Portland Bill

No much to say - fished up to the island picture below as instructed by baliff.

Loads of people there. Good reputation.

Had only two fish on meat. Both carp.

Saw lots of bits coming out.

No other carp caught.

Big lake is quite nice and worth another visit.

Pole and maggot an option to see what is in there.

Can drive to peg dump stuff and then go and park.

I'll be back but when weather much better and with some maggots.

All good things come to he who waits (and waits and waits).

DAY ONE - SAT

Well it finally came that long awaited Nicholls Senior victory.

Anglers as usual headed to Orfe pegs 35 and 34. Pole with maggot, corn and pellet the chosen options.

Nicholls Senior at 8 metres and Nicholls Jr starting at about 10 metres, then 3 metres, then on feeder, then at 10 metres, then at 5 metres, no rigs , make rigs, change. And so you get the picture.

Early doors bits were picked up, roach, rudd, ide and perch. Slow doing for Nicholls Senior and chop and change for Nicholls Jr.

Nicholls Jr hit a carp close it and off it went, only to shed the hook after a few minutes. So with easy feeding at 3 metres, catching bits and missing a carp, out he went to 10 metres again? Catching the same bits but twice as much work and slower rate. Not happy!

12 noon came and the sun hit Nicholls Senior, with Nicholls Jr freezing in the shadow of the tree - was this a sign of things to come? Flu slowly taking hold of Nicholls Senior did not stop his determination. The King of Feeder was here.

Casting only about 20 metres he hit a carp after having a skimmer close in on pole, then another carp. He was pulling away 8lb plus in the net. Nicholls Jr responded by yet again changing to feeder and red maggots and three carp followed with less than an hour to go he had rescued it - or had he?

Nicholls Senior sensing it was slipping from his grasp hooked the winning fish a 4lb carp on red maggot sailed into the landing net. Nicholls Jr tried in vain to get something to match this carp but only bits followed.

At the weight in a steady feeder session without the chop and change had paid off.

Nicholls Senior 17 lb
Nicholls Junior 12 lb

Lesson learnt - stick at one thing, carp potentially further out in deeper water.



A rare moment of victory - is this the future has the gap closed that much?

DAY TWO - SUN

Scrapping the car at 7am wasn't the best sign for the day ahead.Overnight frost would make things difficult.

Today would be a different story. Firstly peg selection. In the sun on the other side. This paid for as soon as the sun was up. In a sun trap t-shirts were the option. Lovely. Pole was ignored and would later be seen as a mistake.

As flat as a pancake. Feeder at 25 metres. Spot on every time and building up a bed of bait. Bits and the odd stockie followed.



After a few hours it was clear he who caught carp would win. Nicholls Senior struggling to get a bite on anything. Nicholls Junior steady getting bits and the odd stockie all on red maggot. A change from three to one maggot pulled a few stockies in and the swim was alive with bubble. Pulling fish in but no indication of bites on a number of occasions. Why did we go for the feeder? It was still, warm and fish were on the top. The swim was alive with bubbles but bites couldn't be seen on the feeder! Pole and cup in would have been perfect for sensitive feeding. Oh well yet again live and learn.

Nicholls Junior 6lb
Nicholls Senior 2lb

A nice two days where the weather was good. Must be that Nicholson bloke that brings the rain with him.

Return to Calvo....

With leaves beginning to fall, and the mornings a bit chillier the decision was agreed to revisit an old stamping ground.....Calvert Springs.. aka Grunt / Al packa / Calvo....

At 6.50am there were 5 cars awaiting entry and when the gate opened it was a free for all....

Rain continued to come and the promise of a brighter morning seemed a faint hope. Derek arrived with no hangover and seemed chippa...Nico tired and wondering if it was rose tinted returns land..



The old pegs were vacated by the Lidl and Deckchair brigade and in we were...perched high over the water in muddy conditions. The poles went out at approx 10 metres followed by cups of pellets and the odd maggot. First put in...Rudd, Roach, Skimmers....things hadnt changed.

With Buster Bloodvessel chatting to our right, and the Luminous brothers behind us the hot air from Buster and the rays from the suits warmed the heart.

Nicholls persists with the " i can can it all on Blue Hydro" strapline.....he hit a carp that almost took 20 yards of blue then lost it in the near side lillies 4 hours later.....think the carp was bored.

Nico was putting together a few decent skimmers and roach and a particularly plump Rudd. Nicholls again bumped a carp....blue?

Nico's swim was jacuzzi like with skimmers but eventually a Carp took a 8 mm pellet and the back hyrdo netted it in minutes ( derek take note).



Swims went hot and cold and even the Deckchair gang had a carp.....

Nicholls lost another and then bizarrely decided to go short and on maggot....the obviuous happened....fish fingers

Nico happy to restore faith in Calvo and a bonus Del had one of those days that have become his own trade mark...

Oh and I fell on my arse in mud in front of 12 people....Happy Days...

HORSESHOE COMES GOOD EVENTUALLY!!!!

Update From John Nicholls - Shropshire Correspondant

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



A visit to Springlea on a beautiful Autumn day (no rain sign Rich isn't here) proved a delight eventually.
Match on Orfe and after a miserable day on Mallard during the Festival opted for Horseshoe.
After a feeding regime BOB GELDOF WOULD OF BEEN PROUD OF (just kidding) nothing was coming
except bits (roach,gudgeon,perch& ide),all on red maggot.Tried corn,pellet&meat nothing was happening
@ 8m. in front and the margin,appart from a few bream about 1-1 1/2 lb.Dinner approached and I was
going to pack up but thought I'd give the margin one last try and then it was margin mania. Firstly a run
that stretched the black hydro virtually to the other but after 5 mins bumped it off without seeing it then
5 nice carp (3,2@4 &2around8-9lb) and lost 2 more carp to boot. If only I could catch like this when you 2
are here.Perhaps concentration is key THE BANTER WILL HAVE TO STOP.anyway with about 40-50lb bagged
up it was a cracking days sport from peg 2 by the way.Pictures of the 2 biggest carp to follow

Derek's Summer comes to an end....

6.23am and the shakespeare top box was proving a bonus light box with legs as i made my way over to ' the rocks'

Derek wasnt far behind as the night retreated into the horizon and another clear day seemingly developed. Cerise skies slowly emerged from the noir curtain.....

Shorts didnt seem such a great idea as i made my way through the blackberrys and nettles to what were left of the '80's' on the rocks, previous red letter days now choked by an aquatic noose...

After awkward setting up out went the feeders at around 40 yards. Superteam 13ft Feeder getting its first taste of butterley. ......there were lots of " its shit" and " i am wasting my time" by this stage.

Coffees and banter commenced ....Derek was still on a come down after his brush with Capt Sensible. 90 minutes in, and neither tip had moved....shell fish boilie and distance feeders the weapons.

Derek then proceeded to lose three lead weights from his Nisa feeders in around an hour....email and examples available for scrutiny.

Nicholson started to suss the new rod and eventually put 5 casts into a close perimeter....the first bite followed with a typical 3lb bream nodding its way in.

Around 20 minutes later another followed of around 4lb and Nicholls had started to worry ......so much so he tried a longer tail and even considered ' closer in' ....radical times indeed.

Nicholson's third Bream came soon after,... again around 4lb and it was game up for Nicholls. In fairness it could have gone either way, but today was Mansfield's and Nicholls couldnt lay claim to a firm bite in 3.5 hrs.

Long overdue victory, but worrying signs regarding Butterley and Autumn draws near

Its leaking, its pouring the old carp are snoring!

PREVIOUSLY ON 'COME FISHING FOR FUN'

This tale begins with a heavy heart after the previous days fiasco. Memories of Nico's battle with two zoo creatures and a day of scratching remained with the team. What had gone wrong? What could we have done? Match lake rammed with fish? Did we feed enough - probably no. Did we feed consistently - probably no. Did we stick out in front of us for too long - probably yes. Should be been further up the lake - probably yes. Too many questions and no definitive answer. But it was a practice and match day was now here.



EARLY DOORS

A dry but cooling day was met with a sting to the tale, or should I say finger! As the constant swarming wasps finally attacked stinging Nicholls Jr on the finger, would this early injury cause problems later?

A professionally organised peg draw was swiftly conducted with pegs 34, 35 and 36 used. Nicholls Jr 34, PC 35 and Nico 36. Match on.

The lake looked rammed, hundreds of carp - however packed into one swim, 2 ft deep, a swarm of wasps replaced by a shoal of carp,is this usual? So many fish in one place? As Nico proclaimed its 'Black with em'! The writing was on the wall!

MICHAEL 'JOHN' FISH WEATHER REPORTS

Pegs gave the anglers a few early problems. PC complained about middle peg and the pressures of conducting the banter, Nico decided to set up piper alpha out into the lake and Nicholls Jr dealt with a swelling finger, pint of milk and early piss taking from the other two competitors.

PC missed an early advantage misinterpreting the rules and waiting patiently for his team mates to set up. All anglers went for the pole, cupping in, tying rigs and having an initial test of the water.

Weather prediction - no rain! I repeat no rain?



WEATHER UPDATE - MONSOON

Very slow start as anglers struggled to find fish. A few ide and stockies were taken. All anglers at around 10 metres. Initial thoughts were - um??

'I bet we get some rain' - Nico

'I'd agree ' - Nicholls Jr

'Don't say that, it won't rain, weather forecast says .....' - PC

The fishing proved slow as the anglers stuck it out at 10 metres. Cries for tea and cobs forced Nicholls Jr to head for the cafe. The speedy service allowed Nicholls Jr to pop back in between each course to assess progress. Oh the comedy genius of the two Nico's shone through with tales of Moby Dick in the keepnet. Advantage again lost.

Finally after wasp stings, tea, cobs, draws and the usual Swiss Army seat box fishing progressed.

Slow a few fish here and there on corn, pellet and maggot. But slow very slow. Stockies, the odd roach and plenty of ide.PC went of the feeder and snagged a decent carp on the drop. He then dropped the feeder moving back to the ineffective pole!

Then the unpredicted, no way is it going to happen, never in a month of sundays, Chester gap will save us, its August, but oh yes as ever, it happened, the festival as usual was interrupted and nearly destroyed by that old favourite - the rain.

It poured, stopped, poured again, grew light, poured, stopped, poured. But the brave and gallant fished on. Fish started to appear, yes ide, but plenty of them.

Nico raced ahead, fish after fish appeared. Nicholls Jr felt the pressure. Limited maggot stocks meant tactics were needed. When and how to use them. Nico kept going and the weight continued. PC fished on to no avail. Out in front, motionless float.

Dullards on Mallard....

Spring Lea Practice

Day 1 - Trevors - Pegs 7 and 8

Mixed day but very eye opening in terms of understanding the water. Previous nights optimism dashed as Orfe was closed for a match. Previous night had watched loads of huge lumps on Orfe taking bread off the surface. A lot of large carp in there. Plans were a foot for a bumper day. However with Orfe closed the logical option must be open Mallard. But no we went for Trevors RIP.



Decided to fish the other side from the off, about 12.5 metres away. PB fished at about 6 metres. Fish from the off next to the reeds on the other side. Ide and roach. One a chuck. But no carp. Then started to hit a few stockies, but fishing so close to the reeds they were straight into them. Frustrated, moaning and swearing lost fish after fish.

Ended up with about 10lb and PB with 6lb. Small fish. Hindsight - fish the margins and open water. Fish maybe in the reeds but it tempted spend all the time trying to get out of snags and no routine.



Day 2 - Horseshoe - Pegs 25/26/27

A mixed day. Weather ok, warmish and very very still. No movement on Horseshoe at all, lack of fish movement until later in the day.Skimmers on red maggot, the odd small carp and roach dominated, until fishing with an 18 hook and two red maggots hit a lump that just plodded around on white hydro. After a long battle a 10lb carp came to the net. A 6lb carp followed. PC and PB had a number of small carp estimated 10lb each. Coot Catcher ended with 20lb +. Lost another couple of zoo creatures but generally slow. Still undefeated and fingers crossed to retain the trophy at the Shrewsbury festival.

Four days running

A mammoth task but out of bed yet again before 6am and at the venue for 6.45am. A contrast to yesterday all match lakes open and only two others there. Went safe and headed to Serpent peg facing the cafe in the corner. A short trip to car making two trips. Fishing far side fish almost immediately. Carp about 2lb.



Messed around in the margins and near the aerator to try and pick up catch rate, when I should have stuck at far side. Carp and skimmers followed on far side. Weather all over the place, warm one minute then rain and cold. Bonus 3lb barbel was welcomed. Ended up with about 40lb. Not the same without the crew!

Susannah Reid, Hen Doos, and a Perch...

Lakeview to the rescue

Well not really!

Every match lake taken as we pulled into the car park, even the bloody cafe wasn't open for the much needed breakfast cob.

Disappointed wasn't the word. We couldn't even moan. Rock bottom.

After limited discussion there was no choice but the pleasure lake - The creatively named 'Pool'.

Fished where the red dots are below.



Fished at 14.5 metres up to the island. PC closer but at 11 metres up to the island. After much swearing and moaning. Finally put in and caught straight away. A small chub and second put in a small carp. PC first put in on pellet hit and lost a zoo creature.

Well this is how it went for me at least for the whole session. Fished well and ended up with small carp, chub and odd roach/skimmer on corn and pellet to the island. Consistent. No one else on a busy lake came close. PC went through long periods of nothing until advice to increase feed and ground bait via small cup resulted in a few more fish.

Nicholls 25-30lb
PC 7-10lb.

Conclusions
Pleasure lake has potential as plenty of small fish in there.
Need to fish up to island
Possibility of wag and mag given chub and small fish
Enjoyed it in the end, on a hot and sunny day - just wish PC had sampled the dizzy heights of lakeview bag up.

Sherwood Showers and F***ing Michael Fish

This is a brief tale. Timed to perfection arrive as the weight in is completed at Holmedale. All caught, good weights. Place alive with fish. Pegs selected. Feeder to lilies. Corn and meat as bait. Fish from the off, usual nearly pull your rod in.



Then the weather that has not been forecast arrives. Cold, fleece on, fine rain, dark, bleak and doesn't look like stopping. Fish only a few hours after pouring bait into the margins. Pack up and it stops. Kit smelly and wet through.

Nicholls 4 carp. PC 3 carp. Bugger!

Highway to Higham

Where do I begin with this epic tale of bravery, heroics and perseverance?

Cast your mind back over the last few months as the date was set, followed by discussion after discussion, maps poured over, analysed and annotated, blogs viewed, internet and magazines scoured. Match men of the land consulted and the venue chosen.

Call all ye gentlemen of angling to the fair pastures and well stocked lakes of Higham. Tench our game and banter our cause, a rod for our sword and hope of victory awaits!

The alarm went again with the lunatic hour of five on the clock. Up, with coffee thrown directly into the eyes I did manage to get the contacts in. Brown volvo more of a coffee caravan.

Foot down and arrive at Higham to the shock of a full and filling car park at 6.50am. This shock of a full and busy fishery would grow with time. Wasd our quest already over?

Pegs as requires secured by placing kit in every peg along the bank. Bollie divvy bivvy boys must have assumed I was paying for 25 rods or was very indecisive.

At last coms from the crew. PC stuck outside The Crown Inn, where he should have waited for opening time and Nico at Tipshelf. A tip would have been to also stay there.

Up went the feeder rod, super G for up to 80 yards distance fishing. So gentle plop into the margins, bite alarms, chum, bigger boat and lots of swearing/moaning/usual peg warm up manoeuvres for Nicholls.

A small perch provoked a few glances at Nico and the mutual thoughts of this is going to be hard ran through our heads - how right we were!

Mad farmer Giles turned up with the encouraging words of ' If you haven't caught you might as well fuck off then, go on fuck off!'. Then with the universal advice of the fishery owner, yes you've guessed it 'you want to be in those pegs lads'. I give up!

Highway to Higham turned into the Highway to Hell. Pole, feeder, margin, in the middle, on the ledge, prawn, corn, pellet,bread, prayers, swearing, moaning, cheese sandwiches, coffee, lucky charms and generally taking the piss out of anyone - did not bring the desired quarry.

Nicholls had a few bits, PC had a crucian, Nico nothing. A few more bits for Nicholls and PC, and I mean a few. Another crucian for PC. Nico tipped another kilo under the tree. PC looked like victory was in the bag with yet another nice crucian. Nico only just avoided the blank with a perch. Nicholls only claiming victory at the last with a 7lb carp on feeder under the trees.

Conclusions.

Keep it simple
Stick to what you know
Fish a place where there are fish



Concerns over netting and buggering around with Higham confirmed.

The King of Wishful thinking.....

This had all the hallmarks of a Nico Nicholls summer collaboration....raised expectations, a bank loan for bait, enough kit for 10, and a hangover.... you gotta love these boys....Ringer is safe.

Derek had broke up for another term, the UK's history quota box was ticked again......... then 7 pints, a cocktail, and a Madras in town .....

5.45am and a ' wake up little suzy' text was dispatched to test the Summer Holiday boys state....." world of pain " came the reply.....he never learns.

We pulled out of Leen Valley Way at 6.39am and were Makins bound......with a stop off to reverse the brown volvo at the services......to be fair lessons learned we didnt spend £14 on breakfast this time!

The obvious happened on arrival, the match lakes and everything we had hoped for gone..vamoosh....disappeared.... Crater it was. 4&5.

You will notice that this blog won't focus an awful lot on the fishing....because it was PAP...Bulwell / Backgarden / Calvo lake with a toy town feel....

With the lake being a hop skip and a jump across Derek naturally set up a 'Distance Feeder' and a 30g Feeder......again....Ringer you are safe...45 mins and method turned into cage....mmm

Nico opted for pole and fed 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock with pellet / meat and 3 / 4 corn....rigs were small and 16 /18 hair rigged meat and corn.....

It was all predictable...carp to 5lb and a smattering of bits for both anglers......Weather was very steady and the bankside was tidy.....

The Brown Volvo was reversed on a further occasion and then these boys turned up....

It was time to go and we sort of enjoyed it but didnt at the same time......God I need a confidence builder...

Looking back....

Making waves at Serpent

A dash across country from Ashfield via Bingham and onto Lakeview to avoid the city allowed me to get there for 4pm. Charged half rates as I entered the car park by the owners son and headed to peg 6 on Serpent lake. Saw fishing coming out as I walked to the peg.

Fished simple. Corn, pellet and meat far side.



Grumpy and wanting refreshment!



Fish from the off. Slowly building up the swim and net with a small amount of bait after each fish. The usual suspects of carp around the 3lb mark.

About six plus fish in the net and with a glug, splash and spit the aerator kicks in.

Peg is now filled with waves and its like fishing a weir pool.

Smallest float in the world stands no chance as it zips through the swim - oh great!

Margins the next option. Throwing bait in by hand at about 4 metres to my left. In an eddy.

Fish soon follow on corn.

It then becomes alive, tails galore out of the water.

Like shooting fish in a barrel.

Bit easy.

Fished 4.30pm-7pm and must have had 40lb.

Got a bit bored and with no food or drink survival became the main aim rather than fishing so headed home via the pub for a refreshing bitter.

But still mad for it.

Boring boring Butterley

Two fish. Fished 5-8pm. Close in.

Not sure of close in, July bright conditions and evening sessions for bream.

Jury out

Holme Boys...

Why isnt it always like this?

Arriving around 2.15pm the temp was around 24 degrees with most lakes turning up a few fish....walking along sherwood and holmedale elastic was streaming from poles and fish were crashing everywhere!!


Cant remember the last time Holmedale was this flat with hardly a breath of wind. I selected roadside peg 35 ....



Feeder rod went up with a tiny cage feeder and 14 hook with corn went up and on second cast a lovely looking Ghostie of around 2lb netted. For the next couple of hours 8/9 carp ( and a single roach) all fell to corn / meat biggest around 5/6 lb cast tight to the island. The warm weather had obviously made the carp feed and the bites were ferocious at times.


With phone signal at a premium Comms werent great with Nicholls Jnr but eventually he arrived and complained of cough / cold / stomach ache/ headache and boredom...after a sausage roll all was well with the world. Lucky I had a Nurofen Roll with me.


Nicholls went straight to pole and had a carp first put in.....hydro streaming. Carp followed by around 6/7 good roach which on another day would have been very welcome.


Nicholson had fed the margin to his left from arrival and swirls and bubbles had been a feature from early on. How long could it be resisted?....about 15 mins as it turned out!!

With both anglers on pole and beefy elastic the margins became the focus and it proved to be a wise change.....


Nicholson probably having around 18 fish (longer session) and Nicholls around 8/9

Both Anglers also catching a 'Butterley Bream' of around 2/3lb each from Holmedale?



Lots of talk of venues for friday nights but a quiet holmedale takes some beating when on form...

Poor Fallback Position

After being full of optimism I went to Sherwood with visions of Carp / Elastic / and a few bites...pulling up at the cabin at 7.20am that all changed....matches on every pond apart from Cavendish which already had Deckchairs on. Didnt fancy it.

Pulled off at 7.30am with Carp jumping all over sherwood lake. Was only going to be a short session so options then limited on the Match Disaster. Park Hall or home calling....tough call.

Setting up on peg 23(?) despite being sunny, the wind was howling through the lake with fairly decent waves as a result.....Bloke to my right landing a carp as i sat down......5 mins later bloke opposite same.

Feeder rod, 6lb line, drennan 25g cage feeder, hair rigged corn & pellet........an hour later....nothing....not a touch.....

Rodney and Del boy turn up to my right.....they erect umbrella and it goes in lake....Rodney falls in getting it back....deserved.

The tip goes around and a skimmer of maybe a pound comes in.....three more follow and a lost carp for my efforts....

Another two carp follow with a nice common of 4-5lb the highlight. Then bites dried up

Very Cold despite the Sun - T Shirt turned into Sweatshirt turned into Hoodie and Cap...

Three people around me caught quite a few while i was there Del Boy and Rodney were banging out a Boilie and catching three very easily.....the place baffles me....really does.

I might as well classic

Butterley Burning

Not much to report.

Half hearted session.

Fished 9.30-12.30

One bream

Bright, still and hot.

No one catching.

One of those days.

Fish rolling two rod lengths out, so I fished about 30 rod lengths out!

Starting to agree with Nico - waggler the way forward.

Tested depth a good 10 feet a rod length out.

Ball in and sit it out.

Optimistic it has potential

PC and the Golden Orfe - 10th June 2010

never mind question mark over my 40 pound photo enclosed. not the best today, however mediocre session fished 9-3 flamming roach a pest again. but i did manage to get through to about 10 carp biggest only 2 and a half pounds. all though i did have a couple of bonus fish as you can see one golden orfe and a ghost carp. all fish falling to corn. my decision to fish trevor's for a change on the far side was not the best as it was very hard work although it's nice to fish a different lake. pegs six was chosen on the far side at 10 meters.

Deep Blue Sea

The setting was wonderful but the weather was too bright and warm.



Fished next to the hole in the viaduct. At distance ringers green, shellfish bollie - the usual routine.



Fished from 8.30am until 12.30. Nothing in the first hour as usual, then they came onto the feed. Very steady from then on and would have been a great session if I'd not fished like a monkey and some how broke two of my tips for the feeder £14.99 a pop!

Butterley fishing gods usually take their payment.

Ended up with 11 fish and lost 3 on the way in. No weed at all, fish rolling at my feet potentially tench. Non Members are now allowed to pike fish all year round. Looks like we have a potential match venue with a variety of species on offer.

Overall enjoyed it, wanted to stay longer but burning and needed food. In fact I was just about to head to the cafe van when he sped off. Just about sums it up.

No food, no coffee, radio battery flat, sun burnt and broken tips aside - Butterley is back at its best and the bream are a feeding!! All fish 3-4lb stamp so heading towards 40lb.

Could have been my best day at Butters if focused, weather etc on my side.

Roll on the next session. Nice to be back on the tip - if a little expensive!

Where is the logic?

Please put the following formula together and send answers of the obvious missing element to

PO Box FA
Fish
B0
LL OX


Weather a warm 18-20 degrees
+
Still, sunshine and cloud.
+
Lakeview
+
Harbour
+
Pegs 19 & 20
+
Pellet and corn far side and margin
+
Previous session 46lb in 3.5 hours
+
Could see the fish splashing about
+
Place packed on all other lakes for matches
+
Comfortable in pegs
+
Banter
+
Post England game woes after 1-1 with USA
+
Fished 9am until 1pm
+
Would have fished longer if formula was right
+
Coffee
+
Sausage roll
+
Cones
+
Ducks
+
Stuka
+
Corn throwing
+
Shades
=

PC picks up the pace while the Notts Boys wish they hadn't bothered

DO NOTTS ANGLERS EVER FISH? P C reporting in again .Another fine session this time on Orfe.6 carp to 4lbs and a bag full of stockies knocking the 40lb in total.All fish fell to strawberry pellet fished in front at 8 metres.SO COME ON YOU NOTTS BOYS GET THEM POLES OUT!!!!!!!!

The Spring Lea Diaries - 30th May - 3rd June 2010

Hot dam hot - 30 degrees and very bright.

First session ended with about 23lb DN 16lb PC 9lb LPC

Three sessions at Spring Lea all on Orfe


PC's first days catch - respectable


Luce's mixed bag day 2 - 26lb - first ever session on pole!


Day two DN 36lb

Final day mixed bags again - PC 19lb DN 26lb?

100% Record still retained - can he be beaten this season!

No-body could feel more stupid than me

Went for a nice yesterday (27th) rather windy but opted for Orfe peg 36 . It was a good idea virtually a fish a chuck mainly stockies half pound to pound with 5 fish around 2-2.5pounds. About 30 fish in total weighing around 30-35pounds . Then came the good bit im sure you'll laugh as many times as super angler has told me not to leave the top three with the bait in the water. guess who managed to do just that. with the result as i was cupping in, my top three went sailing acroos the lake. this idiot went chasing round orfe lake following his top three sailing merrily around the pool. luckily a fellow fisherman who had been ledgering had managed to hook the line and my top three and even the fish were saved. i don't need you two to tell me and i'm sure some wonderful remarks will be made to me. but no-body could feel more stupid than me at the time.

Panama Canal - Lakeview May 23 2010

29 degrees and hot as hell. Fished from 4pm-8pm with picnic in the middle. Ended with 46lb on the scales using the new net. Fished peg 21 on Canal. There had been a match on it earlier. Fished at a gentle pace, so bloody hot. Caught at a steady speed, but some larger fish came in the margins at about 4 metres fishing on top 5. Corn and strawberry pellet did the damage. Peaceful. Luce in support with photography and weight confirmation.



Catcher in action on Canal - are the summer days here at last?



One comes into the net.



The new weighting in net christened with 46lb of carp and skimmers, plus one small tench. Another solid performance.

The final strawberry

Just a quick report friday evening session 4-8.30.Baking hot Springlea rammed not!!!! only 5 fishing the entire complex Opted for Orfe peg 23 steady fishing with good fish up to 4lb. In moved some zoo creatures 1 took black hydro half way round the pool before dumping off. another did simialr and my hook link broke. and the final straw one took me into the rushes and took my entire rig(could not get him out). anyway ended up with about 20-25 pounds good for one of my shortest sessions.

He's catching up!

Going to fish orfe. Too windy opted for horseshoe. good decision although fishing slow broke pb twice. fishing from 8.30 - 5.20. at 8 meters not alot happening drip feeding maggots witth double red maggot bait. a dozen shimmers 6-8 ounces. all day. moved into the margin at about 9.30. 30 minutes later two pound mirror carp. folow by 7 pound common. couple of hours later a nice 5 and a half pound mirror and at the end of the day an 8.1 pound common. roll on black hydro and mine and derek's secret bait.

Rich no more coaching he's catching bigger fish than us! Total defeat day is looming!

Artic Oasis

Two Amigos reunited on a bright but cold morning for the first time since the Nottm Festival. 4 degrees overnight, although a bright & cloudless morning raised the spirits....texts were exchanged, and both anglers were again reunited with a common goal, a dream, a desire, a fever that only eases but never disappears....

Lakeview meet up at 7.23am & without any of the usual shenanigans around peg selection it was Oasis 12&13....easy....weird...arrive ...pick peg ....fish it....how odd...?? Why cant it always be like this.

" its cold here" - 20 minutes after sitting down & the sun coming out it was apparent that the pegs could have been used as a medievil fridge.



Rigs went out and for Nicholson a bizarre thing happened....the float went under...Lakeview? Bite?.....Elastic streaming from the pole confirming a mad carp had mugged itself...!!!

Nicholls followed suit and for a brief hour....it was like we were Anglers ....feed / bite / fish.....Nicholls then hooked a wheely bin and all was well with the world again....reality

Both anglers alternated between Corn and Pellet....Nicholls mainly pellet....Nicholson mainly Corn....



Nicholls taking bits here and there with the odd carp....nicholsons swimming dying for almost two hours with no fish taken....it was neck and neck...

At the all out it was too close to call....both anglers taking two quick fish in the last 30 minutes...




Nicholls pipped it at 13lb to Nico's 12lb.....

Banter / Weather / Pegs were good....close match....Nicholls hangs on....