Match Fishing cup 4th round.

Well here we go again, the next round was to be held on the Kennet and Avon canal. Ian's home venue as such.

This round was going to show who could catch small fish the fastest and in numbers, it was all going to be about effecienacy and rhythm.

We set off at around 8am in the morning towards the little town of Marlborough towards the canal, Ian's van was loaded to the hilt with everything imaginable, apart from rods.

This round was going to be interesting as big fish could or might make all the difference, if they showed in any great numbers. Ian had been down to practice once or twice alongside Steve Saunders. They had a devised a plan and had found a method that had picked up a few skimmers during their practice sessions. This was the use of micro pellets. (on a canal? Not so uncommon now i suppose as bream and carp are becoming more and more present in canal matches)
So this would be his backup big fish line and he would only look over it should the skimmers show themselves by blowing.

Otherwise it was all going to be be very close squatt and pinkie with groundbait, and see how many fish you can put into the net. We reckoned he would need some 400 odd fish to qualify if it fished well and the big fish didn't show.

On arriving at the venue I can honestly say its one of the most "fishy" looking venues Ive seen for a long time. The canal was perhaps no wider than 11m and the far banks had lots of features, from reeds, brambles and hanging trees.
The pegs were nicely spaced out, but Ian was quite sure that the end pegs would be the places to be.

The draw was made at 10, with the fishing to start from 12-5, this would give each angler a chance to set up the millions of top kits, rigs, whips and assortment of baits.
Ian again being close to the front made his draw, his face dropped when he looked at his peg, peg 6 right in the middle.
"Not where I wanted to be"

Ah, I have confidence in you mate.......gulp!

Anyway, loading up all the gear we made our way to his peg, it had a pair of overhanging trees in front at around 11m and 13m to his left, these I thought would be the ideal places for the skimmers to show if they were around.

Ian promptly got out around 10 top 3s with light elastics, ranging from a number 2-4, and rigs all being very very positive with 0.12mm lines, heavy floats, olivettes some 8 inches from the hook and 2 big dropper shot to show any bites really quickly. As the target fish were little roach, and lots of them.
He also set up 2, 2m whips for when the bagging really starts, again large floats, olivettes and droppers were used on a decent hooks.

The baits today would be pellets for the skimmers re maggots for the hook, pinkies and squatts alongside a mountain of groundbait.
This was all set up nicely on his side trays whilst watching the water for the signs of life, lots of roach plipping the surface all around him.......looks like we could catch a few fish.

Well to cut the long story short..I am not going to do times and each fish this time, the bigger stamp skimmers never showed and everyone caught lots of small fish. In fact the 8 anglers managed to between them land almost 3000 small fish.
Ian managed to qualify in 4th place with 12lb 14oz and some 380 small roach and perch and no bonus fish. The end peg to Ian's right (8) managed some 460 small roach and perch for an excellent 15lb and first spot overall. There were a few odd small 6-8oz skimmers that put in an appearance here and there and did make a difference to a few weights. But everyone had over 10lb of fish, this is excellent angling by any ones standards.

Well done Ian...again.

Onto the next round at Boddington Reservoir!

I'm taking bets, Ian I reckon will weigh over 180lb...anyone else want to better that?