Simple Match Fishing Forum

Woke up a few minutes before the alarm clock was due to go off, went down stairs and had a brew whilst I got the gear ready.

On every grueller match this series I’ve taken a flask of hot soup but on this occasion I couldn’t be bothered and decided to join the rest of the crew and have a breckie at a the draw at Yates.

Mistake no 1. The had already kicked in as I arrived to learn that a gas pipe had been cut the day before and no brekies were available, although the gaffer did offer everyone a free brew.

Was that an OMEN of what was to come…………….?

Talk was what section of cut we would be fishing - the Cannock Extension or the Wyrley Essington.

Big Baz arrived with Mick G and Mark O in tow………..that was sorted then, they’d pegged the Common.

With a couple of late night casualties declared, only 12 hardy souls had turned out for this final match in the series.

Reading between the lines quite a few didn’t want to draw the ‘other side’ of the walkover bridge on the junction, where a few had struggled last match on that section.

With pegs flying out of Mark O’s hat, rather than ending up being what peg was leftt, I changed tactics and asked that noted peg pincher Cotti to pull me one……….he pulled me peg 13 - anyone superstitious?

YIPPE it meant an end peg………., AAAAAAAAAAAGH wrong end.

Series leader, Blues4eva was on next peg, peg 12 on the junction. In previous years it’s been a ‘flyer’, but hadn’t thrown up much last match. At least I could ‘keep an eye’ on him. Sitting in second place was Sibeck who once again had Mick G for company and a bit of banter.

All on my jack jones.....nobody to my left



Only Blues4eva to have a natter with





I only set up two rigs, one for the punch and one for the joker. I then had a wander up to Chelsynboy to drop him off a couple of permits and offer a few words of confidence that he’d catch today with some of that best Polish and Russian he’d had off me………..he wouldn’t dry net again today…………..would he

The off. Punch and joker fed. I’d made my mind up to flog the punch for longer than usual, even if not snatching nowt before moving to the joker after a hour.

I was just starting doubt the wisdom of that decision after 20 mins without a touch. I wasn’t alone though……….. Blues4eva also hadn’t had a touch. Bet they are bagging the other side of the bridge I thought…..especially as Mark O has drawn the same peg that he had his winning 7lb net of roach from last time down here..

Then out of the blue, float slips away and I lift. The double no 2 comes out a treat and I’ve a ‘decent’ fish on. ‘Play him gently, don’t lose this and the dreaded dry net will be avoided’ I think to myself

Pole shipped back and I’m on the top 3. I can see it’s a decent ‘skimmer’. Turn to the side to pick up my landing net…………….aghhhhhhhhhhhhh I aint set it up.

I’m in the fertiliser, but a plea to Blues4eva and he sorts me out and lends me his. Fish netted and it’s a debate between us as to it’s size……….’About a lb ‘ I reckon, Blues4eva reckons it’ll go 1lb12oz.

With that showing, we both are a bit more upbeat and I look forward to putting another half dozen of his brothers in the net over the next 3 and half hours.

An hour in and no further bites………….and Blues4eva is still dry. The phone rings………it’s the Chockie Munster.

‘You catching up there?’ he asks. I crane my neck looking for him. ‘No, struggling. Where are you?’ thinking he’s pulled up on the pub car park.

‘Fishing the match at Beechdale. We are struggling, just odd fish coming out’

Conversation over, it’s head down and back to the job in hand. Not long after I’m paid a visit by a few walkers who are also being well and truly gruellered. Cotti , then Tweety and later Sibeck wander down dry. News is that only Mick G appears to have caught, he’s snared a kinver tiger about the lb mark

Time marches on and Tweety and Sibeck ultimately have had enough as they traipse over the bridge to load up and head off to the pub.

With an hour to go, leader Blues4eva decides to call it a day and go and watch the match

Blues4eva well and truly gruellered



25 minutes to go. OBI wanders down and lets me know that Mick G has also snared a tinca, allegedly over 3lb, to go with his perch . I’ve been biteless for 3 hours plus so I’ve ‘converted the near punch line with a pot full of Russian , hoping to snare another slimey. Suddenly the float goes………. is it another ‘1lber’………….nope it’s an half ounce stripey..

With OBI still by me, next put in and away it goes again…………but I miss ‘it’

Looking for another slimey on the 'short' line



Encouraged by that, OBI trots off to give it a go for the last 20 mins.

That soon flies by and it’s all out and the sorry tale of the scales……………this hardly makes for good ‘publicity’ for the cut……………but reading results elsewhere, it’s nowt unusual this weekend. If they don’t want to open their mouths and have a munch there aint a lot you can do………. :(



PEG
1
2 GOUGHY 0.3.11
3 OBI DNW
4 SIBECK DNW
5 MICK G 3.12.12
6 YAMO DNW
7 BIG BAZ DNW
8 COTTI DNW
9 CHESLYNBOY DNW
10 TWEETY DNW
11 MARK O 0.1.0
12 BLUES4EVA DNW
13 TK 2.4.0

A bullhead contributes to Mark O's weight



I got up a bit too close for this snap




Well that’s another GRUELLER series done and dusted. On a GRUELLER Richter scale of 1-10, this year has been a ‘cracker’ and must rank as a 9.

Must say despite the nightmares we’ve experienced, we’ve had plenty of banter and plenty of laughs along the way amongst us. It’s been good to meet and fish in the ‘new’ company of OBI,Blues4eva, Snowie, Sibeck, Tweety, and co over this winter……….hope we do it ‘all again’ next year, but with a few more fish between us next time.

Oh and cheers guys for those of you who purchased season tickets off me….……anybody who’s been in the frame and picked a bob or two up will probably realize I don’t take a peg fee for the gruellers…………..so cheers for that as it all helps ‘pay the rent’

i will truly miss your grueller reports TK

crackin m8
will deffo be havin a couple of tickets come june time for me and the nipper.

think i am just about gruellered out with the cuts til then

got thinkin after about an hour of staring at a motionless float...i wish it was iced up i catch crappity smack better

Superb reading and Pics TK

Where's the table, who won overall, who have I got to give this Tupperware trophy too

As an old confirmed Southern Softie who don't do ice breaking anymore, I'd just like to thank Tony for "The Grueller" reports and all the lads that have featured in them over the series, making them a serious "Must Read".

Well done to all of you, though I can't help feeling that Cashmores AC should be renamed Masochists AC.

Where's the table, who won overall, who have I got to give this Tupperware trophy too

Aint got a clue Simps

When I get 5 mins a minute (shouldn't take that long) I'll knock the final table up

I'd just like to thank Tony for "The Grueller" reports and all the lads that have featured in them over the series, making them a serious "Must Read

Glad you've 'enjoyed' them Mugger - we've certainly had a laff along the way as well as the tears

Must agree Peter. I look forward to reading TKs reports every time, my only regret is that they dont fish grueller matches every week so I get more to read.

Thanks TK

Still its only 4 weeks to go to the start of the Marsh matches and we can start to enjoy Muggers words of wisdom and 2 weeks to the Cashmores season. It wont be the same though reading about people catching fish instead of icebreaking exploits.

Where's the table, who won overall, who have I got to give this Tupperware trophy too

Here you go Simps............

TK 25 5 26 23 29 108
BLUES4EVA 29 5 28 28 5 95
SIBECK 27 5 29 25 5 91
MICK G 26 5 27 30 88
COTTI 5 5 27 30 5 72
BIG BAZ 28 5 29 5 67
MARK O 30 5 27 62
OBI 30 26 5 61
K WOODWARD 5 30 35
BIG COL 5 28 33
MARKV 23 5 5 33
GOLDEN BALLS 22 5 5 32
IAN DAVIS 29 29
HEINZER 5 24 29
GOUGHY 28 28
MILLIE 25 25
KEEF 21 21
CHESLYN BOY 5 5 5 5 20
TWEETY 5 5 5 5 20
YAMO 5 5 5 15
THE WEDGE 5 5 10
PHIL B 5 5 10
THE SHARK 5 5 10
MRV 5 5 10
MICK P 5 5
SNOWIE 5 5
D SUTTON 5 5


Anybody who fished more than 1 match didnt escape a DNW


I reckon some collected a few more DNW as if they were medals of honour to be proudly displayed for courage and bravery shown during the campaign

Well done TK, about time you won

The rest of the board looks rather bleak

Didnt Bezza fish any this year ?

It looks like the are finally caught up with me.
Fished the cut in Clayhanger today 3hrs not an indication.

looks like I've got to get Micky Garbett to give me some tips.

Fished the cut in Clayhanger today 3hrs not an indication

Dont beat yourself up Blues4eva.......I'm reading of loads of blanks all over the place.......including 'fish stuffed' commercials - dry nets in team matches that you wouldnt think possible on some of the venues

Whilst I'm sorry to hear you didnt have a sniff today at Clayhanger, makes me feel a little better that it aint just our sections of cuts that aint produced over the last 2 months.

Needs some heavy duty 'milder' weather before things will get back on track I think

And when they do, keep us posted of your exploits on here

Didnt Bezza fish any this year

Nope Simps - he was doing battle in the Chockie Munster matches I think

will do mate

It's a good job Gem didn't fish any of these matches, there could have been some serious MINXINGS to be had.

well done tony

.including 'fish stuffed' commercials

4 hrs @ curbough monday on the canal pools 2 small carp and about 30 gobi for about 3lb really hard just nowt showin

You daint fancy peg 1 on the boatyard then

nah m8 just a bit of practice got our club match there on the 14th,need to try and keep the pressure on em after my flying start in the last round

plus they do opens on a monday