The following day we were at Bird’s Quarry for a charity match, I’ve only ever fished it once before back in 2021. It fished hard that day with Stoke’s ex Club Angler of the Year, Norts, winning with 10lb odd which was a bonus 8lb carp and some bits, I managed to win the silvers by default with 15oz! Since then Stoke have had a couple more matches with some cracking nets of quality roach plus bonus perch and tench so I was really looking forward to it especially as it was silvers only.
Most of us met at Cartgate for brekky before heading to the venue, 19 fishing today so a good turnout. The draw was announced and I pulled out 15 at the top end which was the place to be in the last match. For company I had Norts on my left but with the exiled scouser Craig on 16, there was no chance of a quiet day (and I’d left my ear plugs at home!).
Danger of death or drawing next to Craig, I’m not sure which one’s worse!
The pond looked nice but was very clear and a decidedly chilly wind was blowing across into the corner and wouldn’t do us any favours.
Norts was on my left
I set up two Preston Innovations F1 Maggots to fish at top two plus three and 11.5 metres plus a worm line up the edge. The side tray contained maggots, disco pinkies, casters and worms plus some Bait-Tech Special G F1 Dark groundbait.
On the whistle I fed a little nugget of gb and a few pinkies short, a bigger ball on the longer line and some chopped worm and caster to the left before starting at five sections. I had a little roach on the drop quite quickly which was hopefully a good sign. Then Norts struck and loads of his light elastic came out before he netted a nice pound plus tench and when Dennis next to him had a little tinca on the waggler, it looked like we were in for a good match.
My next fish was a decent roach but then I couldn’t get a bite on the shorter line, moving out to 11.5 metres, the float just sat there and after an encouraging start, it looked like most people were now struggling, Hainsey over on peg 11 was getting the odd small fish and probably doing the best at our end.
I was just about to come off the long line when the float buried and I had another nice roach but I couldn’t seem to get two bites from the same spot. Swapping between the two lines I was getting the odd roach and they were a decent stamp but I was waiting ages for bites and I pulled out of one as well.
After two hours I tried the chopped worm line for the first time and the float went straight under resulting in a 2oz perch but that was the only bite there. Another look on the two open water lines added a couple more roach but it was really tough going. Oscar who was two pegs to my right was catching some small roach fishing through the water short so I set up a little rig with strung shot and tried by the reeds 11.5 metres to my left.
I had a nice roach and then two smaller ones in quick succession but once again it was short lived and there were obviously fish there but they just wouldn’t settle in the clear water. Next I went 14.5 metres straight out towards some weed beds and had another decent roach, I also lost another as I had to break down twice shipping back but it was hard work with the wind.
Norts struck into a better fish but it came off at the net and he said it was a foulhooked tench which would probably have won the match. On the whistle, I had 16 fish on the clicker for around 2lb or so.
The scales at our end began with Hainsey who had 43 small fish for 2lb 9oz, Roy Worth weighed 1lb 8oz, Dennis had 1lb 10oz and then Norts tench and a few bits went 1lb 15oz. My fish weighed 2lb 6oz, Craig didn’t trouble the scales, Oscar had 1lb 7oz, Rick P chucked back, Nick P had lots of small fish for 1lb 14oz and Chanter had gone.
Dennis had a nice tench on the waggler
Norts also had a tench and along with a few bits weighed 1lb 15oz
I had 15 roach and a perch for 2lb 6oz
Back at the results and Dave Nash had the top weight at the other end with 2lb 10oz from peg 3 and Nick Veale was the next best weight with 2lb.
1 – Dave Nash (Stoke) – 2lb 10oz
2 – Chris Haines (Haines Angling) – 2lb 9oz
3 – Jamie Rich (Against Men and Fish) – 2lb 6oz
4 – Nick Veale (Stoke) – 2lb
So I actually ended up third, picking up £40 and it had been a very close match but hard going for everyone. £200 was raised for the clubs charity which is just fantastic so a massive thanks to everyone who fished and Adam and everyone at Birds Quarry for letting us fish free of charge.
There’s still a great offer running if you fancy treating yourself to some new fishing gear, use the exclusive discount code AgainstMenandFish10 to get 10% off when you shop online at Somerset Angling
Also I still have copies of my book available from eBay here or Amazon here
And if you could spare five minutes to leave a nice review on Amazon, it would be very much appreciated.
Next up – Revels
Coming soon – Lots more match reports
#sponsoredpost #affiliatelinks
