| Docklow Pools. 7th January 2001
The first match of the New Year and I hope this isn't a sign of things to come! The Sunday open was the first match I had fished for some time over Christmas due to the appalling weather conditions we have had. The temperature on the morning had begun to rise but the high barometric pressure would have an effect on the fishing for this match.
Anyone who has read these reports will realise that I don't like to fish the Match lake as the fish either get pushed into two pegs or end up disappearing up the one end if there are not enough anglers to cover the whole water.
This makes the match rather peggy and certain anglers have a distinct advantage on the day depending on their draw. Attendance was well down for the match possibly due to the fact that the waters were still believed to be frozen but they were not. Many of the locals turned up but the usual South Wales contingent were conspicuous by their absence.
I asked where all the lads were and was told by a certain Welsh angler (who shall remain nameless) that they have had enough of being 'pools- fodder' and decided to fish a match at Llanelli. I believe this is Welsh for Cormorant Sanctuary as the ponds are right on the coast. I think it was lottery money well spent by the WFCA considering the distances that Cormorants have to fly to get a good meal these days. Why not build them a restaurant on the coast and fill it full of little carp that are easy to swallow. If they had built the lakes nearer to civilisation it would have attracted anglers from other areas so I am glad to see that all the thought and planning is paying off. It does however, create a difficult situation for other waters in Wales as now that there is a venue where you can get bites, it may draw anglers away from the rest of the venue, where you cannot!
For anyone considering fishing anywhere in South Wales, don't! However, there is one venue near Swansea, White Springs which offers excellent fishing all year round but that is down to good management and sensible stocking policies, something that will never take on in Wales.
With numbers severely depleted for this fixture the Match lake and the Day-ticket pool was put in so it was going to be all on the draw again. I think everybody would have had a better day had the Day- Ticket and Farmer Jack been used. I drew peg 19 on the match lake and although I always fish every peg I draw, today I was having doubts about going to it. There was a cold Easterly wind blowing in my face and the water was gin-clear. There was a large tree in the water to my left and around four feet of water at full stretch on the pole line.
I started by cupping some caster down under the tree and some more at 16 meters with corn but I didn't really fancy the peg very much. After ninety minutes without any indications I decided to go over to the Day-Ticket to see if they were catching. The plan was to go back to my peg later in the hope that with all the feeders that were being chucked around the island it may push some of the carp down to my end of the lake. For this approach to work there has to be a part of the lake where now feed is going in. my peg! So off I went - Rambling!
Grant Albutt was drawn on peg 8 on the Day-Ticket, which can produce some right 'lumps' and Paul Bick was on peg 4 (The bonus peg on the day). I didn't think Eric Davies was going to catch on peg 7 as it has had no form lately since the chub have moved to the stumps. When I got there Paul Evans was catching roach and small chub on the island peg 12 and rumour had it that Grant had got two carp and lost three under the bridge!
I spent about half an hour talking to Grant and Paul Evans and the decided that it was time to empty my peg as the carp had probably settled there now. Rob Wiltshire was on peg 27 on the Match lake and had been hooking a few. He was having the same problem that most people get whenever they use a line-clip for feeder fishing - hitting the island! I think we all get complacent with the clip on and I lose less gear by judging it these days.
It got that bad at one stage that the bloke next to Rob couldn't get to the island because of all the line that Rob had left hanging from the branches. Mark Jones on the other side of the lake was complaining that they take the boat out every three months clear the island but Rob had now put as much on there again in one hour!
Andrew Murphy had been winding in on the next peg to Rob when he hooked someone's line with a feeder and a carp attached to it. After some time he netted the fish but Rob said it wasn't one of his feeders. I am not surprised; all his are weighing the branches down on the island. I am glad we all had a laugh, as the fishing was really hard where I was and still no bites.
I gave up the idea of catching something and at 2:30 I packed up. I think Mark Jones was in for a windfall as he was going to get the boat out after the match. He would never have to buy another feeder if he took it round to Rob's peg.
Judging by the amount of wagglers drifting down the lake, I was beginning to think Larry Salter on peg 4 was not reaping the benefits of accurate casting as that peg too has a few branches to contend with. I wonder if there is any money to be made in casting lessons. The Trout and Salmon fraternity would appear to be busy in that department. Even at £10 an hour it would still be cheaper than what it cost some anglers in lost gear. Anyone walking around the ponds would think it was a match from the Blind School being fished.
Furthermore, the profanities being uttered with each item of lost tackle would have shattered the illusion that fishing is a tranquil and relaxing pass-time. Perhaps they ought to give out Valium tablets attached to certain peg number when you draw them.
I didn't stay to see the weigh in but I was told that Rob Wiltshire had won the match from peg 27 on the Match Lake and I think that is the first time that it hasn't been won from around the first island.
Again Many thanks to Giles. |
