Big Bash Angling Club

Book me off please visiting family in Stoke that day sorry

yes please

Yes for me and Scott please

Yes for me and Scott please

Yes for me and Scott please. Is this the rod only match?

Phil codlin as a reserve please

Yes please

Another good write up leo,being my neighbour for the day i have not too much to add on my report peg 4 cant say its a bad peg as i believe its the fairest pond ive ever fished and fish can rock up on any peg.Started across and caught a few then the wind and undertow increased so changed to a heavier feeder without much success picked a few up but steady,went on 8m line and had a run until
 that dried up then last hour caught to the platforms,steady all day rotating to far bank to pick odd one up.tried in edge but only 1 carp on paste.Seems to have fished all around the pond with some decent wieghts.

AquaStim Big Bash summer League round 3 Grange Park Heron 4.5.2024.
Friday night draw saw a reduced number of 17 Bashers enter the draw and we welcomed back Andy Woolfall who had not wet a line since last August so his excitement was high. 3 sections was the split and the whole of Heron pegged accordingly so space was plentiful and the lake with its numerous options can be won from anywhere.

Temperatures slowly going in the right direction, forecast cloudy, overcast some sunshine but a cold wind following on from a downpour during the night. wind blowing down form the cafe to last peg numbers. Warmer climes must be coming soon as swallows, sand martin's have arrived and were performing their flight acrobatics to entertain us. Sand martins look to have took up residence on the ends of Osprey Lake, with burrows in the exposed sand banks.  A welcome sight.

Some confusion at the draw for one angler who after dropping off our Big Bash coach I am sure he drove around the lake twice looking for a vacant corner peg but to his dismay, none was available. Yes make a note of this lads, Joe was pegged away from one of the 4 corners available, how can that happen?
All around the lake the margins were full of small fish up to early sex antics. The larger fish have not started yet but as the lake warms up, they will soon join in. The lily pads have also not rose yet to offer cover so they are playing in the bank side.

Peg 6 home office for the day, our own fish finder Steve Curtis on peg 4 and Keith Turner on 8 each side of me. Simple set up method to chuck across primarily, bomb rod as well. Margin each side and top 2 + 1 in front to dead depth. Fishery hard and soft pellets, corn, paste and a selection of Aquastim wafters.

All in and most anglers drew their rods out to chuck across to the island, some tight and some just off the shelf. Paul Wilkinson & Jasper were the first to wet their landing nets. My tip went round just before Steve's and Keith's and that would be the only victory of the day for yours truly. Steve and Keith were going fish on fish together as I couldn't win a bite. I moved onto my 2+1 pole line for no bites all time so back waiting on the method. I did break on one fish losing everything so changed my set up to a heavier feeder and stepped down size 16 to 18 hook and this did increase my bite and fish ratio. Should have changed earlier. I think the tow was moving the original feeder and the fish tight across and looking for a static bait. This also would be true of my pole lines as underarming the method to my 2+1 feed area also gave me some fish. Not one bite from 2+1 line and no bites or indications from margins at all. The few fish I caught were all on method chucking across and over my 2+1 line and most of these came when I reduced hook size and increased feeder weight to anchor it to bottom and where it was chucked.

As said Steve and Keith were fish for fish in first half of match, then Keith seemed to lose his fish for a period. Steve lived up to his name and went look elsewhere in his swim and yes the fish finder found his fish. Underarming short, also to platforms 3 and 5 and back across to island. The platform swims paid off and wafter on micros delivered a match win with 110-15.  Interestingly when I tried method to platform 7, no bites all time, similarly Bernie on peg 2 also tried to follow Steves lead to platforms again no indications at all. That's why Steve is called fish finder.

Keith on peg 6 had a slow second half of match and tired all options, managed some fish in side with dead reds over micros but a brood of ducking's found his feed and cleaned up that trap. Keith weighed in 40-3 for second in section.

Section one winner is our own Big Bash coach who bucked the trend by fishing method on pole at 2 +2, 6mm hard pellet bait I think and chucking hard pellets over the top weighed on 50 lb dead to secure the section from peg 10. Well done Scott, shared bragging rights in van going home mate.
Bernie on peg 2 searched and searched his swim but had most of his fish on meat on the bomb rod chucking along end of the lake.

Last pegs 35 John Utting and 36 Steelcowboy Max had a quiet start to the match. Max found fish in front of him on pole line and was one a bing for a long spell before losing the fish completely and a very lean last hour and half. John on the other hand had a very slow start then went on his left hand side margin around 2pm and reaped his patient rewards. Fishing that tight and long he was having to stand up to see his float he brought out fish after fish to chase Max however the earlier spell left enough in the nets. Jon ended on 51-15 and Max on 73-8 which was enough to secure a second in section. Joe corner peg Martin on 27 won the section with 78-4.

Second section winner Indian on peg 19 with 80lb and closely followed by chairman Jasper on peg 25 with 79-6, so so close and well done to you both.

The lake has fished really well, everyone has caught fish and good back up weights being caught. The fish seemed to come in and then leave swims before returning and no stand out baits as some have caught on hard pellets, corn, meat, soft pellet, even Smiler  has some on Paste although he was denying it as he does. Whilst some have caught others using same bait in pegs close by have not had a bite on them but fish on different baits. Previous match weights were high on Merrys bank side however this match shows a different score. That's why its fishing and not catching fish and it shows a very fair lake venue.

The café and car park was rammed early in the morning and all lakes had matches on which is a good reward for the owner who has invested and improved this fishery no end.
Thank you to Jasper for running the show again, Steve for weighing in and Glen for his timekeeping. Everyone else you make this club what it is and its great with the turnout, banter and support for each other.

Next match is on the 18th May on Hollywood Bowl and unfortunately for me I cannot attend. If you can please book on and make payments to help with the admin it will be appreciated.

Also as we approach June there is also the Big Bash Legends weekend fast approaching with a round 5 and a point's match on Saturday and a mystery pair's match on the Sunday. The weekend is a big hit with the club so please make every effort to attend. Booking in posts are on the forum awaiting populating.
Please post a short note on how your day went, baits, tactics, tackle notes all appreciated.

sorry I cannot make it