Shiplate (Hawthorns) match - Keynsham AA - 18.05.2013

Having an earlier than planned start (05:30) plenty of time was had to wake up and load the kit for the short drive to Shiplate fishery.

Despite not having fished the venue before, I sought out as many tips as possible from some fellow club members and drawn up my plan of attack for the match.

With only 10 anglers entering the draw and the golden peg safe for another day I had my hopes pinned on an end peg. As luck would have it I drew peg 14 with no one to my right.

A school boy error of forgetting my bungees for the trolley made the longer walk a harder task than it needed to be but with sunshine and a light breeze I could hardly complain.

With my kits ready and baits prep'd I was ready for the "All-in" and relishing the prospect of wetting my line.

The lake was deeper than expected, particularly the near side margin so I chose the middle to begin with. The feed went in and fish were topping & rolling around me but bites were shy. The first fish was a small skimmer on red maggot but not much else was showing. 

My next move was switching to the far side margin and going shallow. It paid off with a nice carp to around 4lb coming out. The next few hours went quiet so with more feed going in it was double or quits. Red magg proved the winner once again, tempting a couple more carp to the net.

The last hour came & went with only a couple of skimmers so my expectations were not high but being the last to weigh and already off the pace of 1st and 2nd, my 8lb 8oz bag was enough for 4th.

Only 6 anglers weighed in so all things considered I was pleased with my efforts. Let's hope the fish are ready to feed next time around

Arthur Edwards cup - River Chew, Keynsham - 09.03.2013

10 anglers braved the weather to fish for the Arthur Edwards cup, Keynsham AA's traditional, end of season river match on the Mill Ground stretch of the River Chew.

Once again I got a lucky at the draw, picking out the golden peg number 6, although this has started to become a bit of a curse in previous matches, such as the 2011 Christmas match at Farleigh Wood!

Having got to my peg, I was pleased with my draw, with a fallen tree to my right and some clear water in front and downstream to my left.

With fish topping early on and a few splashes right in front of me, I set up my tackle a little way back from the water's edge to avoid spooking my potential catch.

My favourite method for this stretch was the straight lead or small feeder (maggot or cage) but to give myself a chance, I also set up a shallow pole rig and an old cork stick float for trotting.

The pole rig was tested first in a patch of still water by the fallen tree and straight away the float started to dip. Once missed bite later and I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice, striking into a nice little chublet that stretched my No.4 elastic.

With one fish successfully landed, the rig was re-baited and back in the water. Nothing showed for the next 10 minutes so I cut my losses and went out into the middle with my straight led set up. Plenty of feed went in to draw the fish and it didn't take long to get a few knocks on the tip.

First out was a small roach, followed by another and then the brown trout moved in. The next few hours saw several more roach landed and a half decent brownie to 3/4lb.

As midday came and went, the temperature started to dip and the bites became few and far between.

A gudgeon and one or two more roach were added plus a bonus brownie before the swim simply packed up. Despite alternating the feed, swapping rigs and varying hook sizes, nothing was going to tempt those fish for the last few hours.

With a few anglers still catching, all I could do was hope for the best that my morning session was enough to see me place.

When the final "All-Out" was called and the first 3 anglers had weighed-in, I knew it was going to be close.
Peg 7 next door had plucked some sly roach from the swim unnoticed and bagged 2lb 10oz.

My turn arrived and with my fish in the sling, all I could do was wait for the decision. Too close to call, a decision was given for the same weight of 2lb 10oz and a joint lead. Only two more anglers stood a realistic chance of beating us and with one falling short of the 2lb mark, the angler from peg 4 emptied his net, the scales swinging round to 2lb 1oz.

A tough battle and close call but joint 1st and my name back on the trophy was pleasing enough. I managed to avoid hearing "what I could 'ave won" from the golden peg pot and went home with a smile on my face!

Check out the KAA facebook page at www.facebook.com/KeynshamAA for the club's full match report.

KeynshamAA goes live on Facebook

Keynsham Angling Association now has a Facebook page. Please check it out at:

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You can also follow the club on Twitter @keynshamAA or check out the club's fantastic website:

http://www.keynsham-angling.co.uk/

www.facebook.com/KeynshamAA.

11.08.2012 - Rushcombe Lake, Bullocks Farm

I fished the alleged hot peg 37 on Rushcombe Lake at Bullocks Farm fishery. Conditions were dry, sunny and warm, just for a change. Whilst the goldfish were playing hide and seek, the crucians and commons weren't, at least for the first hour.

I managed to pick off a couple of small carp from the far shelf at about 10 metres. I also tried to kick start a swim just to my right next to a tree. After landing a nice common I then hooked into something slightly better only to have the hook pull out just before I could slip the net under it.

The day wore on and the fish failed to show until a change of tactics brought a late flurry. Plenty of bait was trickled in, that being red maggot, meat and micro pellets. The best results coming from the red maggot.

Not the most successful day but certainly one to revisit now my first attempt at this lake is under my belt.

Bullocks Farm Fishery - 15.07.2012

I fished the North Pool once again, on peg 16, hoping to bag up on some nice carp. Conditions were pretty good considering and it looked set to be a good day.

I lost a decent carp in the first hour tight to the margin, on meat. After thar I couldn't buy a bite, trying corn, pellet, meat and paste.

Shortly after lunch a kind angler donated some maggots as a leaving present and within minutes the roach showed up. Most of my fish came from a top section's length out, including some nice crucians and the odd skimmer.

Whilst the bigger fish didn't show, I still had fun catching the silvers and crucians and will make sure some maggots are taken next time!

Boyd Valley Lake - Match Result - 06.05.2012

Keynsham AA held their annual double-header match at Boyd Valley lake, Bitton, nr Keynsham.

Despite the overnight drop in temperature, the conditions on the day were reasonable and dry.

I drew peg 6 in the first match, fishing from 9am til 1pm. I had the choice of a chuck to the end of the island in front of me, deep water at 5+ metres or the margins with no reeds.

With no rigs set up for deep water I started off on the method feeder tight to the island with meat, corn and hemp going into the left-hand margin to get that line ready for later.

After 30 minutes with no joy on the method I switched to the pole line.

I managed to hook a few small roach but with a double 6 elastic and 5lb Maxima line straight through to a 14 hook, I was lucky not to bump more than I did.

Then the float dipped and this time it moved off with a thud. I knew it was a good fish but had no idea how good until it tore off into the middle of the lake and a few sections of pole had to be added.

After a 20 minute battle and a lot of fingernail-biting moments I was able to bring the head of the fish up to the surface and slipped the net under a nice mirror carp. My Preston landing net was only just big enough to scoop the fish out but it did the job.

That was to be the only carp I managed to land as I missed out on another later on, this time switching to a lighter set-up on the pole.

A single 6 elastic, Drennan tuff-eye float, on a 4lb mainline and 2.2lb bottom finished with a size 20 hook and single red maggot. The roach were on the feed until a solid take stretched the elastic once more.

With time ticking I made the silly mistake of giving it a bit more welly than it needed and the hook length snapped.

With nothing coming from the method line all day and no other large fish showing, the "All-out" cry sounded the end of the first match.

My silvers came to just 1lb 5 1/2 oz, meaning my carp had to make up the weight. It certainly did, tipping the scales round to 13lb 9oz and setting a new personal best fish to date.

Even more rewarding was landing it on the pole!

Unfortunately the fish got returned before a photo opportunity could be taken but it was enough to get me 3rd place, narrowly  missing out on 2nd by 6 1/2oz,

A lesson learned on being more patient even with light tackle.

The winner bagging 25lb 11oz two pegs round from me on peg 8, catching consistently on the method/feeder between the  islands.

I wasn't able to fish the afternoon match but the weight improved and the same angler who won the first match showed his good form and improved on his total.

My peg produced a further 22lb in the afternoon for the angler who drew it.

Whilst the weights were not of the usual size, some good fish were landed and the weather held up well.

To fish this lake, see their website: http://www.boydvalleylake.co.uk/

For the full results from both matches, go to http://www.keynsham-angling.co.uk/matches.htm

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