Silverfox Match Angling: Thursday 22/12/2016 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Disabled

Thursday 22 December 2016

Thursday 22/12/2016 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Disabled - Bridge Pool

The night before the match I had a call from Mike Jones explaining that a young angler aged 14 who was taking part in the Angling Trust Southern Talent Pathway had requested to fish our Coffin Dodgers Christmas Match. Of course everyone welcomed Will Bedel especially as he would reduce the average age. Will would also benefit by fishing with over a 1,000 years of experience fishing today. However, this took me way back when I was the Junior Organising Officer for BAA when another 14 year old had written to the Committee asking if he could fish Huntstrete alone because his Dad couldn’t stay with him, which at that time was a rule of the club. I proposed that he should be allowed to fish; however, the then Chairman said rules were rules not permitting a vote hence he was barred from fishing. This incensed me so I resigned there and then and walked out, never to return. How things change.

18 Dodgers and one half fishing today so we had the usual photo call (pictured centre below).

The thinking was that the road side would be the better pegs because it was believed that is where the fish have been fed during the long closure. In to the draw bag and out comes peg 26 on the far bank, one of the deepest pegs on the Lake. That said I was reasonably happy as I had an empty peg each side.

The bait tray first where I had caster, dead reds, pumped 4 and 2mm expanders, wetted micro and GB.

I set up two rigs both 4x16 Winter F1’s one with black top and the other yellow. The plan was to fish dead red over GB fished out in front at top-set plus three using the black tipped float and if the fish were responding well I would feed micro and fish pellet on the yellow tip float at 10-o-clock. I stayed on the black tip all match!! To say it was hard was an under statement. The bites were really iffy losing loads of 1oz Skimmers shipping back as they were lightly hooked (easy to blame the elastic – but not). These small Skimmers didn’t want to feed on bottom and wouldn’t take an up in the water static bait. Feeding wasn’t easy to understand either. I kept tiny Skimmers coming by swapping between the short line and another lined I opened at top-set plus four.

I finished the match with 8lb 10oz for second Silvers and third overall.

The match was won by Ken Morgan (pictured upper with his two Carp) with 11lb 5oz from peg 28. Ken caught on the pole at 10 metres fishing red maggot over GB.

The Silvers was won by Rich Coles (pictured right with his Xmas spoils) with 8lb 12oz from peg 16. Again Rich caught on maggot over GB.