The Milton Keynes Massive had drawn next to each other on flyer pegs 8 and 9 so the battle for the golden nugget would be hard fought.
I decided that I would start on the method which considering my 6 month break and the fact I rarely fish with a rod could very easily cause some amusement for those around me. After an hour I had 6 fish for around 10lb but wasnt really enjoying it when I saw Cive had switched to the margins and had nicked a couple of fish. I put the feeder up the bank, finished setting up a margin rig and dropped a double maggot over the pellet I fed earlier and within 10 seconds I was pklaying a 3lb carp. I could see Clive watching me as I landed it, with a look of appreciation on an excellant piece of angling skill, or thats what took his expression to mean though I may have been mistaken.
Around half way through I took a walk round and found a very frustrated Keith struggling for bites while his arch rival Mick on the next peg catching one a chuck on his favoured short pole and meat. Graham was on peg 18 a swim, I would love to draw but have never got anywhere near it, and was doing well. John reported he had caught a big barbel plus a 2lb plus perch while Kevin reported 25 fish and did try to kid us they were all carp.
Back at my peg I continued to catch but now using triple dead red maggots as bait and feeding dead maggot with a few 4mm pellet with a kinder cup, hooking my final fish just before the whistle.
So to the tale of the scales. Johns barbel went 8lb 12 oz and is known as the biggest of the very few in the lake. mick took the Milton Keynes pound easily
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, second lesson learnt
Lets hope when the store opens there's a Costa Coffee 
