With three lakes being used, it was probably a couple too many on each lake for a decent result and the one thing you needed more than usual was a decent draw. Pittance ws my favoured lake but by the time I came to draw there were only 2 pegs remaining and both were on Old Lake.
I gave Ross the chance to draw first with Pegs 1 and 14 in the bag but he declined and then Amy drew for me and picked Peg 1 from the bag. Although I thought Ross would still catch in Peg 14, I was much happier with Peg 1 as I drew it a number of times last summer and nearly always caught well from it.
As you can see, the peg in the corner has a lovely looking edge and whilst it is still a bit early in the year for bagging in the edge, I still expected to catch a few, especially with a 5pm finish.With Dorking's Mark Goddard and Steve Gardener to my left I knew it would be tough to win the lake but luckily Mick The Bookie had drawn Peg 19 (probably the best peg in the South of England) so at least that was one flier that wouldn't frame !
Having fished Peg 1 a few times last summer, I set up one paste line to fish at the base of the shelf along the bank at 12 metres and another line at 10 o'clock in the open water. I then set up a rig to fish in the edge 11 metres along the bank, about 2 foot out in 2 foot of water and also a pellett waggler in case the fish wouldn't come in on the pole lines.
On the whistle I fed all my pole lines and by the time I'd finished, Jason Morgan on Peg 22 had already had 2 carp on the method ! For me the first half of the match was very slow, with one big crucian to show for my efforts, although to be fair although Reg and Mark Price on the opposite bank had 5 or 6 fish each, as did the Dorking Duo to my left, with a couple of hours left it was all to play for. I then had two quick fish on the waggler and lost one that swam off with my 0.16 hooklength.
With two hours to go, it was time to concentrate on my edge swim as although I had been trying it on and off during the match, I felt that now was the right time to concentrate my efforts there. I remixed my paste so it was much wetter and cupped in a large piece. The float cocked, the paste pulled the bristle down to leave half an inch visible, then suddnley disappeared as an 8lber made a bid for freedom - which with black hydro and an 0.18 rig was all a bit futile really and he soon ended up in the net. Next put in, the same thing happened and then again and again as I enjoyed a superb hours match fishing, putting 9 or 10 carp in the net. Just as I started to think that I could possibly win the match, the peg dried up and I only had one more fish in the last 50 minutes. This blank spell did coincide with two anglers standing behind me and whilst I'm not sure that it made any difference, I think I'll ask people to move on or at least crouch down if it happens again.
As the whistle went Steve G was just netting a 6lb F1, which turned out to be a very important fish. Packing up quicky, I grabbed the scales and went round to stasrt weighing in the other bank. Reg in the other corner (Peg 26) was leadin gall the way round until we reached Steve G who placed 74-8-0 on the scales. Mark Goddard's fish fell just short with 73-4-0 and then it was my turn to weigh. I knew I had less fish than the others but I did have a couple of "Barney Rubbles" so thought I might just sneak a lake win.
However, it was not to be and my 12 fish went 71-8-0 to finish just one fish behind.
Result
Robbie Taylor.............Horseshoe 5..........................93-12-0
Steve Gardener..........Old 5......................................74-8-0
Mark Goddard............Old 3......................................73-4-0
Dave Pearson..............Old 1......................................71-8-0
Donald Garnish...........Pittance 11...........................66-9-0
Gedge Cooper..............Horseshoe 6........................53-0-0
Tony Kent...................Pittance 16...........................52-15-0
Reg The Edge.............Old 26...................................51-8-0
So, how frustrating was that, just one fish in the last 50 minutes and I finished just 1 fish behind second place and picked up £20 instead of £130 ! Never mind,at least I caught a few fish and have managed to book Wednesday off so will be going to Willinghurst for the wednesday open.
Oh yes, nearly forgot............................I had Plummers pound again !
