Rd-562025-Summer League - 21st June- Messingham / Johnsons Hollywood Bowl

[Leo Martin]

Rd 6  Big Bash Summer League Johnsons Fishery Hollywood bowl 21.6.25

Round 6 of our 2025 summer league and saw a return visit to Hollywood Bowl, with 16 pegs booked it also recorded our first 100% uptake so thank you everyone for the support. Welcomed Bash regular guests, Mick Roche and Phil Codlin making up the full complement, thanks you guys. This time we were handed pegs 57 to 76 which is the full length of the first bank of the still to be completed "Bowl section". The pegging was tighter but the distance between pegs still gives plenty of room and the aerator on 67 has room to allow fishing each peg at the side of it.  The distance to the far bank from 67 upwards is narrower than the earlier pegs and towards the higher numbers does taper in a fair amount to finish up probably 16 or 17m .

Previous visit earlier in the season saw everyone catch so expectations were high. The continued hot ( yes hot, 20 degrees at 8am) dry sunny weather was set to continue with high humidity and potential thunder storms forecast later in the day. The wind was blowing down from low to high numbers although did swirl and was gusty at times throughout the day. Bashers sensibly covered in sunscreen, smelling of Hi Karate deodorant and donning various garments to try avoid sunburn. Hat of the day award went to John Utting for his usual peaked cap with "curtain type attachment" to protect his neck.

Friday night draw by our Topless Jasper showing off his Egyptian tanned upper torso handed me end peg 57 which I was pleased about. Not fished this side before and on arrival you are spoilt for choices on how to fish it. Arriving early lots of bashers in attendance and all admiring the number of fish showing in the upper water either topping of cruising just below the surface.

Peg 57 is on the end of the island and towards the corner. The island is an obvious choice with a couple of overhanging trees, and a bunch of in water reeds to chuck to. There is open water from the island to the reed lined end of the lake, sedges also in the water along this edge as well with various clearings. For a longer chuck there are some trees midpoint along the edge as well. In the corner are sedges , trees overhanging the water edge to the right of the platform and then margin to left at 6 inch tight up to about 2 feet 2 yards from side of lake. Right hand side of platform margin 6 inch which went out to about 3 yards to then drop off. 2 + 1 line in front was 5 feet dead depth, then it deepens off as most of this fishery do.

After a quick look around  and my choices today would be bomb and method to corner of island where fish were showing. 2+1 line in front at dead depth, margin to lefthand side at 2+3 just in front of sedges at 2 feet deep. Fishery micros, wafters, meat, corn, for rods feeding 8mm fishery pellets. Groundbait, hemp, paste, dead reds and worm for margins. Proabably too many options, but it proved to be a requirement later in the day as I had to keep swapping and changing.

Well with our regular whistle blower on tour in Ireland we had a great stand in with Woolfy picking up the mantle and responsibility. Cheers buddy.

Bomb rod with 8mm punched meat to corner of island whilst peppering the area with 8mm via catapult to try and induce the fish to feed my rod arced round violently after 3 minutes and carp number 1 graced the net, second chuck and 2 minutes later a bigger wrap round for a second healthy carp in net and me things game on.  My views of fellow Bashers were limited however I think John Utting also had an early fish. Codders next door was chasing squirrels.

I then sat 90 minutes for the next bite which was hard to figure out and cost me. 30 minutes on bomb, switch to method for 30 minutes with yellow wafter, washter, chuck to island, chuck along side sedges on edge of lake that I had loose fed with 8mm and fish were showing, even tried margin to my left I had primed.  Back on Bomb again on meat then sweetcorn and immediate wrap round as tightening up to tip. Fish number 3, another cast on corn and another fish in net. Then another lean spell. Back on method and pick wafter for a response and a few on this one before I managed to land in the tree opposite. I had been swapping and changing my clipped length and forgot, Doh. Price paid in loosing feeder etc so re tackle and go again. Few more on method and pink wafter however I wasn't getting anywhere near the response that Codders was next door on his rods so time for change again

There was some activity in my margin I had been feeding hemp and ground bait so at 13:45 I switched to my pole line and paste approach for second try of the day in this swim. Float dipped and carp brought into the net. I continued to the end of the match in my margin however you would get a fish then have to swap bait for another, strange. Paste most successful, however caught on corn, worm, dead reds, no consistency and it was swapping and changing all the time to try temp the fish that were there to feed. The carp were milling around all the time and also in sedges, maybe they are getting ready to spawn again and had other things on their mind however next door they were feed, feed,feed. 43-12 for my efforts and another disappointing day on the bankside and thoughts of what could have been done differently to change my fortunes.

If Carlsberg did fishing, then the combination of Phil Codlin and Peg 58 on 21.6.25 would be the answer. A red-letter day for Codders who despite a slow start squirrel hunting put in a great performance to take the match out.

Phil set up method tight across to the island and after some clipping issues and 2 sets of terminal tackle concentrated on catching fish regular from the island. There were some gaps in his bites however nothing like mine and he quickly ran away topping up his net. Chuck, strike , land and repeat. He moved into  his margin swim to his right around 13:45 and caught a few before moving ot his left hand margin close to his platform for a procession of fish to his landing net. Both margins had been primed all day, and the queue of fish were waiting for his hook bait. There were some foul hookers, some lost fish and also some breakages of tackle not withstanding a top kit however not to be phased Phil kept at it to land fish within every put in almost to amas a match winning performance of 179-10. Well done Phil. 

Section 1
Peg 57 Leo 43-12
Peg 58 Phil Codlin 179-10 match winner, well done sir,
Peg 59 John Utting 51-10, caught across but had skimmers moved in so caught form margin with carp turning up late on
Peg 61 Steve Guy 14-3 and sating he is looking for another hobby. Positive consolation is he didn't loose a quid to his good mate Smiler
Peg 62 Steve Curtis 138-11 section win.  Steve lost loads of fish and hook lengths with the wise Messingham fish seeking refuge in the snags along the island.
Peg 63 Mike Roche 101-9 second in section. Mike had watched a recent you tube video and took his chance to try something new. Mussels and blended prawn combo I think on his short pole. Well done sir.

Section 2
Peg 65 Kev Indian Webster 89-12  section winner
Peg 66 Joe no corner today Martin 78-14  second in section
Peg 67 Jasper 68-14
Peg 68 Andy Woolfall 43-9
Peg 69 Scott Barker 23-9

Section 3
Peg 71 Keith Tackletart Smith 33-10  section winner
Peg 72 Paul Whitehouse 30-0  second in section
Peg 73 Andy Waite DNW left early, hope all is well mate
Peg 74 Nige Cooke DNW left early hope all is well mate
Peg 75 Kris Rodgers 24-8

Very close battle in middle section, a lot harder in the end section with fish hard to come by even though wind blowing down that end of the lake. The weather did give us 3 short showers, and no lightening. This brought a change on temperature and humidity. At least no thunder storms of major Big Bash drowning as we sometimes get. 

Overall decent weights again from this lake and fishery, the fish maybe going into spawning mode very soon with the hot  weather and look to be pairing up and gathering in groups but this in no way takes the performances away from the brown envelope winners.

The fishery whilst a few snags against the island presented itself in very good condition. Good access, park behind your peg etc. Some pegs a little steep to access but taking your time works. The surrounding countryside is very peaceful and full of birdsong chirping away merrily, did not see any swallows, swifts and sand martins which seem to be missing this year although nice to see 3 crows chasing a loitering buzzard away from their territory. The latter having to flap and fly acrobatically instead of using the thermals to avoids the much smaller crows.

Also a lot of very complimentary comments from those who visited the bait shop at Messingham on the newly laid tarmac road to the venue. Top job George and his team.

Thanks to Jasper once again for organising the match and draw.  Also Woolfy for his timekeeping. Steve Curtis having a rest this week as the Messingham lads conduct their own professional weigh in

Next Big Bash match is at Bank End on West Lake on  5th July. Please book and pay on to help admin.

Also names being taken on the forum for 2025 winter league so numbers gauged and venues can be booked.
 
Please add a few words to share your match and what worked and what didn't for you on your day.

[Leo Martin]

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