Harescombe Fishery

Peg 24 match lake.

9lb 10oz

No good

28 fished

I was hoping to draw Field Lake, as this lake is more my style of fishing, however drew Match Lake and right in the corner, peg 24.   This was going to be feast of famine and to make matters worse I draw next to Liam Dennick, so he wasn't going to let any feeding fish pass him, which he didn't.  I really struggled and only managed 4 fish in the first 40 mintues and never caught anything afterwards.  Well, that's not strictly true as I caught some tiny skimmers.  

I never seem to do well on The Match Lake, but I look forward to the pairs match at Harescombe.  Can I win it with Mark Malin three years on the bounce??

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Manor Farm Leisure

56lb 14oz
1st place

Peg 33 Island Pool

7 people fished.

I was pleased with the draw, peg 33 Island pool today is a great winter peg normally.  Started on the popped up bread, 50cm and one 10mm disc of Toastie white loaf.  This went round straight away, happy days, nice start to the match.  However, it was dead and looking around people were really struggling.  So shipped out the Colmic Airon F66 pole, and waited a while for bite, and then had a steady run of F1's which was a relief.   The issue is the bites are some slight, and only pull the float down by 2mm, so you never see bites on the feeder or lead, only the ones that hang themselves.

Pleased to get sponsored by Marukyu

see the Marukyu.....

http://www.marukyu.co.uk/

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Thoughts of 2016

For me, the most important aspect of fishing is to enjoy it.  I had some success this year and had some blow outs...... The big matches were disappointing, I failed miserable on the Fish O Mania qualifiers, however I honestly believe I had no pegs that were capable of winning.   

Looking through my blog, I had 59 pick ups this year, which was mainly on commercials which was mainly 20 pegs or less. Which is a shame, big matches on my local circuit doesn't seem to exist, apart from the River Avon at Evesham..... 

Also I did fish for Devizes in this years winter league on rivers and canals for 10 weeks and had 70% pick up rate.  I did have a couple of flyers mind!!

Highlights

Manor Farm Leisure is still one of my favourite venues that I fish, and May Festival was kind apart from the first day, where unfortunately I couldn't catch on Ash Pool and the last day I caught 313lb on Windmill Pool.  I would like to win this event.

I fished for Devizes match group this year, which I used to fish for years ago, and was nice to return to the Upper Thames winter league.   We had some success , we won the league as a team and I won the individual league.  The highlight was fishing with the boys again and fishing with one of the best anglers I know, Kevin Rowles.   Kevin has helped me a lot when I was younger with my fishing.

Ivy House Lakes was kind to me again and had some regular success there. The best match I had was Friday evening match, the only one I fished,  I caught 114lb in a three hours, which was the highest weight there in three hours for this year.  26lb skimmers and 87lb of carp on £2 worth of bait, paste!!

Swindon go on Tour at Whiteacres was awesome, the fishing was tough, as always.  However, the 

banter was incredible.  I really enjoy this week.

Colmic

Colmic have continued to support me and helped some of my success this year.  Especially in the manor festival, catching 313lb of big hard fighting carp, really did push the products to the limit!!  The new Colmic Airon F66 pole will hopefully been me some success in 2017?  Only just got the pole and it's very impressive.

Fish O Mania

For me I aint going to chase "rainbows" anymore.  A lot of effort to very little return, in my opinion.  I ain't bitter, but becoming a Fish O Mania finalist again is not that important to me.  

Marukyu

I've just been signed by Marukyu for a bait deal, must honestly say was unsure to begin with, so I field tested some of the products and was so impressed.  Watch this space for more details.

http://marukyu.co.uk

Mick Telling Memorial 2017

The Mick Telling memorial 2016 was a great success and raised a load of money for cancer research, over £1700!!   Thanks to everyone involved.   For me this is the most important match I want to win, by mile.  Terry Hicks won 2016.

See video for my dads final

I'm really lucky to fish with some great lads, especially Frank Donachie, Glen Picton, Liam Dennick and Karl Stephens

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Manor Farm Leisure

Peg 14
77lb 10oz
2nd
Only 5 fished

Colmic 7401 x3

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Manor Farm Leisure

Peg 6 "best peg in Europe"

100lb 6oz

Won lake

Won March

22 fished the match.

I couldn't ask for a better start to the individual winter league at Manor Farm Leisure as I won the match off Middle Pool, unfortunatly had to miss the round 2 as I was away on business trip (the joy of two jobs).  So was well pleased to draw one of the best in Europe, but got off to a slow start, but caught on the pellet feeder and then had a great spell on the pole to win the section and the match.

Gear used

Colmic 7401 x3 pole

0.2 Jon Walker pellet diamond 

0.135 F1 Spider Line

0.09 Colmic Stream hooklength

20 Drennan Carp match.

Pellet feeder set up.

Colmic Next Adventure 45 rod

25 gram Matrix pellet feeder

0.145 Stream hooklength

18 Drennan Carp Match

I had 40 ish F1's and 2 small carp.  Great days fishing, and a nice welcome back present.  Ain't been there for ages.

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Hillview Fishery

Peg 38
53lb 8oz
No good
6 fished

Had a bit of a mare to begin with, hooked two carp and lost both of them!!!  One I came back with a length of line and shot, and the other was foul hooked and came back with a scale.  Then had 4 in a row on popped up bread..... then nothing.  So on the pole and all I could catch was brown goldfish, I was going nowhere, especially as they were catching F1's to my left. 

Shaun Gould started slow and then started caught F1's steady on the pole and maggots.  For a 99lb, impressive weight.  Second place was close bewteen Steve Rich (66lb 8) and Arthur Hicks (65lb). Steve had two late BIG carp just enough to beat Arthur by 1lb 8oz.
Me, 8 carp, 2 F1's and tiny but beautiful goldfish on the pole for a disappointing 53lb.  But everyone caught and had an enjoyable day (which is the most important thing).

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Harescombe Fishery

Peg 6
14lb
No good
Won silvers (11lb)
13 fished

Haven't fished Harescombe for ages and I was well chuffed that Ralph Hillier was running a match on Field lake.

Won the silvers with 11lb

Frank Donachie won the match, guy is on fire at the moment.

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