Black-eyed pea the big surprise

Matchwinner was Stan Hotchkiss with 188lb 5oz from peg 13. He feeder fished close in with pellets and corn.

Second was Steve Smith with 161lb 12oz from peg 12 and third Bob Mills with 130lb 6oz from peg six.

Special mention should go to Danny O’Brien for catching a huge 20lb 3oz carp on the feeder.

The biggest surpise though was that it was taken on a Black Eyed Pea!

His monster of a fish takes him straight into first position in the biggest fish of the season competition and with only one match to go at Gedney Hill he is almost certain to win.

HOTPOINT

I was with the Hotpoint lads fishing the Horseshoe Lake at decoy on Sunday and I have to say it’s been a very long time since I fished in such poor conditions. Heavy rain nearly all day and a strengthening wind as the match progressed ensured it really was very tough going.

Top rod from peg 13 was Vince Stapleton with 72lb 6oz. He worked away without a brolly up all day catching off and on with a small feeder close in.

Second on peg 18 was Pete Howson with 56lb 7oz and third Kev Schneider on 54lb 15oz.

JVAC

The Oak Pool at Decoy was the venue for JVAC and ‘Mr Consistent’ Chris Saunders won again. He topped this match with 169lb 9oz from peg one caught on a short pole line with pellet and cat meat.

Second was John Savage (130lb 12oz) and third Dave Corcoran (130lb).

OVER 55s

Another angler in top form is Pete Holland, who won the Over 55s match on Six Islands with 91lb 9oz.

He drew peg 11 and caught a good stamp of fish on a short pole line with pellet in the margins.

Second was Keith Rayment on peg 13 with 82lb 11oz, all caught on a pole and paste approach, then came Mike Mitchell on 78lb 5oz.

FLOAT FISH FARM

There are so many anglers turning up for the Float Fish Farm Fishery Wednesday Over 50s matches these days that it has to be spread over two lakes.

In the latest match top rod on the Wagtail Pool with 67lb 13oz was Dave Schwinger from peg 11, He on a small feeder and in the margins.

Second on peg four was Bob Burton with 46lb 14oz followed by Vince Hull with 55lb 6oz.

Over on Two Islands, Jay Richardson put an impressive 106lb 11oz to the scales to win from peg 29, netting carp to double figures.

Second on peg seven was Gus Gausden with 98lb 11oz followed by Danny Carlton with 98lb 7oz.

ROOKERY WATERS

There was another good turnout for the Rookery Waters Over 60s Open on the Raven Lake and just a few ounces separated the top two anglers.

Pete Holland on peg 21 took the honours with a very hard- earned 72lb 7oz caught on expander pellet and maggot on the hook. Runner-up Will Hadley had 72lb 1oz on peg 12 and he was followed by Chris Saunders on peg two with 63lb 2oz.

In the Saturday Winter Qualifier spread over the Jay and Raven Lakes it was tough going in the windy conditions.

On the Jay Lake, Vinny Easey won with a fine all-carp bag of 124lb 7oz from peg 11

Second on the lake with 123lb 15oz was Dennis Page on peg 22 with Vince Cross third with 116lb 13oz.

Over on the Raven Pool it was Billy Reynolds leading the way with 132lb 12oz from peg 12 followed by Richard Bond on peg two with 121lb 8oz and Mark Pollard with 85lb 3oz.