I don't mind the odd drop of rain or a puff or two of wind but when you get both and the wind is in your face all day - like it has been for my last two matches, it is miserable.
After the rain we've had in the last week or two, the majority of lakes at Willinghurst were almost bursting their banks, infact the Top Lake was over flowing and running down the slope causing a waterfall into peg 20 on New lake which with the colour it was washing in to the lake would make it even worse for the poor soul who drew it.
What has become obvious over the previous 4 league matches is that you really need to draw Pegs 3-5, so when Swanny drew for us and came out with the 8 ball, we were mightily unimpressed. It did infact give us a couple of reasonable pegs but also 2 that I really didn't fancy at all. The section draw then put me on New 20, the one peg I really didn't want not only cos of all the extra water running in from Top Lake but also because nearly all the carp are up the other end of the lake !
My first objective was to catch a fish so on went a roach rig to fish caster at 10 metres. My only other float rig was a heavier one to fish for carp in the edge and I also set up a lead to chuck about the peg. On the whistle Mick the Bookie lobbed out a lead and was soon playing the first fish caught on the lake. He did try and tell us it was his super bait and presentation but I think his peg was just SOLID !
I soon avoided the dreaded DNW by placing a gudgeon in my net (which at the time put me 4th on the lake). I then continued to catch the odd roach or rudd but as the match progressed I slipped further and further down the section as everyone up the other end of the lake seemed to catch the odd carp and with them mostly weighing over 8lb (Simmon's had one about 15lb), that was a lot of roach required to catch up. With the wind blowing and heavy rain showers all day, I think I did really well to hold out until 1.40pm before visiting Amy in the Cabin for a Cheeseberger and cup of tea.
A quick wander round the lakes revealed that Smiffy was winning Old Lake from Peg 26, Paul Taylor was winning Pittance with a couple of carp, Swanny was about Mid section with a F1 and some roach from Horseshoe and me and Ross were struggling for points. Having checked out my lake I decided that it was shit or bust for me for the last hour as I needed to catch a carp or two to move me up the section. By this time my brolly had managed to turn itself inside out and I also left my coat in the cabin ! However, as I was now trying hard for a carp I sat it out in the rain and my fleece got heavier and heavier.
As the match ended I was still Carpless and my 4-0-0 of roach did indeed put me last in the section. As expected, the majority of carp came from the other en dof the lake as Simmons won the lake (and the match) from Peg 6 with 46-0-0, followed by Mick Keeper (Peg 10) 34-0-0.
Pound Watch
When Plummers drew probably the most consistant match winning peg on Pittance (Peg 12) I thought I never had a chance of his pound but when he rang me in the middle of a cloudburst to tell me that he was still fishless and was sitting in his car, things were looking up.
Final Result........Pikey 4-0-0.......Plummers DNW. I keep telling him that fishing tangerine sized pieces of paste wont work in winter but he wont listen !
Result
Jeff Simmons..........New 6.............46-0-0
Mick Keeper...........New 10...........34-0-0
Brian Green...........Horseshoe 3....28-8-0
Mark Smith............Old 24..............27-10-0
League
Foxy Five.........................12
Over The Hill...................15
Molesey............................18
Down The Edge...............19
Willinghurst Cabin...........23
Decca.................................24
Willinghurst Muppetts...27
Bookie Bashers................34
I have to say that I am having a miserable time match wise at the moment, I don't think the weather has been helping but I am looking forward to fishing a new venue to me on Sunday as 12 of us are having a little match on the Small Lake at Furnace Lakes. Jason Morgan has told us that everyone will catch at least 40lb of skimmers so I can hardly wait !
