Rob's day
Another Interclub match with Abbey Cross today – on the Car Park Lake as the Top Lake had not been fishing too well as late. Apparently, a few fish, including some bream, had been showing lately so hopefully a few more fish than last time (weighed in one perch for a generous 1oz on the last match). Most of the fish caught then were at the entrance end so that’s where we wanted to draw. I drew peg 12 the furthest away from the car park end – as it happened didn’t really matter as the small fish seemed to have disappeared from pegs 28 and 29 where they showed last time.
Lake looked completely dead, not a sign of a fish topping at the start so knew it was going to be tough. Set up a maggot feeder rod to cast to the island 20 meters away and a couple of pole rigs for out at 11/13 meters. Also, a 2 ½ meter whip for fishing down the edge if thing were getting desperate (which they did get).
After 3 hours no bites anywhere so started thinking about catching anything for points. Over on peg 21 Jeff looked to have landed a good carp on the pole – turned out to be over 13lb – Fred also hooked but lost a carp on the feeder. News came that, apart from that, all were struggling – most not getting a bite.
Into the last hour and now fishing tight to the bank on a piece of worm – surprised to get an indication on the float and a quick dip – sadly missed the bite (think the perch were smaller than the bait!) Luckily next drop in the float went again and a perch around 1 1/2oz was in the net. Added a couple more to end up weighing 2oz.
At the weigh in our team did well in the circumstances, most managing a perch or two to get points for our team – Fred managed a bream of 1 ½ lbs to get second in the match – well behind Jeff’s 13lbs 4oz – Bob Fox weighed in 1lb for third and Graham did well catching a few perch and roach down the edge on worm for 11oz and fourth.
The DNWs made the difference in the team match - Abbey registering three DNWs to our one (with one discarded due to us having seven anglers to Abbeys six). Final team result Abbey Cross 29 Bishop's Stortford 42. Sorry no photo today.