Rob's day

On the Stort Backwater today for the 3rd round of the Winter League. Twelve on today with the River looking pretty good after the recent rain – a good colour and a decent flow. I drew peg 7 which looked ok but no slack water except close in with the current flowing towards the far side barge.

Set up a couple of whips and a pole rig for the Perch by the barge. Had limited bait today as my Willy Worms delivery was lost by Royal Mail (next time go to Stansted Angling!) Tony did give me some pinkies to go with my 2 worms dug up in the dark last night.

Started on bread punch and after a couple of quick roach about 2-3 oz caught small fish steadily for the first hour. After that, bites tailed off – not sure why, maybe the pike that was swirling in the swim a couple of times or my feed was drifting into the downstream peg? Next door Tony on peg 6 was catching a few roach including a few better ones around 4-6 oz – also quite a few splashes from Bill on peg 8 – obviously a few fish being caught today.

Tried close in on the 2 metre whip and had one roach then a better fish hooked – felt like a good perch but unfortunately slipped the hook. Apart from one or two small roach on maggot near the barge that was it from me – no sign of perch over and the roach never came back.

At the weigh in it looked like everyone caught and a few good weights today. Phil took the lead with 4lbs 7oz including a nice perch (that was bigger than it looks in the photo) but was overtaken by Bill's catch that went 5lbs 4oz. Peter came third with 3lbs 15oz and Tony completed the frame with 3lbs 11oz. My fish weighed in 2lbs 14oz for seventh.

Good to see the River fishing so well, hopefully still producing when we go back in the New Year.