The Barns big weekend by Stue lister
I had booked into this match sometime in early spring and for one reason or another I had not managed to get back to this delightful little fishery. I turned up on the Saturday morning and it was like I had not been away. The welcome that everybody gets is great including a free cuppa! There were 20 fishing the double header and a draw had been made previously to establish which of the two lakes you were to start on. I was drawn on Neil’s lake, which meant that silvers along with the carp were the target. With midweek matches producing around 50lb of silvers you just could not ignore them.
I must say the draw for this match was quite a professional set up! Kevin the fishery owner along with match organiser Simon Poynter had done a great job in giving the fishery the feeling that this was a major event. A lot of preparation had gone into running this match and to be honest it showed! There was a small marquee for the draw, professional looking leader boards, trophies for the winners and a free BBQ laid on after the match, I’m sure there was much more, before I forget, a big thank you from all the competitors to all concerned you made it a great weekend!
Showtime
I had my dip and pulled out peg 14 which is the far end of the lake, when I mentioned the peg number it was getting nods of approval from the regulars so I went to my peg with some confidence. I had previously decided on a simple approach to this lake which included the method feeder to the far bank. A corn and hemp line at 11m plus a paste rig that I could fish on the same line. My opening gambit was to fish for the silvers with maggot on the hook using an elasticated top two,
I had Roy Holweg for company on the end peg to my left and Denny Prout to my right we were looking forward to the match and there was some friendly banter flying around. I plumbed my 11m line and when I was happy with the depth I shipped out again to see how the float settled in the water. The float cocked and was sitting nicely in the water when it suddenly shot under! I just couldn’t help but lift into the bite and I was soon playing a decent Rudd that had taken a bare hook, it must be solid! A few minutes later I looked up the lake to see Roger Naylor also catch a Rudd on a bare hook before the start. I couldn’t help thinking that loose feeding hooks would make it an expensive day!
All in day one
The match started and I fed a full 250ml cup of hemp containing a few grains of corn over a dustbin lid size area at 11m. I then picked up my top kit baited with maggot and dropped in close loose feeding hooks, sorry maggot! I was into fish practically immediately but they were small Perch and not the expected Rudd, After 30 minutes or so I overheard Roger mention that he had just caught a perch which wasn’t a good sign! I wasn’t sure of what to make of that comment as I had around 30 of the little monkeys! My close line was slowing down but I could see Roger still getting the Rudd on his close line. I had noticed that his peg seemed deeper than mine and thought that was the difference. Roy to my left had a few carp on the paste and Denny had also had a couple of carp and tench fishing longer so it was time for a change.
Putting a bit of corn on the hook and feeding a little hemp and a couple of grains of corn by kinder pot at 11m I was soon into small carp of around pound. But I was also getting Rudd on a regular basis; they obviously just didn’t want to feed closer to the bank. Never mind mustn’t grumble! It was really nice fishing with a bite every drop in. Denny was getting the odd one from ‘various’ points on the method feeder towards the far bank and Roy was still catching on the dollop so everything was working!
I had a little disaster when for some reason I lost a fish on the pole and when I shipped back in there was no rig! Somehow, the elastic had snapped at the connector, which I must say is a timely reminder to check all my top kits before the festival season is upon us. I thought it was time to try the thod whilst I sorted a new rig. I put on a 6mm pellet loaded the feeder with dampened micros and launched it to the far bank. Put it down on my rest picked up the top kit and immediately had to throw it down as a carp tried to drag my rod into the lake!
I had three small carp on the spin and then had a laugh with Denny as his feeder was getting closer and closer to my swim, purely accidental you understand! We did have a laugh about his casting prowess though! My swim slowed on the feeder and it was back on the pole for a few more. The last couple of hours were slower but the odd fish kept coming until the end of the match.
How close?
It was a close run thing which made everyone feel they had a chance of winning the section but that honour went to none other than the ‘Hat Man’ Kevin Harmer with 69lb 09oz closely followed by Roger Naylor with a level 69lb and myself with 65lb 05oz which just shaded Simon Poynter by a whole 5 ounces! With the result worked out by our position in the whole of the match we were all keen to see how the other lake had fished. It had been a cracker there with Andy Dare winning the match with 112lb from Roy ‘End Peg’ Booth who had 94lb. Mike O’Gorman was third on that lake with 69lb 2oz. So overall I was in 6th place after day 1 with it all to fish for on the second day.
Sunday, day two.
I was told that whilst there was some better pegs on paper weights could come from any peg on Joan’s so the draw was not that important. I was really pleased with that information as it’s nice to be involved in a fishing match where the draw didn’t decide the outcome. I decided on a simple approach again and put my faith in similar rigs. There are no silvers in this lake and as it is at most 12m wide there was no method feeder to contend with. My plan was to fish at top kit plus two sections and concentrate on two swims one to my right and one to my left. I was going to have a margin swim as well. To my right there was a load of grass in the water and I was told to fish to the edge of it. Having plumbed it I felt it was too deep and considered cutting a hole in it so that I could get close to the bank, I didn’t but really wish I had. My mate Mr Hindsight is still telling me off!
Frustration!
Fish started coming slowly on my deck rig and in the first hour I think I had around three carp and a tench. But slowly bites started coming a bit quicker but the fish were on the small size, but they were fish, and it’s important to keep feeding that keepnet After a couple of hours there were fish everywhere that all appeared to be feeding on the surface. Every time I kindered some bait in they would show themselves even trying to eat my float! That is until I tried to fish shallow for them and they just didn’t want to know. I think I had a couple but I tried for ages! I tried throwing bait by hand, using the kinder pot and just slapping the rig on the water but they would not play ball. It was a frustrating time seeing so many fish that I couldn’t catch. Again, old hindsight had the answer and it would have been good old fashioned bread fished just below the surface. I just wish my mate had mentioned it before I had gone to the bank without it. Perhaps I should leave a loaf of Magic Bread in my carryall?
Just too deep
My inside line just would not work and I am convinced it was just too deep, I fouled a couple of fish there and managed some fishing off the bottom but it wasn’t right. I actually finished the match with around 45 carp and tench which went 56lb so they were on the small side and I am afraid it left me well down in the section.
The lake fished well with Simon taking the verdict with an impressive 106lb followed by Roger Naylor who had 85lb the rest of the weights were very close with a couple in the 70’s and a couple of 60lb weights.
Down on Neil’s lake Roy Booth won the match from end peg 16 recording 92lb beating Andy Dare into second place with his 72lb and that decided the first and second for the weekend the full results are:
1st ROY BOOTH - 4pts
2nd ANDY DARE - 7pts
3rd SIMON POYNTER - 8pts (total weight of 171.07)
4th ROGER NAYLOR - 8pts (total weight of 154.00)
5th KEV HARMER - 11pts
6th ERIC SEARLE - 13pts
7th MIKE O’GORMAN - 15pts
8th STEWART LISTER - 16pts
9th MICK HEACOCK - 18pts
10th MARK VENTON - 19pts
11th DENNY PROUT - 22pts
12th TONY STEEL - 25pts (total weight of 83.02)
13th ROY HOLWEG - 25pts (total weight of 78.14)
14th MARC BARDEN - 26pts
15th JOHN SLOTE - 29pts
16th KEITH ROWLENSON – 31pts (total weight of 69.01)
17th CHRIS BOOTH - 31pts (total weight of 60.04)
18th JOHN ROWE - 34pts
19th MERVIN CHRISTIE – 38pts
A great weekend was had by all, once again thank you to the Kevin at the Barns for hosting the event and to Simon for his organisational skills. I am sure this will become an annual event and one that I am looking forward to already.
Bye for now
