St Ives Fish Preservation and Angling Society

 

5 managed to wake up for the match well 4 actually with Steve Cox thinking it was a 7.30 draw and was fashionably late. This was a bit of a last minute effort based on the cock up mentioned below but with the river running very hard and some colour in it,. although not much, it was always worth a go to see if the bream had moved in.

 

I won with 13lb 2oz, 3 Bream early on and a later Tench plus some odds and sods did the trick with Steve "fashionably late" Cox in second with 5lb 1oz witha Tench and a few bits. Breamy had one skimmer lost a big Perch at the net and smashed on something even larger , which with his gear I assume can only have been one of the great Whale species.for a total of 3lb 10oz and third. Moaner chucked his 2lb of Perch back and guess what, moaned. Postman Paul struggled and after his DNW waxed lyrical about fishing for Pike on the drains and it can't come quickly enough for him.

 

Several no shows for holidays and the like and with next week being the county Individual and the following week being the Teams of 4 the smaller club matches will not kick back in until late September but who knows, what I do know is that this morning, Tuesday, the river is as clear as a bell again so thats the Bream chances much diminished until we see the chocolate water stuff.

       

 

 

For those who are, I need a call to confirm fishing on Sunday. I would just note that the river is up and running with colour just starting to add and could, and I do stress could, be ideal for some Bream bashing on Sunday on the Meadow BUT I have been wrong before andf no doubt will be again.

 

Check the bag for the 60 gram feeders and heavy groundbait and who knows, it might be good as its been so long since we have had any colour in the river I would think the Bream have forgotton how to feed in daylight hours 

 

 

 

Sad that I am I have calculated the overall results for the Thursday evening Coote Cup series this year and they are as below

 

1st C Geeson    15pts

2nd T McGregor 12pts

3rd P Ashcroft     9pts

4th C Leach         5pts

5th J Malling        4pts

6th A Peters        2pts

7th M Andrews    2pts

8th A Nesbit        1pt

9th J Whitehead   1pt

 

I used my own system to score with 3pts for a win 2 for second and 1 for third, The standard of fishing and the catches made off the Meadow proved that for a 3 hour match good weights are still possible and it also proved that if you don;t fish worm you don't win or place which demonstrates quiet graphically how the river has changed from maggot and Castor to worm and castor.  

 

 

 

Not sure who is at fault but it is not Duncan Ray the HAJAC man so its either Pete Milburn or me but suffice to say this Sunday is NOT the County Individual. So the changes are this week is a club match on the Meadow meet at the Hemingford end at 6.45 for a 7 draw fish 8 til 1 as normal. The County Individual is now on the 5th Sept with the teams of 4 on the 12th Sept, draw details and meeting places will follow in due course.

 

I have no idea how the match went last Sunday as I was in Ireland with Senior, Compo and Mr Crabtree, I will no doubt find out in due course dear reader and pass on the details when available.

 

 

 

 

This is going to be quick as I have no time am off to Ireland with Senior Sicknote to meet Compo and Mr Crabtree for a weeks rain feest.

 

Sewells fished so so with Moaner the winner with several good skimmers and back up from Roach Perch and an Eel for 11lb 4oz with the Bombardier second with some more good skimmers for 7lb Nick Marriott with a similar type of net but slightly less weight at 6lb 6oz. The skimmers were only in a few swims and mainly the deeper end with the exception of Moaner who obviously bought his with him in a flask.

 

9 fished 7 of which were our guys so a good turn out. next week is the same as this so be at the gate for 7.45.

 

The week after is the County Individual usually on the Dolphin Meadow and I think you might have to book a ticket if you want to fish, Stanjays should be able to tell you what is happening for that one.   

 

 

 

 

The last rites for Thursday evening matches as this was indeed the last Thursday outing of the season. 5 turned out with several away or just about to go away and the fishing was only so so with a much cooler evening than of late with anglers being able to see their breath by 9.00 for the first time this year , not a great deal like a burning hot mid August day at all.

 

Breamy managed a win which was the surprise based on his form of late, but he drew well on 12 and had several Skimmers and Perch up to 12oz for a round total of 5lb, I managed second from peg 8 despite Moaner telling me from peg 9 that no one ever ever came anywhere from our two pegs, well, he was half right because he did'nt and I did with 3lb 14oz of Perch for second, just pipping DNW who had a big Perch plus smaller samples and some small skimmers for 3lb 10oz and third.

 

Moaner managed 2 lb 12 oz of Perch with the odd Dace and bits but our guest angler for the night Junior Milburn recorded a DNW complaining that he could not get through the Gudgeon and had about 30 of the wee things despite resorting to a distinctly Breamy tactic of  a size 10 hook and worm.

 

Sunday is Sewell's and I have already received a warning from fleet Air Arm that the Bombardier will be attending so as to, in his own words, "finish the buggers" who survived the original blanket bombing of a few weeks back, for anyone who gets pegged near him bring the chest waders or you will be washed out into what remains of the lake once he completes his initial bombing run.

 

Meet at the gate opposite the football club at 7.45 for an 8.00 draw fish 9.00 til 2.00. pool costs are I think £11 and if you are not a Brampton member a £3 day ticket   

 

 

Just to confirm these matches are on, meeting at the gates to the lake at 7.45 ish draw 8.00 fish 9.00 til 2.00, usually £10 to fish plus £3 day ticket if not a member, this is a very good lake for match fishing re Silvers, Nick the Secretary has told me that all their Tuesday twilight series have needed 10lb plus to win with roach now showing more than the skimmers but with the odd proper Bream or Tench showing up as well. Once again I need to know you are coming either let me know if you are fishing Thursday or give me a call on 01480 463193, these are St Ives/ Brampton members only matches.

 

 

 

Mix and match on Sunday with a split match, 4 pegs opposite the Sea Scouts island and 3 opposite Nobles Field. Yet another newby turned up for a go, Steve Cox and I have been told I have got to be very careful re his nick name as this is a family site so I have delayed nick name approval until he shows some trait or other that I can descend on.

 

It was a very special day as Senior was air lifted in with aid of his personal medi vac team and he drew end peg and recorded a big DNW despite catching around the 3lb mark but that was influenced by me next to him as I had 11lb 6oz with a good Bream a late Tench and a dozen smallish Perch up to 6oz, I also lost a big Tench who was very upset at being hooked and I am not sure that it was'nt a foul hook but it looked 6lb ish and would have won me the match as I was second, Compo struggled annd then found a couple of Eels for 3lb 8oz and Coxy had a big skimmer and a few Perch for 3lb 4oz.

 

We then moved on to Nobles where Moaner had the best peg and recorded 12lb 8oz for the win with a Tench, 2 big skimmers a couple of Eels one big Perch and several small ones he also lost another Tench , Breamy managed 2 Tench with one of them being the smallest Tinca I have seen in our river for a long time at about 1.5lbs and a few bits for third with 6lb 12 oz but lost 2 Tench and had them rolling in his swim as well. DNW did what he does best (from the worst swim on Nobles it must be said) and that was DNW.

 

Sunny and warm with the water still clearer than the stuff coming out of the taps and we are still seeing Tench caught, I had my first one on at 11.00 and the one I landed at 12.45 and this is from swims where you could read your paper on the bottom from the bank.

 

Thursday is the last evening session for the season and weights have been very good in the main from such short matches. Meet at the gate at well before 5.45 if possible and we will start asap after the draw and fish to dusk which on a clear night will still be about 9.00 ish. Next Sunday we have the first of 2 matches on Sewells at Brampton this is to get us off the river  for a couple of weeks to avoid the August boat traffic but to be fair several of us noted the distinct lack of cruisers on the river compared to normal as usually this time of year is awful.

 

Details of the Sewells match will go on this site some time this week and I will need booking in phone calls from those who wish to fish and have not already told me..  

 

 

 

 

 

4 stragglers managed to attend the last but one, for this season, Thursday evening match. We welcomed a new addition Andrew Peters, now known as Gordon the Gopher for nick name purposes, if you watched childrens TV in the early 90's you will know why. Various excuses being thrown up by a few of the regulars for non attendance, Compo was in Bristol giving a talk on "muck spreading by hand" plus "diseases I have had due to muck spreading by hand" with Moaner moaning he was still at work and Senior Sicknote sending in a note from his mum that he was sick in bed and Nesie just not bothering.

 

However to the fishing, the Gopher drew peg 12 end and very good peg not bad for your first dip in the St Ives bag and struggled with missed bites until, as usual, the last knockings when he had a, relatively small for the Meadow, Tench and weighed 4lb 11oz for second and a cruel second at that for reasons which will become apparent as I was in peg 11, a recent non producing peg, and had 4lb 12oz for the win with a good Eel and Perch plus in the last 40 minutes a skimmer a chuck on worm up to 6oz, they are obviously in the swim the whole time but only want to feed when the light has nearly gone which is why we need rain and colour in the water so they will feed during day light hours.

 

Breamy, having spent £45 at Stan's, armed with enough worm to start a war and new size 10 hook, yes dear reader, a hook you could put rope on and use as a swing in your back garden for children up to age 13, then managed to lose 2 good fish early on and weighed a sad 2lb 2oz from peg 10 which has won or placed in recent weeks, see peaked to soon, I told him, does he listen well he is starting to listen now because I keep beating him and he hates that nearly as much as when Compo beats him. He is going back to Stan's for "real mans" hooks for this Sunday I assume they will be dropped off by container lorry at the Dolphin ready for use Sunday morning 

 

In new peg 9, a peg that I look the look of, DNW managed 1lb 12oz and very nearly dropped Mr I'vepeakedtosoon into last spot but he managed to hold on to third by the skin of his teeth or 1 Perch whichever you prefer.

 

Sunday is another go in and around the Sea Scouts on "B" Section, last time the Tench were around and hopefully they are this time as well. Anyone coming let me know other than those I am already aware of and meet at the top of the Dolphin meadow gate at 6.45.       

 

 

 

 

Only 4 made it for Sunday with Senior Andrews nearly making a comeback but failing at the last fence due to a break down in training and having to revert to his main hobby which is being the main cause of financial meltdown in the health service.

 

As to the fishing, pants really, day time stuff at the top end of the meadow is not so good despite overcast and mild weather I think the lack of weed in the section which although helps your run through does not help the fish holding capacity in normal light conditions.

 

I sneaked first from peg 12 with 5lb 7oz started well catching skimmers and small Perch with one good Eel but the bonus fish failed to happen for anyone and that was the main difference to recent matches. Breamy managed second on 11 with 2lb and much moaning just so we did not feel Moaners absence to much due to his house move. Postman Paul tried a newly accessable peg 9 and scored third with 1lb10oz and Compo from 10 recorded the immortal DNW which did not surprise me that much as I think 10 is an evening peg for when the light drops.

 

Next week Thursday is "A" section be at the gate by 5.45 we have 2 more left and then we move on to Sundays only, so grab a go while its still available.  

 

 

We are now in full holiday mode and several of the normal anglers, I truly hesitate ever to call them that, are away. We are now drawing to the end of the Thursday evening series with only a couple to go as the nights start to draw in but I would have to say the geneeral standard of the fishing has been good considering the lack of movement in the water and its gin clearness oft related to in this diatribe.

 

So last night 5 fished and taking the winnings was Moaner who is on a roll with an excellent mixed bag at 12lb 8oz with a Tench 2 large Skimmers several good Perch and 3 big Eels, that was mainly worm then, from peg 10. I managed second from Peg 12 with an early Bream lots of small Perch a few skimmers up to 8oz and a big Tench 5lb plus for 10lb 6oz, I got carried away with seeing an early Bream and qiuckly dolloped 4 orange sized balls of worm and castor filled feed into the swim, WRONG decision, they want loose fed chopped worm and Castor.

 

In between on peg 11 Postman Paul had a DNW  due to the wights either side really as he said he could not see the point. The immortal DNW was on the worm peg 8 and had just over a lb but it was a struggle in that swim. Then we move onto Breamy, as any reader knows Breamy frets when he is getting his backside handed to him every week and usually from both sides of late, so, when he drew plum peg 1 his little eyes lit up and he was off like a scalded cat for his revenge on those nasty micky taking anglers ( that would be the rest of us).

 

One Bream one lost Bream and a lot of smallish Perch later he manages 6lb 6oz for third and stomped about the bank proclaiming to all who would listen " I don't care at least I caught a Bream" which is important to Breamy as he was sliding perilously close to becoming his alter ego " the Artist formally known as" so at least he has put that indignity off for another week.

 

All in all good fishing for a short match, and if it would run and get a bit of colour I think it would be net filling time, but thats not going to happen any time soon by the look of the weather forecast.

 

Sunday we are on "A" which is the first time this year for a Sunday match so 6.45 at the gate and please let me know if you are attending although the gates will be unlocked for late comers at least until the sheep are put in the field    

 

 

 

If it had stayed overcast the weights would have been better however we fished opposite the Sea Scouts Island with Tench being caught by five of the six that fished with Nesie being the odd man out and recording a DNW despite having 20 or so smallish Perch in his net. Moaner was the winner as he had two Tinca's with some Perch a nice Rudd and a few bits for 11lb 4oz. Compo on the other hand seemed to have lots of fish on, suffered with Pike interference a lot and snapped up on two big fish from opposite the sea scout entrance where there is a hole a couple of feet deeper than the surrounding area and a natural holding spot for fish, he finally weighed 8lb 0oz for second.

 

I on the other hand struggled missed many a small Perch which kept nipping the end of my worm. I had 2 nice conditioned 6oz Rudd and a dozen Perch but managed a late face saving Tench just after I put a smaller hook length on, as always, and after much struggling and various derogitory comments from those around me such as Breamy's "swing it in" which he was serious about because his gear would do it, I managed to land the beast for a total of 6lb 11oz and third once again slaughtering Breamy from both side as he had 5lb 12oz despite his Tench.

 

Once again good weights considering a very hot and, at times, sunny day with heavy boat traffic at times.

 

Thursday, 5.45 at the top end of the meadow and pray for rain and cloud cover   

 

 

 

Late putting this on so apologises to all and sundry. Thursday was a full house of 8 fishing with Jnr and Snr Milburn taking part. Trying to keep 8 on the top end of the meadow is difficult and a couple of poorer swims had to be used but never mind. As to the fishing, DNW in peg 1 had very little in his net and with 10 minutes to go the Bream showed up and he had time to snaffle two of the beasts with a few bits for 9lb 10oz and the win. I managed second from peg 10 with 7lb 14oz which I had in my net by 7.30 and the last 1,75 hours I was fishless with no idea why, however this was enough to "hammer" Compo in peg 12 who recorded 7lb 12oz, we both had a Tench and Eels plus one or two nice Perch with Compo getting a few skimmers as well.

 

More importantly between me and Compo was Breamy who was hammered both sides yet again weighing 4lb 10oz, I keep telling him about his peaking to soon, actually not a bad weight, but without the big bonus fish that you have to have these days to win. The rest was bits but for a gin clear river with no stream and a 2.75 hour match very reasonable weights     

 

 

 

I'll give up on this prediction business, Sewells was pants on Sunday, St Ives exported 7 of our finest to hold high the flag and Brampton managed 2 of their own. Compo got his own back for the Thursday night debacle but taking the chequered flag 1st with 6lb of silvers with Nick Marriott second with 4lb 2oz of very small stuff. I managed third with 3lb 11oz of even smaller stuff and that was that.

 

Moaner moaned and had his elastic broken by something large, the Bombardier reduced the island opposite to small heaps of rubble and varying wild life waving white flags but the intended bream did not show.

 

Postman Paul drank lots of coffee ate lots of food and DNW'd whereas the one sweet area of the day for me was removing a nugget from DNW who managed a lot less than me in the next peg hoorah. Breamy recorded another poor one and will perhaps listen to me when I told him he was peaking far to soon pre season and has failed miserably for the last few outings, I, on the other hand, am looking to peak somewhere by Xmas 2011 at this rate

 

Thursday back on worm alley but I assume without flow we will not see the Bream but you never know. 5.45 at the gate please.  

 

 

 

6 fished, Moaner was late and given peg 2 or 10 as default he chose 10 and promptly won the match on pole and lollipop float because it ran, yes somewhere someone had some rain and the water moved and we all know what happens when the water moves on the Meadow, the Bream prick up their ears and noses and go looking for grub. Moaner had 3 and lost one for just over 12lb with back up from the odd Perch Roach and Eel.

 

In peg 12, one of the favourite pegs, Nesie managed a couple of big Perch some other bits and pieces and one smashed rig with a fish that stretched his elastic like a washing line across the river before parting company with a cheery wave and a chorus of " is that all you've got mate" he managed 5lb 6oz for third which is still a fair weight for a 2 and threequarter hour match. Breamy in the middle of Moaner and Nesie on 11 had an even worse day and with barely 3lb got hammered from both sides, happy, he was not.

 

Compo had peg 8 which is a deep worm swim, Compo had one of those days where you just think that God hates hobbits, firstly he broke his pole on 2 sections for no discernable reason and then he used his "Yank and bank" pole and broke that as well for once again no discernable reason. When he did fish he had a couple of Eels one good one and lost a 4lb Bream which with the odd Perch he caught would have put him second but on the day unhappily he tipped it all back as he was not in the frame, and went home mumbling that he was an OAP and it was'nt fair that God picks on Hobbits etc,etc.

 

I was on 7, once again deep on the inside, an out and out worm peg, I had the odd Perch up to 6oz and then a 1lb Eel, for the last hour when the stream picked up I went on the tip and had 1 good Bream and got snapped up by something that got very angry when I hooked it and one unfortunate side effect of fishing under a bush is the bush is still there if you hook a big fish, I have a feeling that it was a very big Eel as we have seen several hooked recently but very few landed. Anyway I managed 6lb 9oz for second on the night.

 

Postman Paul our Iraqi man had peg1 all to himself and cocked it up in the grand manner with a did not weigh, I must admit I thought 1 would frame if not win.

 

Our river is now completely turned to a worm base, big fish hunt on a Thursday night as very few silvers are present (and we all know why), but the head of Bream Tench Eels and Perch now means you must look for them and the waggler is almost redundant as an option for these short matches. However 12lb 6lb 5lb is a very reasonable return for such a short period at least in a river it is.

 

As an aside I also managed to sneak a practice on Sewell's and had a fish a chuck on the whip for 5 hours with some very nice Roach in the afternoon on seed for 15lb plus. Very promising for Sunday, but thats been said before I do realise, however meet at the gate opposite the football pitches in Brampton for 8.15 at the latest, draw at 8.30 fish 9.30 to 2.30 but let me know if you are coming, Brampton have 4 fishiong and I have 5 definites and 2 maybes but if you are coming Brampton charge more for their matches and you will need a day ticket if you have not got a season ticket (day tickets are £3)     

 

 

 

 

 

Nick, the Brampton club Secretary, has very kindly offered to run a joint StIves/Brampton match on Sunday at Sewells. At the gate for 8.15 draw 8.30 fish 9.30 to 2.30. bring a tenner at least for day ticket and pools. Nick tells me that last Tuesday evening was won with over 11lbs of silvers with 10lb plus for second which cannot be bad in a 3 hours match, it does fish well this time of year for skimmers, Roach and Perch with the odd big Bream or Tench as bonus. As someone who does not like commercial waters this lake is as good a natural venue for match fishing as you can find.

 

I do need to know numbers so let me know please text or phone.     

 

 

 

 

7 fished with Nevey turning up for his annual match, we have one or two of the occasional match angler variety apparently the Bombardier Pankhurst made an appearance in my absence last week. In my infinite madness I decided to include 3 swims above the Chub Stream and mine was the furthest away, and it was not a day for walking fully loaded with kit, but a nice swim with a 6/7 foot of clear run down the middle in which I started well with Dace and small Roach I then had an 8oz Perch and 12oz Eeel on the worm line, bonus fish down the Lane are a must and sadly they seem to take the form of big Eels currently, then the sun got up and the Bleak arrived in their thousands and I refuse to bleak fish so it became very scrappy and I managed 4lb 2oz which was third on the day . Postman Paul or worm man as he should be called had his usual Perch catch on the long wriggley things for nearly 2lb with Mr Late Arrival, Moaner who had gone up "A" section because he does not look on the web site or in his card, Numpty, catching nearly 3lb but losing a big bonus Eel which Moaner said went 3lb plus.

 

The armchair anglers below the old river were DNW who had a couple of lb, Nesy with 3lb plus and a moaning Breaming who walked the bank for an hour and a half and still had over 5lb for second with Eels Perch Dace and Bleak and a small Roach or two, Nevie blew it from prime peg with a couple of lb leaving Compo winner yet again, he is annoying Breamy immensly as he keeps taking his fag money, with over 8lbs of mixed bag with some bigger Eels, good Perch, small Roach, Dace and Bleak plus even one or two Skimmers up to 4oz towards the end of the match.

 

We are going to try to get into Sewells at Brampton this week, if we do I will need names as usual so text or ring please, I have been told it is fishing well and as we are blessed with the Dragon Boats on Sunday on the Meadow, still water with NO boats sounds wonderful. I would suggest that the usual match fee will also carry a day ticket for non Brampton members and I might sneak a bit of a practice later in the week if the match is on. Thursday's match will be "A" section as usual and now that the crop on the field has gone we might spread down depending on how many turn up. be there for 5.40ish gentlemen please as we want to start on time with the nights drawing in it will be Xmas before you know it     

 

 

 

 

A couple of things for Sunday firstly meet at the entrance to the lakes at 6.45 so that we can draw on the bank at 7.00 and secondly bring your wheels and platforms if you have them as I intend to put a couple of pegs above the Chub Stream, if there are the same deeper water pegs as were there last year, so a couple of us might need to walk 50 yards and some are not as fit as they should be. By doing this we will all be fishing the same stretch and not with "billy no mates" anglers down towards the old bridge like last time, that was me and Postman Paul.

 

I also think, considering the stretch below the lock is on our card and never match fished, its time we had another go, bank conditions allowing of course.

 

finally could you wonderful users of telephones or texts, I'm not fussy, let me know if you are fishing Sunday so we are not hanging round for the odd straggler at the gates.  

 

 

 

 

Sorry about the recent lapse in information on this particular highway but I was away in Ibiza making shapes in the clubs and drinking Beer as you do, Cannot do tonight either as it is the wifes birthday and it would be more than my lifes worth.

 

Hopefully Compo who I left in charge, scary I know as he can only control vegetables but on second thoughts he should be fine with our merry band of neanderthals, has kept the match scene intact and I noticed some reasonable weights from "B" section last Sunday. This week they are on "A" section tonight and I shall rejoin at Meadow Lane on Sunday but I shall have to ring his Componess to make sure he has'nt let all the power go to his head and started switching venues just because he can. 

 

 

 

At one stage before the draw on Thursday there were so many anglers milling about I wondered where they had all come from and why did they have to turn up on a Thursday when I have no time to organise things. In all seriousness it was excellent to see 10 anglers for a Thursday besides the usual suspects first outings of the century were enjoyed by Milburn Snr and Jnr with Nessie also turning up with a complete new fishing wardrobe and even the lesser spotted Spotty Whitehead coming back after serious illness so between him and Senior Sicknote we now know where the budget goes for the health service and why taxes are going up to cope. the trouble with 10 is trying to fit them in especially on hot nights as there is always some numpties swimming in peg18 and in this case camping for the night as well. ex Postman Paul drawing the literal short straw being next to all the noise. he was a predictable DNW and oh by the way the real DNW Smallhookzorromalling is yet to appear so far this season, this time due to being stuck in a French airport, the lengths that bloke will go to avoid paying £5 for a match fee. 

 

Nessie was in 16 and like many others caught one or two through the match and then a bite a chuck as the light faded in the last 20 minutes which prove the fish are there and we need lots of rain and a few dull days to get anything like the best from the river. Nessie weighed 2lb 5oz but Milburn Jnr spotted even less than Junior Andrews recorded 3lb12oz from peg 12 mainly Perch with the odd better sample. The mighty Compo drew 11, good peg, and weighed 6lb 9oz for second with a few Perch, Eels and a nice Tench that would be mainly worm then. Sicknote was on 10, not such a good peg should have stayed on the small stuff but realising it would never be enough went after the bigger stuff and failed miserably at both weighing 12oz the crowing about beating me has stopped for the time being then. 8 and 7 are out and out worm pegs but neither peg could find a real lump bonus fish that you would need to win on the night and Moaner on 8 had 2lb 8oz with Spotty on 7 finding some bigger Perch and a big Eel for 4lb 5oz and third on the night, a triumphant return for the occasional matchman.

 

Milburn Snr sneaked a big skimmer late on when all of sudden Bream were all around us on pegs 1,3 and 5 but literally the last 15 minutes as it moved into dusk with really low light he wieghed 2lb15oz and Mr Hot Streak, Breamy in 3 failed miserably with 12oz, I knew the bubble would burst he has peaked to soon you see no stamina but does he listen, never. Personally I doubt there remained a fish within 20 yards of him after he took his shirt off revealing a body that has not seen daylight since 1976 when he had to have a bath, against his better judgement of course.

 

That would leave me in peg 1 a good peg made for worm, deep on the inside where for the first 90% of the match I had very little in fact with 15 minutes to go I had 5 small perch on pole and 2 Roach on feeder, then Bream rolling and bubbles everywhere and I managed to connect with a really good conditioned fish which must have been close to 5lb, next 4 casts 4 Perch one of which was over a pound to weigh 7lb 7oz and sneak the win. Very enjoyable night proving that warm nights and low light makes a different river even if it is very very clear.

 

10 fishing is an open, based on recent times so I will be interested to see how many turn up for what will be a very warm Meadow Lane on Sunday meet 10 to 7 at the gates near Mick Georges who according to his advertisement still skips, not much of a manly hobby but each to their own.  

 

 

 

Well surely it would warm up by Sunday, not, it was bloody freezing, I had 2 pairs of trousers,T shirt, sweatshirt and coat on and did not take them off until I got back in the car at the end of the match. 6 fished again in fact the same 6 that fished Thursday so no new introductions needed.

 

Pegging was well spaced to say the least to try and get the deeper clearer water, myself and ex postman Paul was opposite the rowing club which is fine until the rowing club turn up and they are all their leaping about in their lycra by 8.00 which is ridiculously early in fact only stupid anglers are up that early on a Sunday as to the fishing Postman Paul had lots of new rods and reels and he seemed to unwrap a new one every 30 minutes throughout the match but recorded 6oz which I, having hammered out 35 fish, beat managing the princely sum of 1lb 6oz with 1 Perch of 4oz and 34 Dace for the rest that would be mainly small then.

 

Senior having drawn the last swim out of the bay sat like some heavily insulated garden gnome for 4 Perch and 12oz not good but more importantly after 3 reversals in a row I have restored the natural order of things and can sleep at night. Breamy, Moaner and Compo were on Church Hole well actually Breamy was with some bigger Perch for 3lb plus and second. Compo on the other hand had 1 Perch lost the rig on a boat and left muttering the usual early season banter " no bloody fish left in the bloody river". Moaner on the other hand ( thats lots of hands by now)\ had walked the length told everyone he had caught one fish, the smallist gudgeon he had ever seen, and this left a great deal of scope for some serious moaning which he does so well. On his return he then caught a Tench and a big Perch of 2lb 2oz and a couple of small Perch to record the win with 5lb 10oz which proves that his moaning can get a positive response if you keep at it and Moaner is a professional moaner the clue is in the name.

 

Thursday back on "A", the forecast is a lot warmer for the week with more importantly warmer nights up to 14 degrees which is twice the weekends effort, I hope the Tench might be more interested as the water temperature improves and I assume the last hour will be the best hour which last week it was not in fact the last hour was the coldest hour and the expected late run did not happen except for spawny eyed Senior. Be there as early as possible draw 5.50ish and fish 6.30 until light fades.   

 

 

 

 

6 fished for the first one of the new season, water gin clear it was always going to be hard as the night temperatures are well down on normal and despite day time sunbathing weather its affecting the fishing.

 

The winner predictably Breamy with you guessed it one small Bream about 2lb a big Perch an Eel and a couple of bits for 4lb 4oz. second and yes, I do feel sick at this point, Senior who had all but packed up and then decided a feeder under the bush in deep water where the Perch might live would be a good idea, you think, last 5 minutes 1.5lb Perch to beat me, as he pointed out for the third time in a row oh the shame. Mick weighed 2lb 13oz of Perch I had 1lb 15oz of small Perch a couple of Rudd a few Dace and Bleak for third.

 

Peg 1 with Compo failed to weigh more than 1lb peg 2 with Moaner less than half of that, the mighty Paul the Postman made a re entry to match fishing and failed to score outside of 10 oz that is from the favourite peg 8 and that was that. It had got cold by 9.30 with coats going on flaming June it may be, flaming hot at night it isn't.

 

Sunday is "B" section, hard is the word I'm looking for in expectation of a similar grinding match to find any fish, meet at Hemingford end at 6.50 and we will drive down and check out where to fish, I have seen fish topping opposite the rowing club but thats grasping at straws, as always time will tell.

 

 

 

So I lied, Senior rang from Hospital, he was receiving an award for the most costly individual ever in the NHS, did I want to get a few hours in as it was first day of the season, running water, wagglers, stick floats etc etc. So, me and the sicknote are doing a fact finding misssion at the top of the meadow tomorrow and yes it will be great to get the old running line out and leave the pole in the car for once as that is the real thing as far as fishing goes in my humble opinion.

 

DNW, Compo and Mr Crabtree are over at Staffords Bridge, which is in Outer Mongolia and should fish well for Roach and maybe the odd Tench but a bit to far for a couple of hours and to be fair mid week on the Meadow is lovely as the boats are fairly low key in June and although I have no great expectations of the fishing (but as always you never know) just being there is enough and lets be honest first day of the season is a religous holiday as far as I'm concerned just don't tell my office Manager where I am. 

 

 

 

Its not really a headline at all more of a statement really, as usual the lovely coloured water that the river has had for the past 3 months is falling out rapidly to give us the usual first day and early season conditions i.e gin of the ginniest clear water. Unusually for me I shall not be on the bank first day due to the dreaded work committments.

 

The first match, as mentioned below, is a Thursday evening which with fading light might produce the odd surprise later on or more so if we get a flush through with heavy rain.However as always certain aspects will not change and a few of these are

 

DNW will forget stuff, and when I mean stuff I mean anything from Rods, Reels, bait and keepnets to where he lives

Breamy probably will win the first couple of matches as he is in a very hot streak and unlike last year may well keep his nickname as he has been catching Bream so far, he will also be wearing several layer of summer thermals as he has thin blood.

Senior Sicknote will cry off from fishing due to his health or lack of it, it must be worrying to have the grim reaper walking so close behind you that you can hear the swish of his scythe.

Compo will smell like his allotment and leave several matches early to go and sing to his lettuce's

Moaner will be, well as nature meant him to be, moaning, personally I cannot wait until he draws peg16,17 or 18 on A section as you will be able to hear it in Needingworth.

Mini Me Myring will continue to get lost on "A" section until they cut the hay

I will draw like a drain for some time, as now I am in a rut, its good to set a trend early then I don't get to disappointed with my 1lb 1oz usual early season weight.

Nevey will fish1 match, as usual, then go and lie down in a dark room for the rest of the season as he has overdone the fishing thing

Bombardier will ruin his and several surrounding pegs with an early grandbait barrage, if he really loses it he will probably flatten most of the surrounding countryside as well.

Mr Crabtree, our esteemed Chairman, will fish a couple of matches smoke a shed load of Bacca in his pipe and then go back to Ramsey to fish there.

 

In addition we will shout at Swans, Cormorant, boats, rowers, swimmers, dogs and know in our heart of hearts that the whole world is against us, but we will have a lot of fun and most of us would not swap any of it because its proper fishing.

 

So Ladies and Gentlemen, enjoy the new season and tight lines to you all. 

 

  

 

Glad to get these 2 matches out of the way mainly because I have fished like a numpty and it does show when you fish against people who don't stop fishing on the 14th March. 5 fished, Senior dropped out due to not enough people who could offer full medical services being available for Sunday.

 

Nick Marriott drew the corner of the shallow bay where a Bream shoal was in residence at least for a while and he had a good 30 minutes early on and that was that with 11lbs plus for the win. Breamy fished well for 9lb and second place, mainly on long distance waggler which not everyone can do any more in this world of pole fishing.  I also used the long wag but my only success was on feeder at range with 6lb ofn bits and 2 large skimmers.

 

Still, as I have said to Breamy he is using up all his luck before the season proper and I will have the last laugh or at least thats what I keep telling myself or its Ebay time again for the keepnets. So far Sewells has cost me one snapped in half shimano Antares feeder rod and this week I dropped my Shimano 2500 reel in the lake and it got slower and slower winding in as the day progressed, still a little bit of 3 in 1 oil seemed to sort it out, add to this that Breamy has taken 2 firsts and a second and all in all its been less than a great start. However, the glorious 16th looms large and we are on "A" section for our first Thursday evening match on the 17th June, meet at the Hemingford end of the Dolphin meadow for as close to 5.45 as possible draw at 6.00 and fish until dusk and may the bets man win i.e not me at the moment.

 

Just as an extra for the match fishing lads I will have this years licences with me on the first Thursday (£16) for anyone else licences are already available in Petzone in St Ives and will be available at Stanjays in Godmanchester this week. 

 

 

Poor but not suprising, 4 fished and we should have gone in the shallow bay and did'nt, closest to the bay, a certain Mr Gowler, had Bream in front of him for 20 minutes, had 3 and a few bits for 12lbish for an easy win, Compo lost one and had a couple of late Skimmers I was the only one who caught on pole and had 22 fish and lost another 22 for about 3lb, mainly small then, Mr Crabtree had 1 skimmer yes it was tough.

 

HOWEVER, when we packed up we had a look in the shallow bay and there were Bream everywhere and I do mean all over it, several hundred in fact, on the surface as the sun had brought them up so yes we fished the wrong bit and yes I will tell the lads on Sunday where we need to peg the match. 

 

So Sunday 8.30 draw  fish 9.30 to 3.30 same as last week hopefully without the wind and with all those Bream would be lovely, there is even a rumour that Senior has gathered his medical help and medivac helicoptor and will be attending. 

 

 

 

 

I hate windy days anywhere and I hate windy days when fishing on a big lake even more so, so Sunday it blows a complete "hooley" as our Irish brethren would say. 7 turned up and the conditions were awful. The winner, Breamy again with 1 proper Bream and a few bits for 5lb 2oz, this fast start will come back and bite him on the bum once the river season starts, or at least it better, he's earning a second wage from fishing currently and has more fags than he could ever smoke currently due to his new found wealth.

 

Nick Marriott had a few Perch for 4lb plus and second place and then nothing more than 1lb for the minor places. I think a mixture of a lot of cold rain coming in and a gale force wind made life very difficult. Now, I'm not a moaner well at least not as bad a moaner as Moaner and Senior Sick Note but I had the day from hell, second cast my Shimano feeder rod snapped in half for no reason and I had no other spare feeder rod with me which meant I spent nearly 6 hours wrestling with 11.5 m of pole which insisted it wanted to look like a bannana, I could not get a bite for love nor money on the inside and the worm line was out in the hurricane part of the lake, I hooked and lost 4 fish when after hooking the wind caught the pole and whipped it out of the water and stripped the hook from the fish, the last one was an 8oz Perch which I was just about to net having played the fish under water all the way in but as soon as I lifted the top set to land the fish the Perch converted into a kite and I was played a flying fish for a fleeting second before the hook gave up the ghost.

 

By the end of the match I had lost the will to live and both my arms had died about an hour earlier, it was better than a full gym workout. I threw my 2 Skimmers and 1 Perch back in disgust.

 

DNW DNW'd and was worried about breaking his new pole and the other Brampton lads struggled and all in all it was a big disappointment  

but never mind another practice is scheduled for Wednesday with the mighty and great turning up with Compo, Senior and Mr Crabtree plus myself The Marriott and legend in his own lunchtime the Gowler in attendance, hopefully the great wind will be restricted to Compo's bottom area and the warmer weather forecast might and I do emphasise might make the difference again and the fishing will improve, as always we shall see.

 

 

 

 

In the end an intrepid 4 turned up for the first proper thrashing of water of the year ( I cannot bring myself to say new season because my traditionalist heart says that isn't until the glorious 16th). The water was warm with a fair right to left chop on it. Nick spaced us out so that we could get a feel for which part was fishing the shallows or the deeps or neither or both.

 

DNW started off like a house on fire with big Perch Skimmers and bits whilst I in the next swim watched and caught diddily squat on the pole, Breamy went out on the feeder and had the odd small skimmer and Nick in the shallow bay caught small stuff from the off. DNW caught fish for the first couple of hours and lost several large things which all stretched his string, Bream slime all over the line in one case being a give away as to what the culprit was. Breamy being on a hot streak, recent 1st and 3rd at Pidley, drew the deeper water and after accepting he was not getting among the Bream which he loves reverted to the pole and caught Tench which he also loves in fact he loves all fish that help him take my coin. 3 Tench and 8lbs of bits for 23lb plus, good weight on the day and more than enough for the win.

 

Sneaky Marriott in the bay on the shallows had a proper Bream a nice Tench and bits for 13lb 4oz which to my surprise as I thought I was last, just beat me with 12lb 10oz with one proper Bream and some nice skimmers up to 1.5lbs all caught on long range feeder which I did not start until 2 hours of fruitless pole fishing, its always the way isn't it , this left DNW weighing about 8lb and really regretting 3 lost big lumps that could well have put him in contention for the money.

 

All in all a really nice day out everyone caught and all areas of the lake seem to have started fishing early after the recent hot weather, I would also suggest that the fish may well have spawned as all fish that we had seemed clean and none were carrying spawn at all.

 

So we look forward to the first match on Sunday draw 8.30 fish 9.30 to 3.30 I actually do look forward to it which means it will be awful because thats the rules when you think its going to be good.

 

 

 

 

Match draw 8.30 fish 9.30 to 3.30, Nick tells me that one of the local anglers had some Bream out of the shallow end last week which is promising. 4 St Ives members are booked in to the practice and 5 for the match Sunday, so far, Brampton are providing 2 or 3 as well on both days so an interesting little match. It will at least brush the cobwebs off for those among us who have not been fishing regularly on the commercials in preparation for the glorious 16th. 

 

I noticed that Breamy had a result at Pidley last week clearing out several of the great and the good in the process. Its good he gets that out of his system before he starts fishing the river so that he will have also used all of his fishing luck up prior to the real season starting. That will be him and Senior relegated to minor places and gives me more chance to take the cash.

 

 

 

Nick has now given me times for next Sunday Draw 8.30 fish 9.30 to 2.30. I do need to know who is coming so please contact me if you wish to participate. We do intend to fish it mid week to see if anything is moving so hopefully with all this forecasted increase in temperature over the next few days it might get the Silvers moving up into the shallower water and help the weights.

 

I walked the length of the Dolphin meadow yesterday at lunch time and was pleased to see lots of small fish, hopefully last years new generation have survived the winter floods and we will see them in the next couple of years as a new Roach stock, I still doubt it with the predation but you have to live in hope.

 

Ring me re the match   

 

 

 

Nick Marriott, Secretary at Brampton has confirmed 2 joint pre season matches at Sewell's lake for those who may wish to hang a line before the glorious 16th.

 

30th May and 6th June are confirmed, both Sundays, with timings to be announced, Sewells does fish better the hotter it is and June might be a bit early but we haeve had some good weather and we might get some more, £3 peg fee if not a member but the Brampton book is only £20 and Sewells can be a great haven during the hot months when the boat traffic makes the Sunday mornings very difficult at times.

 

This is not a Carp puddle it is a proper natural lake on the Hinchingbrooke park and at its best is full of Skimmers, Roach and Rudd with big Perch Tench and Bream around plus some very big Carp, for matchmen it is a proper silver fish lake and very comfy to fish with 5/6 m whips to hand being very popular.

 

As mentioned below we also intend to fish a couple in August to get away from the rowers, DNW will be pleased.   

 

 

 

The good men and true gathered for our annual discussion of all things relevant to the angling club, 10 attended with Moaner in the Maldives no doubt telling all and sundry that its to hot and he was in the wrong water villa and why does he always get the wrong one etc etc etc.

 

However on the decision front the cost of permits remains as per last year so thats my Maserati gone for another year. We have also agreed to have a bit of a pre season bung in Sewells lake at Brampton with 30th May and 6th June as provisonal dates and a couple more in August to get a rest from the river traffic which gets diabolical at that time of year.

 

On the fishing front I picked up the rods for the first time yesterday at Pidley with the esteemed Senior Andrews for company after he was medi vaced to the lake with usual; medical team in attendance. NIce days fishing shame about the rain late on but enjoyable none the less. Senior thrashed me 50lb plus to 30lb plus as he went Rudd bashing for 4 hours and had a good 20lb plus of the red fins up to 10oz. I struggled until the afternoon when the feeder was produced and this worked well for the last couple of hours and at least made the result look less awful from my point of view Small Carpto 3.5lb 3 Barbel and a Tench made up my net and the Barbel are growing with one specimen being 2.5lbs and fought like a Carp twice that size. Mick had Rudd, lots of, and a few Carp in between all on maggot and usually up in the water using his top 3 only.  

 

So, the first fiver goes to Senior and thats a trend I have to nip in the bud very quickly, I still think he has used up a whole seasons luck in one day with foul hooked fish landed and winning the draw as well but I am not bitter, not yet anyway.