Rob's day

Back at Hall Farm today for the 5th round of the Summer League – the forecast was to be thundery showers which never materialized so nice cooler weather to start although the temperature did increase by the afternoon. With the low water levels we needed to be careful with the swim selection today, we had 6 on the low bank and 5 on the high - leaving out the higher numbers which are a bit shallow at the moment. We also had a half time weigh in today.

I drew peg 20 which was in fact end peg so quite happy. Tactics were just to fish the first half shallow, then have margin rigs and a short pole line for the second half. Also a bomb rig if the fish went to the bottom on the shallow line. Started well on the shallow rig with a 6lb carp after a few minutes, then went over an hour biteless. Eventually had another small carp and an F1 shallow before a quick go on the bomb produced another small F1. Nothing on the short rig.

It didn’t take long to complete the half time weigh in as most struggled in the first half – Tony Heath weighed 10lb 2oz from next door peg 19 but apart from one fish from Graham no more carp caught on the high bank – mine went 14lb 9oz for a first half lead. Difficult on the low bank although Phil on peg 3 weighed in 17lb 40z – Bill on peg 4 3lb 1oz but that was it on the low bank.

Into the second half – no more fish on the shallow rig so went short on pellets. Three fish hooked but only one landed – one that came off looked a good fish. Maybe due to the conditions the fish seemed to go a bit crazy when hooked today. So onto the margins and again fish seemed really spooky, coming in but difficult to hook. A few splashes from Tony next door and a couple of big fish landed so he was definitely in front now. I eventually managed to land a few fish putting the rig tight into the margin reeds and finished with 45lb 2oz – a reasonable day but a few fish short I thought.

Tony Heath finished with 55lb 12oz for a good win (and golden peg) – reward for donating a keepnet and bag to someone at the draw. Bob Fox second with 47lb 6oz and mine third. The second half was also better for most on the low bank although Phil wasn’t having the best of times adding 15lb to finish with 32lb and third. He also deposited some of his pole in peg 3 which he retrieved at the end. I have the pictures of a stripped down Phil coming out of the water but I think I’ll keep those to myself (and Bill who took the pictures). Bill in fact had a good second half mainly down the margins to end with 53lb but was pipped to first place by Peter on peg 10 who had a great second half after being fishless at the half-way point finishing with 58lb 2oz.