Float-only – Great Danes 26th Feb 2012

We turned up at 08:00 on a very frosty morning, all full of apprehension, and a certain amount of nervousness from Ryan. As it turned out, there was no need to worry, as everyone was very welcoming and made us feel very welcome.

Due to the size of the lake, it was decided to draw pegs, otherwise everyone would be bumping in to each other due to one end being blocked off.

Ryan drew peg 10, which was at the shallow end, under a large willow tree.

Set up 

As it was float only, we set up the pole for 6m with a .2g NG XT Decker, and a .1g NG XT Margin. Main line was 0.13 Fortex to an 0.13 18 Drennan Carp maggot. Elastic was 9h Preston Hollo. Due to the frost, and being at the wrong end of the lake for the carp, the tactic was to go for the roach and any rogue carp, so a single red maggot was the main choice, and sweetcorn. 6m was about the limit due to the overhanging willow, and the gap in the branches would make it hard to play anything of size

All In

10:00 and the whistle went. All excited now Ryan cupped in 2 small cups hemp/micros/sweetcorn, and set out on the 6m line. Apart from a couple of little knocks, nothing much doing until about 11:30, when the first of the small roach came in. A further 3 over the next hour, but then it seemed to go dead again.

Around 1:45, in to another few small roach for about 45 mins, before trying the margin for for the last hour, but nothing doing there either.

Result

A few carp caught at the far end, but at least he had about 12 small roach in the net to weigh in.

All in all, a great first match for Ryan, and he wants to fish in more.

Report by Medway Mick:

18 anglers attended this one at the refurbished Great Danes. After a frosty start, the sun came through for most of the match and temperatures were quite acceptable.
Not as many fish were caught as I expected. I’m not sure if this was due to the night frost, the number of anglers on the water today or has the water suffered from poaching a bit more than we think? (possibly a combination of all three?)

Anyway, onto the match…. Steve Giles won at a canter from peg 1, which was on the far right hand side of the far bank, luring Carp from the wooded area to weigh in 36lb 9oz. 2nd 3rd and 4th all had island pegs to fish too, with Terry jarvis securing 2nd spot with 14lb 6oz.

It was great to see a couple of juniors fishing, Max and Ryan both weighed in more than a few of us seasoned anglers, so well done both of you and we hope to see you at a few more matches in the future.

Full Result:
Steve Giles 36lb 9oz (12 points) ￡25
Terry Jarvis 14lb 6oz (11) ￡20
Ken Burdekin 11lb 8oz (10) ￡15
Guy Usmar 8lb 10oz (9) ￡10
Roger Judge 4lb 11oz (8) ￡5)
Lou Buells 4lb 1oz (7)
Dave Phur 3lb 14oz (6)
John Carcary 3lb 13oz (5))
Jim Randell 1lb 12oz (4)
Bob Turner 1lb 10oz (3)
Bryony Baker 1lb 4oz (2)
Ryan 13oz (1)
Max 11oz
DNW: Keith Dacey, Tom Holloway, Mick Roberts, John Overton and Dave Bertram.