2018 - December 30th MICK HOLOHAN Memorial Trophy - Wigston canal

Every year a match is fished to commemorate the passing of one of Wigston's anglers who was taken too early as he was a well-liked person amongst his Wigstonian mates. Yesterday when we met at the Lutterworth road 1st Choice cafe for breakfast organiser and UK manager of COLMIC Adam Nurse reminded us all of what Mick was as a person in a few chosen words. Thereafter we began the draw and as the 44 strode forward expectancy was that the County Arms section was the place to be for a BIG weight however the Crow Mills section was a favourite to get a good net of fish. The Westminster bridge section was also available but no form from this section considering it was one of best last year.

Draw ! .....Crow Mills ...nice ! and on the Scales with Tom Pringle to my left who was on peg 24 but on the top section.

I setup 5 rigs 

RIG 1 - 0.10/0.07 Sensas Comp line to 0.1gr Maurizio Schiepatti Venus to Sensas 3405 22

RIG 2 - 0.10/0.07 Sensas Comp line to 0.1gr Maurizio Schiepatti Venus Blue to Sensas 3405 20

RIG 3 - 0.14 Sensas Comp line to Sensas Choppie 0.4gr to Sensas 3405 14

RIG 4 - 0.10/0.07 Sensas Comp line to 4x8 Sensas Titou to Sensas 3405 20

RIG 5 - 0.10/0.07 Sensas Comp line to 0.2gr 'Stainey' 3405 18

RIGS 1 , 2 - Pinkie maggot over ground bait at middle

RIG 4 - Far shelf 

RIG 5 - Caster and Punch in middle

RIG 3 - Down the bank in rushes and far side near overhanging for Perch 

Started by potting two of HINDERS Mark Pollard Super charged Black at 4 metres 10:00 0 clock then at 13:00 clock potted at 5metres punch ball . Placed maggots all day long down the bank near the rushes.

Fish straight the way mostly on Pinkie then changed to maggot gradually getting larger specimens . Tom Pringle to my left took an early Billy of about 1.5lb plus a good skimmer . Neil Pitfield to my right took steady procession of fish , some were netter class roach and a few decent 6oz skimmers. 

I caught at a faster rate than most but they were small fish . I needed a few bonus and prayed for one as clearly i could see fish blowing over both lines . In the 2nd hour i secured bonus skimmer of about 8oz but no more arrived . Only later when the 4 and 5 metre lines slowed up did i go over on the Titou and re-engaged with the fish as clearly they were in shallower water . Then disaster struck as two successive casts two skimmers were hooked and pinged off on No3's elastic !! ........i then went onto the rushes for a Billy and second placement i hooked and seconds later that came off ! As much as i tried i could not get anything larger so then decided to remain catching eyes for the rest of the match .

Match over and these two sections certainly caught many fish .......now the weighing in.

 Top weight on the day from the Crow Mills Top section was Paul Edwards on peg 25 with 16-12 catching Bream and skimmers on the maggot.

To my left on peg 24 was Wigston rod Tom Pringle on the Top section with 9-10

Me on peg 23 ........oooo i needed those bonus fish ...... thats fishing . 8-4 on the lower section

In the same section was the Wigston stalwart Rob Bradshaw who caught steady all day for a 3rd best weight of the day 10-2 on the lower section

Steve Oakes in same section with 2nd individual weight of 12-14 catching steady on punch and caster - Best weight of the Lower section.

Back to the Manor Restaurant pub and the days top 3 enjoying their riches and well earned drinks

COUNTY ARMS SECTION - proved to be low weight returns when so much was expected .

CROW MILLS SECTIONS - scored an average of 7-5 per man in 2 sections of 7 .

MANOR SECTION - like the County Arms proved to be a difficult section.

Excellent day for the Wigston AC and great organisation by Adam Nurse and his helpers - The League of 6 matches coming soon and hopefully good weights .