Gary's day

It was going to be a hot but windy day as we headed to Wickham Hall. At the draw I ended up with last choice in the walk off and decided to fish the far right corner with the wind blowing in.

Having left most of my feeders at home that narrowed down the choices for the day: a pole rig for on the deck in 10ft; a whip in case it was difficult and I needed a bite from anything; and a feeder rod.

Rob was into a carp on the feeder pretty much before I finished feeding my swims. A first drop in on the deep pole rig with a couple of dead maggots had the float dancing all over the place as they were attacked by small rudd. Time to try a piece of corn instead - not a sign.

About this time Phil had a bream of about 2 1/2lbs on the pole and I was falling behind fast. A quick try on a cage feeder had no signs and I seemed to be hitting a weed bed on the retrieve.

It was time to get something in the net. A go on the whip to my right in more open water on maggot was worryingly quiet with just the odd micro rudd. I had been trying to avoid feeding maggots to my left nearer the weed because of this but when Rob landed another carp and Mark over in the other corner lost one it was Plan B time. As the day went on the fish got closer and closer to the weed and I ended up needing to set up another pole rig to drop in right on the edge of the weed later on. Apart from a dozen or so fingerling chub that maybe made an ounce each it was a day of catching small fish for me.

Rob was today's runaway winner with 4 carp for 13lbs 9oz, 2nd Jeff Pearson and 4lbs 9oz and then I just Phil to 3rd by 1oz with 3lbs 9oz to Phil's 3lb 8oz. Picture today is Rob's winning ner.e