Summerhayes – Open – 25th August 2025
Bank Holiday Monday saw me headed to Summerhayes for the match on Longs which has been fishing really well for silvers. Only ten of us today and I drew peg 30 which was right where I wanted to be although …
Bank Holiday Monday saw me headed to Summerhayes for the match on Longs which has been fishing really well for silvers. Only ten of us today and I drew peg 30 which was right where I wanted to be although …
If you’ve followed the blog for a few years, you will know I love fishing Stoke’s matches on the Parrett but the Memorial Shield has so far eluded me and in five years I’ve finished second three times and it’s …
With quite a few of the regulars fishing festivals, there was depleted turnout for this one, even venue expert Adrian Dew was absent due to feeling under the weather (probably still counting all his winnings!) so at least we had …
On Sunday and it was back to Summerhayes for the open on Longs and after drawing 30 in the Stoke match and having a lovely day, I was hoping to be in the same area today. For once my misfiring …
I really enjoyed fishing the Stoke matches on the Parrett last year and their first match of the new season is always the Evening Cup, something a bit different for me because it’s on a Saturday and as the name suggests, it’s in the evening! There were 21 booked in which is just fantastic and with it being a 14:30 draw time, …
Before I get onto this weeks report, I had the sad news yesterday that Ray Wickham had passed away on Friday, he’d been unwell for some time. Like me, Ray loved his silvers fishing and I partnered him a couple of times in two day pairs festivals at Summerhayes and we had a good record, winning one and finishing second in the …
Obviously 2020 will be remembered for all the wrong reasons and one of the consequences of the pandemic was that pretty much everything was cancelled, things like The Big One fishing show didn’t happen and many tackle firms held off on releasing their new products. When Bait-Tech finally announced what they had planned for this year, it was doubly exciting so here’s …
So far this year, my fishing has probably been more varied and challenging than ever before and although I’ve struggled I’ve also really enjoyed doing some different things. However, it has also made me realise my own limitations, to be consistently successful these days, realistically you have to concentrate on a few venues or a couple of methods because it’s no coincidence …
After re-visiting the Viaduct for the first time in years last weekend, I’d booked into another Stoke match, this time at Thorney Lakes. I have pleasure fished it a long time ago, with Arf if I remember correctly and we caught a few fish, mainly roach and the odd crucian carp. I’d seen some recent photos and captures on Facebook of decent …
I’ve known the lovely Steve Chant for longer than either of us care to remember and our paths have crossed on a regular basis during that time, fishing with Ilminster, Chard and Stoke clubs and also at places like Bearley and Covey lakes. After taking voluntary redundancy last year he decided to set up the Somerset Rig Company to tie hooklengths and …
I reviewed Fishing and Testicles by Billy Makin back in 2017, it’s a very funny read and you can see what I thought of it here, I mentioned in that review that I would love it if he ever wrote his autobiography so when I saw that he’d published The Golden Years: Match Fishing Memories, my prayers were finally answered! The book …
Another Bank Holiday means another match at Summerhayes and what a difference compared to the last one when the weather was bloody awful and the carnage caused by the wind resulted in Captain Morgan’s pole ending up in the pond and he had to launch the boat to retrieve it. The thirty or so minutes that followed were possibly the funniest I …
I booked into the Stoke match at the Viaduct and looking through the blog, I haven’t fished it since 2013! It was on Campbell which has been producing some cracking weights of silvers so hopefully we’d be in for a good day. Drew very kindly agreed to let us have breakfast at the bowling club and it was bloody fantastic, after we’d …
I’m pleased and excited to announce I’ve secured sole land based distribution for Makin books including his brand new title, ‘The Golden Years – Match Fishing Memories’ which is out NOW. Get your copy HERE. I reviewed Fishing and Testicles a few years ago and suffice to say it’s very funny, check out my review – here. You can also buy a …