Recent match results/event info

Rob's day

Back at Hall Farm today – temperatures up to 24 degrees today and what little wind there was blowing down the lake into peg 12.

It was the first round of the Summer League with 15 anglers on the lake hoping for a few bites. Looking at recent results, a peg with shallow water seemed best today so pegs 26, 1 and maybe the pegs at the other end 12 and 13 would be favourable, definitely not a draw in the middle of the lake i.e. peg 19 where I drew. Had Tony next peg on 17 similar to the last Wednesday match here where Tony had a few carp. Match also started similar to that match with Tony catching a couple of carp close in to the reeds early on.

After starting on the pole with maggots in about 8 foot of water only had a couple of gudgeon after an hour or so. Went down the edge on corn and an instant bite resulted in hooking a large carp. After a good fight the carp popped up in between my nets, a good double, before burying itself into the bankside weeds. Looked like it was coming out when the hooklink snapped!!

The next 4 hours were biteless despite trying everywhere and various baits. Tony also seemed to get no more fish. On the other side, Ray looked to be doing well, landing a couple of big carp, also Peter now catching steadily on peg 1. The pegs in the middle looked to be quiet. Into the last 15 minutes, and just chucking a feeder out at around 13 meters while I packed away the pole resulted in 3 bites and 3 small carp for a total of 11lb 14oz and nowhere.

Elsewhere on the high bank the best weights were predictable with Graham Carter making no mistake with 60lb 3oz and top weight from peg 26. Bill 2nd from the other corner peg 13 with 27lb 15oz – good to see some fish from this end. Fred completed the frame from peg 23 with 27lb 12oz (close for 2nd on this bank with three 27lb weights)

On the low bank peg 1 came first with Peter Green weighing 37lb 11oz with Ray’s fish going 27lb 12oz. Jeff on the other end peg 12 coming third with 15lb 15oz.

A lot of fish caught in the margins today, although it seems best to avoid the middle pegs at the moment.

Rob's day

At Taylor's Top Lake today for an inter-club match with Abbey Cross. Good conditions with it being reasonably warm, overcast and little wind, although most venues are patchy at the moment with some good weights and some blanks. It was going to be the same today.

We had ten signed on to the match today to Abbey's seven, so lent them Gary Pickard today with the instructions not to catch too much (obviously wasn’t listening).

I drew peg 36 today next to Peter on 37 – normally a good area for a few fish. Just set up the pole today at 13 meters with a light rig and one a bit heavier as a few pads had started to emerge.

The start of the match saw some action with in-form Ray picking up a couple of F1s from corner peg 38 and across from me Alan Fox had a couple and lost one. I then had a quick bite before I knew it was embedded in the lily pads – at least I got my rig back. Peter then lost one before I had another bite and this time bullied away from the pads and landed an F1 around 4lb. Half an hour later another bite and a 4lb bream gave up quickly and cruised into the net. Sadly this was my last bite.

The Lake seemed to switch off (never came on for most) and we all seemed to sit biteless with the exception of Gary on peg 52 not following orders and went on to catch 3 good bream – fishing 14 ½ meters on the pole.

The weigh in showed only six people caught – well done to Gary winning the match with 10lb 10oz, Alan Fox second with 9lb 2oz, Ray's two fish went 8lb 9oz for third. I came fourth with 8lb 1oz and Bill completed the frame with a late F1 for 6lb 8oz.

Team result – Abbey won 45 points to 42 – not too many fish today but those that were caught were a very good quality. Thanks to Abbey Cross for hosting the match. No fish picture, but my swim across to Tony on peg 44.

Rob's day

At Malcolm Barkers today – with some trepidation looking at past form, although mindful of Darren's tench catch on peg 18 a few weeks back. Steve drew that peg, I drew the last peg on the high bank, 10 – also the golden peg for what it was worth.

Nasty conditions today – a cold wind coming in from the left to start, with a forecast of rain and stronger winds to follow.

Set up a pole and a waggler to fish near the lillies, and started on the feeder trying for a lucky carp. Five hours later not a sign from anywhere, the same for all on the low bank.

A quick weigh in today – Barry managed one roach for 2 oz which gave him 2nd place, but the easy winner today, Ray from peg 3 with a late double figure carp – apparently losing another two. Not much action to report today – glad to get home today!

In what ended up a very tight League there were 4 in contention before the sixth and final round with only 4 points separating the top 4. With a big turn out for the last Winter League match there was plenty of scope for a last minute charge.

In the end it all came down to 4oz - both Rob and Bill had just the one carp each at Hall Farm but Rob's slightly bigger fish meant he snuck ahead of Bill and Phil by one point or we would have had a 3 way tie.

1st Rob Calderon 65 points
Jt 2nd Bill Beeston & Phil Whitmill 64 points
4th Tony Cruci 61 points

Rob's day

Back at Hall Farm today for the final round of the Winter League – with all to play for with just a couple of points between myself, Bill and Phil, so the draw would be crucial today (so we thought!). A warm and sunny day was promised so we were hopeful of a good day and with a good turnout of 16 anglers.

I drew peg 16 – not one of my favourites with Tony C to my left on end peg 15. Started short on the pole with maggots and had the first bite at around 45 minutes and put a 5lb carp in the net. The first bite in fact turned out to be the last bite! Apart from one foul hooker that came off I could not get another bite from the pole line/feeder or down the margins.

On the other bank there was a bit of activity, Tony P and Ray on pegs 1 and 2 having an early carp then Phil a couple on the feeder a bit later on. Tony C then found some carp by the reeds to his left and managed to land about 7 or 8 fish – some good ones on the pole. News was that, even in the usually pretty reliable car park pegs, it was for some reason fishing really hard.

Adrian across on peg 13 had already had a couple and managed two more near the end and looked to be leading the low bank. At the weigh in Tony C's fish went 34lbs 12oz for an easy win – well done Tony – Graham’s 13lbs 2oz came second and Bob on Golden peg 26 third with 9lbs 2oz. My one fish went 4lbs 15oz importantly beating Bill's one fish by 4oz

The Low Bank fished really difficult – Adrian winning the bank with his 15lbs 5oz – a good result on his second match with us – Steve second with 2 carp for 7lbs 8oz and Phil’s couple of carp went 6lbs 4oz for third. Seven DNWs on the sheet today. Today's photo is a very happy looking Mr Cruci.

Rob's day

On the Backwater today for the last time this season. The River looked a bit different today after the rain we have had at the beginning of the year – a lot clearer than it has been recently and a lot less flow. Nine of us on the match today so pegged 8 up to 18 just leaving out 11 and 17. I drew peg 13 so relatively happy being at the right end of the River if recent results were to go by.

Set up a couple of whips – 5 meters and 2.5 meters and a pole rig for across for the perch. Started on punch and first few casts resulted in bites, but very small fish – some around an inch long! Also, a lot of pike activity early on. Changed to pinkie but still small fish but at least bites. John Todd to my right also getting a few small fish as was Fred on peg 14.

Some workers were clearing the weir from weed and an hour in a lot of debris started floating down. Unfortunately, with the flow in this peg (mainly from the left flowing into the barge causing most of the swim to back up) – and with the upstream wind – the weed was congregating in the swim making laying in a rig difficult. Tried the perch swim a couple of times resulting in 2 perch – but small 4oz and 2oz. Toddy still getting a few and Fred now getting a few perch over by the gap in the barges. Bill also apparently getting small fish and below me on pegs 9 and 10 Phil and Tony seemed quiet. Not sure about Steve on 8 or Adrian Barker (fishing with us for the first time this season) who drew hot peg 18 (although conditions completely different to when Steve had over 9lb on this peg a couple of weeks ago.

Half-way through decided just to fish the short whip and a top kit just to my left where there were not so many leaves and around 3 ½ foot deep. Plenty of bites on single maggot mainly from small roach and bleak (I think) – but also a couple of better roach around 3-4 oz and a small perch. Half an hour left and struck into something a lot better. A few seconds later slid the net under a perch – maybe just over a pound or so. (luckily on the elasticated top kit) A few more small fish and that was it.

Everyone had a few bites today, but generally very small fish – Adrian 1lb 9oz first to weigh in – then Bill with 2lb 4oz for fourth on the day. Barry 5oz from peg 15 then Fred doing well with 3lb from peg 14 for second. My fish went 4lb 11oz – most fish going about 40 to the pound but helped by the perch. Toddy came third with 2lb 10oz and Steve did well from peg 8 with 2lb 3oz. Tony and Phil predictably struggling from pegs 9 and 10 with the majority of the fish still at the top half of the River.