The 7th April 2019 was a somewhat cool and overcast day, with a stiff easterly wind blowing for most of the day. This did not deter 14 winter league anglers from contesting the ninth round of our series at Heron Brook Pools near Eccleshall. The water condition was strange as the pool had a clay muddiness to it, but this did not preclude some large carp from feeding, along with F1s and occasional skimmer bream. With the wind on his back, Brian Tinman used this advantage to take the win with 32 Lbs 10 Ozs taken at about 8 metres on the pole and pellet. Second, from the other side of the pool, was Bob Smith with 29 Lbs 8 Ozs despite smashing section 6 of his pole towards the end of the match. Third spot went to yours truly with 27 Lbs 4 Ozs taken on pole and pellet.

Two weeks later, the weather couldn't have been more different. For a week before the 21st April it suddenly became summer! Temperatures soared into the mid-20s and the sky was azure blue with light winds over the Chestnut Pool at Boldings Fishery near Bridgnorth. Just 10 of us fished this match, as it was Easter Sunday. Drawn at the fancied permanent Peg 1 was Ken Arnold who trounced the remiander of the field with an impressive 67 Lbs 8 Ozs taken down the margin on pole and pellet. Second (facing Ken) on permanent Peg 40, was Brian Tinman with exactly 51 Lbs using the same approach. Third was yours truly with exactly 43 Lbs taken on pole with pellet and corn.

With the final match to be fished on the Mallard Pool at Springlea on 5th May it couldn't be tighter in the race to win the league. I now have managed to get my nose in front with 63 points, with Clive Biddulph second on 57 and Ken Arnold third on 54. With 10 points maximum up for grabs, it will be a nail-biting finish - especially for me!

For the full result, cick on the link.

Winter League 8 & 9 HERON BROOK & BOLDINGS.pdf (35.32 kb)

Will all anglers intending to fish this round next Sunday please note the following:

Fishery Rules

·         Barbless hooks only, max size 10.

·         No groundbait, hemp or liquidised baits.

·         No bloodworm, joker, nuts or boilies, No method feeder.*

·         No chopped worm allowed (does not apply to club matches or day ticket anglers)

·         No braided line.

·         No clouding of the water with dyes.

·         No fishing more than 1/2 way between nearest angler.

·         No raking of swim

·         Only Boldings fishery pellets can be loose-fed, any hooker may be used but not loose-fed

·         No loud swearing or shouting allowed

·         Meat, worms ,paste & bread on the hook only.no loosefeeding.

·         2 nets to be used in matches when over 50lb, if you are lucky enough to catch over 100lbs spread evenly between both nets, anyone with over 60lbs with only 1 net in use will be deducted 1/2 of any excess

·         Pole only on Hawthorns, Stock, Middle, Deepdale. (open matches only)

·         Fish must be landed within 1 metre of your peg.

·         A landing net must be used on all fish over 4ozs

·         Maximum of 5pints of casters or maggots combined

·         30mins allowed to land fish after all out.

·         All fish to be handled with care and returned to the water safely.

·         No rolling the fish down keepnets, reach through for handles or swim fish to the top of the net

·         No keepnets except in matches

·         To help prevent any possible spread of disease, landing nets & keepnets must be spread out on the bank and dried out 15 minutes before use.

·         No bungee

·         Floats must not be held above the water .

*Method feeder – Richard, the Cafe Owner, says that it can be used, but it must be free running.

A bright, sunny, if somewhat cool day met the 15 anglers who contested this 7th round at Wigmore Pools on 24th March 2019. Predicted big weights never materialised as the carp and F1s that normally feed well here failed to turn up in any number. But Nick Bastock managed to winkle out 15 Lbs of mostly skimmers using pole and maggot for a win. Second was yours truly using method feeder and pellet to tempt 9 F1s from the island, but lost 3 more in snags, plus some roach on pole and maggot for 11 Lbs 4 Ozs. In third spot was Dave Leary with 9 Lbs 8 Ozs of mainy silvers taken on pole and maggot. Ken Arnold failed to get into the points and league leader, Clive Biddulph, could only manage 2 points. This has closed up the top three with Clive now on 49 points, myself on 47 and Ken on 40. With just 3 rounds left to fish it may come down to the wire yet. Click on the link for the full result.

Winter league 7th match Wigmore 2019.pdf (34.56 kb)