Rob's day

First match for some time at the Stort Backwater today – a little worried as a visit yesterday to check out the swims showed a very clear river, weedy and no flow. Reports also showed Dunmow AC struggled a bit on Sunday where only very small fish were caught. Definitely fancied the deeper water today so was not upset to draw peg 2 – probably the peg I would have chosen if on my own.

Set up a couple of pole rigs – one at 4 feet for the shallower water over between the boats and a close in rig at 7 foot. Also a 4 meter whip for fishing just this side of the middle where the deeper water was – around 9 foot. Started on the whip and bread punch – a bit surprised to get bites from the off – not loads of fish but a good size – roach around 2-3 oz. Carried on with this for the first couple of hours – only pausing to free my line from that damned tree above me! Had to add a few foot of line to my rig when the line kept snagging on the branches.

Then the rain started which seemed to slow everything down, also temperature seemed to drop a bit. Changed to pinkies (white ones as Willy Worms had run out of fluoros) and managed a few more roach including a couple around 6 oz and a decent perch. Nothing inside, so tried the far swim and instant bites from nice dace and a couple of roach until the locks must have opened and the current moved the boats together meaning my far bank swim disappeared.

Next to me Steve on peg 1 was catching a smaller stamp of roach and a couple of perch – looked to be quiet to my left – Peter on 4 and Dennis on 5. A few more bites on the whip – trying to avoid the leaves, branches and at times trees floating down the river and then time for the weigh in.

Starting at the top end Toddy on 18 weighed in 1lb 6oz – you could see the bottom right across on this swim. Jeff doing well with 2lbs 3oz from peg 14 then a couple of 2lb weights from Tony and Phil. Graham took the lead with 3lbs 2oz of perch including a 1lb plus fish (picture). My fish went 5lbs 1oz for top weight with Graham second, Jeff third and Steve’s weight of 2lb 1oz just making the frame. So, did fish better than I thought it would, all catching a few.