AAF Gp 2 Match 2 Tockenham Reservoir

 I was only able to book in for this match after I had to cancel 3 days up north chasing carp, but I managed to get some bait sorted and a new pole so I would be sorted for the day.  All my research told me that I needed to be drawn in the main bowl of the lake and that I would be chasing skimmers and bream with perch as a backup. 

Team captain Tree asked that I do the draw, so after the natural knockout draw that saw me competing against Glyn (The tench charmer) I got to stick my mit in the bucket. Typically I drew in the arm and didn’t fancy my chances of any bream, this was compounded by a couple of guys fishing on the point opposite so my feeder plan was changed to a roach/ scratching plan. 

 

 

The swim was quite tight with a branch above me to the right and a reedbed encroaching on the left so I decided to fish a long pole line to the right, feeder straight ahead and short pole in the reeds chasing perch. I mixed a slight fishmeal mix for the feeder and a roach pole line groundbait mix that I planned to use with leam to focus on the particles rather than the food content in the groundbait, however, I only had 2 very small fish drop off my rigs from the long pole line so enough about that.

I fed 6 balls on the long pole line then started 2-minute casts on the 36 turn feeder line, it was a good call not to fill it in as I was getting the odd indication, but the wind and lack of practice was making accuracy difficult. I had a few small roach and perch on the feeder before having a look short, and I managed a 3 perch for close to 12 oz in about 5 minutes.

This set the tone for the rest of the match as I would plunder the short perch line and then rest it by fishing the feeder for 30-60 minutes.  I really need to practice my feeder fishing more and learn what real bites look like. At just after the halfway stage the wind had picked up that much that both myself and Greg next door packed out long poles away due to the branches coming out the trees, but it made the day easier.  I had left my feeder rod in whilst I was doing this and as I was returning to it, I noticed that it was pulling round steadily.  I hit the bite and got all excited as I contacted with a decent fish, after a few nervous moments on the braid I was slipping the net under a near 2lb perch, BONUS.

The wind worsened and the fishing improved further down the lake as some bream were being caught and I was glad when the all out was called as we were now racing a fast approaching storm. The scales showed that my roach and perch net went 3.250Kg (7lb 3oz) and this turned out to be enough to not only win the section but also progress to the next round of the naturals cup that will be held on the K&A in January, sorry, not sorry Glyn.

 

 

What would I do different:

I think that a second perch line, although I started one in the last hour to my right and it was poor, may have seen a bit more weight in the net and practicing my feeder fishing with braid so that I get a better understanding of the bite indication and improve my casting accuracy. 

Rigs used:

Pole long heavy:
Elastic: Preston Slip number 5
Line: 0.13mm Powerline to 0.10mm Stream

Hook: 18 Drennan Silverfish Maggot

Float: 2g Drennan GTip 2

 Pole long light:

Elastic: Preston Slip number 5
Line: 0.13mm Powerline to 0.10mm Stream
Hook: 20 Drennan Silverfish Maggot
Float: 1g DH 23 shotted with strung number 9’s and 10’s
 
Pole Worm:
Elastic: Yellow vespe 1.2 meters long
Line: 0.19mm Powerline to 0.15mm Colmic Stream
Hook: 3 Tubertini 175
Float: 1.5g Drennan AS6
 
Feeder:
Rod: 3.3m Matrix horizon xs with 1 oz tip
Reel: TDM 3012 loaded with 0.12 braid and 8lb sensor shock leader
Rig: Running feeder link, 0.15 or 0.13 florocarbon to 18 or 16 B911 F1
Feeder: 20g Guru small X change or 25g small slimline cage