Round 2 Lodge Farm 20.4.2024 Signal Lake

[Leo Martin]

AquaStim Big Bash summer League round 2 Lodge Farm signal Lake 20.4.2024.

Friday night draw saw 19 Bashers enter the wheel of fortune, decision made to peg one side which meant once Joe had his usual corner peg,  one was left for the other 18 Bashers and Steve Curtis took the honour.

The weather forecast was kind in that after a couple of frosty nights, rain and a cold wind we awoke to another cold night however the sun was shining. The forecast was sunshine and clouds with a slight chance of rain, however a cold wind was blowing down the lake from low numbers to high. Joe on peg one also had very little wind and ripple free surface, Steve on peg 20 had waves and a very cold wind blowing down to him.
Signal lake is a rectangular shape, pegged both sides about 10m apart, they earlier numbers, 1 -20 are on the railway bank and park behind your pegs. 20 to 40 are in the inner bank between Signal and Thistle Lake and a walk from the ends of the lake to these pegs.

Driving down the now "spring is here" green tree lined country lanes toward Gainsboro was first test of the day. A bloody big Bambi popped out the hedge to my side of the road about 20m I front of me and sauntered across to the other side before disappearing and leaving me cussing.

Arrival at a busy Lodge farm and dipped all nets for a disinfecting, draining them off and pellets bought then off we go to the lake. A natter with my neighbour on peg 6 owd miner Nigel and tackle to the peg. Shock horror, my landing net had been left draining on the net dip, dam I can't see that still being there. Second shock horror my accessory bar had been left at home, another oh dear me moment this is turning out well. Box set up as best as could and fortunately my net adjustment attachments still swivelled to enable no fixing bar issue to be got around. Nigel then cheered me up no end with a cream eclair, what a lovely gesture from a lovely man. Despite all those curry bullies in the club (you know who you are) somebody knows and eats proper food.

Set up early and lots of various group chats going on along the bank as more summer league members joined us this week on the bank.
Pegging was close but it also enabled match commentary and banter to take place from Jasper 3 pegs to my left on 4, Smiler on 5, Nigel on 6, Keith 8 and Glen on 10.

Plan today was feeder and bomb rods plan A across, plan B ¾ across pole lines dead depth 2+1 at 7 foot deep and margins to left and right against rushes. Advice from our Big Bash mid-week angling members Glen and John who fished the peg was ¾ across on method with wafter, margins dead reds to right hand side. 2 +1 dead depth pole line.   Fish were showing full across inn front of rushes'

Whistle off Glen and away we go.

Max topside of Glen first fish of the day, good to see you bank side and catching fish again. Corner peg Joe also into fish early as expected.

Bit of a drought in my section, Jasper got one but not much happening. The match on Thistle had lads catching on pole so switched to that but no bites all time. Day panned out trying everything in the way of armoury, baits, wafter colours of rainbow and flavourings as well. We was told salted caramel was the bee's knees but nope not I my peg. "Special wafters" also didn't work either, my very long lean spell continues. Total of  3 good bites, around lunch time I had a bite and angry carp on micro wafter from far bank, I followed a lead off Nigel and a skimmer on my pole line on expander and a second carp 2/4 way across again on yellow micro wafter for 8-14. Margin to my right (banker for skimmers) produce zilch. Margin to my left a couple of indications but no real bite. Both margins had carp in knocking all rushes most of the afternoon but I could not tempt them out at all.

Jaspers match was slow starting then he cranked things up on his feeder across and last couple hours plundered margins both sides on worm for a very respectable 76-4 and second in section. Before the fish turned up he even tried his waggler which is not his favourite method so must also have been clutching at straws. To rub salt in Smilers wounds he said 2 minutes left shall I catch another one, yes you guessed it.

Smiler had a frustrating day with a single carp landed but had earlier on released 3 more all on his feeder chucking across. He has a good run of skimmers on his pole line but they were the micro type. He wet inn his margins (same as Jasper next door) but again tiny fish and no carp at all.

Nigel struggled early on and changed to his pole line on expander to land a large carp. Another gap in fish and a second arge carp was had. He then went on to fish his margins on small cubes of meat with a few more smaller carp to record 37-6, well done mate. I got nothing from that side margin I had fed so well for him.

Keith to my left had a few across and persevered on his rods most of the match. His friend Bernie had a wander up as I guess he was bored watching Steve Curtis and Andy Waite empty that end and it was an immediate transformation. The Bernie inspired bites resulted in a fish every cast in for Keith for a much welcome period of fish. Few more lean spells and his margin tried for no reward but chucking across with dead reds on hook of method feeder gave Keith a section winning 62-6. Well done

Glen on peg 10 had a difficult first half of the match with plenty of no bites all time comments as you would expect. His reward came late on fishing margin towards empty peg 9. He lost a few, some fowl hookers and also caught late on his 2+1 line to record 45-14 and a second in section result.

Section 1 winner was corner peg Joe who caught steady most of the match alongside the rush lined edge for 87-11. We really need to discuss some sort of draw handicap at our AGM, or he needs to select our lottery numbers.  Well done buddy. Second in section was Jasper peg 4 76-4.

Section 3 saw Max fishing on peg 11 and he weighed in 80-14. Good to see you and I hope you enjoyed being out with us. Second in section was Tracey Benson on peg 15 with 65-11, well done sir.

Section 4 winner (and match) was our golden reel man Steve Curtis on end peg 20 with 147-10. He also lost 13 carp in the reeds as well. Second in section was Andy Waite on peg 18 who I guess was quietly confident until Steve's weight went on the scales. Andy weighed in 132-15, he also lost 4 fish well done mate. Second in section on peg 19 Steve Guy with 29-11 who also took Smilers quid.

Strange match results big weights surrounded by 20lbs and less, happiness and frustration side by side but I think everyone enjoyed the day. I like this fishery, clean pegs, various methods of fishing available on most lakes and pegs, park behind your peg as well with every short walks and good roads to get there. Oh and honest anglers throughout the complex as my landing net was at the side of the net dip for me to collect on my way home. Your thoughts also appreciated on the day, what baits and methods used and also the fishery as it helps bookings going forward.

Thank you to Jasper for his organisation and running the show. Steve for weighing in an Glen for timekeeping. Also everyone else for turig up and making an enjoyable day.

Take care of yourselves and see you in 2 weeks at Grange Park on Heron. Please book and pay on in a timely manner

[fishfinder]

Peg 20 for me on the wheel of fortune had to be good,end peg will have to ask joe how to fish them.On arrival looked a difficult peg thick reeds just 3m from my peg i feared the worst could be a smashing day,geared up on pole and feeder as a knew it would be hit and hold to land anything.Started across and caught from the off managing to keep them out of the reeds,as the day progressed i had to move nearer the corner to get bites and started to get smashed up,had a few on pole and paste then 5 in a row decided to go straight though the reeds,ended up loosing 13 fish but caught a few as well,happy to finish in front of andy who i thought had about 170 when i said 140 for me but was shocked when he wieghed 132lb to my 147lb

[jasper31]

Another horrid draw for me last in bag was peg 4 and fishing against end peg Joe I knew I was battling for 2nd in section.
An hour in and not had a bite, Paul Whitehouse and John Utting in pegs 2 & 3 had a couple of fish each but Joe was catching.. so thought this match was a dropper. I just tried to be patient and stick with method across and keep firing 6mm pellets down the middle. After 2 hours I had a small carp and an F1 from the far bank so decided to go on my pellet line. 6mm banded and dipped in black magic syrup and 1st cast F1, this was a start of a good run of with 7 or 8 in the next hour. This soon died after an hour so went back on far bank and caught a few small carp and a skimmer 😂.
With 2hrs to go I reckon i had 25lb so it was margin or bust 3 very large cups in both edges left and right... large worm and first drop in carp no.1 - so fed again and went to the other side and got carp straightaway. Did this for rest of match swapping sides and catching one before feeding and moving sides.
At the all out surprised I only had 79lb as thought it was nearer the 90 to 100lb but the fish did seem to weigh a lot less than expected. I was close to catching Joe in the corner but realistically knew I would and I got what I wanted with 2nd in section.

I will say the more times I go to lodge farm the better I'm liking it. Good fishing, parking behind pegs and no silly bloody rules