We thought the dizzy heights of 4th overall with two team members picking up section money was pretty good last week, but who would've thought our band of 'perennial triers' ('cos God loves a good 'un...) would finish top of the pile this week?? Laugh?? I thought my keks would never dry...
Well done to the chaps - who are now top after two matches with two to go. Next week it's Chorley and the delights that particular area brings. Good luck to the boys and let's hope the good run continues.
I'm only an interested onlooker this year, given the problems we've had to overcome at home since Christmas, so I went on the sweep match at Sollom. With 18 in the queue for the draw, I was a little puzzled why there were no sections being paid out, more so as to the choice of venue. Wading through a bank which was emmersed in water and had areas of thick, thick mud made it extremely hard work - especially for some of the older chaps trying to get to their pegs.
Regardless of that, we made do with what we found in front of us and it was a struggle; what with the strengthening wind and falling temperatures. I dug into my carryall and retrieved the earphones, which cancelled out the wind noise and at least removed it as a distraction. I was away round the sharp bend going towards Bank Bridge, where the deep reedbeds leave you with precious little to work with in terms of open water.
I kept chipping away with small roach, managing a netter on the hemp after feeding it across for about an hour before pinning a piece to the hook. Nothing stirred on the shell, nor the worm line. I added another squatt & stink line after three hours, but after a large boat had gone through towards Rufford (bringing a few fish in to my peg) it came back not long afer I'd fed and killed it almost completely. I managed a couple or three small roach from tight up to the reeds in the last 10 minutes, settling for a hard-fought for 1lb 10oz and 5th on the day.
As I made my way through the swamp-like terrain back to the car, I caught up with the scales as they were at Jimmy's peg. He was at the end of the reeds at the bottom of the gallops, where I'd said he had a decent chance. So it proved, despite a downbeat phone call after an hour, telling me he'd only managed about a dozen pairs of eyes. Back then, he'd predicted that a good pound would win the match from what he'd seen around him. How wrong he was - including a perch of over 2lb, he weighed 3lb 2oz to take the spoils in his first SDAA match for over a decade. Not a bad return to the fold.
Can't fish Sunday next week, so it'll be a pleasure chuck on Saturday for me - venue still to be decided depending on the weather. Anyone for a knock-up at Sparks Bridge?
1 comment:
Nice to see your back and blogging.
Post a Comment