Boat match at Hanningfield 25th Oct 2008

 

The weather

It started off a bit chilly (just a little bit) but then one can expect that in October. There was slight overcast sky with the very occasional sun and first thing there was a gentle breeze from the south to south-west. With the water at a reasonably temperature for October it was good for fishing.

However, as the day progressed the wind came up, still from the south and it got quite choppy and chillier too.

 

The Fishing

With the conditions appearing to be reasonable the fish started coming out from the word go. Indeed, Allen, anchored up by Atlantis bay, caught his nice 4lb fish on his first cast and his partner Matthew was getting lots of takes. It looked as if it was going to be a good day. However, for them it was a short spell of luck and it went quiet.

Around them they could see a few boats drifting from the area away from the inlet across the bay and pulling out fish. These included Mick/Eddie and also Ray/John. However, after the earlier flurry of activity, even they found it getting harder. Mick and Ray both had a few in their bags but partners Eddie and John were not so lucky.

There was a similar situation with Roy and Bill. Roy had made a good start but then it petered out although they battled with the elements to the last and managed a good bag. Pair Ken/Ralph managed to get a few each. As it got windier and colder many of the boats were anchored up in the Inlet bay, including Stan/Dave, Allen/Matthew and eventually Roy/Bill. As some would say, it was like Piccadilly Circus. Ray said it was getting harder because of the cold South wind but I think that it usually gets harder in the afternoon anyway. Oddly enough Allen pulled out 3 fish late in the afternoon in quick succession – right place right time and his partner Matthew was unfortunate to lose several around the same time. Stan was seen pulling out the occasional fish but did not quite make the 8 by the end. Commiserations to his partner Dave, he drew the short straw today. C’est la vie.

Roy/Bill, Mick/Eddie, Ken/Ralph and Ray/John carried on drifting as it was getting harder. Ken, who had stood in for Malcolm who had been unavoidably detained, left at 4pm leaving Ralph to finish on his own until the end at 5pm.

It was not long before Eddie had had enough and they (Mick/Eddie) retired as did Ray/John. Allen/Matthew stuck it out until 45 minutes to go when they too retired

A whole variety of lines were used from floaters, intermediates to very fast sinkers. Flies included crunchers, white razzlers, minkies, lures and small flies.  When winner mick was asked where the fish were in the water he said ‘I am not really sure’.

 

The weigh-in

Nearly everyone had caught fish but there was a large spread as might be expected for this time of year. The reservoir average had recently been about 3 fish per angler.

At the weigh-in it was Mick who again had the heaviest bag to repeat his win of the previous year, well done.

However, he was heard to be cursing at Allen because he had clipped him by 9ozs to get the heaviest fish at 4lbs 3ozs.

 

 

 

                                   

NAME

CAUGHT

WEIGHT

BEST R.

 

DAVE BLANCHARD

Nil

Nil

 

 

STAN KING

7

14lbs   4ozs

 

 

BILL JOHNSON

6

12lbs   6ozs

 

 

ROY PALMER

7

16lbs   3ozs

 

 

JOHN WEAVER

1

  1lb     8ozs

 

 

RAY SIMPSON

5

11lbs   4ozs

 

 

MATTHEW DIXON

1

  2lbs   4ozs

 

 

ALLEN DIXON

5

13lbs   0oz

4lbs   3ozs

 

EDDIE GRAY

2

  3lbs   6ozs

 

 

MICK HILL

8

19lbs   2ozs

3lbs 10ozs

 

KEN WILLIAMS

2

  5lbs   8ozs

3lbs   9ozs

 

RALPH BULLOCK

4

13lbs   8ozs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEST BAG

M.HILL

19lbs 2ozs

 

 

BEST FISH

A.DIXON

  4lbs 3ozs