With Mrs Pikey being off work last Wednesday the days events involved a drive rather than a fish in the countryside ! However, as we headed towards the New Forest, I had entered the post code of “Avon Angling” in Ringwood into the newly purchased Sat Nav ! Ace reporter Fordy had told me about the shop and his observations were spot on. The shop is an absolute Aladdin’s Den, crammed to the rafters with gear. I’d only gone in for a few floats and some bait flavouring but still managed to spend £84 !
Anyway, this week I’d arranged another little match at Sumners Pond and with the weather being mild for a few days and only 13 of us on the lake, we thought a right bagging session was on the cards. I was even happier when at the draw, I was left with one of my favourite pegs, which is one I’d won from fishing the waggler a few weeks ago.
The people to watch out for were going to be “Gadget” whose real name I never remember but I do know he can moan for England ! Firstly his peg, half way down the end island “Was crap and should never have been pegged” despite the fact that it had won a couple of matches recently whilst he had been away, and secondly “all his fish were only small” being ONLY 3 or 4 pounders ! Yorkshire Baits Perry Stone was also likely to be dangerous as he had drawn a decent waggler peg and we all know how good he is at that type of fishing. His mate Paul Williams – or bullfrog to his mates, had also drawn well on what is now known as the “Long Pole Peg” as you can reach the second island from it but you have to fish at 16 metres plus.
Gadget and Perry set off like a train, matching each other fish for fish whilst the rest of us sat biteless or just caught the odd fish. I had a couple of chub on the waggler and some crucians on the pole but wasn’t exactly setting the world alight. The one BIG mistake I made was trying to catch on the pole and waggler when I should really have just fished the lead for five hours as it was far too windy to do anything else properly. With 45 minutes to go, I chucked my waggler up the island for about the 50th time and this time it didn’t come back. Having already trashed my pole rig, the only other item of tackle I had set up was the lead. I launched the rig as close to the island as I dared and within 5 minutes I netted my first carp of the day. Two more followed in the last half hour as I rued the fact that I’d left it so late to try it.
Most entertaining part of the day was watching Terry Harrison land a duck that grabbed his waggler fished pellet and then wrestle with it trying to unhook it (well, he said he was trying to unhook it but it did seem to spend a very long time trapped between his legs )! I was going to offer to help him but it was far more fun just watching.
Final Results
Gadget 84-2-0
Perry Stone 63-8-0
Mick Keeper 58-0-0
Neil Jakes 27-0-0
Barry Upperton 25-14-0
Terry Harrison 24-12-0
Ian Covey 24-0-0
John Holt 18-14-0
Dave Pearson 13-8-0
Alan Harrington 11-0-0
Donald Garnish DNW
Paul Williams DNW
Derek White DNW
We are there again Saturday and I’m definitely going to fish the lead if need be !
Ps Hopefully you’ve all noticed that I gave my Masters Captain Alan Harrington another good beating off the next peg !
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.
