With a sore tongue caused by licking all those envelopes over the last couple of days
if I don’t pen a few lines now, these match results will never grace the SMF forum………...so here goes
With the clement weather there were 11 gruellerites originally up for this one, the first of the New Year, but late on Fri night we lost MrV because of waterworks issues
and Heinzer who was suffering from man flu, who to be fair did sound like my grannie
as he attempted to lubricate his tonsils with a pint or two in Harrisons that evening.
Amongst the original 11 were Gudgeon Basher, ME T&M cut crack Digger and Big Col T all venturing onto the Cannock Extension for a first outing with us at this time of the year prepared to do battle with the CURSE
and try to put the formidable new punch king, The Hunter under a bit of pressure.
I was also in a bit of a cleft stick - whilst I’d lickied up a few slices as my main attack, I’d got nowt else and was hoping to cadge (well aok buy) a few annelids as a back up ‘get out of jail with a munster’ plan off MrV. That one was out of the window cuss of his soggy carpet…………hum, sure someone else would sort me out in the morn………or would I need em anyway? I was bound to sack up on Bill Yards bait……………..wasn’t I? :D
Arriving early, Big Col T and Hunter were already in tow so leaving Gudgeon Basher as site security for the cars/tackle, off we set to decide where we were gunna fish. First impressions on the Kennels/Grove Wharf section weren’t impressive.
With a mid week deluge of rain, the cut had coloured up into that nasty slate grey colour
- which if previous track history was owt to go by, spelt nowt other than a MAJOR GRUELLER.
Having said that, as we walked up the section, a guy was already sitting on the noted bush peg that both Heinzer and Cotti had previously won off.
‘Just setting up?’ I enquired.
‘No, been here half hour’
‘Any good?’, expecting a negative response.
‘I’ve had a few skimmers and about 30 roach’.
Gotta say, that did surprise me and despite that feedback, didn’t sway me from my original preconceived opinion that the section would be rock hard for us.
Off we trooped back to have a gander at the boatyard. Now the ‘grey’ does tend to get down there a bit, but soon drops out. ‘Perhaps there will be a bit of colour in the section’, I hoped.
And there was for the first few pegs, but as I dropped the numbers down, pegs 6 onwards were getting gin and you could see the bottom on the inside and weed beds on the 3- 4 metre mark.
‘Ah well, I’ll still catch’ but secretly hoped for a 1 to 5 peg, plus it limited the walk a tad.
Onto the draw and banker for the day Kim PhilB soon collected the skin divers.
I scribbled down the numbers and as Cottie offered me a dip out of the two pegs left, I glanced down at the book. Peg 1
and 7 left in.
A 50/50 shout at a ‘decent’ peg and a shorter walk…………
But yep it don’t take much guessing, I put in my thumb and pulled out……………..
No not a plumb, but that peg 7
So off we all trotted and I soon surveyed the territory and peg for the next 4 hours.
I’d got T&M cut crack Digger to my left and OBI the dark horse (if anyone can snare half a dozen skimmers in the first 15 mins it’s him) to my right.
ME who was on end peg past OBI, could also be a danger, whist Cotti on the other end peg had fished it the week before and was owning up to having
…………. well lets just say he knew which float t o get out his box.
Passing the time of day before the off with Digger we made reference to annelids as mentioned the night before on the forum. And he wandered over with a big white bag and kindly dropped a handful into one of my tubs - cheers Digger.
I’d already set up a couple of white stuff rigs, so hastily set up another rig to carry an inch piece of annelid. Whilst in full cadge mode
, I then wandered back to Kim PhilB and also cadged a handful of squatt (Cotti’s latest killer bait)
which would be another fall back line coupled with some slop……….whilst passing some obviously complimentary comments on the drawing prowess of Big Col T and The Hunter
as I stepped over their poles returning to 'dreaded' peg 7
The off. Lines fed (excluding the annelid line) and a look on punch line 1.
10 seconds pass by……………nowt, the float fails to disappear into the depths
20 seconds - ditto
30 seconds - ditto what the hells going on?
What seems like an eternity - but probably only 5 mins, I’m biteless whilst I see OBI netting a small un
and Diggers had a couple too.
The early reports from both Digger and OBI are that they themselves are both getting battered - ME is having a few on the end peg and The Hunter is ‘having one a chuck’
Finally after about 15 mins and a look on both lines, I have a first bite on short line 1.
Dry net off as a small roach is unhooked and safely hits the keep net.
Trouble is Diggers owning upto half a dozen
whilst The Hunter is into double figures.
Things do gradually pick up however
as first Heinzer drops off contingency plan scales, followed by Blues4eva who’d also promised to drop off my beamies - cheers guys, at least now we could now weight in.
I’m pulling back Digger, sure I’ve got my nose in front of OBI as 12 bites result in 12 fish.
But bite 13 ‘ruins the record’ as what I can only describe as a vicious bite is missed….
A look with a shallower rig - yep DaveC I did try
- doesn’t result in any touches.
Back to the normal rig and I pick up a few more
- now on fish 19. Digger is ‘complaining’ that he’s gotta get the liniment out for his neck tonight
as The Hunter is still going strong and he tries to kid me that I’m doing him.
He also reckons I’m on an aquarium as fish no 16 on the punch aint a roach after all - it’s a micro perch
(well about an oz)
Then new Cashmores Crew recruit Josh (and bro) wanders down to pay his annual club subs
after the hour and three quarter mark.
And sadly that’s when it went downhill big style for TK
- I must have been well and truly ‘Joshed’
cuss I couldn’t buy a bite after he departed.
As time progressed it was now or never for that choppy line - Digger wasn’t gunna get all those annelids back after all.
Half a dozen were finely chopped up and fed. ‘I’ll give em just the 5 mins for those kinver tigers to home in on ‘em’ I thought as I went to take a few snaps…….
First up on route to ME was OBI - now was that a smile or a grimace as he soldiered on.
Then ME - a study of concentration as he willed his next bite.
Unfortunately just as Digger struck up a pose - my batteries snuffed it.
Good job MrV wandered down later on David Bailey duty.
Up how to see ‘how it should be done’ by The Hunter and Big Col T
I note they’ve got the added assistance of an Essox Lucius in the space between them, striking and obviously ‘herding them up’ :P ;)for their waiting white discs.
Old ME too has reported he’s had a crock swimming to and from over his nearside weed bed
Well I’ve waffled on a fair bit whilst giving my tongue a rest from those envelopes so I’ll cut to the chase……….
Back to the choppy and after dragging, dropping and more dragging a bit that juicy moist morsel of annelid I finally had a bite
‘Whey hey ’ I triumphed to Digger as I shipped back - it wasn’t the beastie I was looking for, but it was a start at about 2oz………
‘Crappity smack me’ I didn’t triumph to Digger as it came off in the track
Drag, drop, drag, drop for the next 15 mins doesn’t result in any more bites - must have been the Lone Ranger - where’s Tonto when you want him?
For that last two hours I manage to conjure just three more small roach, two more on the white stuff and just one on the squatt - which incidentally didn’t come from my ‘dedicated’ slop and squatt line - in fact nowt did.
Anyway I’ve enjoyed the day - plenty of banter with Big Col T and Hunter before the off,
- oh and I promise I wont mention your gymnastic prowess on the towpath as we were looking to peg out Hunter……
honest
……….and good craic during the 4 hours and thanks Kim PhilB who did the honours on the scales which read…………
PEG
1 Cotti 0.15.6
2 Kim PhilB DNW
3 Gudgeon Basher 0.7.0
4 Big Col T 2.1.0
5 The Hunter 5.6.0
6 Digger 1.11.6
7 TK 1.6.9
8 OBI 0.8.0
9 ME 0.9.3
So whilst The Hunter has walked it again, Digger has also put me to the sword on the next peg with a late run of a few ‘bonus’ 2 oz kinvers taken on the pinkie off his choppy line………….ah well that’s life.
Nice to see the fish that I did see were in pristine condition, nicely coloured and markings
Here endeth the report, please feel free to add your two pennyworth guys
nice report TK and photo's mate 
