Bailiff Comments

Week Commencing: Sat 28/08/2021

The “A Team” come to play along with plenty of bites!! And not just from the Mozzis!!!.......

Well, with a couple of the lads pushing their luck with their partners and managing to do a back to back week to some anglers arriving for the first time along with seasonal regulars. The weather was due to be very similar to the previous week with a good mixture of sunny and cloudy days, the air pressure was constant between 1015 and 1020. The previous weeks had produced a silly amount of fish and it was clear on the walk round that they were still feeding!!! Fizzing and boshing everywhere and again all over the lake. Its probably one of the most exciting walk rounds I’ve done and selling the swims was easy as on cue fish boshed over the suggested areas every time they were mentioned. So…….who went where?, Who caught what?, and did the fish continue on this massive feeding spell?......... All will be revealed as you read on in the comfort of your own home with a hot chocolate and a choccy biccy as I tell you a story of the week commencing the 28^th August 2021 on no other than the “Road Lake”…………….

This week’s tale on the river bank starts in a very popular swim named “New Beach” There’s nothing new about it, that’s just the name of the peg!! Residing this week is none other than the man who fished it last week, as luck would have it “Andy Lewis” managed to get straight back into the same peg and wasted no time in getting straight out onto the spots that he fished last week. 21 wraps straight to the 3 tits, 2 rods on the bottom on the middle and the right and a 12ft zig on the left. As Jason stated last week a very wise choice as the fish usually kite out to the right so to avoid any wipe outs the zig went on the left. Yellow foam was the trick and a good helping of Goo attached. Im going to keep Andy’s Goo flavour a secret as he is on a mission to buy any remaining bottles around the country haha but many fish fell to this deadly method on his second week. The biggest fish of the week came to this method and seems as though Andy had previously not really done much zig fishing to catching “Rons” at 57lb 8oz on the method is quite a story in itself. Not only was this an amazing capture but it wasn’t the first time that Rons has had an Andy cuddle with previously setting a new lake record with her last year when she went to 64lb 8oz. Maize and copius amounts of DNA S7 and SLK with S7 glug made up Andys loose feed and a variety of either Combi Rigs or Spinners were the tactical assault with SSM and match the hatch boilies winning the day. Of his 31 fish haul Andy banked 3 more 40 plus fish including “Eye Q” at 48lb 12oz, “Korda Social Common” at 45lb and “Breakfast O Clock” at 43lb with plenty of backup 30s and 20s. A pleasure as always my friend, we eagerly await your return visit with your sites now on the “Main Lake”

First time visitor and all-round nice guy John Levett decided to set up his stall in “Tea Party 1”. Now the swim was definitely in form with plenty of action the week before and again on the walk round fish were boshing giving their presence away bang on the spot. 18 ¾ wraps bang to turtles was the previous spot but John won’t mind me saying he was struggling to be able to get out and more importantly put bait over the top at that distance. This is no issue at all and something that we should all look at when selecting a swim, or spot locating. Its one thing to be able to cast a rig to an area but can you get the spomb over your bait too? If the wind gets up or changes direction. It’s so important and I think this is the reason Johns week started slower that it should have done. To contradict myself a 31lb 8oz Common named “Lockdown” did come for a cuddle on the first evening but then things went quiet. On the Tuesday evening enough was enough and it was time to get John sorted to make the most out of the swim. After the evening meal we went through everything. Rigs, wraps and spombing and got John bang on an area at 17 3/4 . The change and proof in the pudding that being accurate with rigs that you can be confident in (Spinners) with baits that are known to work (SSM and Link snowmen with pineapple toppers) was when an hour after leaving the swim John had a lump in the net. “A Team” fish “Mable” at 52lb was there sulking in the net. ERM WOW!!!!!!.........To say John was excited was an understatement and after the water shots and extravagant high fives she slipped back into her watery heaven. The week only got better after this as not happy with a 50lb common PB he went and landed another “A Teamer” with “Rose Bud at a clonking 55lb!!!!!!!! That SSM really has a lot to answer for, it really is amaizeing SEE WHAT I DID THERE !!!!! Another 40lber with the name of “Not About The Hat” also graced Johns net with another couple of back up fish made him one happy camper!! For your first time with us to achieve what you have done pal is an amazing achievement, keep safe and keep those lines tight!...........

I’m going to group the next 2 guys together as we had the pleasure of welcoming Phil and Frederick Brown yep…..there related, father and son. With Fred being later in years, (I’m pretty sure he won’t mind me saying that haha its with the greatest of respect) they decided to fish close together as Fred wouldn’t be fishing the nights and Phil could be on hand. “Goo” and “Poo” was where the Browns decided with Fred in Goo fishing just 2 rods straight out in front at 14 wraps and Phil in Poo also decided to do the same as to try and bounce the fish between them. Later in the week Phil did swing the rods around to the right which certainly earnt more bites. It was Fred who was first off the mark on the first morning with a belter of a Mirror named “Castro” at 38lb 4oz, as it was his first time in France it was obviously a PB, Fred was blown away with the size and as I said, “Mate that’s a baby there’s some monsters in these depths haha”. Phil couldn’t let him have his moment for long though and the very same afternoon he went and trumped his fathers previous catch with a fish called “Errol” at a clonking 41lb 8oz. D Rigs with a yellow pineapple wafter was doing the early bites. SSM had its day also through the week and they made it their mission to get me naming as many commons as they could catch. This was until Phil finally caught a decent mirror for me to photo in the form of “The Archer” at a weight of 43lb 4oz, theres something in those pineapple wafters guys!!!!..... Plenty of Cell and maize over the top with the spomb and throwing stick brought about plenty of bites through the week and it was all going so well. Until…….Fred only went and lost his hearing aids!!!!..........yep the search was on and the whole lake was looking for them, he was adamant that he had searched all through the bivvy and definitely his washbag………GUESS WHERE THEY WERE????....YEP the washbag haha, ohhhh Fred you make me laugh but you had your revenge when I couldn’t find my bank cards didn’t you lol. Plenty more fish graced the bank between the 2 of them and it would have been interesting to see how many fish Fred could have had if he fished the nights as the fish were all over the spot. Phil landed “Twin Patch”at 41lb 4oz then Fred came back with “The Dispatcher” at 37lb and this story went on all week. Two amazing guys who fished well and seeing their relationship and closeness was a beauty to behold…….Phil I shall see you in a couple of weeks and Fred make sure you come back soon!!!........

Gav Middlebrooke had decided to set out his stall for the week in the ever popular “Decoy” now this swim had been in massive form and I think Gav wasn’t the only one that thought it would be a simple case of pop them on the spot and away we go!. Fish being fish they had their own plans and he really had to work it !!!! Chosing to fish 15 wraps down the bund with 2 rods and 1 rod out at 18 wraps fishing where the bar drops off was the plan of attack with Link Popups and SSM on Spinner Rigs with plenty of Link, Cell and maize over top. It was clear from the off that the fish weren’t there in the same numbers as previous weeks so a patient mind set and having confidence in the way Gav approached the swim was key! A low 20lber on the first night was first blood quickly followed by a lump of a grass carp at 34lb but the nights were very quiet. The fish were obviously moving out into open water as the next day the 18 wrap spot kicked into life with a bruiser of a common named “Submarine” at 42lb. Over the next few days things slowed up a bit although Gav still trickled the bait in, swopping from 2 rods to the bund to 2 rods in open water a steady flow of the smaller fish graced the awaiting net. Surely it was only a matter of time before something bigger showed up and then it happened. On Wednesday in the middle of the glorious sunshine the call came that there was a lump in the net and it was a big one!!!!! My little legs peddled as fast as they could where I arrived at a grinning gav. The weigh in done and a lump of a common in the net that I have to say I didn’t recognise!!!! Well….thats because it had been missing for 3 and a half years and had put some weight on. “All About The Hat” bent the bar to 54lb on the nose and set gav a new PB. Obligatory water shots and a good old soaking done she was slipped back to mae another anglers dreams come true!. Other worthy captures included “Galaxy” at 33lb 12oz and “Vouvray” at 39lb 12oz. A quality week with such a lovely guy, we will see you back here very soon I have no doubt , keep that line wet pal……………………….

One angler that pushed his luck by staying out an extra week was Deacon Ollie and yet again in the same fashion as Andy he managed to sneak back into the swim that he previously fished the week before “Turtles”in similar fashion to last week he was away from the blocks straight away. First one of the new week was “Missing Link” at 38lb 8oz, not a bad start eh!!? Abandoning the marginal areas as these had not done the business last week all attention was on the open water at 21 wraps to the big tree to the right of the dot island. German rigs with size 4 curve shanks and match the hatch Mainline Cell bottom baits accounted for allot of bites this week and Blowback Rigs with SSM as an alternative. I have to say I think Deacon put me through more exercise on the bike than I have done in months riding around to turtles!!!! Pacific Tuna boilie and Mainline Cell and maize mix was oozing out of the fish on the unhooking mat and even a couple of repeat captures “The Chinky” being one at 29lb 12oz which is a lovely distinctive mirror but the best one had to be “Snooki” at 42lb I mean twice in 2 weeks come off it mate!! Lol. I could start listing all the fish that Deacon had but I already get told off for waffling on too long so what was the biggest!!.....After wading through countless 20s 30s and a few 40s Deacon earnt himself something a bit special and special came in the form of “Two Tone” what a creature!! Spinning the scales to 54lb 12oz, we got some awesome shots of her in the water. Forties to mention for the week included “Charlie” at 41lb, “Mr Massive” at 40lb 4oz, “Riley” at 40lb the list goes on. Top angling as always mate but to be fair I expect nothing less :D…………

Seasonal regulars Jeff Maskell and his lovely partner Michelle had decided to take the opportunity to fish the “Road Lake” as they were originally booked onto the “Main”. Jeff is no stranger to big fish with “Fudges” and “The Immaculate” to name just 2 that he has had from “Main Lake” so it was a new challenge this week to see how to approach the different lake. Fishing from “Brambles” Jeff decided to fish the top of the bar out at 19 wraps. The bar is uausaly fished at 18 but after a bit of leading and markering about the bottom was a little bit cleaner and firmer at 19 wraps. It wasn’t until 1pm on the Sunday before the rods flew into action and then the only problem was to stop them doing so as another 2 fish quickly joined the first. All of the lower stamp but the spot was rocking with Mainline Link with a healthy amount of Maize added to create a feeding area. Later on that day Michelle was in and landed a lovely Mirror named “Archies” at 28lb 4oz. Link Wafters doing the business on the hook bait end, again spinners and combi rigs throughout the week and by wading through them they did come across some jewels of the lake. At 2pm on the Tuesday the call in that Michelle had caught a big Grassy. Now there aren’t too many grass Carp in “Road Lake” but the grassiest of them all is beast called “Astroturf” which previous top weight was 42lb, well………..not anymore !!! We have a new Lake Record Grassy as “Astroturf” now weighs a healthy 45lb!!.....congratulations on the PB Michelle and you handled her like a pro. Not long after the return of the grassy and a shower later Michelle backed up that PB with a PB mirror as well with “Cracker” at 42lb!!...(back to the shower she went hahaha) Jeff your going to have to stop bringing her hahahaha………..Jeff had to wait a couple more days before he could have a hold of a 40lb with “The Stalker” at 42lb on the nose. With 21 fish landed and a few lost a top week you guys had. The pleasure is all ours when you come and im sure your next trip isn’t to far away!!..........

A great week with great people, PBs smashed, lake records and laughs a minute!! Some top angling and appetites wet for when the future trips are booked.

Until next time Guys n Gals, tight lines, be lucky and bag a chunk.

Phil