Match fishing blog, tackle reviews, interviews, South West match results, fishing in Thailand, venue reports
If 2022 was a brilliant year fishing wise for me, 2023 so far has been anything but! At least the weather was a bit better today, the temperature a couple of degrees warmer and there would be no ice-breaking required …
When I saw Trinity had advertised a silvers open, I booked in along with Parker ‘The Pole’ and Nick P. While I was Acorn the previous day, Mish messaged to say they were iced over but they would break it …
I really enjoyed my first two visits to Acorn and when I saw Chris Fox was running some Saturday opens, I booked in for the first one and Nick said he fancied it too. Once again the weather decided to …
With the river flooded, we were at Dillington Pond for round two of the winter league where hopefully we should all get a few bites. Breakfast at the bowling club was lovely as always and we were well looked after …
I always look forward to our winter league on the Isle, round 1 was cancelled due to low flows and leading up to this match, we had torrential rain and I was sure we’d be on the pond today but by Saturday the river was nearly back to normal levels. We all met at the bowling club and were well looked after …
Another of those matches I would dearly love to win but to date, fifth is my best result from the first time I qualified in 2017. Waking up to a hard frost was a bit of a rude awakening and the drop in temperature wouldn’t be doing us any favours today. I met Zooner for breakfast in the truck stop (when I …
It was the third and final match for Ruthie’s Cup on Wednesday and I could get used to this fishing three times a week! We all met at Cartgate for breakfast which was good although there was some confusion with several of the orders! Then it was time for the draw and it was my turn in the middle section. Pegs 5 …
It was back to Summerhayes on Sunday with the match on Sellicks this time. We had a cracking breakfast at the bowling club again (thanks Charlotte) before heading to Bridgwater. Twelve anglers fishing today which is a good number for Sellicks. Nick gave Pete a hand to do the draw and first up was the golden peg which was number 9. I …
One of my favourite matches of the year and one I managed to win for the first time last year so I would be trying my hardest to defend my title. The final IAA Summer League match at Coombe was also rescheduled for the same day which was a bit gutting as I was in with a good chance of a top …
The next Stoke match was at Trinity Waters and it was also the final match to decide the Club Championship and Rosebowl competitions. On paper I was lying in second place in both but realistically with dropping the worst results, I was way behind and the only chance I had of winning either was if the leaders blanked, fell in or both! …
The last of the clubs ‘species’ trophies is the Chub Cup but I couldn’t actually find the trophy itself! It’s awarded for the best weight of chub during the river series. I managed to put together a list of most of the winners from various paperwork and AGM minutes. 1976-77 – P Austin – 10lb 6oz 1977-78 – G. Bulgin – 9.5oz …
With the match on the Isle called off, we booked into the open at Summerhayes. 21 anglers were fishing this one so a decent size match. While we waited for the draw, Parker ‘The Pole’ modelled his posh new set of waterproofs. As always, Pete pulled out the golden ball first and this week it was number 30, a good area. I …
The Aggregate Shield was for the highest combined weight from our river matches and was presented to the club by Mr R. A. Dyer. 1972-73 – T. Payne – 12lb 13oz 1973-74 – R. Payne – 17lb 2.5oz 1974-75 – R. Russell – 20lb 1975-76 – R. Russell – 15lb 7.5oz 1976-77 – R. Whatley – 28lb 15.5oz 1977-78 – D. Isaacs …
The next Stoke match was at Ash Ponds which I’d only fished once before in the Xmas Fayre last year. We fished lakes 2 and 3 then with the latter being more prolific, Dan Squire had the top weight on the day with over 150lb from lake 3. I was on lake 2 and had a really enjoyable day catching carp and …
