RD-1-2025 Summer League-12th April -Johnsons fishery- Hollywood Bowl

[Leo Martin]

Big Bash Summer league round 1 Messingham Sands Hollywood Bowl 12.4.2025.
The sunshine and dry weather continued for start of the 2025 summer league campaign and 14 names went on Jaspers Friday night wheel of fortune.
The inform Hollywood Bowl was the venue and we had been given  pegs 48 to 74 with another club on the early pegs. Match split with one section on the low number side and 2 sections on the higher numbers.
Match fished well looking at all the results, from the lower numbers you cannot see the other bank so its hard to judge how everyone is fishing / catching. banter is also restricted however this does not detract from this venues capability of catching fish. The Messingham Sands carp are still taking their steroids and not shy of putting up a good fight after their solid wrap round bites.
Winner of round one goes to the inform Tracey Benson who bagged 159-14 to scoop the prize and bragging rights.
Section 1
48 Steve Guy  37-2
49 Leo Martin 42-14
51 John Utting 58-5    2nd in section
53 Keith Smith 52-2
55 Jasper   121-1        section win
Section 2
57 Joe Martin 156-10      section win
59 Mark Radford 75-1
61 Mick Roche 69
63 Scott Barker 46-13
65 Paul Whitehouse 107-2        2nd in section
Section 3
68 Tracey Benson 159-14   match winner
70 John Lanelly 57-14
72 Andy Waite 69—15        2nd in section
74 Steve Curtis 138-10      section winner
Arrival at the lake revealed a wind blowing from right to left however this did not alter my plans for the match. Top 2 + 1 dead depth of 8 feet for hard pellet line. 2 + 2 at 10 feet for a meat line, margin to my left on 2+1 in 3 feet of water to clear tree roots from a birch tree. Method rod and bomb rod to chuck across to the island.
All in and chucked method across to island with micros and Scopex and Liver wafter. I had to wait about 15 minutes before the rod arced around for carp number 1. First 90 minutes was spent on method having to wait a while for bites so I switched to bomb and meat. A couple of bites and fish on this line then no bites at al[. I reckon there was about 20lb in my net for 12:00 however the bites dried up. Moved onto 2+2 line and 1 fish on meat before going onto 8mm hard pellet line 2+1 for a couple of fish. Then it was a case of rotating lines picking up odd fish before having to move on and chase bites.
Margin had been fed most of match and fish came and went but no interested in my offerings. At 3pm I concentrated more on the margin which revealed an 8 ounce Tench, 2lb bream, 2 small carp around a pound and half and a tail hooked 9lber which gave me a merry old time.
Several lost fish 2 took me behind my keepnets, 1 lost margin fish, and also a couple hook length breakages. These fish know their way around.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, maybe I should have been more patient sitting it out on feeder of bomb rod? Maybe the hard pellet line would have been another option to sit on? I will never know I guess.
For those interested, the little legs did make an appearance as my shorts came out in the sunshine however soon got covered up due to the cool wind that  was gusting across.
To my right John Utting set off like a train with 4 fish on his method rod in first 30 minutes. He also had to swap and change his lines from rods to pole and visa versa throughout the match. He also would string a few fish together then have to look elsewhere. It was quiet in the middle of his match however a strong ending with some fish from his margin helped him home. Declaring 40lb the other 18and half pound must have swum in his net as he packed his tackle away.
To my left Steve Guy on the fancied Golden peg had a slow start and it must have been 45 minutes before his rod tip flew around just before Steve plan B was to be used. Steve had a slow first half of the match and had to work hard also swapping and changing lines looking for bites. I believe Steves best line was from method across to island searching along the bank to locate fish and bites and his second half of the match was definitely better than his first.
This end of the lake the fish never seemed to settle down and remain in one place. We all had to search and look for bites, a fish or couple would be caught then they would move on.
A good start to the season and nice to see everyone's weights on the sheet. Next match is at Woodhouse Grange on 26th April which will be interesting. It does chuck some good weights out regularly so we shall see. Last time we fished here is about 8 or more years ago on a different lake. There are numerous rules and a canteen for our breakfast club. I can post rules and menu closer to the match for you. Please book and pay on to help admin.