Rob's day

At Beggar's Hall today – levels still way down and a few pegs a bit tricky to manoeuvre in – left out peg 10 as didn’t want to lose anyone overboard.

I drew peg 12 which did OK on Sunday so not disappointed – had Bill for company on peg 13. Started on the feeder to the island (plenty of room as no pegs 10 or 11) but first hour was fishless. Then had a small (3lb) carp followed by an 8oz roach and a nice 4lb bream. After that, things went a bit wrong. Lovely wrap around resulted in coming back with half a hooklength. A bit later another fish on – I was just guiding it between the lily pads and somehow managed to get the line in between the second and third rod ring stuck in some bankside weed. By the time I got off the box and freed it, the carp managed to swim into the pads and came off.

Tried the pole a couple of times but no carp – only small roach and perch so packed that away and concentrated on the feeder. Bill next to me had one carp, then a couple more later on fishing the waggler with pellet. Jeff on 17 looked to have three or four and Tony one.

Into the last 30 minutes and was now fishing the feeder short by the pads. Hooked one which found the pads and came off – then another wrap around bite but again came back with a broken hooklength. Not sure why – hooklengths 7lb and 9lb from different batches so not sure how the snapped a couple of inches from the hook? Any way this summed it up – I had my chances but it wasn’t my day. Finished with 13lbs 12oz. Bill next to me weighed 18lbs 7oz but I wasn’t sure how the rest of the bank had fished. As it turned out Graham did well from peg 4 winning the bank with 19lbs 6oz – the rest of the bank being carp less.

A bit better on the High Bank but also tough for some – Fred back on peg 18 making no mistakes with 53lbs 8oz to take the honours, Jeff second from 17 with 32lbs 13oz – carp all caught on the pole – Peter taking the final place with 14lbs 3oz. So overall pretty hard with two or three good weights – I suppose we need to get used to that as winter approaches. Photo today is Jeff.