Well, Thank goodness that is all over, don't get me wrong, I have really enjoyed running the league as the craic is superb but personally I don't think I have ever had a harder series of 6 matches during the winter. I think I totalled 8 carp in 6 matches (with 6 of those coming in one match on Pittance Lake) and in the others there didn't even seem to be any catchable silvers about.
Anyway, yesterdays match saw the team strengthened (?) by the return of Keith Arthur from yet another holiday and we were looking for a decent result to move us up the table from our lowly 8th place. Unfortunately we once again drew Peg 1 which I think is the third time we've had it this series, the pegs it gives you don't look too bad on paper but they've just not fished this winter - oh yes, it also means you are on the scales !
My peg - Peg 1 on Old Lake used to be THE peg but hasn't been producing for a while as the majority of carp seem to have relocated to the other end of the lake. I did still fancy it though as being right in the corner meant that you could fish all along the right hand bank and it looked lovely with reeds in places and grass overhanging all the way along. In hindsight (yes, that again) I should have just set up a little method feeder and kept chucking it out to the middle where a shallower bar runs the length of the lake. However, I spent the day switching between the pole in the edge, a straight lead, maggot feeder and waggler and finished the match with One small carp, 4 roach and a perch and lost one foul hooked carp for the massive total of 4-6-0.
Terry Molloy drew a peg half way down the lake on the opposite bank and it was the only one that you can reach the central bar with a pole. Sponge Bob had it in the last round and had three carp for second on the lake so I knew Terry would catch this time. We all spent the day struggling for a feew fish (me more than most) as Terry bagged up and finished with 94lb and a very comfortable match win. Bag up Bob (Bob Poulton) drew the far end peg on the same bank (where Don moaned about last time) and had 43lb to finish second on the lake and third overall, just being pipped for second place by Derek White who drew Peg 5 on Horseshoe and had 4 carp and an F1 for 45lb !
Result
Terry Molloy Old 19 94-0-0
Derek White Horseshoe 5 45-0-0
Bob Poulton Old 14 43-2-0
Jeff Simmons Top 27 35-8-0
Terry Bolton Top 21 34-0-0
Dan Cooper Top 24 34-0-0
Teams
Molloy's Mob 38.5
Foxy Five 38
Willinghurst Cabin 36
Molesey 31
Decca 30.5
Allsorts 28.5
Willinghurst Cabin B 24.5
Willinghurst Muppets 22
MADGIK 20
Final League
Allsorts 17
Foxy Five 17
Molloy's Mob 22
Molesey 24
Decca 29
Willinghurst Cabin 32
Willinghurst Muppets 32
MADGIK 41
So that is it for another Masters series, hopefully next year I'll catch a few more fish and maybe find a better team to fish with as my team of Alan Harrington, Mark Harrington, Keith Arthur, Gary Haisman and Ian Covey were rubbish !
I'm really looking forward to my next two matches, wednesday is the final round of Steve Gardener's Silvers league at Sumners Pond - I just need a perch peg please, and saturday sees me join a number of Match Fishing Scene anglers for a match on the Lower Lake at Broadlands Lake in Hampshire. And, whilst I've never even seen it before, it sounds as though it could be a decent match.
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.
