Peg One and weed

Butterley Res - 30th August 2009

Sometimes I don't know why I bother. Drag myself out of bed at 6am after a late 1am night before. Alcohol still on my breath and in my blood system. A forced breakfast and coffee, which gives me the strength and courage to face organising my tackle after failing to do it the night before. In stealth mode, acting like a burglar in his own home, in an attempt not to wake PB, I manage to finally sort a scaled down feeder set up in a record twice the time it would normally take me. Hit the open road, sandwiches made! and flask awaiting.

Arrive at Butters at 7am, quick walk reveals that peg 20, the Peg recommended by Peg One is empty, the match stretch only has a few carpers on it - should have seen the signs!

Set up, windy and cold but looks like sun later. 10 feeders put in and weed on feeder every put in. The weed looks to have grown in places, as it does! Not a touch, two and a half hours later - nothing!



Pack up, speak to a bloke who has been fishing it since a boy. Knew what he was doing. Key pegs are the rocks, but you now have not not only rock climb but go further across past peg 82 due to the weed. Or the pegs behind the garages towards the corner. He gets them on all sorts, feeder, at distance, usually has 10 plus fish.

Stick to what you know!

Margin Mania at Spring Lea

Friday 21st August 2009 - Horseshoe - Fished 6-8pm

Windy and cool evening. Decided to fish side furthest away from the car park with the wind blowing over our shoulders. Nicholls fished like a monkey at 8 metres catching silvers on maggot. Nothing on corn, pellet or prawn. Carp just not interested. Ended up with 6lb ish mainly due to skimmers. PB caught silvers plus one carp 3lb and a bream 2lb to take the honours on day one. A night in the tent to reflect and prepare.

Saturday 22nd August 2009 - Orfe - Pegs 23/24/25 8am until 2pm session.

The coldest night of the summer, during which we shivered in our sleeping bags and slept in our clothes, saw a calm and very still morning. Fished pole at 9 metres with pellet the main bait. Picked up an early carp close in on double red maggot as advised by Papa Chav. The day really warmed up and remained very bright/still. Not the best for fishing. PB caught silver fish continually on waggler for 6lb of fish. Papa finished with 9lb, fishing maggot at 5 metres, taking three carp and silvers. Nicholls ended with 14lb mixed bag of skimmers, carp and tench all fairly small. The new radio birthday present provided much of the sport as the Ashes were listened to during the session.

Monday 24th August 2009 - Orfe - Pegs 23/24 - 8.30am until 7.30pm

Monday saw a marathon of fishing. The evening before had been spent 'knitting' rigs for the following day and putting together a picnic including cava and strawberries. It was a pity that this prep didn't also include some bait additions.

Started the session around 8.30am. PB was straight into a bream, followed by a tench 1lb and a 3lb carp - would Nicholls ever get started or would he just be PB's gilley all day?

Luckily a succession of skimmers, small carp and tench were caught at 9 metres for Nicholls on small pellet, however the bait was lacking with only maggots and pellets available. Fishing steady, breaking for lunch and enjoying the session fish kept coming at a nice pace. But the bait was running low - time to call Papa Chav for supplies.

The arrival of Papa Chav around 5pm allowed for a switch of bait to corn, a tench and carp quickly followed at 9 metres. A further switch to the margins saw a succession of fish - tench to 2lb and carp to 6lb followed.

PB claimed a 6lb carp at the death. Nicholls could hardly lift his net out at the end, a good 50lb plus. On reflection the 100lb is possible. At least 10 fish lost during the day due to light blue hydro. What would corn and black hydro have brought? Spring Lea classic next year could be interesting if we get some weather, focus and bring some corn.

Park Hall - Feeder

Arriving at Park Hall i discovered the owner has decided to build himself a house in the car park! Strange but True.

It was clear sky and 21 degress as I pulled in at 6.30am . A long time since Ive sat in a T shirt anywhere...

Feeder all the way. No pole in the bag. Three other anglers already there, one catching a carp as i pulled into peg 25 on the long straight. Car right behind me. Happy days...

Beastmaster Medium and Open Feeder fished in the loop. 16 Drennan Carp Match hook with hair rig and 8mm oily pellet. Feeder filled with Swim Stim pellets and Ringers Dark.

very comfy...always a bad sign...Made 8 casts half way between the island and lillies to put in some bait and then a real cast....coffee opened....sun out...After 20 mins without a bite i was a bit nervous. A guy to my right had a couple more on waggler and i felt i was due a knock.

The tip went round and continued going... A common about 2lb fought very hard for its size. Over the next hour I had two more then a lull....the peg was very shallow. 2 ft or 2 max.Every bite was a real take....one I had to grab the rod as I poured coffee...(typical)

Tried method after a tangle on the feeder but the pellets and G/Bait were a bit wet for it. Need to crack the bait for longer casts on Method.

A further 4 Carp and a Skimmer fell to either Sonu Oily Pellet or Match Boilie and I packed up at around 11.30am as it was very bright and needed to return to base.An angler sat opposite me later in the morning and catapulted around 6 big balls of groundbait in as soon as he arrived and caught three fish in the first 45 mins or so....small method feeder about 3/4 way across.

I like the much maligned Park Hall....I just dont understand it. Regret not taking the pole. Carp rolling in pole distance and i kept casting over them....again typical...

Fish in Springlea? - Orfe course!

Nicholls Senior posts first report.

Orfe Double Red Maggot at 6m and newly acquired pole. Easy!

Daddy and Del - Butterley ( apparently)

Line Twist, Tomb Raider Pegs and Weed....

8 Bream for 25lb - Peg 83 Butterley

God put a smile on my face ...Spring Lea Day 2

After pasta, 3 black sheep, a meeting with Cecil and Clarence it was time to hit the canvas andcatch some Z's....



At 6.07am after a dream about stealing a push bike? it was time for the decider in the SVC...
Nicholls Snr rolled down the soddened track at 6.18 and it was a swift tent clearance and shower before hitting Orfe. ("its rammed - " 50lb easy" - "Mixed bag" - "boiling when you feed")

With the rain holding off it looked promising as we made our way up to the lake full of anticipation. With hindsight we picked the wrong pegs ( shocker) and should have foreseen gods plan of very very heavy showers in... ohh the next 30 mins.


Poles for Matt & Mick and feeder for JN it was to be with a worrying breeze skipping across the lake...Within 30 minutes Nicholls Jnr had taken a skimmer and a elastic stretching Carp of 6lb putting pressure on the two anglers from very early.
The heavens then decided to open with raining lashing down as all the anglers held onto their brollies....the peg selection was looking shaky at best as the breeze turned into a wind and bright skys turned into a dark dark mass of rain and cold.....it was like the first day on the Somme sometime later as the soldiers came out shellshocked and wanting pipes of peace...

In between times Nicholson had sneaked 3 x carp to push Nicholls solitary effort, and Nicholls response was to bizarrely fish maggot in a force ten gale on a top three? Nicholls Snr had stuck with the feeder and with the exception of a Perch , and Skimmer or three was struggling
a tad....

Nicholson kept the Meat & Corn faith and took another two skimmers and a small stockie. It was looking very very tight....

The rain was determined to spoil the day and all three anglers surrended by 12.30...it was hard to hold the pole

At the weigh in Nicholls started to regret the maggot as nicholson pulled the net out....Nicholson took a damp classic for 2009 .....Roll on Summer...( oh it is)

Regardless of win - Banter and friendship played a bigger part....maybe we should have gone to Horseshoe again

It never rains it pours - UK becomes a Lakeview

Captains Log Star Date 1st August 2009. Planet Lakeview in the solar system UK. A watery wet planet with continual rainfall. Decided to do some samples of lifeforms. Well in reality - fished Lagoon from 9am-1pm. Stop start session again rigs not ready!!!! Caught 25? fish - all carp except one bream 2lb. All fish in good condition and have certainly grown, most 2lb smallest about 3/4 lb. Weather was cold, wet and still. Place has really matured but was very quiet. On Lagoon only 2 others fishing - other lakes similar. Total lack of match action for a weekend. Nice and private, tiny walk from peg, trees both sides. Originally set up in peg with wasps nest so had to move!! Fished down margin later in session and across other side with meat at first. Biggest fish 4lb. Well worth another visit but this time prepared - footplate, rigs, aim to change rigs to pick up carp and silvers. But once again need the bloody weather, always fishes better when warmer. Peg 24? Beam me up scotty to a warmer and drier place!




Nothing like this!

Update from Nico Springlea Day Two

Damp Day at Springlea