Gary's day

It was Hall Farm today for the Club's Xmas match and, at long last, we were going to have a dry day. The last few weeks have been tough with me seeming to just need one more fish to get in the frame. Surely, I would get a decent peg today? Finally, the draw gods waved at me and I pulled out peg 18 - not a flyer but an end peg today and a reasonably warm wind was blowing my way.

Again, it was box in the water time as the level is still very low. Then it was a gamble as to how long I dared fish the pole as the weather forecast was for it to be breezy. I settled on 13ms where I had a full top 3 (11ft) of water and then over to the left a bit shorter where I could hopefully still fish if the wind got up - it was still 7ft. After a quick feed of the pole lines I started off on a small maggot feeder hoping for a quick fish. The quick fish went to Darren on peg 4 and John on peg 2 but I finally had a small F1 after about 30 mins. After another 30 mins on the feeder I had no more bites only a couple of liners. Darren though was off to a flyer with another couple of carp in the net.

It was time to try the long pole line as the wind was OK. After a few minutes the float dipped and I nice 6oz roach was in the net - no blank today. A quick re-feed with some groundbait and the float went under again this time with a nice little carp of about 3lbs. I was still behind Darren and John though as they had both had another carp each.

About 90 mins in the peg changed and suddenly the fishing was good. It was not hectic but every now and again the float went under and a carp or F1 was on. A try over to my left also produced a couple of quick fish but then it went quiet. By swapping between the 2 lines a steady run of carp kept coming - a bit of a handful playing them on a top 3 when they came from the deep line. Phil over in the corner on 12 was also getting the odd fish and so was Peter who was pretty much opposite me on 8. Daniel to my right was also getting a few on the feeder. The lake was fishing a lot better than I had expected.

At the all out I had 18 carp in the nets after one of the best days out on the bank I have had in ages - I can't remember the last time I caught a decent fish on the float. Phil ended up winning the Low Bank with a quick run of fish near the end for 37lbs and I had the High Bank sown up with 76lbs with Rob second with 20lbs 7oz. Second place on the Low Bank was ridiculously close with less than a pound separating 3 anglers with John just edging out Darren by 1oz with 21lbs 6oz for second on the Low Bank.

Many thanks Tony for organizing the prize table. Today's photo is a very happy me with a few fish at last.