Only 3rd match of the year for me and the first after the lockdown has eased , hopefully this continues and no more silly people to put back pressure on the NHS !!!!
Charnwood league committee organised a match on the QUORN length the Purnell walk other side of the bridge from the Boat Inn . Paul Greensmith provided the organisation to this one as the match was split between Factory Bank and the Town length .
A beautiful sunny day was predicted considering the heavy rain from the night before . I drew Peg 13 and i had a suitable feature opposite with a decent willow cascading its branches over the surface from the bank by at least 3 metres .......target area !
Unlucky for some ?
Match started and Paul Greensmith on peg 14 to my left balled it in , several grenades actually . I thought to myself he has a plan !? I potted to the tree just a golf ball with dead maggot , chop and pinks . Then i placed a ball at 2+1 then 2+3 . The weed was very bad because of increased boat traffic cutting it up in recent weeks , this will prove challenging , indeed it was !
I started of well over at the willow with 4 skimmers and 2 hybrids in first 15 minutes . Paul to my left had similar and Stu Timson at the end also caught well . After the first hour it was a struggle to place your rig as you eased past the floating weed and unfortunately some of it was suspended lower in the water so covered your hook - correction to this happened all the time but its the same for all of us.
Every time a boat came past the weed got moved behind the willow branches sometimes making it difficult to get the rig in there .
Best catching for an hour was on the 2+1 as rig placement was more achievable - caught every species going , Skimmer , Hybrid , Roach , Perch , Ruffe , Gudgeon , Dacelette , Chublette and one small Rudd.
Last two hours struggle for the 3 of us at the top end as incessant boat traffic , walkers , Bikers and mid day sun all combined to not help . I managed to get a few skimmers when the weed flowed out from the willow and i struck into my bonus , played 10 seconds and off , expected to be a Perch of size .........Paul Greensmith remarked ; 'Catch and release today Phil '!? .......ha-ha .
With match finished Stu Timson recored 7-4 with a good bonus Stripey , Paul was 6-4 and i was 5-15.
The weights were better the pub end with Mark Stuart winning the whole match with 10-8 and Ron Scales getting 9-15 , there was a 7lb weigh also. On the Factory Bank Dave Breakwell took the honours with 10-0 and second in the match .
Great day , great organisation and more of this expected with further practice matches on the run up to the start of the league .
Just about ready with 4 rigs - three for the small silvers and a Perch rig
Restaurant Menu for the fish today with the usual
Just before the start the weed was acceptable ,during the match it became vegetable soup
Paul weighing 6-4 to my left and tipping back
Great day out - congrats to the organisation - next match following sunday at HAWES and Albion
