A more civilised start for the Pole Match, match programme almost complete, an Otter on the pond?, work parties restart in April

A more civilised start time, but few fish meant an early finish

(Pole or Whip Only Match : January 30th 2022)

A more civilised start time for a scheduled four hour match. Roger Pilling was appreciative. Those attending agreed to review the end time after three hours in case fishing was hard. It was.

 

The same four members who participated in match 7 arrived to battle the conditions. Variable temperatures during the week and a hard overnight frost did not inspire confidence. Setting up was swift as poles and whips were being used. However, Roger started fishing 30 minutes behind every one else as he took his time setting up his "vintage" Shakespeare pole that he dusted off from his attic last season.

 

Clear water, light wind, sunny intervals made fishing as hard as match 7. Andy Weavil drew swim 13. He froze in the shade, did not see a fish and did not weigh in. Steve Edge on swim 15 fished the long pole to no effect. Dropping a rig directly in front of his swim saw fish being caught. Alternating to the left or right by a metre or two saw more bites. Nothing of size but 12 fish weighing in at 6 ounces.

 

Roger Pilling on swim 16 saw no action at distance but also caught fish close in. Well 2 fish at roughly 1/4 ounce in total. Frank Deadman had to cast around the back of the scaffold pole to the right of swim 17. A feat in itself but by doing so he caught eyes and other silvers to amass 5 ounces.

 

As the fishing was so hard, the match ended after 3 hours. Just a Robin looking on

 

  At the time of writing, we expect the same four to fish match 8 on February 6th. The forecast is wet and windy.

 

An Otter on the South Pond?

An Otter which was seen about a month ago around the North and South ponds may have settled in. A partly consumed carp was found on a bank of the South pond during January, which is a usual sign. Otter spraint has also been found on one of the fishing swims. There was some discussion, involving the EA, at the end of January as to whether it might be a Mink rather than an Otter. A paw print was photographed in the frost one morning which was smaller than an Otter print. It was a false alarm though as on closer examination the paw print proved to be that of the local moggie. The Otter may just be passing through, as no other partly consumed fish have been found. Alternatively it may have settled into the North Pond, where there is much less disturbance and there are plenty of fish for it to eat.

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March to April activities

Only one match has still to be fished for the current season. The final match is the combined Points Only and Pairs matches fished in March. Activities in April and May are work parties to get the South Pond ready for the summer. Although there are no matches in April and May, leisure fishing continues.

 

 

Joining the Club

If you are interested in joining the club please contact our membership secretary Cathy Naylor on 07934-895513 for an application form. Alternatively, applications can be made by downloading a membership form from the website and sending, with an SAE, to our membership secretary (details on the form and on the web site). The membership year runs from mid-June.

 

Membership applications for the 2021-22 season are now closed, but will reopen in May for the 2022-23 season, details on the website.

 

Membership is open to anyone who lives in Bishops Waltham, plus a number of Associate membership places (for those living outside the Parish). Priority is given to Parish membership (especially juniors), but anyone living outside of the Parish wishing to join should contact Cathy for an Associate Membership place.

 

Club web site

For more information about the club and its activities, the club's web site can be found at: www.bwpfc.org.uk

Steve Edge and Barry Jerome