A visit to Two-Island lake, Float Fish Farm

Peg 27, Two-Island, Float Fish Farm
Fenland Rods' first match of the year at Float Fish Farm, who had suggested that we move it from Wagtail, which had not been fishing particulrly well. As chairman, I was happy with that, as I'd seen that redent matches on Two-Island had been producing some fish. And on the morning the eight of us had an extra frisson of excitement: working out where the pegs were situated. So far as I could make out peg 33 is no longer there, and I couldn't find 25 either. No matter - we all finished up somewhere!

Before the match there was the amazing sight of fish tails waving to us near the island halfway between Martin Parker on 3 and Mike Rawson on 30. They were there all day, but I didn't see the splashing you'd normally associate with spawning.

Nothing on a rod
My peg 27 had poduced some fish on feeder or bomb to Kevin Wilmot a day or two earlier. So I started on the feeder, which was what seems to be the main method on these pegs, which were all at the same end of the lake. One hour I spent, casting every ten minutes from the deep water (allegedly up to 15 feet) to the shallow water near the island and in front of me, near a wooden post. Not a touch. I walked up to Kev Lee on 24, who had had an 8 lb carp casting to his island. So I spent another half hour on feeder in the shallow water.

Next I spent half an hour on the bomb; then an hour on pellet waggler in open water fishing pellet; then almost an hour on caster shallow on the pole, when I had several bites which were almost certainly from roach. But not a fish. Now the match was well past the halfway mark.

Fish!
I then went out in about seven feet of water on the pole, to a spot I'd baited with groundbait hemp and sweetcorn a few times. And second drop in came a 7 lb carp; followed by one of 3 lb, followed by a very big foulhooked carp which I played for about 15 minutes. I saw it on the top a few times, but eventually the hook pulled out. Then bites stopped, even though I rebaited the spot accurately with a bait dropper, and eventually I felt I had to fish a simple 2+1 swim in front of me, using corn over groundbait.

Callum - carp and  bream for second spot.

That swim brought an F1, followed occasionally by bream to 1 lb on corn, and a small roach or two on maggot. By the end of the match I reckoned I had about 20 lb, and wished I'd started there at the start, as I had in my mind that I could hve had over 50 lb.

The weigh in

Kevin had another good carp over to the island, but then found carp in the margin on paste, weighing in 41 lb 5 oz. I had 25 lb 20 oz, and in the corner peg 34 Callum had caught on The Method, and pole near the reeds, for 53 lb 10 oz, with Mike having a dozen tiny perch which he didn't weigh.

Opposite, Martin Parker on 3 won with 58 lb 13 oz, having lost some carp on feeder hooked near the island, and then ading some later from his margins. Dave Garner and Allan Golightly didn't have a bite, but on 1 Frank Snow, with 4 lb 2 oz, will have an £8 section envelope waiting for him when I next see him, winning his section by default (as did I). I quite enjoyed it, but overall it was a disappointing result Meat is banned, and we were told on the morning that mussel is also banned, even though I spoke to three anglers who say that it's used in matches there regularly. 

Marks out of ten
I went with a plan to fish feeder and bomb, but I have never fished there and it's possible that if I'd stuck to the plan I would have contacted fish. However it didn't feel like that as I had no liners at all. If I'd changed earlier and got a feel for the pole I think I would have done much better, particularly loosefeeing caster for the silver fish. I think I was worth 6/10. 

Next match is on Cedar, Decoy, when I'd like to fish anywhere but the middle pegs either side; but I'd like the East bank with the wind in my face.

THE RESULT