Langate Wednesday Sweep 11/05/11

After winning last Wednesdays sweep on peg 57 on the Channel, I was hoping for a kind draw on this rover. I got number 3 so I chose the same peg again! I set up the exact same rig (freshly made up) which was a Preston PB1 to 0.14 line to a Kamason animal 16s hook. I was ready five minutes before the start of the match and hoped the fish would be ready for me.

Peg 57 on the Channel, Langate Lodges

At the all in I potted half a cup of micro pellets a yard from the bullrushes, then went out with a 4mm expander and expected the float to go straight under. Well it didn't! After half an hour not a bite. Then the float shot under, I was attached to a lump and promptly lost it in the rushes. Top start!
Next half an hour nothing then finally I started to get bites off a few pastie carp and small skimmers. My mate Dave and my dad Eric came thinking I'd be getting them but they soon wandered off unimpressed. Five minutes before the all out I tipped my fish back. I maybe had six pounds which wasnt going to get me anything.
At the carpark I heard Ben, a lad who fishes the Langate matches regulary had over 30lbs from peg 26(I think)which was a great effort.
Looking back at the match I think the wind had a great bearing on my peg as it was blowing the opposite way from last week. It is only two foot deep anywhere so I suspect the fish followed the wind. That and a numpty angler on said peg!
Tight Lines
Gaz.

Hall Lane Fisheries 08/05/11

Nineteen of us for this match and no one was sure about the lake. We was on lake number two which was supposed to be the poorer of the lakes. I drew peg 7 which was pretty alike the rest of the pegs really, being a canal lake that was only twelve months old. I don't really like new lakes as they lack character but it's a match and it beats shopping!

  For company I had Phil on peg 6 and Sharpy on peg 8. I set up a three rigs, one on the deck at 9 metres and two up in the water. All were 0.12 line to a 18s hook as I wasn't expecting any monsters.
  At the all in I shipped the pole out to nine metres and was struggling to hold the pole propper due to the strength of the wind. I perservered for half an hour or so then took a section off which was much better. I started using a pole pot too instead of the cattey and started to put fish in the net. Not monsters by any means but plenty small orfe and roach. At the end of the match I thought I might have sneaked a place but came 5th with 13lb 4oz. Winning weight was 18lb odd by Johnny on the paste. Second was big Dave with 17lb again on the paste and 3rd was barbel bashing Buckley who put 16lb on the scales. Phil had 7lb odd on peg six fishing the tip and caster close in. Sharpy on peg 8 had 8lb odd but lost a couple of good fish at the net which would have boosted him up.
  Our next club match is three weeks off at Latham Fisheries number 4. Bring it on!
 

Winning Ways 04/05/11

Decided to fish the evening sweep on Langate Lodges. Its run every Wednesday all through the summer and today was the first one. The draw was 5:15pm and it was all in at 6pm. I drew number three and that meant I got third choice of the pegs (the matches are all rovers), I chose the Channel peg 57. I chose this peg because the wind was blowing into it, it had form this time last year and I havn't fished the Channel this year!
  At the all in I put half a Drennan pole pot containing wetted micro pellets about eight metres out and about a yard from the edge of some bullrushes. Tackle wise I was using a Preston PB2 float to 0.14 line and a size 16's Kamasan Animal hook. Depth was only a couple of feet. I slipped a 4mm Ringers expander on the hook and promptly missed my first bite. Back out again and this time got a pastie carp. After the first hour I had ten pasties going roughly three to the pound. I was topping up every put in with a fox toss pot to keep them interested and my peg was starting to get stronger. The second hour I had another twenty and the third another nineteen plus a 2lb tench which was a welcome bonus.
  On the all out I couldn't see my float proper but had enjoyed a nice easy match. I reckoned I had about 20lbs which is normally enough to frame and so it proved as I won with 19lbs 8oz. Second place was 15lb odd and 3rd 10lb 8oz both from Langate Lodge itself. Thats my first win this year so I'm off and running. Fishing a funny game last Sunday I struggled like mad and today couldn't have been any easier. Either way it beats staying in watching Corrie and Eastenders!
Tight Lines
Gary

Giants Hall 01/05/11

Our first club match of the year and it was great to be back on the bank with the rest of the lads. Penty of abuse and mickey taking, just how we like it! There was nineteen of us in total so every peg was taken. I was hoping for the same peg I practised in but ended up the other side of the lake. Phil was on that peg and had drawn the golden peg (worth a hundred quid ) so he looked good for a decent payout. I had Barbel Bashing Buckley to my right and Stey to my left who was tucked in the corner. I just set up two rigs, one for down both sides which would be my main attack and the other up in the water at about 11 metres. Both rigs were 0.12 line to a 18's Mustad wide gape power. Baitwise I had two pints of white maggots with a few reds.
  On the all in I went down the right and side and had a couple of small roach and a little perch, so it was over to the left and after a couple of miutes the float shoots under and I'm connected to a smallish tench. That was the highlight of the match because the fish simply did not want to know. I did lose another tench and skimmer but the difference from Thursday was amazing. Was glad to here the all out and at the weigh in tipped a poor 2lb 13oz onto the scales. The whole lake had fished poor, Barbel Bashing Buckley weighed 2lb odd and Stey 1lb odd. Phil on the golden peg had 3lb odd and missed out on the extra dosh.
  The match was won by Stey's brother Chris who fished the chopped worm for 7lb 8oz. Second was Jeff who had 5lb 7oz who just edged Jimmy on 5lb 5oz. Unluckiest angler was Dave who played a big double figure carp on light gear for the last hour only to lose it trying to bully it as he was into the extra fifteen minutes you get if you have a fish on. He wasn't a happy bunny.

Our next match is on Hall Lane Fisheries next Sunday. It can only get better!