Well I went to watch our wendy, and what a day, she was a pleasure to watch, she puts so much effort into her fishing it puts me to shame
She paid her money and got her ticket for the draw
Then the wait for the draw, with everyone hoping for peg 1, it wins every match
. Then, badboybagger turned up with gem of bicester, we had a chat and a look at the pegs then it was time for the draw and the ladies joined the queue. Wendy was infront of gem, I watched the pegs come out, peg 1 was still in the bag with two folk to go before wendy, then, disaster, the lady right infront of wendy drew it
, chin up babe, you can still do it
. She put her hand in the bag and came out with peg number 69
, the same peg I fished when we went practising, at least she knew what not to do
. Dave Harrell, the organiser, made the obvious crack about the peg number, but then said that it is a good bream peg, especially with the colour in the water, so a big smile appeared on wendy's face. Gem drew peg 2, a great peg.
So we drove down to the peg and proceeded to set up, I helped unload the car but then was told NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING
, so I did what I was told and sat back and watched, and learned. She set her tip rod up with a groundbait feeder and plumbed up down the inside on the pole. With 2 hours to set up, she was ready in 40 mins and couldn't wait for the all-in
everything ready, then she set out her good luck charms
women
(that's a cute teddy
)
12 o clock and the shout came down ALL IN, and she started off with three baitdroppers packed with copped worm and caster on the inside, this had worked well on both her practise sessions, then out with 8 feeders full of choppy plugged with groundbait, then half a worm on the hook. I sat, willing the tip to wrap round.................................nothing
. She did half an hour on the feeder then decided to try the pole line, another baitdropper full, then 1/2 a dendra on the hook. 45 minutes later, she had had 1 bite, which resulted in a bumped fish
, it was obvious the perch wern't playing today, which was the original plan of attack
. The concentration on her face was unreal, I wasn't allowed to speak to her !
Back out on the feeder and the tip bounced, yesssssssss, a nice 8oz skimmer was dropped into the keepnet, "I'm happy now, I haven't blanked"
Nobody else around her seemed to be catching, one girl netted a tennis ball
but wasn't allowed to weigh it in lol.
Word came down that peg 1 and 7 had a fish first put in, then someone said gem had got a 6lb bream, but wendy wasn't phased by this news at all, "all I want to do is win my section, and maybe, better my 5th place from last year". She was so happy just to be fishing, and to have caught something. Then, a change to a maggot feeder with half a lobby on the hook (thanks Mr Perry
, no not her dad lol, but a chap that walked past and gave her a bit of local advice). Within minutes there was another skimmer in the net, closely followed by a small eel, which was determined it wasn't going in the landing net
, but you dont win an arguement with wendy perry lol. Now she was really smiling
All of a sudden there was a massive roar of motorbike engines, wendy's fanclub had arrived, 150 motorbikes
I know I got that pic wrong but what the hell, you get the idea
She was showing me a few of her 'tricks' to tempt the fish into biting and oh how they worked, but they wernt taking the whole worm and just snatching it off the hook
, then she struck into one and the rod bent double, she pumped it 3 times and then it stopped, "it's a big barbel" I said. She kept the pressure on, waiting for the next run, then..........ping, the rod sprang back, it had got off
. She reeled in and there was a massive ball of eel slime on the line but it had bit through the line, just above the hook
.
After that it went really quiet, not a twitch
, she switched between groundbait feeder, maggot feeder and another dabble on the pole, but could not generate any interest from the fish
. Ofcourse, I got blamed and she sent me off to the car for another pack of fags
(out of the way).
Word had it that no one was catching on this stretch and wendy was doing well for her section so she was still 'reasonably' happy. Then, in the last hour the bites came back, but still she couldn't hit them, she was getting frustrated, and once again it was my fault, talking, in the way
, just being there lol. Then she hit one and another skimmer slid into the landing net. Then, with 40 minutes to go, MAJOR DISASTER !!!!!!!!!!!! she ran out of maggots
. She went back on the gb feeder but they wouldnt respond to it
. Then, a bloke whose two daughters were fishing the match came past and I told him of her plight, "just go and get some off my daughter, she cant get a bite. So with 20 minutes left, I cadged a 1/4 of a pint of maggots (thanks Sophie), I took them to wendy and told her " you NEED another fish because someone had been catching bleak all day and might have a couple of pound. The very next chuck she got another skimmer
, the damage was done
. I tried telling her I lied, she needed two more, but it didn't work lol. Finally the ALL OUT was shouted and when the scales eventually got to her she weighed 2lb 7oz, easily enough to take the section win, infact, she had beaten everybody on the ferry stretch.Her hard work and determination had paid off. OK, she didnt win it, or get in the main prizes, but she did all she could from that peg. There was only blanks and ounces around her, it truly was an experience watching her fish, I have been fishing 30 odd years and I don't think I have ever put as much effort into a match as wendy did, she truly is a STAR
.
Then it was back to the cafe for the presentation, Gem had come 2nd with 8lb, well done Gem
(bbb, please add your photo of her being presented with her trophy on here)
Here is wendy getting her envelope off the mayor of evesham
I would just like to thank wendy for letting me come along and watch her, it truly was an experience, and when she wasn't shouting at me we had a laugh. Thanks to Dave Harrell for giving her advice on how to set her rod rest up (even though I had already told her the same, but what do I know
). I hope I am still around to witness your return next year, you truly are a star and when we are married I will be your manager
mr Harrell was appealing for more entrants next year, as the numbers are dropping and if that continues there will be no more ladies matches, this would be a great shame, todays winner walked away with £500, not bad for a 28 peg match
. If they can get the numbers back up to 50, the prize money would shoot up to £1000 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So come on ladies, get your names down for next year !
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