Rob's day

Hi all

Back at Beggar's Hall today - 13 of us hopefully all catching a few fish although most places still seem to be fishing hard at present. Last out of the draw bag I drew peg 18 so a good chance of a few fish. Had set up a pellet waggler but a strong breeze blowing into my bank would have made it difficult and impossible to see any fish on top, so started on the feeder. No bites after an hour made it clear it was going to be a hard day. Rich on my left had one carp – I think on the waggler, and Bill over on peg 5 one carp also on the waggler. Apart from Bill, I could only see Tony Heath on 3 Fred on 4, and Barry on his own on 13 and they all seemed quiet. Managed another Carp on the feeder before hooking another and losing it when the hooklength snapped on the marginal weeds.

Had been feeding the right margin and to the left alongside the reeds, but only saw one carp come in so stayed on the feeder as the wind continued to blow in. Managed one more carp before trying the margin again. After missing a couple of bites hooked and landed a carp around 8lb. Trying the reeds to the left caught one roach about 3oz then a 2lb jumping bream. Kept feeding the margin to the right but little activity apart from one carp that had been cruising around the keepnets all day. Hooked one more carp a long way down the right but I think foul hooked and came off.

Down to the last minute, I had packed away most of the tackle just leaving the feeder rod. Noticed the carp still down by my feet so dropped in the feeder down a foot out, not expecting anything and looked for the whistle. Looked up and the rod had bent over! – while blowing the all-out, played and landed the carp – around 10lbs.

At the weigh-in the lake had fished difficult, especially the low bank and also pegs 16 and 17 – Tony and Jeff weighing 1 carp between them. Phil topped the low bank with 16lb, Bill second with 8lb and Barry third with 1lb 7oz – a few DNWs today. John Carter had done well from peg 22 to top weight with 50lb – my 41lb good enough for second on the bank and Rich 3rd from page 19. Seems that the fish are favoring the car park end at present? Photo today is Rich Beeston.