Rob's day
At Hall Farm today – another hot one – due to the weather and holidays, numbers down today so only six on the match today and it would be another half time weigh in. The level is right down at the moment and the first two pegs so shallow I left them out.
All on the low bank today so with pegs 3, 4, 6, 8,10 and 12 in I drew peg 8 somewhere in the middle. Hadn’t given fishing shallow a good runout at Hall Farm this summer so decided just to fish the jigger for the first 4 hours and finish in the margins. With little wind, good conditions for fishing out long and soon had a couple of F1’s in the net. Not easy but a take every 10-15 minutes or so kept putting something in the net.
Twelve a clock had the half time weigh in not knowing what had been caught although, as expected, a lot of fish showing in the early numbered pegs. Weights lower than I thought with Tony’s 18lb 4oz second to my 26lb 13oz at the half-way stage.
With the second half starting and no more shade with the sun appearing around the tree now on peg 8 carried on shallow although started feeding the edge. A few more carp and F1’s kept it worthwhile continuing shallow although not frantic. A few splashes being heard now down the lake and a few fish showing in the left hand margin so, with an hour to go, dropped the shallow rig and concentrated close in.
A few liners and a foul hooked fish showed it wasn’t going to be easy – I have had trouble catching the margin fish at Halls all summer. A quick change to the (dare I say it) feeder rod down the edge brought a couple of better carp but no more so back to the pole – groundbait and corn – had a couple more before I blew the whistle.
As expected the second half weights were better – Bob on peg 12 weighing 33lb after a fishless first half. Peter had a good finish on peg 10 to register 58lb 8oz and mine went 88lb 3oz. Further down Jeff took second spot with 72lb 15oz, Fred 34lb 9oz and Tony on end peg 3 came third with 68lb 13oz.
Very hot at the end but at least we all caught some fish today – hopefully some cooler weather and some rain to come soon.