Telling's Times: August 2018

Monday 27 August 2018

Alvechurch pairs

Peg 25 Canal
128lb
2nd in section
15 pairs fished
4th overall pairs

Alvechurch pairs today with my best mate Gary Donachie. He drew peg 28 Horseshoe and I drew peg 25 Canal.

I weighed 128lb. I fished caster, corn and micro mix on far bank to have maybe 80lb in first 4 hours and 50lb on paste on a top kit in last hour. Lee beat by 7lb for the section. I was really surprised not to catch down the edge on a top kit with casters?! A bit gutted and came a little unstuck, as this normally catches me 50lb plus?! I had two empty pegs to my left too?!

The carp in Colmic Canal are unreal. So fighting fit like Horseshoe lake

52lb of Silvers at 14.5 meters was busy shipping.

All results are below.

Looking at the weights, they were awesome. All that rain, and the pressure on lake, weights are awesome.

Gear used

Garbolino UK2 pole.

Paste

Jon Walker paste float. 0.2

0.18 Garbolino Fluro Line straight through

14 B911 x strong

2.7mm Mosella Ozone Hollow

Far bank rig ("mud bank" 😂)

0.5 gram Jon Walker float

0.18 to 0.16

16 B911 extra strong

1.8 Matrix Silk elastic

Saturday 25 August 2018

Alders Farm Fishery - Ash Pool

Peg 1
229lb
Won section by default
4th overall
14 fished

Was looking forward to Alders Farm, haven't been there for ages, so was looking forward to it. This is my first ever Facebook Angling League match, which is a lot of the crew from MFS (match fishing scence) which i used to be a member of.

14 of us fishing, we had some room, but a heavy down poor the night before, which didn't stop the fish from feeding.

I was lucky and drew peg 1, which is a right BUNG hole! Caught well on paste at 4 metets to begin with, missed a few bites.... but i had more carp take me under the cafe, which unfortunately result in breakage. So put the method over the top. Err lift off, the next hour was awesome. The fact are, I pit 135lb in the net the first two hours and next 4 hours I chased ghost down the edge and i couldnt keep the coming and tried too hard.... lost fish and lost my way with a disappointing 229lb!!! Which is unreal. Don't think I've ever fished a match and caught 229lb and felt disappointed. Last week and Heronbrook was tough loosing a few big fish, but hopefully learnt a bit for next time.

Tuesday 21 August 2018

Ivy House Lakes- Affordable Tuesday

Peg 43 Kingisher
81lb
Won lake
Joint winner on silvers on my lake
Second Overall
17 Anglers fished

Another visit to Ivy House Lakes, was really pleased to draw peg 43. So started on worms at 14.5 metres against far bank, which was brilliant start. After 40 mintues the lake for whatever reason shut down and it was struggle for everyone.

Then the chasing started, rattling in 2mm Animo Pellets via toss pot to far bank brought the peg back to life, but had to rotate lines. Caught a few big fish late on maggots to boost my weight.

Did manage to catch a few fish on paste. But the 0.12 and size 14 paste rig was better than the 0.18 straight through. Also dripping in mircos

Balanced tackle is the key to getting the fish out and not rushing!

A couple of late lumps got me out of jail. Maggots over EFG150

Gear used

Garbolino UK2

Mud line
0.3 Jon Walker
0.18 to 14
16 B911
2.1 Mosella Ozone Hollow

Paste

Jon Walker paste
0.18 to 0.12
14 B911 extra strong
2.1 Phil Reynolds elastic

Margin
0.1 Jon Walker edge
0.18 to 0.14
18 B911 EXTRA STRONG
2.5 mosella ozone elastic

Saturday 18 August 2018

Heronbrook- Charity Match

Peg 21
283lb
2nd overall
39 fished.

I do love Heronbrook, but this year it has been a little rough to me. Still enjoyed it noneless, at least your normally guaranteed of a days sport regardless of your draw.

In the draw queue, all i wanted to do is draw the Match Lake and Jon Walker was in the draw queue before me, and draw 12 on Match Lake, "lucky bugger" i replied. Then i went and draw peg 21 Match Lake. Happy days. On arrive to my peg I soon realised that peg 23 hasn't been drawn. So happy days. Got a good chance of a mega weight off here. The saying from the locals at Heronbrook is "ends and bends".

So, I decided to feed corn and 4mm Amino pellets at 4 metets on the slop, just in the deep water. Edges.... on the lake there is a massive head of big carp. So EFG 150 is the mix. And then a pinging line. Liking to be shallow..... maybe "monging" (not everyones cup of tea", so drink coffee!)

Began at 4 meters on paste, and had a carp 4lb first chuck and then a few big F1's and after 30 mintues I had 30lb ish, which was good, but had a funny spell, 3 lost carp (all hook pulls) and a couple missed baits. Was loosing my way and i noticed that the guy on peg 8 was sacking shallow, so decided to do this, i had been priming this line. After 5 mintues of slapping, tapping and rapping it was lift off, all F1's. It was soild for 40 mintues. Then faded. So went back on paste line, which was void. So filled in edges and waited for signs, while fishing the shallow line.

At 3pm the fish finally came down the edge, 10lber first chuck and then the problems befin..... the wind was so bad to my left, that i couldnt had a stable rig. Heavier rig and shorter line result in fish not feeding over my pole tip...... the right edge needs to lift off. More feed. And happy days, they were there, but had one 5lber and then lost a 15lber at net, just pulled out
I felt sick... then lost 5 carp in a row, all hook pulls. Nightmare.... throw this match away. Big potting maggots was the way to go after every fish... 5 carp in five chucks and then they were gone. Feed more EFG150, straight back. But wouldn't stay. Started chasing ghosts. Went on paste line for last 20 mintues and was soild. Gutted. Got draw into the edge, which has cost me the match.
However, it was a great day. Enjoyed the night cap at Stoke.... a couple of beers. Steve Marshall done a great job of raising over £600 for charity. Shame on the 30 cancellations?!

Gear used

Garbolino UK2

Paste
2mm Matrix Silk elastic
0.18 Garbolino Fluro Line
0.3 gram Jon Walker paste float
Size 14 carp feeder hook.

Shallow
2.1 Mosella Ozone Hollow
0.14 Garbolino fluro line
0.12 hooklength
0.2 Jon Walker slapper
Size 20 Guru Slwg

Mong.
2.1 Mosella Ozone Hollow
0.18 to 0.14
50cm

Deck
2.1 Phil Reynolds
0.18 main line
0.14 hooklength
0.4 gram pellet diamond
20 Guru Slwg

Edge
1.8mm Matrix Silk elastic
0.18 straight through
0.3 Jon Walker edge
14 B911 x strong

Finely would not look at the camera.

Paste fish at 4 meters were a good stamp.

Didn't take long to build up at weight at Heronbrook. Loads of carp.

Moorlands farm - open match

Peg 24 Bank
113lb
Won section by default. Lucky
10 fished

Moorlands Farm fishery is a venue I haven't fished for years and a venue that I know nothing about. So Facebook was used to get information, so thanks to those that helped me.

The rumour was that 250lb plus was needed to win.

Paste five meters was decent, but should of come shorter, 3 meters. Edges I couldn't figure out, kinder potting was very poor.... then big potting resulted instantly in 10lber, but after that, couldn't catch anything down the edge. I think starving them onto the hook?!

Sunday 12 August 2018

Glebe - Mallory Park. Maver Match This

Peg 80
Won section
103lb
120 fished?

Early start chasing the dream..... Glebe fishery today on the Maver Match This, this is my last "golden ticket" of 2018......

Drew peg 80, which was next peg to where I was last year, so at least I knew where I was going.... decided to fish paste at 5 meters, 13 meters on the "pinging line", which become a paste line, feeder (didn't pick it up) and down the edge line with EFG150 and maggots, which failed to produce.

Like almost everyone on the complex, the first 40 mintues was really good, caught 6 carp in this period and then like a light switch, it turned off. So went long on the "pinging line" which resulted in a couple of missed bites, so out came the BIG pot and cupped in some pellets and corn and fished the paste long, caught 6 carp on this.... one decent one, that took me all over the lake and mainly into Josh's swim (sorry)...... it was only about 9lb. With roughly 90 mintues left, i decided to fish 5 meters and pray it would come good!!!??? It didn't and I had 8 carp on the 5 meter line.... just enough to keep me intrested, but knew I was going to be way off the pace for the frame. Margins were unproductive.

Oh well, thats my campaign over of chasing big money matches. The Glede was by far the best match for me. The others i was honestly beat at the draw bag. I hate to blamme the pegs.... normally poor acuses, but Larford Lakes saw me not leave the "car park" on grass bank on match lake.... Heronbrook was a little rough, last year I couldn't of asked for better pegs.

I must say, without name dropping (does my head in... nothing worse than a brown nose). Some of these lads fish these matches every weekend throughout the summer and it takes a lot dedication and termination!!! Travelling up and down the country and drawing pegs that have no chance of winning. I do take my hat off to them.

Pleased to win section..... but way off the pace to qualify.

Peg 80 at Glede. Moved 10 yards from last year.

Top 3

256lb Matt Higgins

208lb Ben Bell

185lb 15oz Jason Collins

Gear used

Garbolino UK2

0.18 straight through

0.3 Jon Walker paste

2.5mm hollow Ozone elastic

Marukyu Animo Pellets 4mm and 6mm

Corn

EFG150

Dead reds

Thursday 9 August 2018

Alvechurch Fisheries- Horseshoe

Peg 4
125lb
Won match
17 on the lake

I fished Alvechurch tonight, on my favourite lake Horseshoe. With over night rain and with 17 anglers on the lake, it was going to slow things down a little.

I fished out and out paste, with one line at 14.5 meters and another at 4 meters on the slope. Feeding fishery pellets and corn. The paste is made out of EFG150 and ground up fishery pellets.

Started short, at 4 meters to hope to catch a few quick fish, which unfortunately was unproductive. So went long and big potted corn, with a bit of paste and fishery pellets all mixed in and fished it out. I found this most productive way of fishing, so loose feeding via a catapult, as you tend to miss lots of line bite, foul hook and loose fish. Also feeding corn is a heavy and stable bait, which isn't quite so badly wrafted around by the carp when they are feeding.

I was pleased to win the match with 125lb, which was all caught on paste.

Sunday 5 August 2018

Ivy House lakes- Open

Peg 44 kingfisher
142lb
Won lake
Second overall
Won silvers

Haven't been to Ivy House Lakes for ages!! I think i fished it three times last year....... and the draw bag was kind to me again today. I was hoping to get on the lake, as i do love catching big carp. But my second best mate, Frank Donachie, said the canals are soild and he wasn't wrong!

Fished worms long (15 meters), paste at 5 meters and maggots and EFG 151 down the edge.

I fished worms long, on my worm stodge mix. Which is worms, corn, casters, EFG150 and had about 80lb on this. Fished 0.5 gram rig and a 4 inch hooklength and 16 B911.

See video that on done on Liam for the mix

Fished paste at 5 meters. With potting in 2mms Animo pellets and corn. I had about 40lb on this.

I had 20lb down the edge on maggots. Spent too long chasing ghosts. Rigs were too heavy. Should of fished lighter floats, lighter lines and a 18 hook. I think my Todber Manor rigs were a bit too manly.

Gear used

Garbolino UK2 pole
0.5 Gram Jon Walker float
0.16 to 0.14 Garbolino fluro line
16 B911

0.3 Jon Walker paste float
0.18 straight through
14 Guru SLWG

Jon Walker margin 0.3
0.18 Garbolino Fluro straight through
This rig was wrong on the day

Saturday 4 August 2018

Clainfield. River Fest.

Peg 19... permant peg 35. 6 perch, 1 dace and around 100 bleak......
4lb 3oz to win my five peg section
60 fished

My first ever River Fest ticket, and I hoped for a "bung hole billy peg" at my old haut at Clainfield. I used to fish this as a boy with my dad and Uncle John years ago.

I spent hours getting my gear ready, as I haven't fished a river since the winter league last year and I didn't wanna embarrass myself......

It was good to see some old friends at the draw and of course my team mates. I'm very lucky, as Paz is our team and is arguly the best "Upper Thames and Middle Thames" angler in the country. Results say it all!!! Anyway, got the permant pegs off him on the morning and drew peg 19, which was peg 35. Paz screwed his face up and said "don't wanna be there"

Peg 35 is on inside of bend, all flow at feet and super shallow on far bank. Not ideal. But as i say, take the rough with the smooth.

On arrival to peg, I had a feature to my left, but Andy Bruton was sat right on it.... so this was going to slow things down. Not a good roach peg either. So four whips come out, three up in the water for mainly bleak and one deck rig. Then the chop rigs and a couple of hopeful roach rigs.

I won't bore you with unnecessary text, and be concise. I caught 6 perch in first hour and 15 mintues and that was the end, despite feeding and having quick looks throughout the whole match. The hemp line, caught nothing and the bleak were super hard to catch and to chase them up and down, hence the four whips..... was pleased to win the 5 peg section but disappointed not to catch any roach and no more late perch....

Telling's Times