Alvechurch Fisheries - Canal Lake

Peg 11
41lb
No good (as Antony pointed out i was 7th)
14 anglers fished

14 anglers on todays match, prayed mot to draw peg 14 again..... as it is a little tight at the top, with 16, 14, 12 and 11.  Draw 11, which should be alright, a lit of fish here last week, at least I will have my own peg............

Started on 8mm bread at 13 meters..... 1 foul hooked 5lber, most people playing there second.   Went in again and pricked one.... not feedibg fish.  Then a roach, terrible sign and then a 2lb carp in the first twenty mintues.  I was getting battered either side.  So decided to feed morcos and maggots, had a carp straight away.  Then nothing but roach.  Nightmare.  With 1.5 hours gone, Sreve had 13 carp and AJ had 5 to my 3 carp.

Tried hard to catch..... didnt happen, caught a few ide on the 5 meter line, but that wasn't lasting, getting more frustrated i decided to feed a decent amount of maggots and mirco on two lines.... and last 1 hour had 5 carp, 2 barbel and 5 ide, quite productive, but i was way too far behind to come back from the dead.

Maybe my expectations / standards are too high, but i do consider 7th out of 14 anglers is a blow out.

Happy new year to you all.  Lets hope 2019 is a little better?!

ALL the weights.

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Harescombe

Peg 5
25lb
6th overall
11 anglers.
Field Lake.

Drew peg 5, which was right up the top of the lake, very shallow, a little clear, a bit concerned.  But the locals said it won last week with 70lb.  So happy days??!!

Amazing start on the lead, two carp for ten pound within 5 mintues...... 2 carp in the second hour and 1 at 12.14 and then out another bite!!!! (Well, caught three roach).  Wanted one more fish for the frame, as my 5 carp went 25lb. It was a bit gutting seeing my match slip away.  Hoped to catch in last hour and failed, a bit gutted and surprised that the fish never came back.....   a few lads catch well in last hour/ 40 mintues.

I weighed 25lb for "last" (5th overall).

96lb won it.  Peg 1
55lb second. Peg 11
30lb third.  Peg 4

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Manor Farm Leisure- Open match

Peg 7 Ash.  (Flyer)
57lb
Won section  (default)
5th Overall
16 people fished the match

Got to love Dave for spreading 16 anglers over 3 lakes.  So we all have some room, and we should HOPEFULLY all be on some fish?!

Peg 7 Ash is always a good peg, the only thing it hasn't got good is a long edge.... but still a cracking peg none the less.

I set up....

Bread and lead
Pellets at 14.5 meters
Pellets at 6 meters
Edge infront of peg 5

Mid match i set up the waggler, which caught me a few extra fish, but was miles behind Paul on peg 4, who caught down his edge on the method feeder, had a few munters.

Really frustrating, only had one carp and couple of blade skimmers on the 14.5 meter line!  I caught a few fish on lead and the life saver was two munters in the last 25 mintues at 5 meters on pellets.  6mm Spotted Fin expanders, lucky this got me the section win by default.

Liam Dennick won the match again, drew peg 6 on Island, which is a good peg ("best peg in Europe") and made no mistake by winning.  He caught on lead and the pole.  Fair play.  The lad is on fire at the moment, yeah he draws a few good/decent pegs, but don't wastes them, like i did to my peg today.  Thats the difference, some anglers make way too excuses and never their fault, even if the peg has won the last three matches.

Couple of big carp late.

All the weights.  #tellnolies

Liam Dennick on fire 

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Alvechurch - Canal

Peg 14
62lb
5th
14 fished

Im not a biggest fan of snake lakes, main reason is i'm not very good at fishing them, so this is something that I need to change.

So booked onto the Christmas Match at Alvechurch Fishery, on the Canal lake. which is truely a great venue, but with 18 booked on it was going to be a little tight, but hay ho, its Christmas.......  however only 14 anglers turned up.  Drew peg 14, which normally aint the best and on arrive to my peg, after Phil Evans laughing himself to death, it was tight.  My island was well and truely boxed in and is very shallow against the far bank and no cover.

Had one line only on far bank and no place for the fish to back off....... well in the other pegs.

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Harescombe Fisheries - Field Lake

Peg 2 (middle of dam wall)
74lb
Won match
14 anglers fished

Harescombe Fisheries today for their Christmas match, on Field Lake.  Wanted to redeme myself, as I come last on my last match here.

Started off been the good samaritan, as Paul Dicks left his keepnets at home, as he came pleasure fishing, but realised there was a match and he was lucky to get on it, as there was a couple of drop outs.  As a result the draw gods must of been smiling on me and rewarded me a decent peg.  Peg 2 on the dam wall..........

Started on the lead and bread but feed maggots at 7 meters and pellets at 14.5 meters.  Unreal, the first 5 mintues saw 2 carp in the net!! Dream start.... but no bites on anything for next 45 mintues.  Then had another on yellow meat, which is Spotted Fins, Frankfurther with some yellow die.  Closetest thing I found to Mainline NRG.   I think its important not to panic and do something silly like feeding or feed too much.  Looking around the lake, Derek was the only catching down his edge in the early part of the match.  So sat quietly, waiting for them to come back.

Quick looks on the pole proved to be unproductive, so topped them up with small amounts of bait and felt/hoped that i would catch on the pole late.... which I did.

I had 10 carp on the lead, 1 on yellow meat, and the rest on bread and 4 on the pole over pellets.  Biggest fish was 8lb common on the pole and also had 3 skimmers and a few roach on the pole. 

Lead rig

The bread was 3 x 12mm disc on 0.18 to size 14 QM1 and 30cm popped up.

Part of my catch.

All weights off today's match. Very tight for second place, only one fish in it.

Cheers to Andy Price, decent hamper.

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Ian Garner Memorial Match.

Peg 16 Staits Lake
1lb 8oz
13 points out 20.
34 anglers fished
Raised £549.30 for cancer

I drew for us, maybe not the best idea, but i drew pegs 16.  Which saw me on the "beach" (not bikini weather) and Dan on the airetor on small patch of lilies.  Now, i didnt quite know how Dan's peg was going to fair, as it was very clear and looked tough.  Just shows what i know...... 13 Tench later and 51lb!!

For me, just was praying for a bite, spent most of my time on the tip praying for a bite.  Got one, which was a 6 oz skimmer (WTF).  And had one bite on the pole, which was a slighlty bigger skimner 1lb 2oz.  Ouch.   Got beat by Andy burns, who had 2 bites for 19lb 10oz. 1 carp would of saw me and Dan to win Ian's memorial match, but wasn't to be...    gutted.  As i fancied a carp.  Also never caught any roach on the pole.  Unreal.  Top bank saw a few caught.  And Malcom caught some of the bottom bank, but the middle of match was brutel.  As you can see quite a few DNW on Staits.

Top 3 pairs

Andy Burns and Glyn Loveday

Vince Grillo and John Merchant 

Me and Dan Garner 

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Manor Farm Leisure - Winter league round 3

Peg 36 Island
32lb
2nd on lake/section

Got pgoto bombed by Gaey Watts

Island Pool fished hard 

Hoping to get Windmill Pool or a bung hole on Ash Pool.  Well that didn't happen.....  peg 36 Island.  Not ideal, wouldnt be my first choice of pegs, but is better than Peg 16 and 18 on Island.

I had 7 fish in first 2 hours on the lead..... lost one and never had another carp /F1 anywhere in my peg!!! Unreal.

Caught about 7lb of bits on the pole, mainly skimmers, was worried carp could switch on, so last hour stuck it out on lead for no bites or liners......Weighed a total of 32lb for 2nd on lake/section.

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Ivy House Lakes

Peg 28
18lb 8oz
Won Silvers
23 fished

Ivy House Lakes Christmas Match today.  Willow and Match pool now have islands in, so its changed quite alot since i was last there.   Drew peg 28, which was a little unknown, as no one had fished it since the work.   The peg used to be 6 foot deep and was only 3.5 foot deep, not 6 foot like it used to be, so i looked a bit silly with 0.75 gram rig, so that went back in the box.

I really didn't fancy it for carp and therefore decided to fish for silvers for most of the match, which I just won.   I honestly believe I wouldn't catch carp in our area.  Andy did manage 3, but he had a bit more room and depth.  And if he found it hard going, then ive got no chance.  So choose to fish for bites and had a great day.  Really enjoyed it.

I simply fished maggots and pinkies at 9 meters.   Caught all roach, apart from 4 small skimmers.  Fished 0.09 on a black gamma, size 18 hook.  I feed just under 1 pint of red maggots, quarter of a pint of pinkies and 1 kilo of Marukyu dark fishmeal....

Love catching roach 

Winner winner chicken dinner.  Gary won with 75lb

Garbolino UK1

Roach Rig
J Range 3 - 5 elastic
4x12 Jon Walker "Silm"
0.14 Garbolino Fluro Line
0.09 Black Gama size 18

Edge/long

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


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Thoughts of 2018

2018 has been quite a strange year for me.

Fishing wise, I had a great summer run on Open matches, these ranged from 8 to 30 peg matches, as in there was 8 to 30 anglers fishing the matches.  Some anglers reports make we laugh, as they lie on the numbers, i.e. 30 pegger when only 10 fished.  Not sure why people do this?!

"Chasing the dream matches" (Golden Reel, Fish O Mania and Maver Match This) have been very disappointing for me, I honestly believe ALL the draws I had, had no chance of winning.  A bit gutting, but will chase it again more this year.

Todber Manor 

A new venue for me, Todber Manor.  Wow what a venue.  Its solid!!  Only fished 3 matches at Todber Manor, had two seconds and a match win and qualified for the King of Manor, so job done.  Would love to go there more, but it 2 hour drive there from my house.   I would HIGHLY recommend this venue.  Why?  Not many rules, no silly rules, clean, tidy, use your own pellets and catch loads of fish hopefully.  Will go more in 2019 for sure.

Ivy House Lakes

Only fished Ivy House lakes 5 times this year, as we are lucky to get so many different venues to fish, if anything there is too many venues..... At Ivy House lakes I had 3 lake wins, Won Silvers and a 4th overall.  Not bad, really enjoy the new canals and don't know why I shied away from them.

18lb of mainly roach on the Christmas match

I would like to add that Ivy House Lakes will be mega soon.  They have dig another lake, which looks awesome.  Also Willow and Match Lakes are one lake again, which is nice.

Alvechurch Fishery

Really do enjoy Horseshoe Lake, set a new venue record of 212lb in 5 hours and came third in my Dad's Memorial match Final.  A good friend, Jon Walker won that.  Thursday afternoon /evening matches are simply awesome.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship does seem to be loosly used these days, when I was in my twenties there wasn't many sponsored anglers, and if you were, then honoured.... Now 15 years on many anglers have individual sponsorship and team deals.  Can't think why tackle shops are struggling and shutting down......

My Colmic boss Francesco Corrente left the company the end of 2017, which was disappointing as he is a good man and is truly missed.  So we were appointed a new boss, Nicola Bonora, which I never meet or spoken too.  There was loads of rumours of Phil Briscoe taking the UK Sales role, but nothing come of it, never realised how many experts there are on Facebook.  In February 2018 I was asked to stand down as a Sales Rep for Colmic after six years, but Colmic wanted me to stay as a sponsored angler still, as my roles were a promoter and part time role as Sales Rep.  So I decided to leave Colmic, as I felt this was an insult, especially of what I had done in promotion and paid for stock that was damaged in Evesham Tackle fire (another story, Id like to stress that I did get my money back from Colmic) so my contracted ended in March 2018.

The biggest issue of me leaving Colmic was the final collapse of the group.  Our group had done well and we are all friends still.  Frank Donachie went to Mosella in January 2018 and few other lads like Glen Picton who went to Garbolino and Mark Malin who went to MAP to prior to Frank leaving.  Also Rob Guppy decided to leave and went to Guru.  This left myself, Liam Dennick and Gary Donachie from individual sponsorship and Devizes Match Group, which I advised them to stay with Colmic, which they all decided to leave, without my influence.  Which for me was disappointing after what was built up.

I joined Mosella in spring and it was good to be soley a promoter along side Frank Donachie and now Gary Donachie.  This meant i could spend more time on my own fishing, which I really hadn't done for a few years.

Another highlight of the year is getting sponsorship through Spotted Fin, who do make good quailty products and give a fanastic direct customer service.  So looking forward to 2019.

Marukyu UK

Marukyu was very good to me, and I am very grateful to Howard Kaye who supported me right from day one.  Not all their products were fanastic, but the Animo pellets and EFG150/EFF151 without no doubt helped me catch more fish.  However, Marukyu decided to stop trading in the UK.  This was disappointing, Marukyu released a press report....

Change of career

I also had an interview with Zebco (Browning) for the Sales Rep job for the South, which I unfortunately didn't get.  Congratulations to Ryan Gibson on getting the job, I wish you well.

YouTube

I'm a little disappointed in myself of not doing more videos on my YouTube channel, this link is below:

Chris Telling YouTube

Therefore in 2019 I will do more videos, as i believe people don't like reading and people sooner press play.  So I will have a proper go this year.

2019

I'm looking forward to 2019, as shouldn't have any more family issues, as theres hardly anyone left.  Been a bit rough the last 3 years.  Also only working one job now, I'm able to spend time soley on myself.

Would like to get on the

Rolfs Festival in Easter or Heronbrook

Manor Farm Leisure in May

Chasing a few big matches, Fish O Mania etc

Get my motivation back for team fishing with Devizes MG.  Be nice to win the team and individual winter league again and be nice to do well in the Spring League on the Kennet and Avon canal.

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Alvechurch Fisheries- Canal

Peg 11
45lb
3rd overall
Only 10 fished

I fancied a change from Manor Farm Leisure, so went to Alvechurch Fisheries, which unfortunately don't have regular Sunday opens, so was pleased to get on it.  Also I encouraged the two Gary's and Liam to go, than a few more folllowed.  Good job, as there was only 10 of us.

Peg 9 was apparently the flyer, its won the lsst three matches including yesterday.  So was pleased to draw peg 11.  Hoped to catch, but Phil Evans  (fishing manager) said only 37lb come off it yesterday....

On the all in, the Dobbin rig came out.  Bobbed a couple of places, and my third spot to my left caught me a carp, Mark Malib was on his third.... fair play the lad sacked up.  Myself 8 in first hour and only ended up with 13.  Lost 3 in a row, and seemed to ruin my peg.

Caught Ide at 5 meters on maggots, which in reflection should of stayed on!!  Just missed out on second place.  51lb to my VERY disappointed 45lb.  Mark had 133lb, all weights below.   This winter fishing has been a little rough for me... last few matches have been immensly hard.

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Harescombe Fisheries- Field Lake

Peg 8
10lb 8oz
Last (8th... may as well be last)
12 fished

Harescombe Fisheries again, back on Field Lake for the Thursday affordable.  12 fishing todays match, which is a good turn out considering the frost, as it was a killer.  Anyway hoped for some bites, and even if the carp dont feed, which is highly unlikely, then the lake is RAMMED with roach.

Drew peg 8, which was a little to high up, but still hoped for a few bites.

Started by cupping in a few mircos and 4mm pellets at 13 meters at 11 O'clock position (angel and not the time) and started on 10mm bread at 2 O'Clock position to catch a 4oz skimmer first put and another second put..... when on the pellet line as a few early carp were hooked, so thought they were having an early feed.... anyway caught a skimmer.  Worried of lack of carp.... and that was the case.  After 1.5 hours, the lake had switched off, i still havent seen a carp and Paul Dicks had slowed down, he had caught 4 decent ones on bomb and bread in the middle of the lake.   So fished for roach for 2 hours and caught maybe 6lb of them...  it was getting stronger, but wasn't going to win anything, so decided to go all out for carp and only had one at 14.5 meters.  1 bite one carp. 

Fished pretty well considering the freezing conditions and EVERYONE caught.  It may of been little rough.  But 7lb of roach and small skimmers and 1 carp is better than nothing.

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Manor Farm Leisure - Island and Middle Pools

Peg 12 Middle
15lb
Last
13 fished

A poor draw yesterday and a shocker today.  2 carp and 2 small skimmers for 15lb.  Welcome to winter fishing!!

Manor Farm Leisure- Winter league round 2

Peg 18 Island Pool.
23lb 10oz
6th in section / lake
Winter over

Round 2 of the Manor Farm Winter league, and needed a win, after coming last on the last round.  So wanted a flyer, and got peg 18 Island.  A few months ago this would of been AWESOME, but lately been awful.  But with fishing you never know.

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Manor Farm Leisure

Peg 27
80lb.
Second on lake
6th overall.
24 fished.

Manor Farm Leisure again, nice turn out 24 fishing.  So it was decided 6 on Ash Pool, which has been awesome, then 6 Middle Pool and 12 on Island Pool.  I drew peg 27 Middle Pool, which has been an alright area, to be honest i fancied any peg on Middle Pool with only 6 anglers on it.

I started short, for one skimmer, which wasn't the best of signs and then gone to 14.5 meters, where the chaos started..... forst put resulted me loosing a 8lb mirror at the net, which unfortunately broke me.  Then went out to loose 60% of my fish...... even Mocker on peg 3 Middle was foul hooking on lead?!  WTF.... not sure why this was happening.  Peg is only 3.5 foot deep.... didnt catch many F1's.... they were in mouth and was no problems.  But carp were funny fu#kers.....  I know, "I'll chuck a lead".... no bites

I fished a poor match, lost loads, like a lot of anglers today fishing Middle Pool.  I couldn't figure it out.  Even lost 3 carp down the edge out of 7, all hook pulls, dont get broke on 0.18!!  I had three carp in the last 15 mintues and lost 1, rushing.

Manor Farm Leisure winter league next weekend.  Praying for a flyer.... peg 24 Windmill, peg 21 Ash Pool or Peg 6 Island (best peg in Europe).

Some old warrior carp

Gear used

Garbolino UK1 Pole

Margins
0.3 Gram Jon Walker float
2.5mm Mosella Ozone Hollow elastic
0.18 GARBOLINO FLURO LINE STRAIGHT THROUGH.
16 B911

0.4 gram Jon Walker pellet diamond
1.8mm Mosella Ozone Hollow elastic
0.14 Garbolino fluro line
0.12 Shimano Silk Shock line
18 Guru Slwg

All weights above #nolies

Good weights again Ash Pool been on top again.

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Harescombe Fisheries- Field Lake

Hardest fighting carp ever!!!

Really looking forward to fishing Harescombe Fisheries, especially on Field Lake, this lake is awesome.  Haven't been to Harescombe for 18 months or more.  Which is quite sad, as its only 7 miles from my house.  However, Andy is hoping to run some silver matches January and February!!  So look out on their Facebook page....  click on link below

Harescombe Fisheries Facebook page

Field Lake is good as it normally always fishes ALL year round and the fish fight so hard, like Alvechurch on Horseshoe Lake.

Todays match was a private booking and it was only a 10 peg knock up, nice friendly, as it should be.  Weighed 126lb to just beat my second best mate.....

Caught ALL fish down the edge, bar one carp at 13 meters.   From 2pm to 3pm it was solid!!  Caught on 2 maggots on 0.18 to 0.4 rig.  Simples.  I feed 2punts of red maggots and 1 pint of mirco pellet.

Thanks to Tim for letting me fish

1. Myself 126lb
2nd Frank Donachie 113lb
3rd Ralph Hillier 92lb

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Manor Farm Leisure

Peg 14 Ash
88lb
2nd on lake (only 5 on lake)
3rd overall
15 fished

Manor Farm Leisure today......just for a change!!! 😂

My last few matches at Manor Farm Leisure have been slightly poor, still caught fish, like the last Winter League.  I came last but had about 70 fish, mainly skimmers, so plenty of bites.  As i say, "take the rough with the smooth".  I seem to be having more rough!!!

Dave (owner) decided to put 5 people on Ash Pool and 10 on Island Pool.   So hoped to be on Ash, and drew peg 14, which is a peg that i would not of choose, as there's 4 better pegs in my opinion.  HOWEVER Steve Partington had 100lb the day before, 5 carp and 20 odd F1's. 

I set up everything, as i had a nasty feeling that middle part of the match could be really rough, which it was and a caught a few on the lead and pellet.  I had an awesome first fifteen mintues on the pole at 6 meters, 3 f1's and 2 skimmers.  Went long and caught a couple of skimmers and a tench!!! Things werent looking good and Gary Watts was catching "skimners" (3lb F1's 😂😂😂) and Mike was emptying it.  And i do mean EMPTYING it on the pole.  An impressive bag of fish, thanks for winning the lake, as this got me the section/lake win by DEFAULT.

I caught best down the edge on 4mm expanders in the last 1.5 hours, only one carp about (7lb) and rest big F1's.  Enjoyable day, as i had to work at it to get bites.

ALL weights below. 

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Manor Farm Leisure- Thursday affordable

Peg 4 Middle Pool
37lb
Won section
16 fished