The Hopeful Match Fisher
I was very pleased to be out on a match on Saturday, which was a lovely in the sunshine. 13deg in November was just fine for me :)
If you have read any of my other posts you will be aware that I'm concentrating on Gold Valley at the moment, purely to bed down my skills in a reliable way. I figure it's better to go that way than dashing around all over the place.
So back on to Syndicate in the peg next door to the last time I was on Syndicate - 115. Funny how the draw goes sometimes. Once again I was making up the numbers as a sub for whatever team needed one. This time I was dropped into Perry Stone's SPRO team.
I knew the sunshine would bring the fish up in the water so I was first in on the big float, which very quickly grabbed me two fish in the first thirty minutes before there was a slowing down and the topping fish seemed to get wary. Onto the bomb with pellets was the obvious next move, and I was into action once again. The problem was that the next three fish were all lost - two to line breakages and on to a hook pull. I was rather pissed-off about that.
Those losses precipitated a change. I'd fished a bit lighter for the bomb (0.15 main) considering colder water, but I think it may have been too light. I changed up to a 0.20 Drennan Supplex line, but that seemed to have pretty negative effect. The bites dried up and I had only another three fish until the end of the match. At the weigh-in I had 35lb, which got me fifth in a ten man section.
The line issue needs a bit of thought. I don't know if the thicker line was at fault or the visibility. Perhaps both, or it may have been a slow down for other reasons. I'll swap the line anyway, and see how it goes.
One thing which was an eye opener was that the peg to my left was an end peg. The guy the frame in second with 104lb. I couldn't believe the difference to my weight. He was vastly more experienced than I was, but even so it the biggest difference I've known in a match between myself the and my neighbours.
So onto the next match, probably next week.
Hopeful
Sunday, 30 November 2014
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
The Probabilities of Match Fishing
The Hopeful
Match Fisher
Last
week I caught up on a few old back editions of Tight Lines, which I get as an
edited video podcast onto my computer. I've been a fan of the program
mainly because they cover some of the big match events and also get some decent
guests in to talk about their experiences.
On
one such recent episode Callum Dicks was on and Keith Arthur was talking to him
about the recent Parkdean Masters match, which is considered one of the most
prestigious titles in the match fishing game. As far as I know, in order
to fish on the Parkdean Masters you have to qualify by good results at the
White Acres Festival, which runs the week before. I think they take the
top twenty-four anglers, based upon results in their sections. By all
accounts there are something like five matches to gain qualification points,
about 180 anglers each all in. Now here comes the rub: according to
Callum Dicks you cannot finish less than second or third in your section on any
of the five matches and then expect to qualify for the Parkdean Masters.
Sounds tough! Yet what I found when I looked at who had made it through
to Masters was a list of mostly the same faces who seem to do consistently well
in the commercial match fishing world.
Now if you are still with me, what I'm aiming to work out here is not the obvious (the best guys always do well), but rather how it is that these characters manage to do it so consistently. There are so many variables to take into account when match fishing (or any sort of fishing for that matter). So how is it that these few are yet able to rise to the top so regularly?
There is of course a simple answer: 'experience'. Or perhaps it could be 'ability', but these basic answers are just too simple for my inquiring mind. I'm sure we have all heard that preparation is the key to success: it's that old 'fail to prepare - prepare to fail' adage. I believe that is true, but it's still to generalised for me. In a previous life I was software engineer and I so I'm just always trying to discover how things work by reverse engineering them!
It seems to me then that the best match anglers are able to achieve consistency by lessening the odds of success in a number of key areas of preparation and performance. By doing so they improve their chances over other anglers. There are of course some random factors involved, such as the peg draw, over which no amount of preparation and performance can influence the result at the point you put your hand into the draw bag. However, many other factors might be predicted to be within certain limits so that an angler could make preparations to cope with the range of possibilities. I believe that it's good decision making within this array of possibilities which gives one angler an advantage over another.
So what are these key areas? Well to be fair I'm not sure I could find them all, but here is a go:
Weather
The weather has a huge effect on fishing. It's not just a case of basic temperature, but also temperature change. That of course is linked to air pressure, which can determine the direction of the wind. All of these can make a huge difference on the day. There is a practical angle to this. For example turning up for a match on a very windy day prepared only to fish a long pole is not a good decision. But as we all know, sudden changes in temperature can be devastating, even in the height of summer. These days we have good weather forecasts to ever greater levels detail, and they are becoming ever more localised. Surely having some idea of the weather trends can help in preparation. For example, if there is to be a lot of rain overnight then a lot of cold water, which is denser then warmer water and therefore sinks, is going to mean deeper swims may not be popular with bottom feeding fish. Yet as we know the forecasters can also get it wrong, so packing rigs and tactics to be able to cope with a sudden change can be a good move. The point is that the successful angler won't leave it until the whistle before deciding how to fish the match.
Fish Behaviour
An
understanding of fish behaviour can also lessen the odds - sometimes called
watercraft. It's amazing how apparently similar days can fish entirely
differently on the same water! What is it that makes fish go on the feed,
or puts them off? How are fish governed by their body clocks? How
do carp, caught multiple times, react to a common bait like pellets? How
can fish be made competitive, to seek out feed in a sort of frenzy? What
puts fish off? I'm sure most of these factors can vary from water to
water, yet there are some common patterns species by species. A
successful matchman will be able to make some good choices to rule out or rule
in certain approaches on any given day, to improve the odds.
Bait
I
think bait choice works in two directions: positively and negatively.
It's about offering acceptable baits and avoiding unacceptable ones. We
all know that some baits seem to work well for certain species, and we also
know that some will help us to avoid others. So when approaching a water
where a good head of bream exists, or carp, roach, tench, etc, there will be
some choices that can narrow down and improve your chances. But I think
that in commercial waters the choice is less about what the fish are happy to
eat and more about what makes them feel safe to feed. It's also worth
noting (again in commercial waters) that there is likely not enough natural
food to satisfy the fish population. Also, just like animals reared
in captivity, if they are released to rely on their natural state they may not
have the experience to cope. My point is that fish have to eat, and
therefore make subliminal decisions about risk verses need.
I
like to increase my chances of a good catch simply by carrying a variety of
baits to the peg. I've got a decent size bait bag, which usually gets
packed with various pellets, meat, corn, worms (sometimes) and premixed
paste. In my garage I've got two large plastic crates overflowing with
baits and groundbaits because I like to prepare my baits at home. I
prefer to keep a stock of many varieties ready to pick and stuff in the
bag. I never leave bait choice to the point I get to the water or buy my
ticket.
Clearly
experience, local knowledge and confidence will come into play here.
Decision making about when to change baits is also key on match days.
Perhaps one of the most important and critical skills is loose-feeding
behaviour, which is another whole article in itself, but we all know that the volume
of feed and timing are the main variables. I think this is area where the
top matchmen can pull away from the rest of the field - not simply by employing
dry knowledge of what works, but rather because they can 'feel' and interpret
what is happening in front of them and then make good decisions.
This
is a complex area, perhaps the most complex of all the areas considered, but a
lot of the probabilities and uncertainties can be narrowed by carrying a
variety of baits and by having some local knowledge about what has or hasn't
worked well in recent matches.
Angler's
Effort
We
have all done it. You sit bored on your box after lobbing out a method
feeder hoping for something to happen, which it hasn't done for the last three
hours! Patience is not a virtue for the match angler. My wife still
thinks I go fishing to relax. Hard work is surely a part of match
fishing, linked to making decisions and taking risks. If you don't put in
an effort then you are not going to improve your chances by trying alternative
methods and approaches.
Equipment
Equipment
can mean options - options for methods and approaches. But for me the point
here is good use of equipment. It's about technique. A few weeks
back I fished a match where I had an island at about 60 yards to fish up
to. The guy next to me had much the same to aim at, except he seemed to
have a more suitable feeder rod for getting an accurate and consistent drop-in
where it made the most difference. I was hitting the sweet-spot less than
half the time. His equipment and techniques were a big difference between
us and in the end he was a decent way ahead of me at the weigh-in. Having
the right equipment in our boxes and bags is important, but more important is
learning to use it well. Practice is a big deal in this area.
Freedom
to Innovate
I'm
sure this is an important factor. Anglers follow each other where gear and
techniques are concerned, for reasons of 'tried and tested' and fashion (I'm
well guilty of the second of these). But I'm sure there is an edge to be
had by trying new things. Sometimes it can be a tiny change or maybe a
whole new approach. Steve Ringer always seems to be talking along these
lines: he often seems to be experimenting with some new way or other.
Obviously when you work in the tackle industry you have to be innovative, but
new idea shouldn't be the preserve of the professionals. I'm sure that
those who are prepared to take risks and think out of the box can improve their
odds tremendously.
Confidence
Everyone
knows that practice can help. A trip to the water to have a look, ask
some questions and walk the match length can surely narrow the
probabilities. Internet searches might highlight results and often some
information about what has worked well for the winner. The Angling Times
is also a mine of match intelligence waiting to be dug through.
I
find that confidence comes from good preparation and some familiarity with what
has happened in the past, by me or by others. We've all had the experience of
throwing our tackle together at 10:00pm the night before. I’m sure that leads to a 'oh well whatever
happens' mindset, which just ends up hoping for luck.
Multiple Probabilities
Let me sum up a bit. If you have ever bet on a six horse accumulator or played the National Lottery then you will have come across the effect of multiple probabilities. For each 'ball' there are many different possible outcomes, just like for each of the factors I've outlined here. If there are several possible baits, or way the fish might respond, methods and rigs, then these can work together to give whole range of possible approaches on the day. Perhaps only a few of these approaches might get an angler into the winning weights, and perhaps these will have to change at different points in the match. So for example, fishing a long range method with a certain mix and hookbait might catch some fish, but perhaps on the day more can be had up in the water on a 14m pole, with light feed. Or it could be both, or some other of the hundreds of possible approaches! The best match anglers will be able to narrow the possibilities down, and therefore give themselves the best chance.
As
I've already written, some factors, such as the peg draw, seem to be
random. But even then there are ways to improve your chances. In a
recent 40-peg match I fished the draw could have put you on either of the two
lakes reserved for the day, which are quite different and need a different
approach; I prepared accordingly. Yet most of the other factors are under
much easier control. I'm sure that with experience and bit of planning
you can help yourself a lot. You almost need a planning checklist to
force yourself into asking some key questions the night before. The most
consistent anglers get themselves into the winning lane even before they get to
the water!
So
if you think it through, there are actually very few truly random factors in
match fishing. Certainly that is a very long way from complete certainty,
but somewhere in between is a scale of predictability which can be improved by thought,
planning and experience. Whenever I have done well or badly in a
match I can see how other choices could have improved my chances, or indeed did
so. It's about turning those understandings from hindsight after the
match, into preparations before, and good decisions during the five hours by
the water.
Well there are a few thoughts! I just hope if can put them into practice to improve my own results.
Hopeful
Saturday, 15 November 2014
The Saturday Open at Gold Valley 16th November
The Hopeful Match Fisher
So back to Gold Valley today for an open match, on what was predicted to be a miserable day by the weather girls. Actually it turned out to a fine day to be out.
The match itself needs a little explaining. It was a Winter League 4-man team match (which I think is every week or two?) Now I'm not in a team, but when I booked in John Raison said to turn up anyway and he would drop me into a team which was under manned. I ended up in a team which seemed to be some of the guys from Daiwa Dorking.
The match was split between Middle Lake and Syndicate, and I expected it would be a mostly a pellet/method/feeder job. It has been most of the time recent and was again today. I decided to work with micro pellets rather than a method mix, which seemed to work okay on the day. It was the first time I was using the Matrix Evolution feeders, which I've converted onto recently from the Preston feeders. Following some inspiration from Steve Ringer I prepared a batch of nice bright yellow 6mm pellets, which contrasted well against the darker Dynamite 3mm Green Betaine pellets.
I drew peg 116 on Syndicate, which is approaching the far corner on the near bank. I was happy enough with that draw, having been on the far bank a lot recently. There seemed to be a lot of fishing topping, so like most other anglers I set up a waggler, along with the method and a pole margin rig. I started on the method, but clearly my pellet mix was too loose, as I scattered 3mm pellets all over the margins on the first cast! After a few adjustments I was in for the first drop, which after a couple of minutes thrashed round the top for a carp of about 4lb. A decent start. I kept on the method and happily picked up four fish in the opening ninety minutes. The guy next door had much the same and I think between us we led the way on the section.
One rather irritating occurrence was the loss of two fish and two method feeders, both at the point of pulling into the fish. Not sure why, but it was to happen again towards the end of the match too. My only explanation is that it was failing in the quick change bead, but I don't know what the matter was or why it happened so consistently. I'll have to keep an eye on that. Over the whole match I lost four fish I would otherwise have expect to net.
Into the third hour it all quietened off, so I put on a heavy pellet feeder in order to bang it out to the centre rope, which runs right-to-left. It was a good move because I grabbed another three fish in quick time. But then it slacked off again so I dropped into the margins, which was just as dead. So back out onto the pellet feeder which yielded only one more fish until the all-out.
I put 45lb 7oz on the scales which put me in the middle of the section, about half the section winning weight of 90lb. I wasn't 100% happy because the lost fish would have put me at 65lb - good enough for second or third in section. It's annoying because the losses were down to terminal tackle failure alone.
Another thought was that I found my feeder rod struggling to get a decent distance accurately, so I might be in the market for another feed rod better able to drop a feeder better on a 50-60 yard cast.
Until next time.
Hopeful
So back to Gold Valley today for an open match, on what was predicted to be a miserable day by the weather girls. Actually it turned out to a fine day to be out.
The match itself needs a little explaining. It was a Winter League 4-man team match (which I think is every week or two?) Now I'm not in a team, but when I booked in John Raison said to turn up anyway and he would drop me into a team which was under manned. I ended up in a team which seemed to be some of the guys from Daiwa Dorking.
The match was split between Middle Lake and Syndicate, and I expected it would be a mostly a pellet/method/feeder job. It has been most of the time recent and was again today. I decided to work with micro pellets rather than a method mix, which seemed to work okay on the day. It was the first time I was using the Matrix Evolution feeders, which I've converted onto recently from the Preston feeders. Following some inspiration from Steve Ringer I prepared a batch of nice bright yellow 6mm pellets, which contrasted well against the darker Dynamite 3mm Green Betaine pellets.
I drew peg 116 on Syndicate, which is approaching the far corner on the near bank. I was happy enough with that draw, having been on the far bank a lot recently. There seemed to be a lot of fishing topping, so like most other anglers I set up a waggler, along with the method and a pole margin rig. I started on the method, but clearly my pellet mix was too loose, as I scattered 3mm pellets all over the margins on the first cast! After a few adjustments I was in for the first drop, which after a couple of minutes thrashed round the top for a carp of about 4lb. A decent start. I kept on the method and happily picked up four fish in the opening ninety minutes. The guy next door had much the same and I think between us we led the way on the section.
One rather irritating occurrence was the loss of two fish and two method feeders, both at the point of pulling into the fish. Not sure why, but it was to happen again towards the end of the match too. My only explanation is that it was failing in the quick change bead, but I don't know what the matter was or why it happened so consistently. I'll have to keep an eye on that. Over the whole match I lost four fish I would otherwise have expect to net.
Into the third hour it all quietened off, so I put on a heavy pellet feeder in order to bang it out to the centre rope, which runs right-to-left. It was a good move because I grabbed another three fish in quick time. But then it slacked off again so I dropped into the margins, which was just as dead. So back out onto the pellet feeder which yielded only one more fish until the all-out.
I put 45lb 7oz on the scales which put me in the middle of the section, about half the section winning weight of 90lb. I wasn't 100% happy because the lost fish would have put me at 65lb - good enough for second or third in section. It's annoying because the losses were down to terminal tackle failure alone.
Another thought was that I found my feeder rod struggling to get a decent distance accurately, so I might be in the market for another feed rod better able to drop a feeder better on a 50-60 yard cast.
Until next time.
Hopeful
Friday, 31 October 2014
Back to Gold Valley 31st October
The Hopeful Match Fisher
Three times a week the guys at Gold Valley run a 'cost cutter' match for £15. I ran along today for the Friday match, which was on Syndicate Lake.
With the clocks back for GMT the draw was at 8:30am for a 10:00am whistle. The day was very fair; a little wind from the south put the temperature up to 18deg and the sun was out all day. Sixteen hands went into the pot and I pulled out 141, which is an end peg. Strangely, the last match I fished on Syndicate had me on the end peg at the other end! John Raison, the owner, had assured me that the same peg at produce 117lb to win the just two days before.
Recent matches on Syndicate have been dominated by feeder tactics, supplemented by lead and margins. I didn't expect it to be any different today, so I set up accordingly. Bait-wise I've done quite well lately with Krill flavourings, so I brought along some pellets and flavoured meat. Half a pint of dead maggots and some ready mixed paste completed the side tray. Then I made a mistake.
In my garage I have a crate full of groundbaits from which I pulled a bag of Dynamite Baits Red Krill, a favourite of mine. It's quite a fine mix so I added in half a bag of Sonubaits Match Method in order to make it a bit more compliant for a method feeder. At the whistle I went in for a chuck to the centre rope, but found that I couldn't keep the mix on the feeder too well. Adding in a bit of pellet binder it settled down for a while but it soon became rather sticky and wouldn't come neatly out of the method mold. I realised I'd messed up the mix just because I want to use my favourite groundbait - which isn't designed for the method feeder! Idiot. I switched to a cage feeder, but felt like a bit of a twit.
As a second swim I kept a few 8mm pellets dropping into the far left margin to try and stir up a bit of interest. It's tactic that's worked well on end pegs for me before. The usual margin setup completed the set. I honestly felt happy and confident.
The first hour was very quite, which is another way of saying that it was completely dead. The guy to my left had about the same level of excitement. Undaunted, I kept on making various tweaks and tunings. There was a few pleasure anglers opposite who had a few fish, so I was not too concerned. Well into the second hour I had yet to see a proper bite, and the guy on the next door peg came over to compare notes. He toddled off down the lake to see what was happening further along. The news was that it was all about the first two or three pegs at the far end and little else for the other anglers. Into the second half of the match not much else happened as I began to feed the margins.
Into the last 90 minutes I saw a tell-tale fish tail following a few cubes of meat I'd plopped in. I dropped in with some paste and had a firm bite within ten minutes. A decent fish fish ran off and struggled for a couple of minutes before the hooked pulled. On such a quiet day I didn't need that. Frustratingly that set the tone, as I failed to connect to at least three other decent bites. That is a problem I need to look into. As a final throw of the dice I dropped a method feeder into the near margin and almost instantly had a solid pull-round and a 6lb carp in the net. It was to be the only fish of the day.
At the weigh-in there were plenty of dry nets, and silvers made a significant difference for most of the lake. I think 100lb-odd won it from one of the end pegs. We all know that fish move around, but for them all to go off the feed or congregate in one place seems unusual on such a well stocked lake.
So to pick the bones out of the day there are a couple of points I think:
1. Use a method mix for a method feeder!
2. Find out why I was connecting so badly with fish in the margins.
I was never on the fish, but it was nice to be out anyway.
Until next time!
Three times a week the guys at Gold Valley run a 'cost cutter' match for £15. I ran along today for the Friday match, which was on Syndicate Lake.
With the clocks back for GMT the draw was at 8:30am for a 10:00am whistle. The day was very fair; a little wind from the south put the temperature up to 18deg and the sun was out all day. Sixteen hands went into the pot and I pulled out 141, which is an end peg. Strangely, the last match I fished on Syndicate had me on the end peg at the other end! John Raison, the owner, had assured me that the same peg at produce 117lb to win the just two days before.
Recent matches on Syndicate have been dominated by feeder tactics, supplemented by lead and margins. I didn't expect it to be any different today, so I set up accordingly. Bait-wise I've done quite well lately with Krill flavourings, so I brought along some pellets and flavoured meat. Half a pint of dead maggots and some ready mixed paste completed the side tray. Then I made a mistake.
In my garage I have a crate full of groundbaits from which I pulled a bag of Dynamite Baits Red Krill, a favourite of mine. It's quite a fine mix so I added in half a bag of Sonubaits Match Method in order to make it a bit more compliant for a method feeder. At the whistle I went in for a chuck to the centre rope, but found that I couldn't keep the mix on the feeder too well. Adding in a bit of pellet binder it settled down for a while but it soon became rather sticky and wouldn't come neatly out of the method mold. I realised I'd messed up the mix just because I want to use my favourite groundbait - which isn't designed for the method feeder! Idiot. I switched to a cage feeder, but felt like a bit of a twit.
As a second swim I kept a few 8mm pellets dropping into the far left margin to try and stir up a bit of interest. It's tactic that's worked well on end pegs for me before. The usual margin setup completed the set. I honestly felt happy and confident.
The first hour was very quite, which is another way of saying that it was completely dead. The guy to my left had about the same level of excitement. Undaunted, I kept on making various tweaks and tunings. There was a few pleasure anglers opposite who had a few fish, so I was not too concerned. Well into the second hour I had yet to see a proper bite, and the guy on the next door peg came over to compare notes. He toddled off down the lake to see what was happening further along. The news was that it was all about the first two or three pegs at the far end and little else for the other anglers. Into the second half of the match not much else happened as I began to feed the margins.
Into the last 90 minutes I saw a tell-tale fish tail following a few cubes of meat I'd plopped in. I dropped in with some paste and had a firm bite within ten minutes. A decent fish fish ran off and struggled for a couple of minutes before the hooked pulled. On such a quiet day I didn't need that. Frustratingly that set the tone, as I failed to connect to at least three other decent bites. That is a problem I need to look into. As a final throw of the dice I dropped a method feeder into the near margin and almost instantly had a solid pull-round and a 6lb carp in the net. It was to be the only fish of the day.
At the weigh-in there were plenty of dry nets, and silvers made a significant difference for most of the lake. I think 100lb-odd won it from one of the end pegs. We all know that fish move around, but for them all to go off the feed or congregate in one place seems unusual on such a well stocked lake.
So to pick the bones out of the day there are a couple of points I think:
1. Use a method mix for a method feeder!
2. Find out why I was connecting so badly with fish in the margins.
I was never on the fish, but it was nice to be out anyway.
Until next time!
Monday, 20 October 2014
A Match at Gold Valley on 19th October
The Hopeful Match Fisher
After a long lay-off I was able to get out for an open match on Sunday down at Gold Valley. It was their usual Sunday open. Also on the same day was a winter league open with about 70 anglers, so the place was packed! It's good to see so many others sharing my same passion.
This was the first time I've fished an open and Gold Valley, and only the third time I've ever fished on Syndicate Lake, so I was a bit of a 'fish out of water' (if you know what I mean :) There were twenty-five anglers on the list, although not all turned up. Besides that it was a really nice sunny day, with a fair wind too.
I don't think Syndicate is the largest of the lakes, but it's a fair stretch of water to have in front of you. I ended up drawing peg 119, which is a corner down at far end. On arrival I was initially bit worried about the anti-cormorant lines that were laid out, and which gave me very limited space to my left. Nevertheless I had a lot of margin to my right to work with, so I was happy for that much. At the draw I asked about the peg and was told that it had been rather quiet at that end of the lake recently, but I knew the wind was that way so I felt sure it could produce something.
The previous night I had prepared my bait bag. I knew that the method feeder would dominate, and in fact a recent report had been of a mid-week match that was won with 180lb, mostly on method. I mixed up batch of 50/50 Dynamite Baits Krill and Bait Tech Super G Green, although it started off a bit on the sticky side. For the hook I packed 8mm course pellets (which I've found that the carp at Gold love), 6mm meat dry-dusted with the groundbait, 6mm krill pellets, and some paste.
In recent weeks I've started to fine-down my terminal tackle a bit, but what with the warm days we had been having in the preceding days and the sunshine, I felt the carp would be well on the feed. I stuck more or less kept to a summer rig. The guy to my left had a very long chuck to a margin, which he had done well to pick out, although I think he used up his entire stock of method feeders in the process! My own margin was to the right, running all along the far end of the lake, so there were various options for me. I could see a few interesting looking bays in the bushes, although one of them I knew had a sunken tree stump in it. I opted to fish the far bay to begin with, and clipped-up accordingly.
On the first blast of the whistle I cast out confidently, hoping to make a fast start. It was not to be. In fact within the first half an hour I had amassed a single 4oz roach, which had rudely swallowed the puffed-up 8mm pellet. The guy to my left had little else apart from a skimmer, so I was not too worried. However into the second hour he began to get his swim moving and was catching carp steadily while I was staring at motionless tip. I began to feed an 8m pole line in the hope of getting a bit of life somewhere in the peg, but not much seemed to be happening. I switched to a bomb, which often works well at Gold, wondering if the carp were method shy today. Nothing. I couldn't understand why there would be so little life in the peg, and considering the wind being my way it seemed odd. To be fair I got a bit frustrated over it.
Half way through the match I decided to press the reset button. I started firing 8mm pellets into the margins and bushes to get a bit of noise going and changed my bait to two pieces of 6mm meat present on a hair rig. I also started to double-skin the method feeder to get a bit more feed going into the swim, and with regular chucks every few minutes. It didn't take long for something to start happening. The tip drew round to a carp and I began to feel a bit better, although I couldn't be sure it was anything other than a solitary wandering fish that just happened to cruise over my bait at that point. Nevertheless, within fifteen minutes I had another, and then steadily on until I had nine carp in the net over the final couple of hours.
I did feed the near margin to my right (very deep on Syndicate!), but there was no sign of life there, so I left it. In fact I was drawing in fish reliably up until the last minutes. At the whistle I was pleased to have at least had something worth weighing in with, and I was sure I had beaten the guy to my left at least in the second half of the match. At the final tally I had 41lb, against his 46lb, so I had caught up well! 56lb won it from the swim at the other far end. I was placed seventh out of the twenty-odd anglers.
Switching my approach had made a difference, but I can't be sure that there were fish in the peg beforehand. I think the increased noise helped, and the meat was more acceptable. Could I have done better if I had switched earlier? Maybe, I was three fish off the win. One thing I am certain of is that I needed to be more accurate with my feeder placement, and especially considering I had a useful margin to drop in against. I need to work on that one.
So there we are, I was left wanting more - which is always a good sign! Until next time I'll be tying-up lots of lighter hook lengths and practicing a bit more on my casting accuracy.
Bring on the next match :)
After a long lay-off I was able to get out for an open match on Sunday down at Gold Valley. It was their usual Sunday open. Also on the same day was a winter league open with about 70 anglers, so the place was packed! It's good to see so many others sharing my same passion.
This was the first time I've fished an open and Gold Valley, and only the third time I've ever fished on Syndicate Lake, so I was a bit of a 'fish out of water' (if you know what I mean :) There were twenty-five anglers on the list, although not all turned up. Besides that it was a really nice sunny day, with a fair wind too.
I don't think Syndicate is the largest of the lakes, but it's a fair stretch of water to have in front of you. I ended up drawing peg 119, which is a corner down at far end. On arrival I was initially bit worried about the anti-cormorant lines that were laid out, and which gave me very limited space to my left. Nevertheless I had a lot of margin to my right to work with, so I was happy for that much. At the draw I asked about the peg and was told that it had been rather quiet at that end of the lake recently, but I knew the wind was that way so I felt sure it could produce something.
The previous night I had prepared my bait bag. I knew that the method feeder would dominate, and in fact a recent report had been of a mid-week match that was won with 180lb, mostly on method. I mixed up batch of 50/50 Dynamite Baits Krill and Bait Tech Super G Green, although it started off a bit on the sticky side. For the hook I packed 8mm course pellets (which I've found that the carp at Gold love), 6mm meat dry-dusted with the groundbait, 6mm krill pellets, and some paste.
In recent weeks I've started to fine-down my terminal tackle a bit, but what with the warm days we had been having in the preceding days and the sunshine, I felt the carp would be well on the feed. I stuck more or less kept to a summer rig. The guy to my left had a very long chuck to a margin, which he had done well to pick out, although I think he used up his entire stock of method feeders in the process! My own margin was to the right, running all along the far end of the lake, so there were various options for me. I could see a few interesting looking bays in the bushes, although one of them I knew had a sunken tree stump in it. I opted to fish the far bay to begin with, and clipped-up accordingly.
On the first blast of the whistle I cast out confidently, hoping to make a fast start. It was not to be. In fact within the first half an hour I had amassed a single 4oz roach, which had rudely swallowed the puffed-up 8mm pellet. The guy to my left had little else apart from a skimmer, so I was not too worried. However into the second hour he began to get his swim moving and was catching carp steadily while I was staring at motionless tip. I began to feed an 8m pole line in the hope of getting a bit of life somewhere in the peg, but not much seemed to be happening. I switched to a bomb, which often works well at Gold, wondering if the carp were method shy today. Nothing. I couldn't understand why there would be so little life in the peg, and considering the wind being my way it seemed odd. To be fair I got a bit frustrated over it.
Half way through the match I decided to press the reset button. I started firing 8mm pellets into the margins and bushes to get a bit of noise going and changed my bait to two pieces of 6mm meat present on a hair rig. I also started to double-skin the method feeder to get a bit more feed going into the swim, and with regular chucks every few minutes. It didn't take long for something to start happening. The tip drew round to a carp and I began to feel a bit better, although I couldn't be sure it was anything other than a solitary wandering fish that just happened to cruise over my bait at that point. Nevertheless, within fifteen minutes I had another, and then steadily on until I had nine carp in the net over the final couple of hours.
I did feed the near margin to my right (very deep on Syndicate!), but there was no sign of life there, so I left it. In fact I was drawing in fish reliably up until the last minutes. At the whistle I was pleased to have at least had something worth weighing in with, and I was sure I had beaten the guy to my left at least in the second half of the match. At the final tally I had 41lb, against his 46lb, so I had caught up well! 56lb won it from the swim at the other far end. I was placed seventh out of the twenty-odd anglers.
Switching my approach had made a difference, but I can't be sure that there were fish in the peg beforehand. I think the increased noise helped, and the meat was more acceptable. Could I have done better if I had switched earlier? Maybe, I was three fish off the win. One thing I am certain of is that I needed to be more accurate with my feeder placement, and especially considering I had a useful margin to drop in against. I need to work on that one.
So there we are, I was left wanting more - which is always a good sign! Until next time I'll be tying-up lots of lighter hook lengths and practicing a bit more on my casting accuracy.
Bring on the next match :)
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Waiting and Practicing
The Hopeful Match Fisher
It's been a frustrating month. Work, hospitals, and other unpredictable matters have kept my weekends well clear of any possible matches. However, I have been able to get a few useful practice sessions done.
As the weather has become colder and water the cooling off I've thinned everything down a bit and also drawn the feed area of my swims into a more confined space. Sessions at Gold Valley and Willow Park on long and short pole were very encouraging. As ever, my aim is to get some level of control where I've got fish feeding consistently in front of me so that I can get a good weight in a short time.
On another note I've also picked up a new Trolley (excellent Preston product), and a mega rod holdall with a facility for made-up rods (Matrix - my favourite brand). Every session is intended to try something new and deepen my experience.
It's been a frustrating month. Work, hospitals, and other unpredictable matters have kept my weekends well clear of any possible matches. However, I have been able to get a few useful practice sessions done.
As the weather has become colder and water the cooling off I've thinned everything down a bit and also drawn the feed area of my swims into a more confined space. Sessions at Gold Valley and Willow Park on long and short pole were very encouraging. As ever, my aim is to get some level of control where I've got fish feeding consistently in front of me so that I can get a good weight in a short time.
On another note I've also picked up a new Trolley (excellent Preston product), and a mega rod holdall with a facility for made-up rods (Matrix - my favourite brand). Every session is intended to try something new and deepen my experience.
Monday, 22 September 2014
Questions I Have - Experts Welcome
The Hopeful Match Fisher
I recently sent in a question to the Angling Times about festivals, which I was grateful that they printed, but I can't do that too often.
So any helpful souls out there?
1. Do I need a margin pole? My current pole can handle up to grade 20 elastic and is made as a carp pole (Preston 460).
2. Is there an advantage in buying worms bulk? Will they keep ok for weeks? I don't have a spare fridge.
3. I'm using traditional shot for pole rigs. Why would I move to Olivettes other types such as stots?
4. What size and pattern of hook is best for pellet waggler? I've been using 8mm pellets with a PR27 size 14/16. I seem to have issues connecting up with the fish.
5. Is premixed paste (in those little pots you get from Dynamite, etc) better or self-mixed?
Any help gratefully received!
Hopeful
I recently sent in a question to the Angling Times about festivals, which I was grateful that they printed, but I can't do that too often.
So any helpful souls out there?
1. Do I need a margin pole? My current pole can handle up to grade 20 elastic and is made as a carp pole (Preston 460).
2. Is there an advantage in buying worms bulk? Will they keep ok for weeks? I don't have a spare fridge.
3. I'm using traditional shot for pole rigs. Why would I move to Olivettes other types such as stots?
4. What size and pattern of hook is best for pellet waggler? I've been using 8mm pellets with a PR27 size 14/16. I seem to have issues connecting up with the fish.
5. Is premixed paste (in those little pots you get from Dynamite, etc) better or self-mixed?
Any help gratefully received!
Hopeful
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