Rob's day

Hi All

At a wet and windy Beggar's Hall today although the promise of early downpours did not materialize and we had a mostly dry but blustery day. Only 5 on today due to a lot of members attending Don Copping’s funeral.
Due to the numbers decided on a walk off today – a choice of pegs 16-22. Into the bag and out came my name first, so it had to be peg 18! Graham opting for 17, Dennis 16, Fred 19 and Bill 20.

As on Sunday, with the water down decided to set up at water level, fine when your down there but not so easy getting out (thanks to Bill for helping me with my nets and box at the end). Set up a method feeder a few rigs for the margins – along the margin to my right and by the reeds to the left.

A quiet start with no bites for an hour on the feeder then a couple in quick succession – one about 1lb then a proper one around 8lbs. Fed the margins early and the carp came in both sides and looked to be big fish. Had a couple on paste by the reeds straight away – both doubles. Took some getting in a they charged out in the middle and had to hold 12 meters of pole out in the wind hoping everything holds! A lot of fish in the right hand margin but couldn’t get it right – either the feeding or where exactly to fish – 1 foot tight in then slopes down to about 3 foot a meter or so out – I’ll have to ask Gary how it's done! Foul hooked more than properly hooked. Apart from one down the edge on the feeder, alternated the sides for a couple of more carp but ended up thinking I should have caught a lot more seeing the amount of fish in the swim.

No idea what else had been caught so started the weigh in at peg 16 – Dennis 21lbs 4oz and Graham 50lbs 11oz. I had clicked 40lbs on the first net but it seems the fish were bigger than I thought so this went 51lbs – knocked back to 50lbs for a total of 88lbs 5oz. By the sounds of it was going to be close – Fred on 19 weighing 78lbs 11oz – caught on the feeder. Bill next and was having trouble lifting the first net out – reason being this went over 57lbs and proved a bit costly as he weighed in a total of 88lbs 2oz!

So a win but by default – well done to Bill for actually catching more than peg 18 – as has been mentioned before at the moment the middle pegs on the high bank fishing best.