Round 1 Springvale Newcastle Lake 6.4.2024

[Leo Martin]

AquaStim Big Bash summer League round 1 SpringVale Newcastle Lake 6.4.2024

So the hibernation for some of the Big Bashers ended and they turned out in style for Round 1 of the AquaStim Big Bash 2024 summer League At SpringVale on in form Newcastle Lake. With some guys on their jollies 16 Bashers went onto the Friday night Lucky Wheel and 4 sections of 4 made the split. Pegging was tight and 20 allotted to the Bashers by Sue, 2 other matches also being held on the lake making it very busy and compact.
The weather however matched our Summer expectations with bright sunshine in the morning and temperatures achieving 18 degrees however Storm Kathleen unleased a "gusty" wind to switch off the fish, effect bait presentation and make things slightly tougher for us.

Driving to my peg a smiling Keith Turner on peg 17 was looking resplendent in his new 2024 summer league Big Bash attire greeting us along with handshakes and welcomes all round as it was the first match of the new season.

Peg 3 was my office of the day with neighbours Steve Guy on 2, Jasper on corner peg 1 and Tracey Benson on peg 4. Our side being on the furthest bank from First Spring and peg one closest to the house.
My set up was maggot line top 2+2 at 11 oclock, pellet line 2+2 one oclock, top 2 "margin" line about 4 feet form bank at 18 inch deep to my right, Bomb and feeder to chuck to island. Maggots, hard and soft pellets and corn.

Chucking out the bomb to set my clip I pulled back and foul hooked a carp resulting in a 2 inch scale on the hook, next chuck wind caught the bomb and lost it on island, doh here we go,  new set up required.
All in came down the bank at 10 am and Japser paid the price for  his hearing aid being on / off with letting us hav a 10 minute start before realising the match has started.

Maggots loose fed and in over top with a red and white combo on an 18 hook fishing full depth around 3 feet deep. First 3 fish lost so I had to up my laccy and then we started. Steve and Tracey had fish in the net as the Ide were having a chomp.

Up to around 12 oclock the wind was off our backs, sun was shining and the fish were feeding and in our section we were all enjoying the bites. Then the wind changed to left to right and as the knowledgeable Mr Guy predicted it was getting gusty, very gusty. The ripple became waves and the water was towing right to left, sun went up behind clouds and it also chilled off a little  resulting in fish turning off. Search was on to try find them and coax them to feed again.

Feeder to island, pellets, corn, margin line but it was a struggle. The maggot line had died big style and never recovered. Finally weighing 35-14 for a mixed bag of Ide, chub, tench, skimmers, crucians and one stockie carp, thanks for coming.

Jasper on corner peg 1 after giving us a ten minute start took 89-8 to the scales. Despite lots of encouragement from Steve and myself to use the famous Wilson wand chose to spend most of his time the pole on silvers. He did have a good run in his margin towards the corner as well.

Steve was on short pole, long pole, method across and when the fish went he settled on method to his long pole line where a few were picked up.  Steve also  massively effected when the wind arrived.

Tracey on peg 4 was on short pole till wind came, he then went on his method across and fished top two + 2 towards spare peg 5 and using corn the carp came in and kept his weight ticking over to score 64-1 for second in section. Well done and I hope you split your winnings with your daughter for her coaching during the match.
Second section winner was chef Indian on peg 9 who weighed in 91-14, second in this section was Richard cooke on peg 8 who scored 65-2. Well done guys.

3rd section was Andy Waite on peg 12 who fished method and wafter to point of island to return 107 -2. On peg 11 was keith Smith who returned 67-1 for second in section.
4th section produced match winner Paul Whitehouse who despite a 11 lb knock back weighed 131-2 off peg 16 chucking method to gap in islands  using wafter as his bait.
Section winner was Bernie hook who chose pellet waggler and 8mm pellet to record 59-12, second in section Big Glen who recorded 58-9 off peg18.
Well done to everyone else and as our first match it was nice to see some fish in everyones nets.

Massive thanks to jasper running the faultless show again, a totally ixed weigh in squad but special mention to lickle Cookie for doing the honours with weigh bag. Thanks also to Glen for timekeeping despite the wind drowning out his whistle.

Special thanks to Steve Guy and jasper for organising the new team clothing of which numerous packages were handed out.
Great to have everyone back again, and the lads coming out of hibernation like coiled springs wanting to get some action.

Line of the day goes to Smiler who after walking down the bank with his greetings, hand shakes and welcomes commented it was like  traveling a ward at the "Northern General" which all our ailments .
Next match is at Lodge Farm at Scooby Top Signal lake on 20th April, please book on if coming so  admin work can take place.