Heronbrook- MAM

Peg 4 Match Pool
117lb
Second in section
Third on lake
42 fished

So another qualifier at Heronbrook fishery, this time a MAM (Match Anglers Matches) .

Long drive, but what a venue, even though I had only 40lb last week, but the peg was easily worth 90lb, but that wouldn't be good enough to frame or section.  So I fished a very positive match and failed.  Today's match is all about beating 4 anglers, to win your 5 peg section, therefore my approach was steady steady.  Worms and casters was my approach.  A brilliant 3.5 hours, caught mainly across and a few down the edges.... but the last two hours was AWFUL.  Gutted to see my section slip away.

Disappointing to loose my section by 4oz, I thought Craig O' Brien had loads more and just before the weigh in, Craig was admitting to 140lb.... so I was surprised to get so close.

13 metres wide.

All the weights on my lake.

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Ivy House Lakes - Heron

Peg 9
39lb
8th
21 fished

I haven't been to Ivy House Lakes for while, so was looking forward to it.  We were on Heron, so hopefully loads of bites?!

I started short, at 5 sections of pole.  For no bites.  So shipped out to 13 metres, and waited for an age, before the float finally disappeared and a small carp was net.  But looking to my left, everyone was catching, to my right, not so good...

I caught in spells and tried to have two productive lines on the pole.  Which didn't work.... safety in numbers.  Spilting the shoal if fish is not a good idea.

Unfortunately started and ended slow., wasnt too far behind the framers.  Should of fished the feeder.  But hoped to catch on the pole and failed.

A great venue, and "I'll be back"

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Heronbrook Fishery - Maver Match This

Peg 9 Bridge (game over)
43lb
68 fished

Back to Heronbrook on Maver Match This and my heart did sink when I drew peg 9 Bridge Pool, realistically I had no chance to the win the match.

However, a slow walk to my peg with no gear, as I thought about going home, not in a sulk.... but why waste a day?  However there was a gentle breeze (needed lots more wind into my corner) in the edge.  Edge was 4.5 foot deep... unreal.  I had loads of room, for us as our section was peg 1, 5, 9, 12 and 14.  I thought fu@k it, ill have a go.  Peg 1 had Steve Openshaw on it, so hoping for him to frame and try and get a section default?!

On the all in, I started short on pellets, no bites and I went down the edge for..... you guessed it, no bites. So went across shallow water, but it was a nightmare getting these F1's out.  Lots of roots on the far bank, after losing a couple of fish and a couple pinning off and resulted up the tree.... it tried my patience.   Edge did come alive, but was only good catching a couple of fish down the edge, but died extremely quickly, one or two quick fish and it would die.

I fished very positively which resulted in me only catching 43lb, peg was worth 90lb, but that would still be no good.  "Onto the next one".

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Manor Farm Leisure

Peg 16
112lb
Won match
4 anglers fished.

A bit disappointed with turn out, but the weather was shocking..... did question myself why I was going fishing?  So I can see why the attendance was so low.

Started on a method feeder and failed to catch  really need to sort this out!!!  Came short on the pole, which wasnt good, only a couple of skimmers at 6 metres.

So onto the lead and fair play I caught steady on this for the rest of the match.  Nothing electronic, but flad I went as I had an enjoyable day, caught some beautiful F1's.

I caught all my fish on lead and pellets.  8mm lasso pellet to 30cm's of 0.18 line.

The wind was awful.  So I focused on rods.

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Mick Telling Memorial Match - Wickwater

Peg 10
74lb 10oz (all silvers)
Won section
3rd overall
18 fished

One of my old haunts, Wickwater on the South Cerney waters.  This is an annual event that I run for my dad and raise a few quid for Cancer Research.  Unfortunately two people didn't turn up or let me know, which did mess the pegging up, as it supposed to be 4 peg sections... so I pegged it as fair as possible.  Like the bottom bank 9, 10, 11 & 12 (no one had island chuck).  

At 12.35 I had to make a decision, so made it sections of three and took pegs 1 and 20 out.....  this did make it slightly unfair.  So I apologise to 17 anglers, in reflection I should of re pegged it and started later (but I know I would of pi$$ed a few lads off).  So a loose, loose situation.

I got someone else to draw my peg AND open it up in front of everyone.  Peg 10, on bottom bank, plenty of room, but I had no island chuck and Chris Rust on peg 8 has.... so I was up against it.  Jeremy on peg 9, which was also going to have a go at silvers also. So game on!!

I tried for a early carp and failed.  So on the pole for silvers....  but the lines faded quickly and wouldn't settle for whatever reason.  Also I noticed I caught a few skimmers, so changed my approach, to feeding heavier but less frequent.  Also regular topping up of balls of groundbait was EVEN better.  5.30pm to 6.30pm I had ten Bream/skimmers, which was my best run, this was roughly 25lb.  I had a couple of Bream that may knocked around the 5lb mark, so happy days.

Really pleased to get into my dads final, but slightly disappointed that I didn't catch more, as I lost 5 bream, lost one carp on the skimmer gear, and a bit of time at the beginning on the match.  So caught 74lb of skimmers, bream and roach, but fair from perfect.  A prefect match would of saw me catch easily 120lb of all silvers.

Jamie Read won the biggest fish.

Winner.... again.

Frank Donachie (second best mate)

Gear used

Garbolino UK1

Jon Walker 0.6 

0.18mm Shimano Aspire to 0.125mm Colmic Stream 

1.5mm E2 Vespe elastic 

Best bag of bream I've ever had from South Cerney (only been fishing for 30 years).

Part of 74lb skimmers

Winners and my Mum

Jamie Read won the biggest fish.

Thanks to Hinders Bait for supplying some prizes.

Chris Rust

Loads of great memories of this lake

£200 raised
£5 peg x 18 = £90
£5 donation × 18 = £90
£20 donation from Terry Hicks.

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Alvechurch Fisheries - Cancer Research charity match

Peg 18 Horseshoe
148lb
Won lake
Second overall.
29 fished

This Cancer Research match is an annual match that does touch my heart, especially as this has unfortunately effected my family members.  So I'm always keen to fish this match.

Drew peg 18 on Horseshoe, which is a peg that I've never drawn before, absolute flyer, about time I get a few of these!!! 🤣

The lake has been repegged, so old peg 24 I think.  Which is awesome for Barbel down the edge, and with the little breeze blowing g down into my corner, I should be in for a great day....

Got to love these Barbel from Horseshoe lake, don't they half fight.

Started on paste short, which resulted in fish on and off.... that quick.   I feed the edge from the start with fishery mirco pellets, corn and a few maggots.  Fish were straight down there, so caught barbel for the first hour and no carp!!    Liam Dennick next to me on peg 20 had a few shallow, so getting abused from him, for not catching in the early stages of the match.

I had a couple of bream and carp on paste in open water, to tick me over, held my maggots and mirco allowance back until the last hour and 30 mintues and caught down the edge quite well.  Wouldn't say I "sacked" but had an enjoyable day.  Just big potted mircos and maggots in the last stage of the match and fished it out.  So sometimes I caught 2 or 3 fish off one pot.

A few units got me out of trouble.

All the match weights below....

Gear used

0.3 Jon Waller edge
0.18mm Shimano Aspire line
16 B911 extra strong
2.3 Hollow elastic

Fair play to Mark and the team at Alvechurch Fisheries for running this match.  Really enjoyed it.  Shame I keep coming second, be nice to win.  However, more importantly Alvechurch Fisheries raised £1235 for Cancer Research.

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