Following a couple of decent matches recently, the match fishing "Kick in the Nuts" returned on Sunday. With no league matches this week Terry Molloy had arranged a match at Henfold Lakes near Dorking which despite only being 10 minutes up the road from my house, I'd not fished for probably 20 years or more.
The main lake at Henfold is very shallow - with most of it averaging about two and a half foot deep and to have a half decent match, I would think you could probably could do with about 18 anglers on it. We ended up with 25 pegs and four pegs on the next lake down mixing with a few pleasure anglers that were on it and when I drew Peg 5 on the main lake, I really didn't fancy it at all.
To cut a long story short, if I fished maggott on the hook I could catch small roach and the odd skimmer nearly every put in but they were very very small and I knew that you weren't going to win anything fishing for them and even with the lightest elastic I had, a fair few dropped off when shipping back ! And, as the match went on it became clear that the 4 anglers on the other lake were all catching and Dan Cooper on the end peg on our lake had also had a few carp - so that was the frame places sorted !
I quite quickly decided that this wasn't going to be my day so went for a walk down to the other lake to watch Jeff Simmons fishing to the island. It really was one of those dream draws for Jeff (which he seems to get a fair number of ) as the island was at about 13 metres, the water against it was "dark" so a yellow tipped float showed up like a beacon and the depth was about 4 foot.
I stood chatting to Jeff for about half an hour in which time he had 5 small carp of about a pound each and a tench of about 2lb, not exactly hectic action but if he just kept plodding on doing what he was, I couldn't see anyone beating him - although Tony Yianni opposite (another angler who seems to get more than his fair share of fliers) had caught a 6lb carp which was likely to beat the majoity of the Main Lake anglers on it's own !
I returned to my peg and had another hours fishing before returning to Jeff's peg again, although this time I found it hard to find a place to spectate as there were already 4 others watching him ! Four carp,and a golden tench later, I was back at Peg 5 ready to bag up in the last half hour and nick the section - although I didn't and I don't think I have been more relieved to hear the final whistle in a long time.
I'm not sure about the exact weights as I didn't take the weigh sheet but the main positions went something like this:-
Jeff Simmons Bottom Lake 27-6-0
Tony Yianni Bottom Lake 25-2-0
Dan Cooper Main Lake 23-12-0
Terry Molloy Bottom Lake 23-6-0
Sections
Aiden Woods Main Lake 14-2-0
Adam Lee Main Lake 13-0-0
Brian Green Main / Bottom Lake 7-10-0
Oh yes, I nearly forgot, my bulging net of fish pulled the needle round to an impressive 2-8-0 as I only weighed in so I could report it on here !
So all in all, not a bad day for the 4 anglers who drew the bottom lake as they all picked up money and caught a few fish but not so good for everyone else. The final nail was put into the coffin when I heard that they'd actually had a match on the main Lake the day before - which is just what you need in a lake so shallow in the middle of winter isn't it !
Never mind, it was still better than sitting around at home. We are on Sumners Silvers Lake on Wednesday for Round 4 of Steve Gardener's Silvers League and whilst I think I've messed up too many matches all ready to have a chance of competing for the top places, I should at least get a few bites and hopefully I'll draw the "Bush" peg again and can have a day fishing for roach and perch - keep your fingers crossed for me.
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.
