justin case

It started off by not being able to get out of my road, there was a lorry on fire by all accounts on the M25 it had backed up some 15 miles and I was blocked in.

I managed to get out eventually and get to the venue 10 minutes away as a rule it took half hour

In we go I draw peg 32, Im dissapointed to say the least as yesterday I was watching an article being filmed by match angler magazine. Chris Vanderfliet, and the owner of the lake Colin accompanied by Jon Arther and Dave Harrel, and yes, you guessed it my peg was one of the ones used for the article,

I walk dispondantly to my peg Mick Scanlan was on the other peg used, we kind of face each other as we were in a corner , at least we will have a good laugh.

Off we go normal proceedure around 8 balls of groundbait laced with about a pint of the new white micro pellets from Carp vader plus a good helping of caster then a big pot of chop over the top, proceeded by 3 balls of the same at 4 to hand,

I was in a corner so I potted 3 maxi cups of 4mm white polar ice feed pellets tight down the inside at around 12.5 metres followed by a reasonable helping of corn and a few grains of cubed meat ( thanks Le:mo)

we had the wind in our face so I was half hoping the carp might show in the corner,

off we go with the 4 to hand its one a chuch for 20 minutes net skimmers and a few good roach, im constantly throwing 20 or so pellets on that line to keep em comming, then I foul hook a big skimmer it comes off I say the proverbial B@#£$@@ it gets said a lot on this venue, then I proceed to do this 4 more time in a row and the fish seem to vanish.

in with two more balls and I try the long line, not a single bite 20 minutes goes by and I can see most of the anglers are catching well, me and Mick are struggling, two more balls long another pot of chop and back short again

I nick a few more fish Im probably up to aroiund 15lb and 1.5 hours are gone
I light up a ciggie and think Rivet, I sit there half hearted thinking I have drawn real crap, of all the pegs I get one that was hammered the day before.

Lets give the carp line a go I havnt seen any movement what so ever but I have nothing to lose.

I put a half inch cube of meat on the hook, the rig is a 4x10 Garbo DC6 0.17 mainline to 0.15 size 12 911 blue middy hi vis I think its rated at 20 basically my lasooing gear

Out she goes the bait hits the bottom and sails straight away I lift into an large fish it goes off like the orient express, a few minutes later and I have tamed a 15 pound mirror sadly carp over 10 pound only count as 10 pound

in we go again a few bobs and sideways movements tells me there is another fish down there, and then the strangest thing the float goes I hit it and I have a real wierd fighting fish a few pulls then it seems to give in then it has another go, then I see red yep red I have some kind of red fish maybe a sun burnt golden tench nope a Koi Carp,

One of the lads took this pic after the match the pic isnt that good due to the light but you will get the picture

[IMG][/IMG]



The next cast produces a lightning bite I hit it and im straight into trouble through the boat house landing stage up a tree you know the ones probably only 8 or so pound but quick off the mark, the hook pulls

Its goes real quiet so I top up with exactly the same as I started with I have neary 3 ft of water it can take it if I feed light the skimmers will move in I need carp really from this peg today to frame.

I go in right on top iof my cups a quick bite and 5 minutes later I have a mirror over 20 pound I struggled like mad to get it into the supplied landing net, I call it on the bank the guys either side agree its 10 plus infact they said some other non repeatable words, it was a huge fish my biggest on the pole by far sadly the fish flipped from the landing net and broke my number 3 clean in half only the laccy is keeping it together, the fish was ok it landed on my carryall
once again despite all my hard work its only classed as 10 pounds.

I made a quick repair as the match was nearing its close, I slid a spare number 3 right over the lot holding the break firm.

I lost 2 more during the closing stages one was probably between 25 and 30 pound I didnt have much chance some fish are just too big, I did manage to snag a few moree plus some nice bream and a tench on the same line

I weighed in 72lb 8 oz fifth again for the 3rd week running one day I will get some coin out of this place, the match was won with 117lb of skimmers plus 3 carp 89lb was 4th I was too far from the fish but made a few changes and made the peg work for me.

once again the white polar ice pellets seem to score for me, sadly my main line,the long pole was a waste of time I put this down to the hammering it took the previous day.

JC

shaunPearce

nice read mate. its a shame that you caught those lumps and then they were only classed as 10lb.

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Shaun Pearce

justin case

Yeah rules of the lake sadly,

I can see the owners concerns though there are carp to 40lb in that lake with a good head of 20,s and 30,s you could set your stool out for them and win the match with 3 fish.

having these rules forces people to set out for ther skimmers to a point.

I think the rule works, quite often I will be catching skimmers and see a guy land a submarine and think to myself thank christ thats only classed as 10lb

Unfortunately for me yesterday the shoe was on the other foot

JC

shaunPearce

i can see the point in the rule but i can also see why it shoudnt be that way aswell.

if you do decide to set your stall out for the very big lumps and you do catch a couple and you win the match then fair enough. you still caught played and landed the fish. and just becuase you set your stall out for them doesnt mean your going to catch them.

i think some days the skimmers and the odd carp will win the day and on another day maybe four or 5 of the very big lumps.

it all depends on the day, conditions, peg and whats infront of you.i feel that this rule stops you from acheiveing the best from your peg.

what are your thoughts on this justin?

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Shaun Pearce

justin case

I agree with that point 100% some of us cant compete with some of the talent thats on the bank these days,

to have another option of beating a superstar is always appealing, its a great leveller

I have seen stranger rules on other lakes though, I could never work out the banning of hair rigs,

I have to quote this one as its quite bizzare and of course the reason behind it is somewhat obvious.

There is a lake close to me Southend farm a well know bait supplier match angler was doing rather well there with the pellet waggler untill it was banned

so

he then starts bagging on the long pole up in the water, they have now limited the use of catapults Im not sure how they can enforce this but............. I was told excesive use of the catty will get you banned I dont know the exact amount your allowed to use it per hour but I quieried this rule with a freind and its apparently true

some people will go to any length to stop people winning

I don't use that venue as I feed a lot

Lake John though, I respect that rule as it has other implications someone has to weight the damm things, and there is no walking the lake during a match.

JC

jethro

Good read Justin, for reference what did Mick Scanlan on the adjacent peg weigh.

..Jethro..

justin case

He was in the low fifties 52lb I beleive

Mick is pools fodder like me

He came to this site a few weeks back I told him to join

jethro

5th is hardly pools fodder, seems to me lots of anglers beat themselves up if they don't frame.

..Jethro..

justin case

I was joking Jethro knowing he will read this, me and Mick go back a long way he used to sponser me when he had the Trevs E17 shop we fished for the same team

jethro

cheeky

..Jethro..