Unfortunately due to unfortunate events the stocks had not arrived yet,
but news filtering through was that cut had been fishing reasonably ok – Big Baz Astbury had had an 8lb net in 3 hours a fortnight earlier, his transferred match had been won with 5lb plus with reasonable back ups and Cotti had had ‘one a chuck’ on two trips down their on his beloved Warburtons. 
Arriving with Hotlips there was already the signs of a decent turnout. 2 ex club members, Ball it In and Gerry were expected as visitors, along with Simps (Grueller Champion) and the Minx plus not forgetting Big Col plus Baz A’s mate. Surprise of the day was Bezza coming along too
Sadly there were a few casualties with members, 5 were missing and only 2 sick notes had been received in advance. What the heck - a decent turnout for this the start of the 2009 Cashmores CURSE series – with 21 members and 7 guests.
KOD had pegged out, 15 on the boat section and 13 ‘in the woods’.Who wanted what? Bezza reckoned by the basins would be best.
Having done the old MGB ritual and relieved all of their cash, Harry the Hitman’s draw was sorted and pegs soon came and went.
With 2 left in the bag, I dipped and 14 stuck to me. Well at least not to far to walk, but glancing at the sheet, the golden peg 10 was potentially in trouble with Big Baz A sitting on it and also bezza was probably gunna have a shedful as he was on 6.
Setting up on 14, big Baz strolled past with his gear (a bit later than us cuss he had to go and sort a puncture out). He heaped the pressure on me with ‘That’s the peg I had that 8lb on in 3 hours the other week’ I gleamed all I could from him – lines, tactics etc which he readily provided – ta Baz.
The off. Inside punch line fed, joker - gratefully accepted off Sprucey before the off
- dumped where Baz had told me and a few caster firtled over.Now the first time I’d met the Chockie Munster down on the Pelsall cut I’d fished the punch. ‘Put a bigger piece on’ he’d told me as I’d been snatching pairs of eyes that day.
With the prospect of a few stamp roach and skimmers on the boatyard I’d started on a larger punch and promptly missed the first three bites. 
Scaled down on the punch size and next put in sees a 4 oz roach gratefully received – dry net off and a few Cashmores points on the board.
Next put in and another. Then a skimmer……………..but it’s slower than usual and I can see Cotti a few pegs up to my right and he seems to be having one a chuck.
I carry on for the next hour wheedling a few out. Time for a look on that joker. First put in a 2inch roach. Guddo – they are on it. Next put in, and the next and the next………nowt despite twitching it dragging it, altering depth and shotting.
The MINX is struggling and walks past in the direction of Simps
, obviously seeking some inspiration to enable her to overcome the 
I slipped a caster onto my punch rig which was about a foot deeper than the joker line and lay that over the top………………instantly a savage bite and a dog roach.
Next look nowt, but an added section produces another instant fish. A look against the front end of the boat and a smaller sample. Back over the joker and another good roach.
And that was that.
Despite topping up and constantly revisiting and trying things with that that line only one micro perch put in an appearance. A few choice Anglo Saxon expletives are heard off the peg to my left. Big Geoffs done a section – a no 8 he confides and also adds that he’s already done a top section that morning.
Plus he’s also been seen off by a beastie and Brambles to my right has had a decent skimmer come off at the net.Things are dire, bites are at a premium and news is that Simps and co are all struggling too in the millpond section whilst we on the boats are confronted with strong gusting conditions.
Elsewhere Hotlips has had a tench that ranges in size between a lb and 4lb dependent on who you believe.
Plodding on a two oz skimmer is gratefully received and then promptly dropped missing the front of the net – bet that will cost me.
The whistle for the end. I have a walk down to big Baz. ‘How you done?’ I ask, secretly worried that the golden peg has gone.’Struggled, got a couple of pound, that’s all. But I’ve lost 4 dogs on the double joker – all tench’.
Bezza is also owning up to about 3lb, but then proceeds to tell about the 6 caster dog roach he’s had to go with his ‘bits’.
Nearby, Zorro has played a ‘bonus’ fish out on the punch. Fully expecting it to be a tench when he finally gets near to netting it turns out to be a pike.
Millie has had a nightmare, 1 early bite and that came off for a dry un and then KOD storms past me with his gear ‘Bloody good job you’ve changed the next Extension match off here to the Staffs Worcs’. ‘Oooops’ I thinks to myself, ‘he must had had a grueller too’ You little tricker.
Other tales filter through – Phil B has lost a section in the cut and despite his and Budgies best endeavors with rope and rake it wasn’t recovered :( and Harry’s also lost a beastie
Anyway onto the tale of the scales………….
PEG
1 GEZ 2.5.10
2 HOTLIPS 4.6.15
3 MILLIE DRY
4 KOD 3.5.15
5 ZORRO 5.13.4
6 BEZZA (G) 6.11.5
7 J WEBBER (G) DNW
8 VESTE 1.12.11
9 THE MINX (G) DRY
10 BIG BAZ A 3.6.8
11 COTTI 3.9.11
12 ROLLY 0.3.4
13 BRAMBLES 0.3.7
14 TK 3.8.14
15 BIG GEOFF 1.8.14
16 MARKV 0.14.5
17 RICH C 1.2.13
18 GERRY (G) 2.9.12
19 HARRY 911 0.3.15
20 SIMPS (G) 0.12.6
21 SPRUCEY 1.8.0
22 BUDGIE 0.2.4
23 PHIL B DRY
24 HAHA 3.2.7
25 YAMO 2.15.9
26 MICK KENN 0.1.9
27 BIG COL (G) 2.6.8
28 BALL IT IN (G) 0.11.13
Over to you all for your take on events and in particular chief scribe MarkV for his resume of the day
:( 
