Gary's day

Today was a trip to the Backwater on the Stort for the annual Lea and Stort cup against Sawbridgeworth. With a low and clear river with almost no flow it was going to be tough. Out of the bag came peg 3 for me and a very short walk from the car park.

The plan was simple. Down the middle in the deep water (7ft) for anything swimming and over to the boat for quality perch. It was a slow but steady start on bread punch down the middle. Not a lot of bites but fish worth catching rather than tiny roach. After an hour I had about 10 fish and it was clear it was going to be a tough day with not a lot being caught in the half dozen pegs near me.

Upstream just in view Peter had an epic battle with something but hopes of a carp were short lived to be replaced by a tail hooked pike of about 5lbs which he landed after a hell of a battle. Sadly pike did not count.

Down at our end the fishing was getting worse with almost no signs even tight by the boat. Nick above me then had a half pound perch and an hour of my effort was wiped out. The middle of the match was a real grueler with hardly anything being caught near us. I had a final flurry of a few fish in the last hour but when these started turning into bleak rather than roach it was a lot of effort for little return.

At the weigh in I had more than I thought so it had been worthwhile trying to avoid the small fish which I know weigh almost nothing from past visits.

Bishop's Stortford won the day with 12lbs 4oz to Sawbridgeworth's 9lbs 14oz. For the individuals: 1st Mark Halverson 4lbs, 2nd Mark Muncey 3lbs 4oz, 3rd John Carter 3lbs 2oz and 4th Kevin Brace 2lbs 7oz.
Photo today is Mark H with his winning net of fish helped by some chunky perch.