Month: June 2021
The Sedges – 27th June 2021
For the latest Stoke match it was at The Sedges on the canal lake, the usual suspects assembled for another fantastic breakfast at the bowling club (Andy B was due to join us but decided to have a lie in!) before we headed off in convoy behind ‘Breaker, breaker, rubber duck Morgan’ who took us on a very scenic route to the …
Covey Fisheries – Open – 20th June 2021
I was booked in for the Dillington match today but after losing some fish, the club imposed a keepnet ban which obviously meant the fixture would have to be re-arranged, so I was left searching around for a match to fish. I’d booked Monday off work as I knew I’d be knackered after fishing both days so was desperate to fish somewhere …
River Parrett – Evening Cup – 19th June 2021
I really enjoyed fishing the Stoke matches on the Parrett last year and their first match of the new season is always the Evening Cup, something a bit different for me because it’s on a Saturday and as the name suggests, it’s in the evening! There were 21 booked in which is just fantastic and with it being a 14:30 draw time, …
Hebditch’s Pond – Charity Match – 13th June 2021
Before I get onto this weeks report, I had the sad news yesterday that Ray Wickham had passed away on Friday, he’d been unwell for some time. Like me, Ray loved his silvers fishing and I partnered him a couple of times in two day pairs festivals at Summerhayes and we had a good record, winning one and finishing second in the …
New Bait-Tech products for 2021
Obviously 2020 will be remembered for all the wrong reasons and one of the consequences of the pandemic was that pretty much everything was cancelled, things like The Big One fishing show didn’t happen and many tackle firms held off on releasing their new products. When Bait-Tech finally announced what they had planned for this year, it was doubly exciting so here’s …
Todber Manor – Fish’O’Mania Qualifier – 9th June 2021
So far this year, my fishing has probably been more varied and challenging than ever before and although I’ve struggled I’ve also really enjoyed doing some different things. However, it has also made me realise my own limitations, to be consistently successful these days, realistically you have to concentrate on a few venues or a couple of methods because it’s no coincidence …
Thorney Lakes – 6th June 2021
After re-visiting the Viaduct for the first time in years last weekend, I’d booked into another Stoke match, this time at Thorney Lakes. I have pleasure fished it a long time ago, with Arf if I remember correctly and we caught a few fish, mainly roach and the odd crucian carp. I’d seen some recent photos and captures on Facebook of decent …
Somerset Rig Company Review
I’ve known the lovely Steve Chant for longer than either of us care to remember and our paths have crossed on a regular basis during that time, fishing with Ilminster, Chard and Stoke clubs and also at places like Bearley and Covey lakes. After taking voluntary redundancy last year he decided to set up the Somerset Rig Company to tie hooklengths and …
The Golden Years: Match Fishing Memories – A Review
I reviewed Fishing and Testicles by Billy Makin back in 2017, it’s a very funny read and you can see what I thought of it here, I mentioned in that review that I would love it if he ever wrote his autobiography so when I saw that he’d published The Golden Years: Match Fishing Memories, my prayers were finally answered! The book …
Summerhayes – Open – 31st May 2021
Another Bank Holiday means another match at Summerhayes and what a difference compared to the last one when the weather was bloody awful and the carnage caused by the wind resulted in Captain Morgan’s pole ending up in the pond and he had to launch the boat to retrieve it. The thirty or so minutes that followed were possibly the funniest I …