Another Thursday and another silvers qualifier at Acorn, I drew 31 which has been a great area for the ide so hopefully I should get a few bites. For company I had Mark B to my left on 33, Paul Dicks was on 29 and with Tony Rixon on 27 there was a good chance of some abuse today!
As per usual I fed all my lines before starting across to the island pinging maggots, I missed a bite first chuck (glancing across to Tony he gave me a rude hand signal that rhymes with anchor!) before landing a decent ide next put in. I was catching well and probably had 6-7lb in the first hour.
The second sixty minutes continued in a similar vein with more ide along with my first skimmer and a bonus perch of a pound. Paul was catching well including a couple of nice tench and Mark and Dave Manning on 34 were both regularly using their landing nets.
Bites across slowed up so I had my first look at 10 metres down the middle, two ide quite quickly was encouraging and things got even better when I hooked a big fish which turned out to be a bonus 2lb perch, a little roach followed but then I couldn’t get a bite. Back by the island I had a couple more ide but was having to keep swapping lines to get bites, my first look short resulted in a quality roach but despite missing a few bites, that was the only fish I had there.
Quite a few tench were now being caught, Paul had one of 4lb+ and Tony landed a few as well, I didn’t get a tench but did manage a couple more ide across and also landed a decent foul hooked skimmer. I finished up with 35 fish (2 skimmers, 2 perch, 5 roach and 26 ide) and it had been a thoroughly enjoyable match although I was sure Paul, Mark and Dave all had more than me.
As the scales got round to us I went to see what the scores on the doors were, Dave Willmott was leading with a fantastic 35lb 4oz from peg 5 on the island which is the best carp peg on the lake, a brilliant result from there. Tony had 18lb 2oz and then Paul went into second place with an excellent 26lb 3oz, my fish went 21lb 12oz and when Mark B weighed 20lb 15oz I started to think I might sneak a section win. Dave Manning had a level 23lb which put him third overall but Paul Faiers on 37 had 48 fish and despite him saying he didn’t have 20lb, the ide normally average at least 8oz apiece so I knew he’d have more and so it proved when his 23lb 4oz just pipped Dave.
1 – Dave Willmott (Acorn) – 35lb 4oz (Q)
2 – Paul Dicks (Acorn) – 26lb 3oz (Q)
3 – Paul Faiers (Acorn) – 23lb 4oz
Sections
A – Nick Ewers (Acorn) – 20lb 3oz
B – Martin Rayet (Acorn) – 12lb 4oz
C – Tony Rixon (Premier Angling) – 18lb 2oz
D – Dave Manning (Acorn) – 23lb
So after Dave Willmott’s great net of fish, it was a really close match with just 3lb or so separating the next three weights, I’ve finished just short needing another couple of fish to frame, it seems to be a recurring theme for me at the moment, I drawing some great pegs/areas but not quite doing enough!
There’s still a great offer running if you fancy treating yourself to some new fishing gear, use the exclusive discount code AgainstMenandFish10 to get 10% off when you shop online at Somerset Angling
Also I still have copies of my book available from eBay here or Amazon here
And if you could spare five minutes to leave a nice review on Amazon, it would be very much appreciated.
Next up – Todber Manor
Coming soon – Lots more match reports
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