Rd-11-2025-Summer League - 13th September- Lodge Farm - Long Island

[Leo Martin]

Big Bash Summer league round 12 Lodge Farm Long Island Lake 13.9.2025

An Autumnal turn in the air with the night-time temperature dipping into single figures. There has been quite a bit of rain, blustery winds and the long hot summer seems a distant memory. Shorts replaced by jogging bottoms, hoodies out and coats at the ready. The days forecast was mixed, with the threat of heavy showers and rain late afternoon to drench us all.

A disappointing turn out of 12 anglers for various reasons, the club still has to pick up the costs of the 20 pegs booked but we soldier on. Friday night draw and peg 94 was drawn from Jaspers spinning wheel. On looking back at previous results, I had fished the peg next door and struggled last time. Also from previous results it was not the worse area though and arriving at the peg it offered several options. The lake had been pegged with the early and late pegs left out as these were thought to be the weakest area which was at Lily end of the lake. Previous match results had thrown up 100lb+ weights along the bank so everyone was hopeful.

Numerous anglers milling around café, car park, dip tanks and pellet hut when I arrived at 7:45. Fishery full with numerous clubs and anglers focussed on the day ahead. On Long Island, Bashers to the lake early and everyone set up so were milling around awaiting the all in whistle. Coach Scott on the receiving end as Joe sat on his Scott's box,  played and "tampered" with his rigs set ups with some fine tuning.  Andy Waite was even sat on Jaspers box playing with his set up also.

10:00 arrived and we were missing our whistle man and time keeper ( missing in action chasing catfish in France) so John Utting kindly appointed yours truly and the match was on.

Indian  receives the first fish prize, closely followed by Joe ( full end of lake) Martin and Jasper 3rd to catch a fish. Several of us watching in awe, looking around for the no bites all time prize's. A strange start to the match really, some were catching whilst others struggled.

Even Andy Waite at 11 oclock even went into his margin ( very early but desperate measures) and was then soon on walkabout as Smiler, missing his carer Mr Guy, got into difficulties loosing his landing net head trying to land / or loose a fish around his keepnets. Andy to the rescue, loaned his landing net to help Smiler out. Becoming a regular occurrence this one after landing Cookies fish on Willows the other week!

There were a lot of frustration amongst some of the Bashers as they were struggling for bites on their lines, feeder, bomb, short and long pole lines all being tested and rotated. 2pm some fish moved into margins and all of a sudden fish were being caught by those had been struggling for bites. In contrast some Bashers had been consistent in their catching and building weights in their nets.

Peg 79 (Thistle side, Lily End) Michael Roche catching steady throughout the match and I am told his newly favoured method of Mussels was responsible for a return of 89-10 and section win. He is loving this method and also getting results.

Peg 79 Indian fished method and bomb but the telling change he made was meat on his Bomb line to result in a weight of 70-1. If only he had tried Meat earlier on the match?

Peg 81 Smiler, an eventful match not only with the landing net head incident. Several lost fish also added to Pauls woes and he played the DNW card. A better day awaits Wednesday buddy.

Peg 83 Andy W8 . A frustrating match for Andy who struggled for indications and bites on his favoured rods. He tried his margins at an early 11:00 such was his frustration. A walk about to Smiler, then another to John Utting and even Indian I think. In his margin at 2pm he engaged a very old lake warrior and the fight was on. Lots of grunts and groans as he lifted his landing net from the water to shouts of just "look at this kipper". How big is it shouts a concerned smiler, it must be 18lbs says Andy. Re calibration required mate, as it did weigh 15lb 13 oz, well done mate. This margin fish was closely followed by numerous others of a smaller stamp but good fish, and they did catapult Andy to a second in section with 81-12.
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Peg 85 John Utting 39-11. Some on bomb from island chucks, some on pole line and went in Margins at 2pm but unfortunately the fish were not in same quantities as his close neighbours, Andy and Scott each side of him.

Peg 87 Scott Barker. I am sure Scott wont mind me saying it was a very very slow start for Scott. The frustration led to him casting a little astray and at one point I was going to move my car to safety. Searching he peg, and pegs close by he eventually got his wrap around and then after another long wait caught a second. Again the magic 2pm mark and he went into his margin to his right (he had tried his left several times earlier) and fish on. This one was closely followed by another and another with the sight of Scott stood landing fish and also stood up so he could see his float bury was a very regular sight. Another man for the mussels I believe, and his weight was a commendable 68-13 and section win. Also, the vans bragging rights over his chauffeur on the drive home. Well done.
 
Peg 89 and corner peg Jasper. Got his head down with favoured rods and caught constantly for a good part of the match. When the sun shone and wind dropped was a turning point as bites dried up. He went on his pole but catching a lot slower than the rods. Fishing along the end bank reeds and with wind blowing in early on in the match, he recorded a match winning 130-4. Well done buddy and hope the fish bite as regular in France for you.

Peg 91 in the corner on the railway side was Richard Cooke fishing with us again. Unable to chat with him during the match due to trees so it was a little like naughty boys corner however it was a favoured peg as Joe caught well from it last time and the wind was blowing in to it. Richard managed to eek out  60-4 for a second in section. Well done.

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Peg 94 Leo, set up bomb and method rods, pole line at 2+2 - 6 feet dead depth for pellet and paste. Margin lines at top 2 to my left and 2+1 under tree to my right. Margins were nearly 3 feet deep, not ideal I suppose but hopefully holding fish later in the day.  Method to island first off for no bites, bomb to island and after 30 minutes rod ripped round for a 3lb F1 then nothing. I went on 2+ 2 line, pellets nothing. 2+2 paste and some small indications which couldn't hit. Rotated onto rods again then paste line and it was small skimmers the culprits of slow bites. Tried this with lighter elastic but bites very irritating, and dish small. I did foul hook something very larger but after 5 minutes it took off and swam free. Grrr loss number 1.
The 2pm mark I saw something in margin to my left and I managed to hook a munter of about 8lbs which was netted safely. Back in again and a second fish was hooked and landed for about 7lbs. Then it went South. The next bite resulted in the fish returning to the reeds it came out of and I had to pull for a break. Same again was soon to follow and I think in the 90 minutes or so left I managed to land 3 and loose 6. If it was a boxing match the referee would have stopped it, or my corner would have thrown in the white towel. I did keep going for them as they are big lumps to be had so you can quickly build a weight, if you land them. Despite the losses and swear words, I carried on as nothing was coming off the other lines so it was go where they are and pull to turn them away from the reeds.  33-3 and thanks for coming, Paste and Mussels ( yes me as well) were the best baits.  I did try wafters, fishery pellets, oiled pellets and coloured and flavoured pellets on rods and pole but not much reaction at all.
   
Peg 96 Paul Whitehouse 66-8 . Paul caught most of his early fish on rod to island. The fish were fairly consistent with some gaps as weather changed. He didn't have a clear margin line so short and long pole were tried. He also fed a line mid width which resulted in some fish later on. Best result for Paul was double banded 6mm pellet.

Peg 98 Steve Curtis 119-9 and section win. Pegged between end of an Island and aerator Steve chose his usual approach of pellet and paste. Feeder and pole and I'll let him add his notes on how the fish were caught. Consistent once again and  missing next match due to another big money final, Fingers crossed for you mate. 

Peg 101 Joe ( full end of lake) Martin 100-2 and not just the corner but the whole end of the lake was Joes today. Set off at pace and I believe caught throughout the day to achieve a second in section. Joe also had to rotate methods to keep the fish coming. I guess he had earache off Scott who won his section.
Well done everyone, despite the slow start for some the fish turned up in margins and the overall match weights became respectful.  Around the area it appears some other weights were lower than expected so the weather changes effected other matches. Our overall results looked good in comparison.

Thank you to Jasper for all the work you do in admin of the match, Thanks Steve for weighing in again and myself for the timekeeping. Also thankyou to those who supported the club and fished the match.

Next Summer league match is on 27th September at Barnburgh Lakes on middle lake. A few years since as a club we have fished this one so hopefully a good attendance for it. Please pay on early to normal paypal account to help admin as Jasper is off to France and I am sorting the Friday draw and day out. Thanks.
Also can those who fiish Barnburgh regular please share basic info, depths, fish stamp, methods, barrow or park behind peg etc to those who have not seen the place before let alone fished it?
https://www.facebook.com/barnburghlakes/?locale=en_GB

There are a Wrinkly knock ups Wednesday 17th September at Springvale and also Saturday 20th September at Lindholme, details on forum.

Please share a few lines of your match at Long Island on the forum for those who struggled. What worked, methods, baits and how did your day work out, frustrations or joy?

[fishfinder]

Another good write up leo.My peg 98 was on paper a poor draw but fish have fins and you never know.Feeder across for a slow start 1 after 20 mins then another followed by a skimmer then quite,joe meantime was catching well on pole and meat,was getting a proper battering first half of the match,had a few decent skimmers on paste and odd small carp,back on feeder towards the aerator picked odd one up but lost too many,broke under rod on a big one, bad angling bullying it.and pulled out of several,at around 2.30 when opposite started bagging in the edge i tried but got smashed in the reeds so abandoned it.back on feeder and caught well for a hour f1s and carp,joe had slowed down second half and it was going to be close.Pleased to have overtaken joe but felt i fished badly in parts and sould have had more fish.Last match there, i was on peg 100 and it was difficult all around that area so its was a pleasant surprise to see how well it fished this time.