Rd-2-2025-Summer League - 26th April- Woodhouse Grange - Heron

[Leo Martin]

Big Bash Summer league round 2 Woodhouse Grange Heron 26.4.2025.
We welcomed Chris Rodgers into the Big Bash family this week at the Bashers marmite venue of Woodhouse Grange Heron lake for round 2. Weather dry, temperature reported to be increasing cloudy, overcast and slight wind.
17 names in the hat however having been awarded from 32 to 52 pegs we had this generously increased to 25 to 52 by the bailiff on the morning so it was action stations at 7:45 for a walk around the lake to drop out unfishable pegs and reduce the number of 27 down to 17. Turns out 7 were found out unfishable for one reason or another and 3 dropped to give space. Pegs in the hat and an 8am draw lakeside. Both Jasper and myself agreed the Friday night draw is much easier and the way forward if we can get pegs  handing in advance to the club. With this venue however some pegs were deemed unfishable / unsafe  and tight in corners hence second reason for pegging on the day.
Lake was shared with a second club of about 12 anglers who were on the central bank and to number 22.
Breakfast club all fed in café and smiling so guess they were happy with the meal. Small breakfast reported larger than some other places large breakfast.  Nice to see Gavin and Jacko who fish the venue regularly in the opens and love it there, I guess that's the Marmite factor of the place.
Anyhow back to the match. Everyone distributed them selves and near enough parked behind their pegs. We had one late arrival who did a tour of Hatfield curtesy of SAT Nav but Lincoln's finest miracle baits Basher made it with time to spare.
Peg 47 was my office for the day, happy as it was next door ( 48) to where I fished last Saturday with the 2 x Johns and everyone caught a few fish. How different a day can be, fishing never fails to deliver surprises as each day is different.
Plan was 2+3 maggot and pellet lines. Margin each side, although a lot less room than last week as I hade Neighbours Big mark  on 46 and "Coach" Scott on 48.  Also hybrid feeder rod to chuck all the way across as there was vacant pegs opposite me. 
All in shouted and feeder chucked across whilst feeding lines. Gave this about 20 minutes for no indications at all then went on maggot line. Small roach , 2 x small perch. Last week the maggot line was very productive, some small fish but also large skimmers and F1s. Today however nothing but small stuff so binned this off to pellets as lads close by were catching odd fish on these. This didn't work either, tried 6mm hard, 4mm hard and also expanders. Back on feeder to peg opposite and got a wrap round for a welcome F1.  A second F1 came in maybe 30 minutes later, then nothing. I tried my margins which I had been priming since 10:30 around 12 o'clock, fish were there last week, this week nothing.  Decided to set up Bomb rod and fed an area midway across with pellets and corn. Spent rest of match rotating lines and baits. Pole line on maggots very small fish, on pellets not one bite to write home about just small knocks of little fish. Margins on corn and paste, not one bite. Bomb line, nothing on pellet however 2 fish on corn. Hybrid feeder across to peg opposite 6 fish, micros and 6mm red robin pellet. Scales showed 14-2 and thanks for coming. Totally different day to last Saturday's pleasure session, what worked then did nothing today at all. There was a lot more room and only 3 of us on the lake though as well.
My section was from Tracey Benson on 43 through to Steve Guy in the corner on 49.
Peg 43 Tracey Benson fished pole again all match on various lines and was catching consistently for a period of time. 27-3 for second in section.
Peg 45 Kev "Indian" Webster ended with 21-3. Kev caught an F1 on his first put in on the pole and his hopes rose however there was a wait for his second and 3rd. Kev pursued on the pole but around mid way set up his trusty bomb rod and chose to fish midway across. Kev had a few on the bomb but also had to rotate lines searching for fish. Most of his success was on the 2+2 pole line. Margins gave zero response.
Peg 46 saw Mark Radford as my neighbour and chose a pole approach on pellet to glean 25-4. Several pole lines were used, margin tried for no bites all time. Small method also tried fishing in several areas for no bites. Mark did have a couple of runs of fish but they would feed then soon move off for a long lean spell. Top Marks Mark for your patient approach.
Peg 47 Leo 14-2
Peg 48 Scott Barker. Pole approach at 2+2, 2+3, Margins and feeder. Despite working his peg the arrival of Scott's first F1 was late in the match. He did catch solvers however the fish were simply not playing ball for him. 6lb 12 was on the scales and a hard day at the office for Scott.
End peg 49 saw Steve Guy in residence for the day. Steve chucked his feeder across and along the reed line end of pond line where he manged a few fish. His best work came form fishing his pole to the reeds and had some good runs of fish including a couple of larger carp, the fish came and went throughout the match with the weight climbing in Steve net. 47lb tipped on the scales for section win and second in the match. Well dangled Steve, Smiler will be proud of you. Double corn and maggots were Steve,s best baits.
Section 1
Peg 25 Jasper 24-11
Peg 27 Andy Waite 34-12 Section win
Peg 29 Joe Martin 34- 8 and second in section by 4 ounce
Peg 30 Chris Rodgers 13-3
Peg 31 Keith Smith 33-10 ( lots of small silvers)
Section 2
Peg 33 John Lanelly 11-7
Peg 34 John Utting 19-14
Peg 37 Steve Curtis 64-1 Match win, well done Steve, top angling once again
Peg 39 Paul Whitehouse 28-15 1st in section
Peg 40 Mige Cooke 22-4 2nd in section
Peg 42 Andy Woolfall 10-6.
The other match opposite also had some that struggled and the lads on the open also said  it had been a long day. Strange thing this fishing lark how feeding changes and trying to work things out.
One other comment to watch out for is whilst you cannot use Wafters, you are allowed allegedly to use washters. Also the micros do not form very good to mould to the feeders. Minimum water or else you get mush / paste. Suggest method mix in future as  I had 3 x attempts to get them right, still not good.
Next Summer League match is on 10th May Grange Park Heron Lake, please pay on and confirm to help admin.
Wrinkly knock up matches on forum for 14th and 28th May, please add names so venues can be sorted.