MKAA VETERANS – ALDERS FARM FISHERY
11TH APRIL 2012
WEATHER CHANGE HITS FIRST COMMECIAL OUTING. For our first foray to a commercial fishery hopes were high that the recent form that this venue has shown would be continued. With a few members dropping out through illness we had a fairly healthy 27 today and as it was decided that the event would be a pairs event only, everyone was hoping for a draw with the commercial experienced amongst us and by having an odd number I again dropped out of the draw for partners. The excellent recent results that this venue has produced were not sadly to be experienced today. A big drop in temperatures, cold rain and frosts all sent the carp back to winter mode and bites were to begin with for most hard to come by. First action I saw came from the recent in-form pegs on the higher numbers and Ian Greenhood on peg ‘unlucky for some’ 13 found some early fish on corn – (I had completely forgotten his coaching skills and successes that MKAA juniors have achieved – think he’ll have to have a handicap next time). Eventually the frost gave way to sunshine and for some it was almost a return to summer like conditions –for us in the shade however it was sensible to have delayed putting the thermals away! Gradually, the fish came to feed and on a variety of methods – Mick Harnett caught on the pellet waggler, Rupert Ash found that by adding the GOT baits cloud additive to his pinkie and worm offerings worked, Mick Wilson started to put fish together on pellet and Paul Barnes found the same off his peg on the dam wall. Barry Witteridge had a couple of early carp on meat before having to then wait for more samples to show. Paul Chapman fished his usual tidy and highly competitive match but like a good many of us could not keep the fish coming. Terry Lancaster on peg 10 which is not a recognised peg found the same problem I had encountered on day 1 of the Easter festival when small roach and Rudd invaded the swim and no matter what you did you just could not get rid of them and get through to the carp. As the last 2 hours came, Ernie (not an end peg today-surprise surprise) got into action on his paste line at 5metres and Pete (Mr wind-up)Whatley found that by going out another 2 sections of pole that the fish were there all the time just waiting – proves you have to experiment if you are not catching and Austin (MR Artful) Maddock found a rare bream to add to his carp ( must be the same secret squirrel bait he uses to excellent effect on other venues) So, for today’s results, although it was a pairs event, I’ll list the top 3 individual weights:
1st – Paul Barnes 49lbs 13ozs, 2nd Ernie Sattler 28lbs 2ozs, 3rd Mick Wilson 26lbs 13ozs
PAIRS 1st Paul Barnes and Pete Whatley 69lbs 15ozs 2nd Ernie Sattler and Rupert Ash 43lbs 5ozs 3rd Barry Witteridge and Ian Greenhood 43lbs 1oz 4th Mick Wilson and Dave McClellan 40lbs 8ozs
At this point I have to offer a huge big thank you to the fishery owners and to Trevor Price of GOT baits for making this a day to enjoy and for their hard work and effort in taking tackle down and helping us old codgers more than we have ever experienced before anywhere. Next week sees us back on the canal at Deans Road and the Galleon. Now that the parking at the Galleon is so restricted, we will have the draw at Deans Road as well.
Tight Lines
Roachman