WL4 - Conway - 17th December

Well the good news was the snow had cleared and no frost but thats the end of the good news.......

The snow water was in the lake, the windy was blustery and we had hail, rain and sun within the same hour on several occasions and a few rainbows thrown in. At one point it looked like the pellet fairy had topped my baitbox up with 6mm white pellets until they melted turning my real pellets to mush!!........that hail actually hurt on cold hands!!!

As for the fishing Dave Grimes set off after roach from opposite the point as did Ian Simpson on the boulder and they just about matched each other all through....even having a few side bets who could swing the biggest roach....Davy won but he cheated....standing on his box to lift one in particular. Dave then surged ahead with a stray 5lb carp and with everyone else struggling it looked like everyone was going to stick it out for a lump or two to get back in it.

At the weigh in Ian Simpson had clawed Dave back and added 2 carp in the last 30mins going long on pellet to sneak the win with 21.9lb. Dave finished a galant 2nd with 18.7lb and a muddy seat. Dougie Walsh claimed third with a hard fought 15.4lb from 2 down from the staging but with only 2 other weights in double figures it was Conway at it toughest.

Sonny and H drew the far end and thought they were okay with brolley's up but the swirling wind had no respect for our elders and Sonny was nearly Mary Poppins until he let, go arms in the air, and had to retrieve it from the hedge. H faired worse, his was attached to his box, it got ripped inside out and now has a novel L shaped pole for keeping the next peg dry. Not sure he appreciated my comments "thats great at last I know what to get you for xmas"

To finish off the day Dave Gentile took the goldfish sweep with one bar of gold to much whooping and sounds of the 'battle of britain' at the payout...........he was also seen trying to net what we can only think were red admiral butterflies up a tree next to him. Looked a bit weird, rainbow behind him, a broken pole in one hand a landing net in the other jumping up to a tree in full wet weather gear and moonboots.......some excuse about losing a big carp at the net......nah.....butterfly hunter........gay!!!

Result

1st - Ian Simpson - 21.9lb

2nd - Dave Grimes - 18.7lb

3rd - Dougie Walsh - 15.4lb

10th December - Lower Ridge / Saughall

The Fur & Feather was greeted with frost on the ground and ice on the brook but Saughall despite being a good 18inches down was ice free but with little wind and bright sunshine (unusual for Saughall) it was always going to be hard.

With 3 golden pegs it was going to be interesting. Keith Williamson drew the first but blew out, Ste Brew (my partner.....and only feckin just at the mo!!!!) drew the other and also blew out.....Ste come on lad your getting really heavy. The final one was Ian Lloyd who looked like he had done enough to snatch it at the last match of the year and only two to weigh in......

....then Ian Simpson weighed and claimed top spot with 15.7lb from the far side in the middle of the first island. His catch was half ide on maggot at 6m and the other half small brown goldfish on pellet at 14.5m. Ian Lloyd was second with a hard fought, near golden peg claiming, mainly ide catch for 12.0lb from the top left corner. Ian finished the year as Matchman of the Year for highest weitht and Billy Gore finished the year as Angler of the Year with a solid third place with an 11.6lb pole caught mixed bag from the far side off the tip of the second island.

Result

1st - Ian Simpson - 15.7lb
2nd - Ian Lloyd - 12.0lb
3rd - Billy Gore - 11.6lb
Sec A - Dave Gentile - 7.5lb
Sec B - Dougie Walsh - 8.6lb

WL3 - Conway - 3rd December

Conway seems to be a little unpredictable of late but the wineer was far from unpredictable. Rob Dickenson walked it sticking to his tried and trusted pellet for half a dozen carp and some big roach for 30.4lb off the staging peg.

Ian Lloyd looked out of it after struggling for roach, 2 to the right of the staging, until the last hour when he spotted some bubbles over his pellet feed and went on to plunder 22.7lb in no time for second........if only there was another hour Ian may have hit 50lb! Third and mister consistent was our newly crowned Angler of the Year, Billy Gore with 20.7lb of roach and an odd carp from opposite Ian.

Result
1st - Rob Dickenson - 30.4lb
2nd - Ian Lloyd - 22.7lb
3rd - Billy Gore - 20.7lb

WL2 - Conway - 19th November

Back to Conway for the second round and alround a much tougher proposition with the carp proving elusive and the roach also unwilling to settle it was a scratch around for a few roach and skimmers and hope for a bonus carp or two for many.

Rob Dickinson topped the frame with 35.0lb, pegged next to the point Rob found nothing feeding towards the point and caught on pellet at 11m in open water. Billy Gore took second pegged by the gate as you walk in on the middle bank he had a mainly roach net with just 1 carp for 26.7lb with some real 'dog' roach down the edge of all places late on. Jeff Gratham drew opposite the point and went long at 17.5m with paellet and snared a few carp and with roach to add took 3rd with 23.4lb.

Result
1st - Rob Dickinson - 35.0lb
2nd - Billy Gore - 26.7lb
3rd - Jeff Grantham - 23.4lb

12th November - Meremoor

With this being such a shallow lake it was always going to be interesting in November but after the October match with such good weights hopes were high as the average fish are a good size.

Ian Simpson made the most of the wind off his back to fish 18m towards the island and a bed of lillies managing to win the carp fight with the said lillies 8:5 to weigh 36.1lb of maggot caught carp for the win. Rob Dickinson struggled for several hours before a few carp arrived and 8 fish later weighed 26.7lb for second on the pole and pellet in open water. Keith Williamson swapped and changed before we managed to find a few carp on the maggot feeder to take 3rd with 15.3lb.

Rick has booked this again for 2012 but earlier in the year as clearly a 3-4ft venue that is virtually all carp is not great for November.

Result
1st - Ian Simpson - 36.1lb
2nd - Rob Dickinson - 26.7lb
3rd - Keith Williamson - 15.3lb
Sec A - Rick Keeley - 8.9lb
Sec B - Steve Glimour - 11.4lb

WL1 - Conway - 5th November

With the point out all the talk was who would be pegged either side. Dougie Walsh and Ian Simpson took those honours and spend 5 hours egding ever closer and further together towards the point peg to no avail.....the carp just hadn't moved off the shallower island bar area yet!!

Jeff Grantham drew the shallow bar and from the middle bank fished 17.5m and pellet to extract 54.6lb of carp, F1's and a some roach. Billy Gore fished with banded pellet to take carp, F1's and some big early roach from 2 pegs down from Jeff for 41.1lb for second. Rob Dickinson drew the bottom bank and persisted with the pellet landing some decent carp on light gear to record 3rd place with 35.2lb

Conway was not at its best with silver weights well down, fewer skimmers and only pockets of carp but still great to see you float going under as it gets colder!!

Result
1st - Jeff Grantham - 54.6lb
2nd - Billy Gore - 41.1lb
3rd - Rob Dickinson - 35.2lb

22nd November - Gorsty

We were greeted by Gorsty at least a foot down after work to repair the far bank had dropped levels and it seemed to disrupt the usual busy fishing with even the silvers seeming to be a little put off with less water over their heads.

Andy Walsh made what feels like a guest appearance this year and despite a bad back/neck to contend with he stuck to the feeder for a hard earned 18.3lb of small carp for a well deserved win. Billy Gore continued his tremendous form this year with a mixed net on both pole and tip for 17.5lb followed by 16.9lb for Ian Lloyd.

Result
1st - Andy Walsh - 18.3lb
2nd - Billy Gore - 17.5lb
3rd - Ian Lloyd - 16.9lb

8th October - Partridge - Spey/Marsh

Well it was wet, and god did my coat stink!!!

After clearly forgetting to dry it out when I took it out of my bag the usual Preston Drifish blue had turned a white/milky greeny/grey and the smell was rank. I lasted 20mins before chucking it up the bank in the rain to have a wash!!

Ian Lloyd managed to find some larger samples tight to his inside margin and extracted enough for an easy win, although a fair few managed to reach the sanctuary of the next platform. Dave Gentile and Ian Simpson had similar approaches with very little over but managed to snare a few better fish for 15.2lb and 15.0lb for 2nd and third.

I had a great view of the leg end tat is Dougie Walsh as he lost fish after fish down the margins and across....he should have easily won but the fish showed no respect finding platforms, going behind his keepnets, diving in the rushes and reeds.....his peg was like a tackle shop at the end!

Result
1st - Ian Lloyd - 22.7lb
2nd - Dave Gentile - 15.2lb
3rd - Ian Simpson - 15.0lb

1st October - Meremoor

Well a new venue for Wirral and with only a small turnout we took one of the two lakes on offer. Shallow throughout on Lake 1 and predominatly carp with vitually everone having an island to chuck to as well as open water, margins and even lillies it looked the part.

Ian Lloyd managed to bag 91.8lb on maggot down the margin with many making the sanctuary of the reeds only to have the hydro kick in and winch them back through. A top diplay by Lloydy and another big weight as he moves towards the Matchman of the Year title.

Rick Keely took 63.2lb form the inside marginal lillies and a few up in the water in the open for second with Graham Aveyard third with 59.3lb. After starting fash with some early method fish Graham's swim slowed and he managed to sneak a few on the pole to secure third.

With a 39lb average per man including John Heald's blank after disappearing very early (and buggering up my margin line as he packed up) it was a good match with 48lb needed for 5th.

Result
1st - Ian Lloyd - 91.8lb
2nd - Rick Keeley - 63.2lb
3rd - Graham Aveyard - 59.3lb

Sept - Glebefest 2011

Well the long awaited Glebe weekender arrived and overall the records tumbled for a second year with 3000lb of fish caught over the three days (2500lb last year). But with only 2 just breaking a ton it was all about the backing weights this year as the 5m line was difficult for most and the margins were hit and miss.

The draw for Day One threw up some interesting draws. Ian Simpson on Peg 1, an end peg, not the best one but definitely worth a few and Jeff Grantham on 30....the flyer.....to be fair its a marmite peg and Jeff hates it having done 2 ton's but also had 2 blowouts on it previously!

As the match progressed the usual 5m corn line was struggling and the feeder wasn't great either. Rob Dickinson resorted to pellet it at 12m and managed to keep the carp coming in the second half for a well deserved 105.3lb win. Micky Flanagan drew in the 20's and had most of his fish on the feeder with a few late margin lumps to boost his total to 85.7lb for second. Jason Jones stuck to the longer pole lines and secured 3rd with 63.1lb.

No mention, you notice, of the end pegs that the early banter had suggested might win it. Ian S had a nighmare as the builders doing Roy Marlow's house and garden decided to landscape the margins around peg 1, build a path way (you could feel the vibrations) and plant some trees (30ft trees using a huge digger) oh and watering it with digger buckets from the lake. 42lb later, a headache and 9th overall wasn't great.......but how did Jeff fair, no landscaping, no diggers, no vibrations and no fish!!! ...29lb and 13th in the match and its 3:2 to peg 30 against Jeff (can't believe he says I'm a draw bag when he has had it 5 times now!). Overall 882lb caught at 42lb average.

Result - Day One
1st - Rob Dickinson - 105.3lb
2nd - Mick Flanagan - 85.7lb
3rd - Jason Jones - 63.1lb

Day two and the talk was of a high draw away from the landscaping but we needn't have worried the builders didn't work sat (why couldn't I draw it on day 2!). Peg 1 went to Alec Rioch and marmite peg 30 stuck in Graham Aveyard's grubby mitt.

As the day unfolded it became a similar story with longer pole doing the business and the 5m line struggling. Most had learned a bit from the day before and 1121lb was weighed in at 53lb average. Jeff Gratham got a draw in the middle away from his nemisis (peg 30) and he fished long pole for exacty 100lb. Second went to Pete Walsh with 88.9lb from peg 20, mainly at 5m and Dougie Walsh took 3rd with 76.5lb. Fish of the day was a 13lb grass carp that Ian Simpson had that came in like a sack until netted then went absolutely ballistic!! On the day 10th had 52lb and it hadn't fished at all well compared to earlier in the year.

Oh Peg 1, Alec managed 38lb but Graham on Peg 30 weighed 16lb and came 21st.....told you its a marmite peg....now he hates it as well.

Result - Day Two
1st - Jeff Grantham - 100.0lb
2nd - Pete Walsh 88.9lb
3rd - Dougie Walsh 76.5lb

Day three and a new test for most as we moved onto Lakes 5,6,7 with 7 being the favoured draw this year, or so we were told. Another 1002lb (48lb average) came to the nets but it was Lake 5 that fished best with some real lumps and tales of those that got away (Ian Simpson lost 3 estimated at 15lb+ in the last hour alone taking hook lengths then straight through rigs and then entire elastics with them!). With 6 end pegs there are always lots with high hopes for the day and so it turned out.

Jason Jones who had won the Ronny Ashbrooke pairs over the previous 2 days with Mick Flanagan went even better and won out right from end peg 85 on Lake 5 with 90.5lb caught at 12m and down the margin. Lake 6 was won by Ian Lloyd from the Little Girls end peg (86) with just 65.5lb as Lake 6 fished tough and Rick Keeley took Lake 7 from another end peg (98) to weigh 83.1lb and break his best match weight for the second time in two days!! (looks proud but dim to me!) With 12th place weighing over 47lb the backing weights were again good.

Result - Day Three
Lake 5 - Winner - Jason Jones - 90.5lb
Lake 6 - Winner - Ian Lloyd - 65.5lb
Lake 7 - Winner - Rick Keeley - 83.1lb

Ronny Ashbrooke - Pairs Winners - Mick Flanagan & Jason Jones - 5 pts (293.12lb)

So overall despite being later in Sept, the Glebe broke the club records and we will be back in 2012 but hopefully earlier in Sept. Dates will be confirmed in December and a book opened with 3 days planned again.

And Jason said the carvery is great value at £3.85 for a plateful!!!!!

3rd September - Baden Hall Old Match Pool

After last year when we came to Baden and the fish were everywhere spawning we agreed to give it another chance but after this match I think its a trip too far for what are hit and miss results. To be fair it fished okay were there was more room but the peg fees and distance mean there are better, fairer venues more locally available.

Billy Gore and Ian Lloyd drew the bottom corner by the sunken islands and had spare pegs either side which they were able to exploit to catch on the feeder and down the margin including carp and an odd barbel along with a few skimmers. At the weigh in they couldn't be seperated and a tie was declared with 32.5lb each. (I reckon Billy deserved it as he also caught a rod and reel that he couldn't weigh in.......although it had been in for a while by the looks of things.)

Graham Aveyard drew the opposite end peg to Billy and couldn't quite make enough of the room but weighed in with 32.3lb of carp and a few skimmers on the method to the far bank to easily take 3rd spot.

Most of the banter came after Jeff drew Golden Peg 1 and Ian Simpson GP2 and when Jeff said "shall we go halves" there were a few words of abuse flying around as not knowing Baden Hall no one knew how it would fish............as it was, the 'concerned abuse' before the all in turned to 'mocking and ridcule' as the match progressed as Jeff and Ian struggled to get bites, pegged next to each other, even on maggot. As it was if they had pooled their catch to 19lb odd it still wouldn't have even made 3rd place.

All I have to say is serves you all right........we were was gonna buy the round if we'd won it, now you can get stuffed.....haha!!!!!

Result
1st= - Billy Gore - 32.5lb
1st= - Ian Lloyd - 32.5lb
3rd - Graham Aveyard - 32.3lb

27th August - Old Hough

Twelve attendees with a few of the 'Wirral Raiders' away bagging at the Glebe and the rest boozing at Chester Races.

Rick Keeley run out the winner with 18.8lb finishing more than 3lb ahead of a close fought battle for second and thirs with Jason Connah 15.4lb just pipping Dougie Walsh 15.1lb to the place. With 3 blanks and 2 other weights below 10lb it was clearly a hard day and hard fought weights from the top three.

Result
1st - Rick keeley - 18.8lb
2nd - Jason Connah - 15.4lb
3rd - Dougie Walsh - 15.1lb

Knockout Semi

Its down to the last four semi finalists who will fight it out for the final: -

- Billy Gore v Jason Connah
- Jason Jones v Dougie Walsh

They have until 13/10 at Meremoor to fish off but I wonder if they fancy the semi and maybe even the final to be fished at the Glebe Weekend as all are going.

Could do best of three for the final place or even Friday practice, Saturday semi fish off and the Sunday final! What do you think?

3th August - Weston Canal

After a late switch from Stretton and Belvedere, we were assured the canal would fish well and we were treated to probably our best match of the year with nearly 750lb weighed in and 35lb average with no less than 9 x 40lb+ and 15 x 30lb+ weights.

Rob Dickenson took the win after claiming he had 50lb he weighed 75.6lb of mainly carp caught down the edge on meat along with a few barbel at 5m for what turned out to be a comfortable win. Ian Simpson (not fishing the feeder this week) took second with 58.3lb after switching from meat to pellet and top 3 in the margins started to catch Rob but too late. Billy Gore used a little less meat this week and managed 3rd and retained his lead in the Angler of the Year and closed the gap on the Matchman of the Year with a 47.9lb net of carp and barbel albeit it he only just pipped Ian Hughes (not the yozzer variety the welsh one!!) who had a late run of better carp to weigh 47.8lb.

Sections went to the venue experts John Heald 44.1lb and Dougie Walsh 46.5lb both fishing meat in the margins and taking carp and barbel. I must also mention Jason Connah who weighed 38.6lb and for his efforts only got 1 point and the other 5 anglers who weighed 30lb+ who never even got a point!! Good close fishing and seems a very fair venue at present.

Result
1st - Rob Dickenson - 75.6lb (peg 38)
2nd - Ian Simpson - 58.3lb (peg 10)
3rd - Billy Gore - 47.9lb (peg 48)
4th - Ian Hughes - 47.8lb (peg 8)
Sec A - John Heald - 44.1lb (peg 14)
Sec B - Dougie Walsh - 46.5lb (peg 32)

6th August - Larford Speci

A lower than normal turnout for Larford no doubt as a result of the increased fuel costs but with WBAC funding the peg fees for this long trip it still meant 17 turned up to be greeted by a serene and still Larford complex........now thats a surprise normally blows a hoolie!!!

Graham Aveyard kept things really simple leaving the field in his wake, with a superb 97.6lb catch. Graham dropped the method and red boilie short to both the pole line and probably 25-30m for a succession of bream and 'hawses' weighing nearly 35lb of bream alone.

(Picture .....not the first time we have trailed in Graham's wake then!!!)

Billy Gore managed second with 52.15lb again all to the method after filling it in on the pole and not even getting a bite. When I say filling it in, it was a Billy Two Hats special moment as circa 30 tins of meat went in!!!!! No fecking wonder he never got a bite then but he still pipped Mick Flanagan who as usual at Larford sorted out a few and weighed 52.7lb again predominantly on the method (beginning to get the drift why I caught sod all.......I'm crap on the method!!).

Sections went to Ian Lloyd with 34.7lb again method but short and Jeff Grantham 46.7lb including a near 15lb mirror that 'flanaganed', sorry dwarfed a much bigger ghostie he lost at the net. Overall our best combined weight of the season so far but not to the usual Larford standards. I'm sure no breeze and the Larford festival on the preceding 5 days didn't help

......along with my own hugely lacking ability on the feeder in general (gonna have to practice this one day........when I'm really bored and have no paint to watch dry!!!

Result
1st - Graham Aveyard - 97.6lb (peg 10)
2nd - Billy Gore - 52.15lb (peg 52)
3rd - Mick Flanagan - 52.7lb (peg 22)
Sec A - Ian Lloyd - 34.7lb (peg 11)
Sec B - Jeff Grantham - 46.7lb (peg 20)

23rd July - Orcheton Farm

Apologies for the delayed update been a bit manic with work and holidays etc

Orcheton saw a low turnout with just 12 anglers making the trip north. Jason Jones drew the infamous point peg and promptly walked away with it with a 35.1lb bag of mainly carp from the margin. Ian Simpson failed to catch in the margin but worked at 13m up in the water with pellet for F1's and an odd carp for 26.7lb just ahead of a late surging Graham Aveyard who drew opposite Jason on the other point and found the barbel in the margins late on to finish just a pound adrift in third.

Rick Keeley managed fourth but no dramas this year, he even kept his rods and new pole in his hand this time finishing with 21.5lb for fourth spot.

This really is a weird fishery, really deep in places but fished either margin or up in the water and we never seem to sort it for the weights its supposed to throw up. I think Rick is thinking of a change on this one for 2012.

Result
1st - Jason Jones - 35.1lb
2nd - Ian Simpson - 26.7lb
3rd - Graham Aveyard - 25.7lb
4th - Rick Keeley - 21.5lb

Glebe Update - Weekend away

Guys just a quick note to say we are now full again with all 22 places filled, deposits paid, lakes and hotels all booked.

Please just make sure you finish paying Keith by I think its 13th August at Weston Pools.

I will make sure I do a 'Glebe guide' again for this year with the latest news as there are four of us booked on a two-dayer in late August with Match-FishingScene.com

We will do the pairs draw at the next meeting and it will again be seeded top and lower half.

4th June - Border - Three Islands

After a change of venue, moving from the Meridian Canal the weather and venue looked good for the latest WBAC episode.

Dougie Walsh ran out the winner with some good sized carp on groundbait and maggot to the island for 47.5lb. Jeff Grantham drew the barbel hole but managed to secure second with a virtually all chub 44.6lb taken on worm with caster. Rob Dickenson drew a (its becoming business as usual) corner peg (makes a change form an end peg I suppose) and proceeded to lose numerous carp and barbel in the lilies. He managed to 'skull' a few out for 3rd. Dave Gentile managed fourth with the help of Ian S's "infamous foulhooker" pellets after finding his own floated. Ian Simpson won section A with 20.1lb or carp and silvers to maggot with Ian Lloyd taking the other section with 15.5lb.

After the usual banter at the draw Keith who drew 18 (out of 18) and Steve Gilmore who drew 7 were a bit gobsmacked to find Steve on end peg next to Keith. Rick is clearly struggling with his counting these days and went round pegging .....4,5,6,8,9 etc finishing with 16,17,18,"shit it'll have to be 7 I've missed it out mate.....I'll tell them at the draw mate, it'll be fine mate!!!"

All in all a decent day even if the carp were far from wanting to feed with as many lost as landed probably due to foulhooking. With any luck by the time of our next match in July spawning should be well and truely over!

Result
1st - Dougie Walsh - 47.5lb
2nd - Jegg Grantham - 44.6lb
3rd Rob Dickenson - 23.6lb
4th Dave Gentile - 21.9lb
Sec A - Ian Simpson - 20.1lb
Sec B - Ian Lloyd - 15.5lb

14th May - Old Hough (Lucky Dip) - Summer League

Our first Summer League and it certainly didn't feel like summer with howling winds and spells of rain. Jeff Grantham draw out of the wind on peg 9 and caught well on worm and caster to weigh a very credible 29.7lb of mainly tench. Rick Keeley took second with a maggot caught 18.3lb net inclusing some better chub and skimmers down the far ledge. Billy Gore braved the wind and fished across on peg15 for a well desreved 17.5lb.

Lots of mixed fish to be caught on both Prospect and Lucky Dip with carp, tench, chub and skimmers all featuring and there are also barbel starting to show. With better weather and no weed to worry about in these two lakes it should make for some interesting fishing.

Result
1st - Jeff Grantahm - 29.7lb (peg9 Lucky Dip)
2nd - Rick Keeley - 18.3lb (Peg7 Lucky Dip)
3rd - Billy Gore - 17.5lb (Peg 15 Lucky Dip)

Border 4th June - venue change!

Just a quick note to confirm Rick has moved the Border Meridian Canal match on to Three Islands.
Appears some really mixed results have been coming off Meridian since it was stocked with F1's and netted of bigger carp. Three Islands is a fairer option. All other details remain the same.

Glebe Update - Weekend away

Just a note to confirm I have spoken to Roy and he has kindly allowed us an extra lake on the Sunday and two more anglers so we can increase the places to 22 max - all at no extra cost.

I understand we now have 21 booked so the final place is up for grabs. £60 deposit and either £120 or £150 total dependant if you want Fri -Sat or Thurs -Sat hotel as well as 3 days fishing (pools and breakfast all included)

Just to confirm:
Friday - Lake 1 (all 30 pegs available, up to 22 fishing)
Saturday - Lake 1 (all 30 pegs available, up to 22 fishing)
Sunday - Lakes 5,6,7 (34 pegs available, up to 22 fishing)

We plan to run the Ronny Ashbrooke pairs over Fri / Sat whilst we are all on the same lake.
Sunday we will split into sections of probably 6/8/8 on Lakes 5/6/7 and pay first 2/3 on each lake.
Sections will again be seeded to ensure the top half are fishing against each other for the sections. Lower half same applies. On Sunday we will discuss either open draw or possibly way seeding top / middle / lower to again spread the pools around.

Any questions give me a call or e-mail.

We will finalise the seedings etc at the next meeting.

7th May Partridge - Spey Canal

A low turnout of 13 with Eggy and Rivacre both out the same weekend so we ended up on just Spey canal but with plenty of empty pegs and space all expected a decent day. For a change the fish had other ideas and even the windward end was slow, if fact the top 2 came from the lea end!!!

Billy Gore is on fire lately and took the win with early F1's across then added some F1's and carp from the margins in the second half for an easy win in the end with 27.8lb. Pete Walsh put in a rare appearance and scooped second after struggling across found a few carp and F1's down the track on pellet for 21.1lb. Ian Simpson managed third with F1's hard to find but had a few across with pellet for 16.0lb.

Keith Williamson was end peg with the wind blowing in and an aerator but the fish were just not having it with 2 blanks in the 4 pegs next to him. Keith tipped 10.3lb on the scales resorting to corn down the track to snare enough for the section. Jason Jones took the other section with 12.5lb but suffered, as many did, with foul hooked fish as they seemed more intent on 'nooky' that feeding!!

Well done Billy, 2 wins on the bounce!!!

Result
1st - Billy Gore - 27.8lb (Peg 5)
2nd - Pete Walsh - 21.1lb (Peg 7)
3rd - Ian Simpson - 16.0lb (Peg 18)
Sec A - Jason Jones - 12.5lb (Peg 12)
Sec B - Keith Williamson - 10.3lb (Peg 21)

16th April - Old Hough - Upper Benbo

Well the venue looks much better with a vast reduction in the visible weed growth, however there is still a lot subsurface making the fishing difficult to the far banks in places. Billy Gore took top spot with a small carp and tench net for 35.9lb beating Dougie Walsh into second. Dougie included some better carp in his 30.5lb but it was not enough to overhaul Billy.

Third went to Jason Jones with small carp and tench on maggot from the far side. Jason was involved in a next peg fish for fish battle for most of the match with his travelling partner Dave Gentile. Dave fell short with 19.3lb to Jason but took the section with a similiar carp and tench net. Keith Williamson stuck to the shorter pole and took the other section with 11.7lb despite losing several better carp to the weed.

After the weigh in Rick managed to talk to Doug the owner and has switched lakes for the 'summer series' matches to avoid the weed that will no doubt be back as the summer progresses on the Benbo's. Rick has secured Lucky Dip and Prospect lakes for the summer series. A similar set up to the Benbo's but no weed, 16 pegs on each and slightly smaller fish but should make for a better, 'weed free' series. Doug has another canal 12m wide we can also consider but it has yet to be fished so we can play it by ear.

Result
1st - Billy Gore - 35.9lb (Peg 22)
2nd - Dougie Walsh - 30.5lb (Peg 14)
3rd - Jason Jones - 21.8lb (Peg 9)
Sec A - Dave Gentile - 19.3lb (Peg 11)
Sec B - Keith Williamson - 11.7lb (Peg 24)

9th April - Baden Hall Canals

Well a tale of two very differant halves to these canals. Ian Lloyd fished a tremendous match to weigh in a massive 131.3lb of carp on pellet for an easy win. Pegged at the top end and with no shows he ended up with empty pegs all around him. Nonetheless you still need to catch them and Ian certainly did. Second was Graham Aveyard, the next nearest angler to Ian with 41.6lb, normally a good April weight but the carp wanted to be at the top end. Third went to Alec Raich with 24.5lb again towards the top end and carp making up the weight. Sections went to Pete Canavan with18.0lb and Kenny Stuart with 13.5lb

The lower half of the draw was particularly poor with half the field less than 10lb and 6 below 5lb. It was a real struggle with few silvers and only gudgeon to move your float if you knew how to target them!!!!.....I had 15 of them on pinkies!!

There are clearly a load of quality fish in there but they get 'walked' and 'driven' up the far end as anglers arrive and drive on with few silvers for the rest. I know we all think certain pegs and the wind etc play there part but this venue is the definition of 'peggy' in the true sense of the word. Guarantees a few a really great day but the majority struggle.

Result
1st - Ian Lloyd - 131.3lb
2nd - Graham Aveyeard - 41.6lb
3rd - Alec Raich - 24.5lb
Sec A - Kenny Stuart - 13.5lb
Sec B - Pete Canavan - 18.0lb

19th March Conway WL10

Result
1st - Steve Brew - 78.2lb (point)
2nd - Ian Simpson - 60.9lb (concrete tower)
3rd - Jeff Grantham - 53.0lb ( 3 past tree LHS)
Sec A - Mick Flanagan - 31.9lb (1st past tree LHS)
Sec B - Rick Keeley - 20.1lb (left of point)

The final match was always going to be about the draw for the winter league title as Mick Flanagan needed nothing other than a win to catch Ian S, and lots of others needed the win to sneak ahead of Jeff Grantham into 3rd, so the point peg that has been a carp hole all year was the place to be.

At the draw Steve Brew pulled it out again, 2nd time in 3 weeks and despite a few nervous moments early on as Ian Simpson on the next peg sneaked his fish away a few times, the point and its 5m advantage over the rest proved the winner. Steve fished shallow feeding and fishing 6mm pellet for 78.2lb of mainly carp to 14lb. Ian Simpson on the next peg was going fish for fish shallow on the 6mm pellet early on but as they backed off had to go for skimmers on pellet at 14m ending up with 60.9lb.

The catch of the day and in my opinion the series though was Jeff Grantham who decided and stuck to an all out roach onslaught and plundered 53.0lb on maggot shallow with just 1 small F1 - an awesome display of roach fishing (pity his pole is now worn out shipping in and out!!). Mick Flanagan knew at the draw his race was done but managed 31.9lb of roach and carp for a section with Rick Keeley bagging the other section after a late change to roach in the last hour hauling him into contention.

Another tremendous series over with some stunning weights, four matches averaged over 25lb per man and no less than 14 weights over 40lb recorded. Especially when you consider its winter it just goes to show what a tremendous venue it is. Special thanks to Conway Fisheries and to WBAC for donating £100 each and to all that fished as we were able to payout 11 anglers who had fished at least 5 rounds.

Winter League Result
1st - Ian Simpson - 7pts (3 wins 2 seconds)
2nd Mick Flanagan - 9pts (2 wins 2 seconds 1 third)
3rd - Steve Brew - 13pts (beat Jeff G on weight)

On a final note we have already agreed to leave the point peg out next year and put the two pegs in either side to make things a little fairer. We will also be looking at how to change the payouts for 2011/12, the points system is working fine for the league (I would say that!!!) but payouts are likely to changed, maybe pairs drawn on the day or pay £15-20 for every 3-4peg section and drop the 1,2,3 payout. We will discuss at the next meeting. Plans for next year are to have 2 winter league matches a month from Nov - March, again best 5 to count.

Thanks to all that took part, all who braved the weather, all who broke the ice and all the belly laughs throughout. What would you do if you couldn't fish with the following crowd (add the name of your choice): -
- Papa smurf.....................
- Leprachaun..................
- Bandit.........................
- Table dancer/two hats........
- Coach...........................
- Bananavan man...........
- Jbay n sons (fathers)...,
- Pissypants....................
- Tidymatch...............
- Silver fox / plant mgr..........
- Silverback...............
- H is for holidaymaker..............
- Dougie pastemeister................
- Speedy Gilmore.....................
- Apologies to those missed...!!

12th March - Gorsty

A low turnout with Eggy at Weston and Spring League commitments at Heronbrook but 17lb per man average saw our best day of the year to date.......and the weather wasnt bad for a change.

Yozzer drew end pag and with a blank peg next to him so 'pleasure fished' his way to a cracking 36.9lb with some better stamp carp on 6mm pellet down the ledge. To be fair to Yoz he struggled for a few hours at 10m before switching to 4m the inside over riddled pellets (forgot his micro's!) and then cleaned up.

The rest of the frame was ridiculously close with Ian Simpson edging 2nd with 24.5lb of small carp and skimmers on 4+6mm pellet at 14m. Dougie Walsh had a late run of better fish and fell just short with 24.0lb including some better stamp carp on pellet. Andy Walsh took 4th with 23.9lb having struggled for the first half he also found some better stamp carp later on and was going fish for fish with Dougie towards the end. I had to endure synchronised bagging on more than one occassion as they closed the gap.

All told a good day and if the frame wasnt close enough Billy Gore had 23.olb virtually all on the pellet feeder for 5th!! So 1.5lb seperating 2nd - 5th.........but hats off to Yoz he walked it in the end!

Result
1st - Ian (Yozzer) Hughes - 36.9lb
2nd - Ian Simpson - 24.5lb
3rd - Dougie Walsh - 24.0lb
4th Andy Walsh - 23.9lb

5th March - Conway WL9

After last weeks wild and windy weekend at Saughall it was back to Conway and still and misty.......

After much debate over breakfast whether to leave the point out (the notorious flyer), it was decided someone needed a good day so leave it in. The thinking is with it out the pegs either side would fish better and thus be fairer. It will be up for discussion for the final match.

Anyway the leading moaner re leaving the point out, drew it and ran to his peg shouting 'told you to leave it out!'. Needless to say Jeff Grantham then extracted 18lb of goldfish and another 52lb of mainly F1's on pellet alternating up and down for an easy win with 70.1lb and also pushing him into the top 3 in the league with 1 to go.

Guest Lee Pickup drew the 'boulder' and found some real carp on the pole, some of the few to show, and had a great day adding a few late fish on the bomb to record 47.9lb and push Mr G closer than all of us thought. Ian Simpson draw first past the bush and adopted the usual roach up in the water whilst the carp settle tactics. The carp didn't although an early one drew him to stay on carp too long (the usual Conway cock up!!!) but 29.1lb was just enough for 3rd.

Sections went to new members Ian Hughes (not Yoz) and Rob Dickinson with 28.3lb and 27.5lb respectively both having mixed bags of roach, carp, skimmers and tench in Rob's case.

Overall a good match with 27lb average and just one match to go in the league. Ian Simpson, leads from Mick Flanagan who needs a win to catch him with Jeff Grantham, Dougie Walsh, Steve Brew and Billy Gore all in the mix for the next 4 places as all can drop poorer scores.

Kenny Pickup, John Heald, Dave Gentile and Steve Gilmore are one match away from the minimum five so one more turnout will get then on the board and get them a league payout - virtually a free match then!!

Result
1st - Jeff Gratham - 70.1lb (point)
2nd - Lee Pickup - 47.9lb (boulder)
3rd - Ian Simpson - 29.1lb (1st past tree LHS)
Sec A - Rob Dickison - 27.5lb (2 before boulder)
Sec B - Ian Hughes - 28.3lb (concrete tower)

19th Feb - Conway WL7

Conway was back on song with an average of over 32lb per man for this weeks winter league with 27lb needed for 6th, thats better than our summer 2008 and 2009 best bar the Glebe!!

Steve Brew drew the point and it looked like a blowout after 2 hours as Steve struggled to catch, but as is often the case with this peg, the carp 'come home' at some point and Steve bagged up shallow at 14m with 6mm pellet for 3 hours and a superb 84.5lb of Carp and F1's. He would have had a 'ton' if he could have weighed the ducks in he hooked! Ian Simpson drew opposite the point and started on the roach at 10m before moving out to 14m and 6mm pellet up and down for a mixed bag with carp, F1's, tench and skimmers in his 58.9lb net.

Mick Flanagan was first past the tree on the left and roached it at 10m and 4m adding a few carp off the top of the island for 45.8lb but must have had 30lb of roach and lots of netters. Jeff Grantham drew opposite Mick next to the 'old boards' and did the reverse started for carp had an odd one, but then roached it falling just short of Mick with 43.2lb again nearly 30lb of roach.

Conway has to be one of the best roach waters in the North West!!

Just a quick mention our coach Rick who had a great day fishing pellet up and down from the boulder peg had 32lb and missed the frame......not often that happens with 30lb+ in the net!!

Craic of the day, Jeff shouts to Mick his partner and our resident leprichaun "feck Mick them roach look big your catchin", quick as a flash Keith 'the bandit' responds with 'they always will look bigger against a dwarf!!".........harsh but true.

Result
1st - Steve Brew - 84.5lb (point)
2nd - Ian Simpson - 58.9lb (opposite point)
3rd - Mick Flanagan - 45.8lb (1st past bush)
4th - Jeff Grantham - 43.2lb (1st past old boards)

12th Feb - Lower Ridge - Saughall

After many weeks of wind rain hail snow and frost.......finally the day dawned bright and sunny with a slight breeze after a mild week. Hopes were high for a few carp to add to the normal ide rations from Lower Ridge.

Ian Lloyd made it two wins out of two with WBAC and 3 from 3 if you include Rivacre, fishing pellet to the island for a mixed bag of F1's and carp and some silvers for a runaway 37.0lb win. Jeff Gratham ever consistent on Lower Ridge fished very long and managed 26.5lb again mainly F1's from the top corner. Dougie Walsh broke the pellet mould and caught on maggot losing several big carp that would have won him the match tight to the island.
Sections went to Ian Simpson with 17.9lb (mainly due to a 10.6lb carp) and Jason Connah who caught on the feeder and pole for 21.8lb.

Story of the match was again pole related. Rick managed to 'release' 7 sections of his into the lake. 'Oh my god' shouted Rick 'its a big carp', as his pole floated away. Several casts with the feeder and numerous attempts to snag it and finally he got it back - needless to say we had a laugh when the big carp had turned into a 10oz chub - some bleedin coach!!!!

H had an expensive day too and not a cruise in sight!! We think after having his pole blown of the roller a few times last week there was some damage....several hours in on Saughall and he struck into a small ide only to see his no5 section do a swingtip impression to much laughter. Safely recovered and telescoped an hour later we had an action reply and the no6 also did a swingtip job!! Methinks a call to S.Wales is gonna happen this week!!

Result

1st - Ian Lloyd - 37.0lb
2nd - Jeff Grantham - 26.5lb
3rd - Dougie Walsh - 25.6lb
Sec A - Ian Simpson - 17.9lb
Sec B - Jason Connah - 21.8lb

5th Feb - Conway WL7

After leaving the Wirral after a wild wet n windy night, with fences down, tree's in roads etc we feared the worst but to our surprise Conway was wet but well coloured and just a little breeze. Draw done it was a race to the pegs with some not in due to peg rebuilding so brolly's up and rig up. All in called and let the fishing commence!!

A slow start for the fishing and the weather but as the fishing started to pick up so did the wind. After a few hours it was brolly's down bar H who 'wore' his as it wrapped round his head a few times and poles, rollers, sections, bait boxes etc started whizzing around the banks. The end result was 11 soaked anglers, battered and bruised minus a no4, now in the lake, minus another no4 smashed and minus 2 no6's snapped like twigs coming off the rollers - Conway 4 v 0 WBAC on the pole front.

On to the fishing, Ian Simpson was left the point peg at the end of the draw and struggled for a few hours whilst the weather was better but switched to roach to save face. 17lb of roach later and the carp showed up with the wind. Presentation was dire but 12 F1's were fooled and 25lb added to the roach for a winning 42lb net. Rob Dickinson next door to Ian had to go to 16m to catch and started strongly finding the carp early but as the wind got up he had no chance to fish 16m, dropping to 11m by the chimney/concrete he continued to add to his net finishing with 30.7lb for second.

Mick Flanagan went for the roach and had an odd dabble for carp at the island early on but as the wind increased at the top end, he ended up on top 3 or 4 taking some dog roach close in to push Rob but fell just short with 28.4lb, a great result considering the wind at that end!! Final place went to Billy Gore with a similar story to Rob caught a few long but was forced short and ended with 21.7 for 4th having lost a few carp on paste and maggot along the way.

All told a 'wild one', tip rods required for next time me thinks, Ian Lloyd sussed how to get F1's on the tip late on, no dinks and dips on a 4x10 float for him, proper pull rounds he was getting and had 7 F1's on it!!

Result
1st - Ian Simpson - 42.4lb (point)
2nd - Rob Dickinson - 30.7lb (concrete tower)
3rd - Mick Flanagan - 28.4lb (2 before bush)
4th - Billy Gore - 21.7lb (2 after old boards)

29th Jan - Border 3 Islands

Well the talk at the draw was of the 80lb winning weight the week before with 60lb backing and 20's and 30's all round the lake!!

Needless to say it was solid.......with ice that is!!!

After 13 pegs were duly broken it was down to who could get the odd chub and skimmer to back up the roach that eventaully arrived for most after and hour or two - unless your Rick when they arrived gave with 4 bites and buggered off before he caught one.....coach? more like couch?

Ian Lloyd fished a tidy match dripping in pinkies to take the win with roach, chub and a couple of skimmers for 11.1lb with Ian Simpson fishing an almost identical match minus the skimmers and hence 7.6lb for second. Billy Gore had the skimmers but not the chub and managed 7.1lb for third.

Graham Aveyard with no island to fish to moaned alot and managed 3.6lb boosted by 2 better skimmers at the death when Rick had gone! Dougie Walsh had a virtaully all rudd 6.3lb for the other section.

Bitterly cold and a tough start to the season with 4 blanks.....bit of a change from 80lb to win

Result
1st - Ian Lloyd - 11.1lb
2nd - Ian Simpson - 7.6lb
3rd - Billy Gore - 7.1lb
Sec A - Graham Aveyard - 3.6lb
Sec B - Dougie Walsh - 6.3lb

22nd January WL6 Gorsty

Well after a hastily re-arranged match with Conway still being refilled we made our way to Gorsty. Good reports of plenty of fish and not just roach, there were reports of carp, skimmers and crucians on pellet being the talked about method however......................

..............as with all best laid plans we arrived after several sub zero nights to find it three quarters frozen. The odd stone proved it to be breakable so 16 souls took to the draw, half ice free under the trees, the other half would have ice to break (and poles more later).

After a breif flurry with the landing net breaking ice to 3m I decided my pole was not going to see ice action and set off back round to the car. 30mins later the petrol can on a rope trick had swims sorted in the 8 icebound pegs but not before a Spectrum top 4 and TPro no4 had bitten the dust as some took their poles to the ice and the ice won!!

After a slow start it was obvious the ice free pegs were fishing slightly better (probably just lack of disturbance). Mick Flanagan, Dougie Walsh and Jeff Grantham fished a peg to peg battle with joint first going to Mick and Dougie with 7.9lb. Mick virtually all roach, whilst Dougie had skimmers and crucians as well. Jeff was just a few fish down with 7.2lb but spent too long early on trying to make the pellet work.

Section A went to Yozzer with 3.8lb from the very edge of the ice then Section B was proper ice fishing with no clear water and another joint finish with Steve Brew and Ian S pegged adjacent both weighing 5.4lb (good job we share!!)

Overall a really cold affair but very close weights and points. There was a joint first, joint fourth, joint 5th, joint 7th etc so winter leage points were hard won with 0.7lb seperating the top 3 and 0.9lb seperating 6th to 12th!!!!

Result
=1st - Dougie Walsh - 7.9lb
=1st - Mick Flanagan - 7.9lb
3rd - Jeff Grantham - 7.2lb

Sec A - Ian (Yozzer) Hughes - 3.8lb
Sec B - Ste Brew / Ian Simpson both - 5.4lb

With 5 matches now fished it gets interesting as peole start dropping their worst results or in some cases still have matches to fish. Mick Flanagan leads the points table from Dougie and Ste B, all three now start to drop ther worst results to improve (see league tables)

Blog Updates - Headers / additional pages

Just to confirm if you go to the headers above and click on them i.e.

Home - Match Calendar - Club Rules - Meetings - Leagues - Glebe

I have now updated the information re Matches 2011, Meeting dates, League tables, Glebe 2011 etc

Ian

8th January WL5 Conway

Officially Winter League 5 but actually our 4th match as the 18th Dec was cancelled due to the weather and we need to agree at the next meeting if this will move to a best 5 from 9 league or fit another match in.

Anyway onto the fishing, most unusually we had no floating features to fish to this week (ice) and nothing to do when we arrived other than peg out (to get warm a few suggested synchronised star jumps but with the combined fitness level of WBAC members that was never going to happen!). A reasonable day weather-wise other than a cold blustery wind making fishing long difficult.

The resident carp all but shut up shop and Ian S and Jeff fought it out for top spot going roach for roach for 5 hours on maggot. Ian kept having a odd look for carp long, but Jeff stuck to the roach as his appeared a smaller stamp. After 5 hours all agreed Ian S had it and was a good 5-10lb clear. The scales however disagreed and his 25.2lb only just sneaked ahead of Jeff's 24.6lb.

Billy Gore took 3rd with 16.9lb with a few decent skimmers in amongst another roach net taken mostly at 6m having given up on the carp to the island. Ian Lloyd took A Section with 12.6lb and Mick Flanagan B Section with 12.6lb but both admitted making the mistake of going for carp for too long. Conway seems to let you have an early carp / F1 just to play with your head......you can't resist then having a go for a few more!!!

With 4 matches gone Mick Flanagan leads the league from Dougie then Steve Brew but until 5 matches are fished and you start dropping results its still all to play for.

Result

1st - Ian Simpson - 25.2lb (Peg - 1st past tree LHS)
2nd - Jeff Grantham - 24.6lb (Peg - 1st past the boards)
3rd - Billy Gore - 16.9lb (Peg - first peg LHS to visible island)

Sec A - Ian Lloyd - 12.6lb (Peg - the boulder)
Sec B - Mick Flanagan - 13.1lb (Peg - the boards)