Kev ruins favourites opening night

Tuesday 9th June saw the first round of the annual Witherington Farm evening series.  The match was fished on Barnmoor lake on a evening that seemed more like mid March than mid June.  By mid Match most of the anglers were in coats or wind proofs. So how would it fish in such unseasonal weather?

Favourite for the series at 2/1 is James (Pretty boy) Knight.  The best angler in the area.  Weakness none.  Can fish any method.  There is a newly opened small chink in his armour this year. James has just become a father to baby Jack in addition to getting engaged to the lovely Amy.  H e now has two things in life that are more important than fishing.  Congratulations to James and Amy from all at Witherington Farm.

4/1 Gary (the Fish) Etheridge.  In a previous life Gary had to be a fish as he always where they are in his swim and when and they will feed.  Weakness Tourettes can take hold if things go bad or he loses his concentration.  That said this is rare.

5/1 Mark (the Volcano) Blake.  Ultra confident knows the venue well.  If he gets in the groove he can fill a keep net faster that your wife can fill a shopping trolley.  Weakness if it goes wrong watch the Volcano erupt.

The match was destroyed by a strong northerly wind.  Bites and weights were well down on recent weeks.  Best on the night was Kev (CE LO GREEN) Downer with 4 Carp and two skimmers for 19 lb 4 oz.  Second was Pretty boy Knight with 16 lb 2 oz.  Third Mark the Volcano Blake 14 lb 4oz.  Kev won section 1 with Gary the Fish and Dave (the walking dead) Moody tied second with 8 lb 8 oz.

Section two 1st James Knight, Second Mark Blake.  Round two next week on Sellwood lake.

What a difference a day makes!

Wednesday and Reid's tackle open on Cottage Lake.  Still a strong wind but much warmer.  Again it was a slow start and even by the mid point weights were on the low side.  However the last2 hours saw the Carp start to feed; which pushed the weights back up to the norm.

1st was Dave Self who pulled out a credible weight of Carp and Skimmers on the pole 78 lb 8 oz. 2nd Martin Rogers with a good weight of 68 lb 2 oz on the pole and waggler , banded pellet.  The very method mentioned in last weeks blog.

3rd was Rich Self with 56 lb.  Rich switched between "the method" and pole and fished corn down the edge.  4th Place went to Gary the Fish Etheridge with 47 lb 2 oz, and 5th the old fella Moody with 44 lb 12 oz. 6th Place Dave "Georger"George 38 lb 15 oz.  It just shows how the weather effects Withy.

Same day saw 50 + anglers from Army group 2 on the outer and inner snake.  Results can be found at fellow Blogger Gary Williams "midsection blues" blog http://midsectionblues.blogspot.co.uk/

Tip of the week

As the temperature starts to rise and the Carp begin to feed in earnest.  You need to give your ground bait, bait, PVA bag mix or method feeder the edge.  There are plenty of different attractors on the the market.  Find the one for you and the fish will follow.  Always check the liquid are PVA friendly.  Your local tackle shop can give friendly advise

PVA solid bags are best when using baits that are soaked in liquid.  Funnel web are designed to be used a dry mix.

Remember that the longer the and stronger the PVA is soaked in oil base liquids, the longer the bag takes to break down.  This is the same when using high oil pellets.

Match dates and lake closures for the week ahead

Tuesday the glorious 16th of June - Sellwood closed

Saturday 20th June - Inner snake closed

Sunday the 21st June - Sellwood, Cottage and Inner Snake closed.

Editor,Words and Pictures by Dave Moody

PS.  Wherever you fish this week ahead may your elastic stretch, rod bend and your nets be full.  most of all enjoy your fishing