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Angling: The Band plays the right tune
Dick Band. Photo supplied
PIKE angling in this part of the country has helped many clubs to survive over the past few years as more and more anglers turn to our commercial waters for their sport.
Clubs such as Tydd Gote, Ramsey and in particular Whittlesey have had to work hard though promoting their waters and have held regular events throughout the winter months.
It seems to have paid off too judging by the excellent response to the big weekend pike match run by Whittlesey on their waters. A massive £1,100-plus was up for grabs and that always helps to encourage a few extra rods to the area.
The lucky winner who went home a very happy man was Dick Band who took two fish, the best weighing in at 13lb 2oz. Runner-up was Brian Green with one fish for 14lb 5oz followed by Bryan Jones with two fish on 13lb 14oz.
Not everyone enjoyed a day’s fishing though. Spare a thought for local rod Tom Owen who had packed his tackle away after a less than successful day when a strong gust of wind blew him down the steep bank and he ended up in hospital with a dislocated shoulder!
NOT long before the start of the HAJAC Winter League, there were real doubts there would hardly be enough teams in it to make it a worthwhile proposition. But in the end teams rallied round and in fact the league was as strong as ever when they lined the banks of the three fen drains being used on Sunday.
With the Old Nene at Ramsey St Mary’s, the top end of the Forty Foot and Raveley Drain being used some really good weights were expected. The bitterly cold wind did spoil it for some but the rejuvenated Raveley Drain more than saved the day with some outstanding winter action.
The hot pegs close to the bridge saw a head-to-head battle for the top spot between Mick Kelly and Bob Nudd.
Kelly just edged it, fishing on the whip close in and up in the water taking around 500 small rudd for 15lb 13½oz.
Nudd fished the other side of the bridge and caught roach on pinkie and maggot for 15lb 6oz. Third place went to Ben Jackson, who drew the early numbers at Ramsey St Mary’s and finished with 13lb 8½oz.
On the team front Stanjay Silver topped the strong field with 28 points, then came the two Sensas Mark One teams - the Whites on 30 points and the Blacks with 31. A solid performance from the March lads saw them taking fourth place which keeps them well up with the leaders going into round two in a couple of weeks time.
Result: 1 M. Kelly, Stanjay Silver, 15lb 13oz; 2 B. Nudd, Maver Bait Tech B, 15lb 6oz; 3 D. Jackson, Stanjay Bronze, 13lb 6oz; 4 A. Bates, Maver Bait Tech A, 12lb 14oz; 5 C. Jackson, Maver Bait Tech A, 11lb 5oz; 6 J. Pace, Sensas Mark One Black, 11lb.
IF you are looking to fish a decent match on a Friday, why not give Roy Whincup a call on 01487 822333. Whincup runs a cracking little match each week on the popular Rookery Farm Fishery at Pidley.
In the latest match March rod Gary Burton topped the field with a net of small carp taken on the pole. Burton fished the long pole line opting for pellet instead of the usual red maggot approach to finish with 22lb 4oz from peg 39. Matt Roberts came second on 20lb 8oz from peg 46, followed by Dave Reece with 11lb 4oz.
WITH the weather changing towards the weekend, many thought the North Level Drain would fish really well but neither the Wednesday nor the weekend Tydd Gote matches lived up to expectations.
Jon Young won’t be too disappointed though as he took the honours in both events. On Wednesday he put a net of small skimmers and roach to the scales for 4lb 9½oz on a pole and pinkie approach, following up with an almost identical catch weighing 4lb 8oz on Sunday.
Wednesday’s result: 1 J. Young, 4lb 9oz; 2 M. Asker, 3lb 4oz; 3 A. Greenwood, 2lb 14oz.
Sunday’s result: 1 J. Young, 4lb 8oz; 2 D. Parlett, 3lb 14oz; 3 P. Parnell, 3lb 7oz.
The draw for today’s and Sunday’s matches is at 9am at Clough, fish from 10am-3pm.
Decoy Lakes Opens
Oak and Cedar Channels, Tuesday: 1 S. Powell 57lb 1oz; 2 M. Arnold 36lb 4oz; 3 N. Baxter 27lb 12oz.
Beastie Lake, Saturday: 1 S. Bracey 52lb 3oz; 2 N. Baxter 38lb 7oz; 3 D. Carlton 33lb 11oz.
Beastie Lake, Sunday: 1 J. Whincup 33lb; 2 N. Baxter 27lb 14oz; 3 G. West 27lb.
THE East Midland Winter League delegates had their annual meeting recently to sort out costs and fixtures for this year’s event.
There is doubt about whether the league will join the Angling Trust’s main event though as there are strong rumours the entry fee will be raised to £150 a team and on top of that all anglers will have to be individual members of the Angling Trust to compete.
I can’t see many of the teams paying out that sort of fee on top of the ones they already pay to be a member of the East Midland League.
It would be relatively easy to cut costs dramatically by allocating a practice match and a league round to each team entering to run, but still having to pay all these extra fees will not go down well.
I can also see a reduction in team sizes next season to encourage a few more to join and also help out those teams struggling to make up a big enough squad to see them through the event.
This year’s venues - Round one: North Level Drain, Tydd Gote; Round two: Great Ouse, Ely; Round three: River Cam; Round four: Old Nene, March; Round five: Ramsey area fen drains; Round six: Whittlesey area fen drains.
IT’S not often these days we get a chance to put a few questions to two of the most well-known anglers in the specimen world, Matt Hayes and Chris Ball, so make a date in your dairy, February 20. On that Monday evening both will be at a special evening hosted by the Kings Arms Angling club.
The evening of angling will take place at the Holiday Inn at Sandy just off the A1. Both will be giving talks and there will be a question and answer session, rounding off the evening with an auction and raffle for some cracking prizes. Tickets are £10 and can be purchased in advance only on 01767 223657.
The evening is in aid of the Sue Ryder Care Appeal.
PARKING close to venues has often been a real problem for anglers fishing natural venues, particularly along the River Nene.
That is one reason the likes of Raveley Drain, the Old Nene at March and in particular Whittlesey Dyke gets a lot of attention these days.
Unfortunately there is a downside to this wonderful winter venue that runs at the back of Whittlesey as several of the local residents in Bank Close have at times seen their driveways blocked by anglers cars, not an ideal situation made worse as several residents are in fact disabled and do need clear passage out of their premises at all times.
So if you fancy a day’s sport on this venue or you are running a match please spare a thought for the residents and park sensibly, and never across someone’s drive.
Just a little care and attention parking benefits us all and we would not want to see no parking signs going up.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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