Having caught a lot of carp on the waggler on this lake before , that was the first thing I set up, a 2AA drennan waggler on 4lb Maxima line with an 0.12 hooklength and size 18 B911. I also set up a hook in the loop pole rig to fish two lines at 10 and 2 o'clock and a rig to fish just down the shelf along the bank.
I started the match on the waggler, loose feeding 10 or 12 maggots each cast but after 30 minutes I was still fishless, as was everyone else except Paul who'd had two carp on the lead by the island. What happened next was one of those odd things that happens in fishing when you think it shouldn't. Brian Wallin was to my right at the end of the lake and having watched him plumb up right next to the bank in about 18 inches of freezing cold water I was confident that he wasn't going to catch there, unlike me as being smart, I'd plumbed up to fish down the shelf in the deeper water and would no doubt bag up.......WRONG ! As I was sitting staring at a motionless pole float I heard Don say "Woll's In" and when I looked round, Brian was netting an edge caught carp. He then went on to catch another 3 in the next three put ins ! As soon as he had the second fish, I replumbed my edge rig to fish up the shelf at 12 metres along the bank where it was about 2 foot deep. I cupped in 4 or 5 grains of corn and lowered in a single grain on a size 18 hook attached to 0.16 line with a 0.1 Hillbilly Billybob float. The float sat there for about 30 seconds and then disappeared but as I lifted the pole there was nothing there, the same thing happened next put in and I was beginning to think that it was either Reggy or Ronnie or I was fishing off the bottom and as the corn sank it was pulling the float under. However, as next cast it didn't happen, it looked like they could have been liners. I decided to try double dead maggott instead of the corn and the float hardly settled before disappearing and I was soon playing a decent carp. With grey hydro and 0.16 line, as long as it was hooked in the mouth, I wasn't losing this one and sure enough I soon had a 4lb fish in the net. I think I then upset Bag Up Bob at the next peg cos I shouted out to Don that I couldn't believe that there were anglers on the lake who still hadn't caught a carp, and I was met with a gruff F off from the next peg ! He seemed to get even more upset when I had my second carp next put in and offered to show him my rigs after the match !
Another couple of carp graced my landing net in the next 15 minutes before bites slowed down dramatically and the next hour produced just two more fish - although one was about 9lb. At one o'clock I looked at my watch and with 6 carp in the net I was looking forward to a good last two hours, which sadly never materialised as I never had another bite, nor did Brian who also finished up with 6 carp. Paul had continued to catch odd fish on and off for most of the match to win the lake and the match with 76-4-0 whilst Pat Saward at the other end of the island had a late fish to also catch 6 carp and just pip me for the section runner up spot with 30lb to my 28lb.
Grumpy Bob blanked and then had to help weigh in as his team were on the boards - no, of course we didn't laugh. Oh yes, nearly forgot, Mick The Bookie was on our lake as well, on peg 10 (where I'd previously won a few matches in the winter) and he BLANKED ! What do you mean you're not suprised. And, whilst I don't want to be appear to be a "Grass", he did spend the first hour reading the newspaper !
Result
Paul (Tommy) Hiller 76-4-0
Tony (The worlds worst caster) Yianni 44-8-0
Terry (Ugly) Harrison 40-6-0
Tony Plumbridge 36-2-0
Mark Goddard 35-0-0
Malcolm (I haven't drawn a bad peg for months) Heaver 33-0-0
Teams
Allsorts 38
Molesey 33
Willinghurst Muppetts 32
Willinghurst Cabin 30
Decca 29
Foxy Five 26
MADGIK 24
Molloy's Mob 24
League
Allsorts 8
Foxy Five 11
Molesey 12
Willinghurst Muppetts 19
Molloy's Mob 20
Willinghurst Cabin 22
Decca 23
MADGIK 27
Having only had one bite in the previous 3 rounds, at least I had 6 in Round 4 ! On Wednesday we have organised a little match on Sumners Silver fish lake so hopefully I'll get a few bites there as well.
