Thursday, 07 May 2009

• Stafford Moor Friday

  Myself and Vic had booked into the ResidentsMatch on Friday leaving the others to fish around the complex. There was only 16 booked in but with it on Tanner's and with my new found confidence in the bomb ( see Stafford Moor Wednesday), I was looking forward to the draw. Vic had gone in first and pulled out 13 a reasonable peg with an island to sling the bomb to and a good margin swim. Also a short walk. My hand went in and pulled out peg 36, I almost ran to it but nonchantly said it was a good peg on its day.

  On arrival i was delighted to see the wind blowing into my side of the lake. I decided to fish 2 lines. My main line would be the bomb down the edge to the far side of the bridge and a pole line at 10m to the third stantion on the bridge itself. The bridge seperates Tanners from Beatties, the specimen lake. Strong tackle would be required so I set up 2 rigs to purple hydro to fish the 3ft swim. Both Pellet floats to size 14 B911.

  

   

  Starting on the bomb and feeding 11mm shop bought pellets with a " new hair rigged" pellet on the hook the rod arched rod on its second put in and the fish was on, only for the hook to pull out at the net. Next door the angler was slinging the bomb to the island in front of him and was starting to catch. I went out again after a few choice words with myself and was soon rewarded with a carp around 7lb. Feeding in the wind scattered my feed and I found the best way was to feed 2 pellets at a time and then wait a few minutes before feeding again. The fish came steadily throughout the first 4 hours with 16 fish in the net for around a ton. Next door was matching me but his fish were slightly smaller on average. Then disaster struck, I hooked a fish and had managed to drag it out of the snags from the edge into the open water when the tip of my rod came out and slid down the line to the bomb. The fish was obviously spooked by this and rolled straight over the tip, snapping the line above the hooklength, meaning not only di i lose the fish but the tip as well. With no spare available I had no option to fish the pole for the remaining 1 1/2 hours.

  The pole line was not where I wanted to be after catching so many fish on the bomb, but I had no choice. So, I fed a couple of pots of 6mm pellets onto the line and baited up with a piece of corn. After a couple of missed bites the float buried and a skimmer flopped to the surface. I kept plugging away but was disappointed I had not been more prepared and have a back up for the bomb rod. Yet another lesson learn't. I did managed 2 carp from the peg but they only were around the 3lb mark.

  At the all out I was annoyed that I should have done better and felt I could have won the match. My weight of 116lb though was only beaten by my neighbour with 141lb all taken on the bomb along our bank, and I could not fish the bomb for nearly 2 hours. I felt I could have put another 50lb in the net during that time.

  I packed up and took the long walk back to the lodge. I did not even know how the other pegs had done, i was that cheesed off. Vic had weighed in 85lb before the wind changed and made feeding impossible. I was then pleasantly surprised to see Andy Seery turn up at the lodge and present me with a brown envelope for £40 and the promise of a polo shirt from the lodge.

  Still a good end to the week after a frustrating start. Roll on next year.

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