs in the hope of a couple of decent pegs. The weather for once was half decent, fairly mild with a little wind and it looked like we might have a decent days fishing. I drew on Pittance (my favourite lake) for the first time since the summer and was looking forward to giving my waggler rod an airing, and the even better news was that I had Jeff Simmons at the next peg so at least I wouldn’t be last on the lake and if nothing else I’d still pick up a pound….. or so I thought !
On the whistle Jeff launched his lead towards the island (yes, he had an island to fish to whilst I didn’t) and it landed with all the finesse of a Geoff Capes belly flop. That’s ok I thought, no self respecting carp will now be within 20 yards of his peg – just as he picked the rod up and reeled in an 8lb carp ! The next one was only about 4lb and he did get a bit of stick from those around him after complaining that it was only a small one ! Meanwhile, Dan Cooper at the next peg was also bagging up fishing a maggot feeder to the island as everyone else struggled for bites.
With no signs on either of my pole lines or on the waggler, I fed again and wandered off to Cherrytree Lake to see how Ross was getting on. Luckily for me, he wasn’t catching as I was dreading him saying that he was winning the lake, when I hadn’t caught a fish. Brian Wallin seemed to be winning the lake with 8 carp but everyone had discounted his chances of winning the pairs as he was fishing with Malcolm Heaver. Returning to my peg I had a roach and a carp on the waggler then once again sat fishless until the end of the match. I’m having a bit of a nightmare lately with only two carp and a few roach in my last three matches but it’s still better than working or sitting around at home !
On the whistle I shook Jeff’s hand and congratulated him on his victory whilst Nobby (Dan Cooper’s granddad) came along, chucked out Jeff’s lead and within minutes had hooked a carp ! It must have been solid !
Dan walked the Lake with 59-8-0 mostly on the feeder but with a couple of big fish on the pole and ageing Dorking “Star” Terry Harrison finished second with 31lb having fished 17 metres to the island for much of the day. My excuse for my dismal performance was that the fish weren’t up our end of the lake as the lowest three weights were the three pegs up our end.
Don returned to pick me up, and I’ve seen him happier as he only weighed in 1-10-0 of gudgeon and roach from Peg 6 on Horseshoe Lake. Returning to the club house Malc had done the results in record time and the Pairs Winners with 14 points were announced as Brian Wallin (who won Cherrytree with 48-4-0) and surprisingly Malcolm Heaver who’d finished 3rd on Horseshoe having caught a couple of lumps in the edge. Second were the quiet pair Dan Cooper and his “partner” Terry Molloy with 12 points followed by the organisers (nothing suspicious there then) Malc Fowler and Jeff Dickinson also with 12 points but a lower combined weight.
Oh yes, Ross was last on his lake as well but we’re back for another try in a couple of weeks time when there will be 20 pairs fishing.
JPZ's from Marukyu - "The Dogs Danglies"
Jordan Whitby with a PB Carp of 18lb from Newdigate
Maggotdrowning.com
Exclusive Pictures
Fred Davis with his personal best chub of 7-2-0 from the River Lea
and his 6-8-0 tench !
Neil Humpage with part of his 89-10-0 match winning chub catch from the River Wye
Mike Spragg with his personal best Barbel from the The Wye, a whopping 10-1-0.
Davey P's Locker - Tackle I would recommend
Drennan Lake Floats - I used to use these floats for crucians and have recently started using them again for my silvers fishing, The cane bristle makes them especially sensitive.
I use this hook for nearly all my carp fishing from Size 10's with paste, 14's with the knotless knot on the lead and 18's for Hook in the loop rigs and they have never let me down.
How smart are this lot - Andy May and his wife with some of the motley Total fishing.com crew. There is a small pond just out of the picture and they fished a small sweepstake between the wedding ceremony and the reception ! Andy May won, Haisman was last - no change there then !
Myles Levy and his mate Chris with a 59lb catfish from France.
When I was writing in the Angling Times I promised some friends that I would try and get "Fish Cakes" mentioned in an article. However, as I was sacked before I could do so, I thought I'd put them on here ! So Mick and Karen Jones, here they are as promised !
At least one member of the Baxter clan can catch fish ! Young Dylan with a 4lb bream.
Hathers at Stafford Moor - Let this picture be a lesson to you all, those last couple of drinks the night before are never a good idea !
World Exclusive !!!!!!!
Andy Toplis playing a fish.
Ryan Hughes with part of an 80lb bag from White Springs Fishery in Wales
Mick Bull wont have received many points for this dive - but having just won the Fisho Final and £25k I don't think he really cared !
Another exclusive for Pikey's Progress - Terry Molloy not talking ! Oh yes and with a decent River Thames Pike.
OK Own up - who lent Mick The Bookie some fish to pose with ?
Martin Harper with a superb 8lb tench from Farlows Lake
Young match star Tony Curd with an 11lb barbel from the River Kennet - he didn't say where, these spessy hunters are so secretive !
Total Fishing's Justin Laundon with a fine net of fish from Lindholme Lakes
Fred Davis with 3 chub over 5lb and a small one from the River Lea.
http://www.carpvader.com/index.asp
Jeff Moors took part in the recent Catfish Challenge and caught this one - more of a "kitten" than a cat really !
And here are some proper ones that the winners had.
BNF - with part of a near 100lb haul from the Glebe
Scone - Angling writer, float maker and all round good egg !
"Hathers" with his 3-8-0 roach from Timsbury Manor - some claim it was really a hybrid, I couldn't possibly comment !
"Fordy on the Telly" with 40lb of prime River Kennet chub.
.........and this one weighed 5-2-0
Alan Dove with a small Skimmer Bream of 15-8-0 from Walthamstow Reservoir
Fred Davis plied Alan Dove with coffee all day then when he went to attend to a call of nature caught this one with his gear !
Colin Ormston (Billy no Fish) with the reason that some anglers still fish rivers !
Phil Stone (Pebs) with a fine net of roach and rudd from Witherington Farm
Total Fishing.com ventriloquist Gary Haisman with his two new dummies - Billy No Fish and Pebs.
