Recent match results/event info

Rob's day

At Hall Farm today after a week of temperatures into the 30’s. A bit cooler today but still sunny with a gentle breeze blowing across the lake into peg 26. Wasn’t too sure how it would fish today due to the recent heat and the fact that it was noted that the fish were spawning at the weekend.

Walking round the lake early on, a lot of fish swimming around in nearly all pegs and many fish sitting around in the margins, especially on the low bank. I drew peg 26 – didn’t win a couple of weeks ago but a peg you would definitely have, always some fish close in and across to the reeds. Set up a short pole line, margin rigs and a couple of shallow ones as it looked like the fish could have a feed on the top.

Started trying to mug a few swimming around, but no success as the fish seemed very spooky. No bites short on the bottom so tried the method across to the reeds. After several line bites managed a couple but didn’t really want to fish the tip so went back to the pole shallow. In retrospect maybe should have spent more time on the feeder, as had one fish on the jigger then nothing.

After a couple of hours fish were appearing in the margins – close to the keepnets – some good fish including a couple around 10lb or so. This is where it went a bit wrong – I spent most of the remainder of the match trying to catch the margin fish – they were very spooky and I foul hooked more fish than properly hooked ones including a fish around 8lb hooked in the tail that took around 15 minutes of tug of war before somehow netting it.

Definitely should have rethought the tactics for the last couple of hours as despite the number of fish ended with 48lb 7oz – not a terrible weight but not great for this peg in May. That was enough for second on the high bank though with Gary Pickard weighing in a creditable 84lb 8oz from peg 18 – a great result – a lot of fish caught shallow I believe [About 50:50 - Gary]. Third on the bank Graham Carter with 46lb 11oz from peg 22.

The low bank fished well with peg 2 winning the day, Jeff Pearson weighing in 62lb 3oz, Peter Green second with 61lb 7oz from peg 6 and Phil completing the frame with 48lb 6oz from peg 8

So we all caught some fish today – maybe a rethink before the next Hall Farm match needed. Thank to Gary today with the help in weighing in and well done on top weight on the day. Photo today is a very happy Jeff.

Rob's day

At Beggar's Hall today – 14 on the lake today with a brisk wind blowing down the lake into the car park side. Hadn’t fished the high bank for a while so fancied a draw on that bank, so no surprise when I drew peg 12, next to Ray on 13. The lilies had now grown on these pegs so just set up a feeder rod for by the lilies and further out to the island, and a couple of pole rigs for close to the lilies and down the edge.

After a slow start finally got a bite on the feeder and landed a small carp around 3lb. Ray then had a couple – a small carp around a pound and a tench. Looking across Tony looked to be fishless on peg 16 but next to him on 17 Bill had caught a couple of decent carp. A change to the pole with dead maggots on the hook resulted in a quick bite and straight in the lilies! Next put in and managed to get the carp away from the snags – just – and landed a good double.

A bit frustrating as the next two resulted in the hook being transferred from the carp into the lilies – the fish seem to be already in them when striking. Tried a bit away from the pads but no bites. The next couple of hours was quiet – into the last 45 minutes and had packed up the pole (not a sign in the margins) and concentrated on the feeder by the pads. Had 3 more pull rounds in the last 30 minutes, one small carp about 2lb, one decent fish around 8lb and a 3lb bream. Ended the match with 31lb 2oz, so reasonably happy with that from peg 12. Ray didn’t have any more fish.

Weighed in clockwise around the lake – Tony Cruci had a small carp but didn’t weigh in – Bill had 5 carp for 38lb 1oz and top weight on the bank. Some struggled for carp on the high bank but Tony Parker managed a few for 34lb 10oz and second from peg 21 and Graham made third from peg 18 with 19lb 13oz.

On the low bank my catch was good enough for second with John Carter winning with 38lb 15oz from peg 5 which included a good double caught down the edge. Apart from Ray’s small fish, no more carp caught on the low bank with Bob Fox’s 6lb 11oz of roach giving him 3rd place on the bank.

So, a few carp feeding but difficult today for most of us to get bites, with very few carp apparently coming into the edge yet. Photo today is Tony Parker.

Rob's day

At Hall Farm today – first thing the lake looked good with little wind and blue sky but that was about to change. Twelve on the bank today, seven on the Low Bank and five on the High. With pegs 18 and 20 in I really wanted one of the pegs nearer to the car park so was not unhappy to be left with peg 24 in the bag. Had John Carter to my left on 22 and Bill on peg 26.

At the start of the match the wind was not so bad, blowing into peg 26. Decided mainly to fish hard pellets at around 6 meters today, also setting up a couple of margin rigs in around 2 ½ foot. After about 20 minutes started to get a few bites – mainly smallish carp and F1s but already the wind started to be a problem with a strong tow on the water right to left.

Looked to be quiet on the Low Bank with one or two carp coming out and a few splashes from peg 26. Still getting a few bites, some missed bites and a couple of foul hookers, maybe the fish coming off the bottom. Fed a bit heavier to try and keep the fish down and had one or two runs of a few bites. Half-way through I had 45lb clicked so moved onto the second net (always a tricky manoeuvre) and that’s when the weather took a turn for the worse. Along with a couple of rain bursts the wind increased and gusted about causing some of the biggest waves I’ve seen at Hall Farm! This made fishing the pole almost impossible at times but I was cheered up with the sight of Barry on peg 2 fighting with his brolly in the wind!

When the wind dropped a bit I managed a few more carp but the second half of the match was tricky for me – tried the margins but no signs so kept out at 6 meters. Wasn’t sure what had been caught but Phil on peg 3 looked to have a good second half with some good carp down his edge.

At the weigh in Bill had 44lb 9oz, my first net did not go 45lb but went over by several pounds (have to work on the clicking) I think the carp were going heavier than we thought today. So knocked back to 50lb my total was 72lb 3oz to win the High Bank with John Carter second with 46lb 13oz and Bill third with 44lb 9oz. On the Low Bank Phil’s 46lb was enough to top the bank with Jeff’s 39lb 10oz from peg 5 second and Peter on the more sheltered peg 12 third with 26lb 13oz.

So all types of weather today, high winds, rain and at times sunshine, maybe with better conditions in the second half I could have had more, but possibly the winds help churn up the water and caused the carp to feed today with most catching a few.

Rob's day

Back at Beggar's Hall today for an Interclub match with Abbey Cross. A bit colder than the last few days with a chilly wind blowing away from the carpark end. We lent Abbey Tony Heath to make the teams 8 a side, so with 16 anglers on the lake a couple of dodgy pegs had to be put in.

At the draw the only peg I didn’t want was peg 2 so no surprise when that was left for me when all others had drawn, I suppose someone had to have it. Not many options on this peg as the margins are not great – very shallow and rooty under the willow to the left (also lily pads to the left that you can’t reach due to the tree). Deep to the right amongst the tree roots. The main attack was the feeder just up to the tree as the lake is narrow here and I had Peter Green opposite on peg 22.

Match started with Peter catching a carp on the waggler after a few seconds, couldn’t see anyone else.
Nothing after 3 hours then a pull round out of the blue and a carp around 7lb. Sadly no more bites – tried the pole out long, and the margins but no signs of life – apart from a family of geese that repeatedly attacked my groundbait bowl – least something was eating it.

At the weigh in – Martin kindly weighed the low bank while after putting my carp on the scales for 7lb (and last in the match!) went to see some fish on the high bank. Peter had added another small carp (which he tried to pass as a roach!), a tench and a bream for 14lb 4oz – Graham had 31lb 2oz from 21 and Jeff 11lb 13oz from peg 20. As expected, pegs 19 down to 16 produced the best weight on the day with Bill 50lb 9 oz and second from peg 19, Bob Fox 33lb from 18, Fred winning the bank and top weight on the day with 54lb 2oz, and Tony Heath getting 3rd with 39lb 7oz from peg 16. Tony also deposited his phone and glasses into the lake – I think he retrieved his phone but if anyone catches a pair of sunglasses on peg 16.

On the low bank Tony Parker topped the day with 26lb from peg 13, Ray Gibson second from peg 4 with 17lb 13oz and Tony Cruci third with 16lb 7oz – so a good day for Tony’s.

The team result – Bishop's Stortford 74 points Abbey Cross 62. Thanks again for Martin and Abbey Cross for their help today – also to Alan who tried to take my peg this morning – mistaking peg 2 for peg 3 – I wish he had stayed there! Photo today is Fred with his winning catch.

Rob's day

At Malcolm Barker Lake today - looked like it was going to be a sunny but windy day. Eleven on the bank today – I drew peg 4 next to Phil on 3 and Ray the other side, so at least I could have a chat if no bites came.

A bit limited as to where to fish as a large weed bed extended across the peg at around 11 meters, so set up a pole rig for just before the weeds and another closer in by some lilies – both about the same depth – 7 feet or so. Fed some groundbait and started out long – after a couple of hours not a sign. Tony over on 19 had a good start though, landing a 3lb tench within the first half hour. John Carter also had a tench on 16 so at least a few feeding.

All quiet on my bank from what I could see, Phil having a couple of roach, but Ray, Fred and myself all fishless. Fred apparently having a couple of wrap rounds on the feeder but nothing on the end. News had it Terry and Steve on pegs 8 and 10 had a few tench between them.

The swirling wind on our side of the bank causing problems today – at times hard to hold the pole, not helped by a large amount of weed etc constantly floating up and down the lake. In the end Steve’s peg was almost totally covered. Into the last hour and a try close in produced a couple of tiny bites and two micro perch. Looked like that was it – thought about packing up with 15 minutes left ready for the weigh in but one last cast close to the lilies brought another tiny bite, but this time more solid resistance on the strike. After trying to get in the lilies and under the staging landed a tench around 3lb.

Weighed in the low bank first. Phil not quite a pound of small roach, my 3lb 1oz followed by DNWs from Ray and Fred. It was better at the far end though with Terry weighing 7lb dead for second place and Steve 3 tench for 11lb 10oz and top weight on the day.

On the other bank John Carter came third overall with 4lb 1oz and Tony completed the frame, his early tench the only one he caught and weighed 3lb 10oz . So at least a few tench caught today, but hard fishing with very few bites for most. Photo is today's winner Steve.

Rob's day

Hall Farm today – numbers a bit down so pegged 6 on the low bank, 5 on the high bank missing out some of the middle pegs that haven’t been doing so well lately. At the draw bag drew peg 20 – not my favourite peg being at the start of the deep water. Walking to the peg it was obvious that John Carter would be difficult to beat today on peg 26 – already several dark shapes swimming around in his peg.

After no success with pellets here on Sunday, just set up a pole for fishing a top 2 and 2 in around 8 feet of water with maggots (nasty cold wind blowing into my face) and a couple of margin rigs although the margins here are around 4 foot deep – not ideal. Also, a method rod although didn’t think the fish would be on the bottom in 12 feet of water.

A good start with a carp after 15 minutes and a few gudgeon and perch. Thought this might be the start of a few but did not get another carp on this line – just gudgeon plus a couple of nice roach and a bonus 12oz skimmer. Tried the margins a couple of times but seemed empty of fish. Over the other side it looked to be fishing hard although most seemed to have one or two carp each halfway through. As expected, news was that after a couple of hours John was on about 8 carp. Definitely fishing for second place today. Eventually a few carp turned up in the left margin and I had 3 in the last 20 minutes on meat.

At the weigh in the low bank had fished hard with Phil topping the bank with 20lb 11oz which included one that looked a double (picture) – Adrian second from peg 4 with 3 carp for 10lb 4oz and Steve Foster third with 8lb 10oz from peg 2 (I think he expected more from that peg)

On the high bank not so close! John fished well to record 106lb 8oz – second from peg 22 Bill with 25lb 9oz which included a nice carp around 8lb landed on the whistle. Tony third from peg 24 with 23lb 1oz – my fish went 20lb 8oz for nowhere.

So, with the exception of peg 26, the lake fished relatively hard, hopefully as summer approaches the fish spread out a bit not making drawing peg 26 a formality.