THE weather last weekend was blamed for some less than impressive catches, but may yet prove to be a blessing in disguise.
Brookside Fisheries, at Warrington, has been attracting attention from local anglers, including matchmen. Here an overnight deluge certainly affected the usually productive 'snake pit,' but the more difficult conditions demanded a measured approach, suiting the more experienced anglers most.
Colne's John Clapham is certainly well experienced and, recognising how difficult it was likely to be, modified his tactics accordingly.
He abandoned the pellet in favour of small pieces of break-flake, which he presented with 12 metre pole at peg 6. The resulting 15-10-0 of small carp, ghosties, skimmers and tench quite easily saw off the 52 other anglers in the match, and put £120 in John's back pocket.
A lesson to be learned here, maybe, for pleasure anglers. By sticking to the pellet approach the 'best of the rest' found only small carp and was 3lbs off the pace. Only John, with his more traditional approach based on many years experience, managed to include the most significant skimmers and tench in his net.
The tench at Bradshaw Hall, Bolton, seem to have a liking for pellet though. They made up a fair proportion of the 108-3-0 winning weight from Lodge 4, with carp of course providing the rest.
Bradshaw Hall seemed less affected by the dramatic influx of fresh water than most of the rest. Even so, this weight was by far the best, double that of the nearest challenger. That was Saturday and things had improved somewhat by Sunday.
111-7-0, a similar bag on similar tactics, took this match. That was a marginal improvement in top weight, but backing weights were significantly better, exceeding 80lbs.
Top weight at Greenhalgh was a disappointing 44-5-0. Carp to 6lbs fell to paste, fished on 14 metre pole, with pellet feed.
Pilsworth was poor, with no angler in the match managing to break into double figures. Only odd carp were landed, with skimmers and roach significant. Maggot at 11 metres was the winning formula here.
Todmorden's Paul Cryer included a carp of 8lbs in his 11-6-0 winning weight, on the Lane Bottom section of Rochdale Canal at Todmorden. He used bread to take this and some skimmers, to record a good victory in a tight match -- the runner up was just 1oz shy!
Pretty good weights from a canal those are, but 'bonus' fish were significant. In this case it was a good carp, as it is more often these days. They are not so easy to land at this size, on pole, and some expertise/experience is essential if they are not to be lost.
Tench usually prove less formidable yet equally significant, as in the Drennan League Division One match on the Sankey-St Helens Canal, at Sankey Park. TeAMS Hyndburn and Blackburn are represented in this prestigious event and despite Phil Taylor coming fifth in this match with 4-10-6, have made little impression after two rounds.
'Bonus' fish, in the form of three good tench for the winner, were again significant. About 1lbs of small silver fish were included in his 8-12-1 and he was well clear of the runner up who managed a couple of decent bream on worm.
When you fish a venue like this it is important to be prepared for any event. I have little sympathy, therefore, for the angler in third place who quite obviously was not. He lost his bonus fish, a carp of almost double figures, at the net because his elastic snapped! That really is inexcusable. They can slip the hook -- ok -- but not break elastic. Another lesson to be learned -- check it out.
Rudyard Lake continues to improve. Double red maggot on the hooks (two allowed) in conjunction with groundbait feeder was Dave Swain's choice of method. The twice king of clubs champion put nine bream and around 6lbs of perch on the scales at the weigh-in, for a winning 31-1-0.
He was at peg 116, in the shallows, but runner up Ray Rigby took his 25-8-0 from a peg in the deep water. Clearly there are fish active everywhere at this excellent venue which, despite the trek, is a favourite of mine for sure.
Just before we finish with the match fishing, let me remind you that the next Hebden Bridge Golden Peg match is tomorrow. The venue, as usual, is the Rochdale Canal at Hebden Bridge where the 'Golden Peg' is worth £1,000 to the angler who draws it -- provided he can catch the winning weight from it of course. Ring 01422 881893 for details.
Now on to the 'blessing in disguise' mentioned in the opening paragraph.
It is June 16, we can fish the river again and, despite it not being to the carp's liking, all that rain last weekend will have put the Ribble in fine fettle. It is so exciting.
I can't decide whether to fill my net with dace or chub. Barbel can certainly wait till later for me but not, I am certain, for some of you.
For me it has to be a case of finding a swim where I can stand in, apron full of maggots, with a nice glide down which I can trot a stick float to the waiting fish. Dace I think -- I've decided that they will not wait any longer. I know there are nowhere near as many as there used to be but I am sure there is a swim with 30lbs just waiting for me, and my maggots.
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