Gary's day

It was back to Wickham Hall this week with the hope the bream and carp were feeding up for winter. We had another walk off with the pegs being unknown still and, pulling first choice out of the bag, I went for the near side weedy corner (peg 15??}. The rest of us were spread around the lake.

After being plagued by small rudd on previous visits the plan was to be careful feeding any groundbait today. Having left it at home that was not going to be an issue! Micros it was then. A few with corn as near the weed bed to my left as I dared and then with maggots to the right and a feeder line out front in about 20 feet of water.

After quickly feeding the pole swims it was out on a small cage feeder whilst the pole lines settled. A bite and a skimmer of about 1lb after 20 mins was a good sign. Tony midway along the bank to my left was also making a good start with a small carp. With no more bites on the feeder it was time to try the pole lines after an hour by which time Tony had 3 carp. Nothing. Not a wobble on the float. Back to the feeder it was then. And nothing, not even a small fish rattle.

Over in the corner near the gate Steve then had a run of bream and Mark around the right hand side a carp. Trying pole and feeder just made no difference with Mark and Rob still getting the odd bite and small carp. Finally, I had a carp with 45 mins to go by dropping a method feeder as close to the weed as I dared. But that was it, 3 bites and 3 fish. It was going to be common pattern today with the size of your 3 or 4 fish making all the difference.

Time to go back to the drawing board as it looks like the rudd have shut up shop.

1st Mark Halverson 10lbs 3oz, 2nd Steve Forster 8lbs 6oz and 3rd Tony Cruci 7lbs 6oz. Picture today is my swim and me hoping the tip would go round with Tony and Phil in the distance.