Simple Match Fishing Forum

Thought I'd better start this thread before someone else does.......


The Curse continues...............


Well it does for some of us  






I'll pen a few words in the morn when I've thought of something to report            




[move]Give me a cut anyday[/move]

Come on TK, don't tease us, let's have some details.
It can't have been that bad, can it?

It was Mugger, it was

Well, here’s an ‘incomplete’ report on yesterdays match from a BDM perspective.  

With the potential, earlier in the week, for a full Cashmores Crew turnout, plus a couple of visitors on the waiting list the adjoining Willows Pool was acquired so the match would be spread over the 2 lakes, allowing more space between the anglers.

Willows holds 21 (tight) pegs this was pegged 1 – 11. Priory has 24 pegs, this was pegged 12 to 26, although the far rh corner was left out a there was cold water gushing into the pool via an overflow pipe.  



Info received during the week was 86lb had won on Priory, whilst Willow had only coughed up a top weight of 47lb.

At the draw bag there was evidence that a number wanted to draw Priory and there was certainly the odd cuss and chunter from one or two when they realised they had drawn on Willows.

BDM dipped in relatively early and 21 stuck to his fingers. Well at least a relatively short walk for a ballacher…………

21 was in the bottom right hand corner, not exactly what was really wanted, but what the heck.

At the peg, plumbing up revealed a max depth of about 2ft 9ins at 11 mtrs with about 9 ins in the corner.

Worse still was the wind was blowing right to left up into the far end of the pool as these views will show.



The off. SB was fed at 5 and 9mtrs, some pellet on a 2oclock line, then pellet with a few pieces of corn on two further lines into the corner.

First look over the sb. Floats dips and a 6 oz roach is netted within the first minute. ‘Well a day of these will do me’ thinks BDM.  

A couple of much smaller samples show in the next 20 mins as it is slow, but no body appears to be catching anywhere. Then the float dips again, a lift and the no 10 screams off. Pole is dipped and after about 5 secs the beast is off. A look at the rig, expecting it to be trashed, but its not, it’s a pull out rather a missing hook.  :'(

Well that was almost it for the BDM over the next 4.5 hours. Rotation of swims, baits etc failed to catch any beasties. Even the setting up of a couple of lighter rigs, in an attempt to snare some silvers only contributed to the odd bite and roach hitting the net, in between brolly up and brolly down as a few hail storms bombed the anglers  :(

Anglers either side of BDM had faired worse, but MGB had picked up plenty of roach and a few rogue carp fishing a long waggler line.  

HaHa had also had two on his wag.

Reports filtered through that some anglers were doing ok however on Willows.

All out and time for the scales.

MGB blitzed Priory pool with 20 odd lb.

Laugh of the day was when Hotlips, next left peg to BDM went to weigh his two hard earned small perch only to find they’d escaped through a small hole in his net.  

BDM’ s silvers went all of 2lb 10oz, whilst Rolly to his right got an oz for his solitary roach. Lasher opposite had a few small roach and a chat with big Geoff on the way to the car revealed he’d had two fish all match – a rudd first put in and a proper un with 20 mins to go.

The curse had struck most again……………..at least we will have the excuse of cramped pegging when we do crap (again) on there later in the season  

Scales were still on Willows as the car was loaded. Tigerbay (on Willows) told BDM he’d had 8lb – 2 carp.  Brambles had had one knocking double figures on single red on a 22 to 2lb bottom

And that’s about all BDM can report………….not being in possession of the results sheet – we’ll have to wait on MGB -  BDM don’t know who won or with what weights  

Anyway - it will be interesting to learn how Andy222 off MD and TA gets on today - he's fishing Priory

Looks lovely, almost flat calm, hard to believe that wind was a factor.  :P
Can't wait to read others thoughts on the day.

Looks like a few of the Marsh lads might have to venture up in the summer and show you how it's done.

Can't wait to read others thoughts on the day

Nor me Mugger.......now waiting on Tigerbay, KOD, Yamo, HaHa, Drynet and MGB for their pearls of wisdom and experiences

Looks lovely, almost flat calm, hard to believe that wind was a factor

Wasnt 'windy' in the sense of the word......just another coincidence that the few times I've ever drawn a corner peg its always blown out of it rather than into it  :'(

I've ever drawn a corner peg its always blown out of it rather than into it

Or am I reading too much into things

You might just be reading to much into it Tony.
Unless there's a major variance in depths on the pool.
Given that you could only find 2ft 9ins at 11 mtrs with about 9 ins in the corner I would have expected Carp to be present as the shallows would benefit first from any sun warming the water.
Did you have a look at 13 or 14½mtrs?
I'd probably treat any margin swim as a throw away at this time of year and wouldn't bother dropping into it unless I saw some tail patterns and concentrated on a main swim keeping a constant trickle of pellet and the odd grain of corn going in via a kinder pot, alternating between corn and pellet on the hook, I'd be reasonably confident that carp would turn up over this at some point in the 5 hours.
Always handy to add another section and have a look past the feed occasionally as Carp can sit off the feed at times.

Thanks for your thoughts Mugger

I did have a longer poke out on a couple of occasions but nowt.

Thought I might be fishing too longer a line as I'd been advised the trick on there (if not on the pads down the middle section) was to fish shorter lines.

There was a sunken lily pad at 2oclock which I fed but never had an indication of any sort from there - not any silvers either.

The sun did come out on occasions, inbetween the hail and rain, but the corner and the likely looking vegetation areas to my right were totally in the shade for the day.........and I didn't see any tell tale signs of activity from any of the areas. The 3 photos above where taken 1 after the other, which shows the differing light conditions

I scaled right down in an attempt to put a few silvers together, fully expecting to end up smashed at some point..........but that never happend either - and never had a touch on the caster all day

Nice report TK. From what you and Peter have written it does seem that you are truly cursed.

Looks like you would be an ideal candidate to join the JINX series ::)

Most of the places I have fished recently are still not responding well to pellet and a maggot/hemp/micropellet approach using a kinder pot has worked much better.

Sounds like it was just one of those days Tony. :(

I scaled right down in an attempt to put a few silvers together, fully expecting to end up smashed at some point..........

I have to say that scaling down is something that I never really consider when I know carp are present. If they're there and feeding(even in winter) there should be some colour in the water, thus negating any advantage. My rigs stay the same year round on carp waters and commercials as it's very rare (at least down this way) that the colour ever drops out of the water.

I normally fish 8" to 12" from tip to float if conditions allow, the only time that I may fish a longer line is when targeting F1's up in the water, as I find they're not to keen on a pole tip over their heads and can shy away.

Nice report TK very enjoyable reading



I am seriously beginng to wonder about you lot tho

have to say that scaling down is something that I never really consider when I know carp are present. If they're there and feeding(even in winter) there should be some colour in the water

Hi Mugger

I'm in some serious need of assistance here........

There was reasonable colour in the water.

For fish upto say 5lb, what b/s line do you commonly use

Additionally I'm a firm believer, irrespective of the bait, there are size 20 hooks and size 20 hooks...............in terms of guage..........Ive won a match or two (on silvers I should add) where I've had bite after bite on a fine wire hook, bent it and changed it stepping up a guage and no bites. Back to original pattern and bites commenced immediately again, What hooks are you using matched to what baits and b/s?

I aint also too happy with the lines I'm using for for 'carping'......... diameters of that i'm currently using seemsunderstated and suppleness is not what I'd wish for.........but there again is that just me  

In addition to b/s. what hook types/designs/sizes are you using with what bait.

Another confusion for me at least is pellet flavour..........as well as the sizes........there are so many choices out there.......'natural'. halibut, mussel, strawberry etc etc Do you stick with one choice/combination of sizes or mix and match during the season.......what decides this or is it venueseason dependent ??????????







[move]
I cant catch carp  :'([/move]

PS..............sorry for the interrogation :(

Hot off the press.............well today

Heard that on Priory that 'Ball it in Baker' had a double figure beastie, Tommy Cooper had a couple for around the 10lb mark, Lasher had 2 roach, Shaunie had 11 oz, whilst KOD had two fish in the last hour for double figures

On Willows, Vestie also had double figures whilst Cotti did 28lb.

Rumour has it that Yamo won it off Willows

Ok here's my report. Not going to think about it too much just write it ! Think i'm doing too much thinking about my fishing at the moment.. the upshot of of poor results. I'm trying to work out how 'to do it' !

Before the match I knew virtually nothing about the pool and my experiences with other clubs is I invariably cock it up until after I've fished the venue and seen the weigh in etc. Then you can get some decent perspective on it and tackle it accordingly. I find I get carried away with too many plans and thoughts of big bags of fish otherwise, which dont materialise. On this venue there may have been some big weights taken, but yesterdays experience helps me know what its really about, although a bit better in summer no doubt.

I had the thought that fish may skidaddle to the middle when a club decends on the water so I started off with one chuck of a cage feeder with some GB to put a cloud in the water column and attract any roamers ( dont know if that makes any sense) . Then because the waters so cold still, opted for the maggot feeder. Didnt really chuck it quite far enough, but missed a bite after 10 mins or so, then a couple of liner indications ( lovely   ) and then a real pull round and hooked a decent fish which saw me backwinding. I thought i'll take it easy, untill it all went solid and the I remembered Heinzer telling me about submerged lillies ! Hung on for a while easing off the pressure without success, tried sharply rapping the rod with a taught line ( couldnt think of anything else ) ... and eventually it came free. I was very relieved and surprised as it went on its way again this time though the next swim , snagging Mr Jeffreys line ( excuse me if I have the name wrong). I managed to get it in and save his rig too. A carp of just over six pounds.

Not a sausage then for quite a while until a suprise tench which took my total weight to 8lb 4oz.

Ive been having decent fish on another venue close in, but had hardly any depth close yesterday so fed two pole lines, 11m 10 oclock and 8m 2oclock. Nothing showed on either, except missed a couple of bites. Put a little hemp down and some corn, trickled a bit in throughout the match, but not too much. Plumbed it ever so carefully, tried on the bottom, just touching ( well as sure as you can be ) just off it etc, everything, roundabout the feed, twitched it for England and rested it.

Got well beaten by the lad on my left , Mick ? Who I think was fishing the straight lead, with corn  possibly. And beaten on my right too by I think Dennis (?) who fished pole at what looked like 11m ish. Think I heard him say he'd had three carp or so, but not sure.

All in all I cant work it out. fairly happy with the way I fished, pretty tight and tidy, certainly on the pole. maybe could have been a bit tighter with feeder casting, but I could also just be being hard on myself. Clipped up, lined up and didnt do too badly. But nothing showed.

Switched from side hooked corn after a while to hair rigged, scaled down from .13 hooklenghth to .11, then .10 and a forged 20 hook. Didnt make any difference and to be honest I think I was just trying too hard.

Looking back two things mystify me. What the lad was doing to catch on my left, casting to about the same distance as me, with a straight lead. Should have asked him, will next time I see him  ;) and whether  I fed enough. Kept it light as its still cold water.

I also think I should have set up a waggler rod for up in the water later on but my head was already filled with too many thoughts/options for a venue I didnt know. But next time...def a waggler rod too.

I dont think its an easy water and the carp I had was certainly an old warrior. Cor what a day. Thats fishing for you   The this Cashmores curse, does it exist ???? lol    I refuuuuuuuuuuse to believe it  :D

What do they say, when the tough get going .... .

My apologies for not being sure of the names, still getting to know people.  Now waiting for the results.

Wasnt a bad day out, the five hours went quite quickly for me and its all experience.

Rumour has it that Yamo won it off Willows

He had about 7 carp, Cotti had his 5 fishing shallow, Vestie had his 2 on cat meat. I had one roach

I had one roach

No Ducks

Just thought of three plusses !!!

No rigs trashed, no top kits or anything else broken, wonders will never cease... and the sight of Mr Kenn toppling into the brambles on the other side hehe