Match Report

I had high hopes that I could report that we had caught a barbel and that the matchmen had succeeded where the specimen hunters had failed in their charity match. However we failed dismally, even the presence of our Chairman Nigel at the match could not inspire us. The river was in good condition having dropped back to normal levels after a period of drier weather following some heavy rain. Unfortunately the colour had also dropped completely out of the river but the flow in the majority of swims was still OK for trotting a stick float through.

The flood water had washed away a lot of the areas where we normally sit and also deposited a layer of silt – conditions that could have been conducive to the previous and current match secretaries falling in. Fortunately despite some difficult moments neither visited the water! Ten anglers turned up for the match on a cold, but not frosty, overcast morning. We pegged from the stile downstream and included some pegs in the fenced off area. Several trout were caught, particularly in the fenced off area and Keith Hughes would have easily won the match if the trout he caught had counted.

In first place, fishing in the fenced off area was John Williams who caught 2 chub weighing 3-7-4. These were caught on maggot by trotting a stick float close to tree branches hanging in the water. John lost several other chub as he had to use very light hooklengths to get any bites.

Kevin Leighfield fishing in the swim downstream of the fenced off area caught 1 roach (on the stick float) and 10 minnows (on the lead) on maggot to weigh in 0-2-0 and take second place.

In third place, fishing the cattle drink swim, was Mick Greenway who caught 5 minnows weighing 0-0-8 on the lead on maggot.