Bailiff Comments

Week Commencing: Sat 15/03/2025

Back To Front

A tough week for many this week, the last week of eight angler’s before we go back to twelve next week. It was a struggle all week for many and very frustrating to, with fish showing in every swim but the carp not willing to feed. But it got better as the week progressed and the week ended with a total of seven out of the eight catching. Started off very cold at the beginning, some nights down to freezing temps, but warmed up as the week went on, hence the struggle. 

First off we have top rod and biggest capture Neil Ryder, Neil came out 2nd in the draw and opted to fish from the new Bund Swim. Neil began the week fishing one rod at 3 wraps and the 2nd fishing at 6 wraps, Neil was waiting to see what rod would go first, then this would give him a idea of what range to fish. The 6 wrap spot was away first with a fish now as “The Grey” at 51lb 10oz, a great start, P.B to. Now knowing the range both rods were put out at 6 wraps, and he caught steadily for the rest of his session, a total of seven fish was landed with the biggest being “Eye Q” at 58lb 8oz. Neil managed to break his P.B twice this week so he went away with a very big smile on his face. Feeding wise Neil was using the “Hand Of God” to introduce his bait, that would consist of sweetcorn, Boilie and some sweetcorn smart liquid, very simple. For the rig a 4inch spinner, size 4 Krank Kamakura with a little yellow 12mm norther special.  

Over on the other side of the pond in Turtles Corner was Greg Mabbett, who also fished a steady week and who was also top rod matched with Neil of seven fish. Greg kicked off his week with a lovely scaly original known as “The Boxer” at 37lb 8oz. He then went on to catch several other carp with one being just shy of a personal pest, a fish known as “Porky” at 49lb. Porky was the biggest for Greg but was amongst many other nice looking fish. Greg was feeding Creamino, hemp with a fleck of maize, but prepping his bait was key. Soaking his boilie in the hemp juice that comes with the hemp we sell on site for 24 hours prier to feeding, this would change a boilie to a ultra soft boilie with extra attraction over night and im sure this helped him catch. Mushing some of his boiils up to, to help with added attraction. Rig was a multi combi, around 8 inches long to a lead clip, dumbbell topped with fake maize was his hook bait of choice. The go to 21 wrap spot to the dot island was where he managed all his bites. 

First timer Gary Foster in Double Boards, managed to turn up, catch the best looking carp in the pond, dropped the mic and went home. The fish was obviously “Fully Loaded” weighing 53lb 8oz, also a P.B. not a bad first fish to catch out the Road Lake that’s for sure. This was early on in the week and with the fish showing more in numbers in shingles he was on the move, a very bold move considering what he had caught from Double Boards but still a solid bit of angling. Sadly nothing happened in Shingles for Gary but he certainly didn’t go home with the ump! Greg was fishing a new spot from Double Boards, 15 wraps towards the corner of Bachiliars. Spinner D-rigs with a size 4 wide Gap, Manila wafter topped with fake maize over a bed of manila whole and crushed, maize and hemp.

The man in Tea Party 1, Lewis Taggart not only walked round with his bottoms on back to front but he also managed to catch a couple to, and I must say a couple of very impressive carp, not the biggest but two very nice scaley originals. One being “Cassidy” at 28lb 11oz and the other being “Amphibian” at 26lb 12oz. Lewis actually made a short move into Tea Party 2 half way through the week but after seeing his spot slicking in Tea Party 1 he was soon back. Fishing 19 wraps towards the corner of Turtles Corner, it took 4 days before the fish got their heads down on his spot. But when they did they snuffled up his multi combi rigs baited with a match the hatch dumbbell topped with fake maize. Feeding crushed and whole Creamino, monster red hemp and maize. 

Then last but no means least we have farther of Neil, Clive Ryder and brother of Neil, Karl Ryder. Clive in Beach and Karl in Decoy had the great pleasure of watching their brother/son carve them up all week in The Bund. Im sure a enjoyable but painful watch all at the same time and with a blank each on the horizon things were getting a bit hairy. But they both pulled it out the bag like the pair of hero’s they are. With Karl catching one on the final evening from 10 wraps to the corner of Beach, a awesome common known as TKM 28lb. Then Sir Clive pulled it out the bag on the very final morning from Beach fishing 15 wraps towards the tits, a fish known as Hovis at 26lb 8oz. Them two late on fish defiantly took the edge off the drive home.

Thats all for this week, a very enjoyable week with lots of laughs and banter along the way, and even a coupklemof P.Bs. That’s what its all about! 

Until Next Time 

Tight Lines 

Ben  

All this time, I cant help but think if Lewis has his bottoms on the correct way round! Hmmmm I guess ill never know.