Rolfs Winter league 2 - Match 3

Well its back to Rolfs in Oxfordshire this week for match 3 in the 2007 winter league bearing in mind my 2 previous results in the league getting up to find minus 4 and a hard frost didn't inspire me

But I had my repaired pole sections back from Scott at Esselle pole repairs and at least I was fishing C section so might stand a chance of a few fish

As I pulled into the car park the first thing I saw was the level of the lake which was back to normal and most of the platforms were out of the water again

This match Paul was missing from Team JCS so once again Chris is standing in for us and unfortunately he has to fish A section again

A section were up to draw first and Chris pulled peg 4 out of the bag not the best of draws

Next up were B section and Steve pulled in form peg 29 out of the bag

Then it was my turn and as I opened my hand and saw peg 18 I was very happy

Though there is still 3 inches of water over the platform on peg 18 its still 100% better than having to sit back up the bank

Plan of attack today is to fish bread flake on a crumb feeder over towards the boat by peg 19

And fish the pole straight out in front at 14.5m

On the all in I cast the feeder out dropped the rod into the rest and waited for it to leap into action

It wasn't long before the tip shot round and I lifted and struck but there was nothing there

This went on for about 10 mins I kept recasting and the tip was all over the place but I was unable to hit any bite

Then eventually after about 20 mins I managed to hit 1 and I was into 1 of Rolfs Carp as it tore off towards peg 22 at top speed I bent the rod into it stopped the run and started to pull the fish back towards me then all of a sudden the line went slack and it was off and all I had to show for it was a large scale left on the hook

But it was a start so I re-cast and waited poised over the rod ready to pounce on the slightest movement which never came for about 10 mins then rod took off and bent double as another of Rolfs Carp headed for the other side of the lake

But unfortunately as I stopped the run the hook pulled straight away and once again all I landed was a large scale

By now most of the other people in my section had all landed a Carp (most of them foul hookers) so with an hour gone and empty nets it was not looking too good once again as now along with most others my swim had died

I decided to swap over to the pole and fish pellet at 14.5m on the deck without a lot of joy and after 30 biteless mins I swapped over from a 4mm pellet to 1 of the new GOT 11mm cat meat pellets I had been lucky enough to get from the nice people at GOT Baits

I shipped the pellet out to 14.5m lowered it in the float settled down to the tip then disappeared under the water I was so amazed that I forgot to strike and by the time the message sunk in it was too late and the float popped back up

I shipped a new pellet out and sat poised this time as the float cocked and set its self after about 60 secs the float buried and my purple hydro shot out of the power top at a rapid rate I eventually got the fish under control and started to ship it back but I could tell from the fight that it was foul hooked so I had to play it very gently as I needed this fish

Then the fish made a few sharp lunges and the hydro shot back into the top2 and I was left with another scale for my growing collection

I put another pellet on and shipped out but that was it the float didn't move again the guy next to me had 2 nice 3lb + Perch and a couple of Carp but I remained bite less for the next hour

Eventually I managed to hook a fish at 13m on red maggot and thankfully I soon slipped a 12oz Skimmer into my net no DNW for me today

But that was the only 1 I couldn't get another bite anywhere in the peg on any bait

For the last hour I went back on to the feeder over to the boat but despite all the fish I could see topping over in front of peg 22 I still couldn't get a bite

And as Rolf blew the whistle that's how my match ended with just the 1 skimmer from what looked like a fantastic peg at the start

My 12oz got me 1 point for Team JCS for last in section Chris on peg 4 had a nightmare with a DNW and Steve on peg 29 had 40lb for 5 points and 3rd in section

Giving us 6 points today and still a supporting roll in the league

The match was won from peg 2 with 48lb 8oz of Carp caught on the feeder fishing back into the corner

One of the good things to come out of today was the first outing for my new rod holdall as I have spent along time trying to decide which 1 to go for and I have eventually plumped for the 12 tube Daiwa Tournament as it will hold both poles all the top kits and 2 rods as well as bank sticks umbrella and landing net handles with room to spare

I was a bit concerned when I saw the size of it and felt the fully loaded weight that I would be unable to move it but I must say that it was easier to carry round the lake than my old fox holdall

Lastly a view of the weigh station behind peg 16 not that I needed to trouble it today

Still next match I'm back in the little lake and with snow forecast and the way my year is going I'm bound to end up drawing on suicide row again (soon be summer though)