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ANGLING

 

All the up-to-date news from the 2006-2007 Boston and District angling scene

with Barry Mallett

 

Index

June 2007

 

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Review for June 25

 

Griggs and Winter make pairs progress

 

Not as much rainfall in our area last week, as was suggested earlier. Compared to other parts of the country we again got off lightly as particularly the south western areas seem to have copped for our share this time around. Having said that, there was still sufficient to keep most waterways up and coloured and the Hobhole Drain in particular resembled a nice shade of milk chocolate on Friday.

 

Into the weekend and Saturday brought us only the odd short heavy shower. But Sunday, for most, developed into a thoroughly wet and miserable day with much more serious stuff arriving during the evening and into Monday. Those earlier conditions certainly suited the bream on the River Witham where good catches of large models, as well as their smaller cousins, have been taken from their favourite haunts such as Schoolhouse Bend, Timberland and Reedy Bay, to name but three. All this, though, will come to a grinding halt for some days to come as anglers on Monday morning (June 25) are faced with at least 3ft of rising floodwater and all installed platforms are, therefore, well under water.


Great news from the Maver Pairs competition, which took place at Lakeside fishery, Melton Mowbray on Saturday. Here Boston lads were in action and gave a good account of themselves as the combination of Mark Griggs and Steve Winter finished second in the match to qualify for the final at Larford near Stourport. With no previous practice, some improvisation was needed and in Mark’s case he almost got it spot on. Using plenty of maggot feed and fishing well up in the water he took carp to 3lbs to amass a good total of 77lbs to take third place overall. Steve employed similar tactics in the other part of the lake and actually won his section with 25lbs to help them to achieve this result against top class opposition.


Sibsey AC tackled those swollen waters when they paid a visit to the Swandyke Lane area of the Hobhole Drain on Sunday morning. Quite a number of fish appeared to be in residence but proved reluctant to feed. So much so that the direction of the match was decided by a single small bream which gave Pete Coulson victory over Ian Singlehurst, who improved his position by one place over last week – Derek Smith and Maurice Sharp tying for third. Results: 1 Pete Coulson 2lbs 14ozs; 2 Ian Singlehurst 2lbs 4ozs; equal 3 Derek Smith and Maurice Sharp 1lb 7ozs.


No such problems for Stickney AC who were pegged a little further upstream at Ings Bridge. Here those larger specimens to 4lbs were more cooperative and Ryan Mountain claimed an easy victory with 9 such models using the quivertip and worm method. John Briggs and Frank Scrupps also got in on the act finishing second and third respectively, John just getting the better of Frank with the extra large fish taken on pole and maggot. Results: 1 Ryan (Yappy) Mountain 31lbs 1oz; 2 John Briggs 12lbs 12ozs; 3 Frank Scrupps 11lbs 4ozs.

The cemetery length of the Bargate Drain also provided decent weights over the weekend and on Sunday it was the Coach and Horses AC turn to try the venue. Danny Pettigrew junior gained his revenge this week and won the match with the help of a 5½lbs bream, keeping Billy Coope in second place. To add insult to injury that match winning fish was apparently foul hooked and without it his weight would have fallen well short. For his part Billy chose the pole, chopped worm and caster method and was rewarded with two decent tench in the 4lbs class to go with a few skimmers and perch. Results: 1 Danny Pettigrew junior 13lbs 14ozs; 2 Billy Coope 12lbs 13ozs; 3 Mick Corkrum 4lbs 14ozs; 4 Lee Feary 4lbs 12ozs. Next Sunday Windsor Bank section of the Bargate Drain.


I briefly digress to the junior schools match, which took place on the Windsor Bank section of the Bargate Drain last Thursday evening. Just for a change the event got away with a dry day as nigh 40 youngsters tackled the venue. Considering the match is limited to just two hours some good weights were recorded and very few dry nets. Team-wise, the Sibsey B team of Hannah Kitchen, Tristan Simpson and James Wood came up trumps in beating the Fishtoft A team of Thomas Vamplew, Elliot Drew and Christopher Binns by the close margin of just 30gms (1oz). These top two places were mainly down to the efforts of Tristan Simpson and Thomas Vamplew for their respective teams and to take nothing away from those, the third place obtained by Hawthorne Tree B was perhaps the best team performance on the night.


Young ladies certainly show their mettle these days and Shannon Smith gave a good account of herself by not only adding a good weight to that team effort, but also by becoming the leading lady angler. She was ably supported by sister Courtney who also gained the youngest angler trophy at the tender age of 7, followed by Lucas Wright who added his fair share of fish to their combined weight.


Teams: 1 Sibsey B 1kg 840gms; 2 Fishtoft A 1kg 810gms; 3 Hawthorne Tree B 1kg 530gms. 
Individuals under 10: 1 Thomas Vamplew, Fishtoft A, 1kg 760gms (age 9), 2 Tristan Simpson, Sibsey B, 1kg 560gms (age 9), 3 Lucas Wright Hawthorne Tree B 370gms (age 8).
Individuals under 12: 1 Thomas Tamberlin, St Thomas B, 1kg 270gms (age 10), 2 Shannon Smith, Hawthorne Tree B, 820gms (age 10), 3 Alex Simpson, Sibsey A, 655gms (age 11).
Youngest angler (Stanwell Cup): Courtney Smith, Hawthorne Tree B (age 7), 340gms.
Lady angler (President’s Trophy): Shannon Smith, Hawthorne Tree B (age 10), 820gms.

Help on the night, given by Brian & Ann Balderson,  Daves Rance & Morley, plus Jonathon Taylor, Gavin Butler, Sean Higginbottom and Jerry Clifton was much appreciated and many thanks went to the following donors of tackle prizes: Boston and District AA, Boston Angling Centre, Pilgrim Tackle, Boston Lady Anglers, Boston Men’s National Team, Mr Mallett and Mr Clifton.


Fishtoft AC found conditions much more to their liking on the Tydd Gote Drain where a big bream of 5½lbs had a huge bearing on the day’s result. Most members weighed at least 3lbs but Mark Naylor was the fortunate angler as he added another 4lbs or so of small roach and skimmers to that bream for his convincing win. Gary Shinn was the unlucky second placed man, bringing a good net of roach and skimmers to scales, as did Rod Asher for third spot. Results: 1 Mark Naylor 9lbs 14ozs; 2 Gary Shinn 7lbs 9ozs; 3 Rod Asher 6lbs 6ozs; 4 Sean Creasey 4lbs 8ozs. Next Sunday (July 1) meet Nunn’s Bridge, Hobhole Drain 7am.

 

Review for June 18

 

Bream catches highlight of otherwise testing time

 

A somewhat drier weekend than was suggested from last week’s weather forecast, as only the odd heavy shower came along to briefly disrupt proceedings. Trouble was that most local waters were already showing extra water and colour from the recent downpours and running off at a fair rate of knots, which is not conducive to good catches at any time of year. In comparison to our northerly neighbours, both in this county as well as South Yorkshire, we thankfully got off very light as angling activities in some parts of the latter would have taken place in the street!

 

And so, it proved to be a poor opening weekend as most pleasure anglers struggled for very little reward and clubs matches were invariably won with just the odd big bream or tench. An exception I hear was of one or two good catches of bream on the cemetery length of the Maud Foster where up to 15 large specimens were taken in one sitting on Saturday.

 

A good case in point, as regards club events, was the Sibsey AC match on the golf course section of the Sibsey Trader Drain, where a single tench of 4lbs 8ozs was enough to bring an opening win for match organiser Colin Peltell – a small perch making up the rest of his catch. Next up was club secretary Maurice Sharp who took the second place with help of a decent bream approaching the 3lbs mark, after which ounces were good enough for third, in the shape of newcomer Ian Singlehurst. Results: 1 Colin Peltell 4lbs 10ozs; 2 Maurice Sharp 3lbs 13ozs; 3 Ian Singlehurst 13ozs. Next Sunday (June 24) the club will fish the Swandyke Lane section of the Hobhole Drain.      

                                     
Despite the poor water conditions compared to last year, my suggestion that the Windsor Bank section of the Bargate Drain would be the better area, certainly proved to be the case on Sunday. Indeed the Fishtoft AC match exceeded most expectations and came up with almost double on last year’s equivalent fixture.

 

Amazingly under these conditions roach was king as Ben Brighton’s winning catch was almost exclusively of that species, and just as surprisingly, were all taken on the pole and hemp combination. Match secretary Mark Cook chose a different approach and claimed second spot with a decent net of small skimmers, as was the case for third placed Doug Sawer who has recently returned to the fold. Results: 1 Ben Brighton 8lbs 3ozs; 2 Mark Cook 5lbs 10ozs; 3 Doug Sawer 5lbs 6ozs; 4 Brian Blackamore 4lbs 9oz. Next Thursday members are asked to meet at peg 74 Horncastle Road 5.30pm for an evening sweep and next Sunday 7am at the Little Chef, Algarkirk for a trip to Tydd Gote.   

                                                   
On a similar theme to the previous report, the Coach and Horses’ AC match on the Stonebridge section of the Sibsey Trader Drain produced no big fish this year, but overall catches were an improvement on the equivalent fixture last year. Not for want of trying but Mark Beasley quivertip and worm method produced big perch and eels instead of bream for a long overdue victory. Noticeably roach again were a feature and this time it was Danny Pettigrew Jnr. who produced the goods for the runner-up spot as last year’s winner Mick Corkrum finished not too far behind with three nice skimmers. Results: 1 Mark Beasley 5lbs 3ozs; 2 Danny Pettigrew Jnr. 4lbs 3ozs; 3 Mick Corkrum 3lbs 8ozs. Next Sunday the club will fish the railway bridge section, Horncastle Road.

 

Review for June 11

 

Counting down to a new season

 

We’re nearly there boys and girls. Just a few more days to wait before you can be let loose on local Boston waters once more on June 16. Not really sure what sort of start we shall encounter this year as the close season has been one of very mixed weather – high summer arriving in April and almost autumn like in May. Lately, of course, we have seen temperatures on the rise. But the weather seems to remain fairly grey and damp for early June, which – if nothing else – should make fish much more active and give anglers a fighting chance of reasonable catches come Saturday.

 

Indeed all reports suggest that once again the place to be will be the Windsor Bank section of the Bargate Drain where plenty of fish of all sizes have been seen topping. Before we progress I must mark the passing of local Boston butcher Herbert Dawson who was virtually a lifelong member of Boston and District Angling Association. Not only that, but he was for many years one of their vice-presidents, and since retiring from active office, became a life vice-president of some 20 years.

 

In recent times he liked nothing more than a quiet session on one of our local drains in pursuit of those quality roach, which can only be tempted by that sort of approach, seeds baits such as hemp and tares being the attraction. Prior to that he was an accomplished match angler and spanning the years from the 1966 national championship team right into the 1980s he consistently represented Boston in those classes of matches. On behalf of the many who remember him with some affection, goodbye my friend.

 

Moving on to an important point though, and we must make sure our documentation and tackle are in order, as first of all a rod licence (for those aged 12 and over) should be already in your possession before venturing onto the riverbank as Environment Agency bailiffs will be very active from the off. Secondly, a Boston and District Angling Association member’s book should also be considered as at £16 per adult or £10 concessionary. This gives season-long access to more than 60 miles of Lincolnshire waters and must represent the best value for money throughout the whole country – considering that £3.50 will only buy you one temporary member’s day ticket on these self same waters when the local bailiff pays a visit.

 

On the subject of tackle, many anglers will have theirs in tip-top shape, having continued to visit the many private waters throughout the close season. But for others, a close inspection of line, reels, rod rings and pole joints is essential in order to avoid disasters when hooking, and trying to land that first big bream or tench.

The Coach and Horses Angling Club have already completed a pre-season fixture on the Westwood Lake at Wyberton where small carp and silver fish were the mainstay of most nets, biggest going to just 8ozs at best. Much lower weights but a similar result to the corresponding fixture last year as Danny Pettigrew junior scored a repeat victory with Mick Corkrum again second, Billy Coope taking third on this occasion. Results: 1 Danny Pettigrew junior, 26lbs 10ozs; 2 Mick Corkrum, 21lbs; 3 Billy Coope, 15lbs 10ozs. The club will start their campaign on open waters with their first fixture being on the Stonebridge section of the Sibsey Trader Drain on Sunday morning.


As regards competitive events the junior arm of the Boston & District Angling Association will meet at the footbridge Windsor Bank 6pm June 20th for the first of their usual Wednesday evening matches. Following this the junior schools match will also take place on the same venue on the Thursday evening June 21, meet also swimming pool footbridge 5.30pm.


The popular Monday evening series on the Bargate Drain organised by Dave Rance, will also continue and those intending to take part should meet Windsor Crescent on Monday June 18 at 5.30pm. At this point I would remind club secretaries that I cannot provide match reports for this website unless they contact me with reports and details of their latest club events by Monday evening. I am not given to fictional writing on this particular subject. Enough said?