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Melton Ponds same peg same weather!

Well haven't been out fishing for a while so went to the club match at Melton Ponds near Barford and drew the same peg I drew last year!

It started to rain and got steadily worse until it was really chucking it down but we all caught fish and the match was a success.

I had 22lb of Carp on the feeder using hair rigged luncheon meat and sweet corn for some rod bending action, the carp here are big and they fight harder then most so strong line and hooks were needed. Pond 3 fished the best with Paul Dean winning the match with over 65lb of fish on the pole. Had a job writing down the match results in the pouring rain and was very glad to get into the car and dry off but I had a good day and caught a few fish so I was happy enough. Next match will be at our club pit at least I wont have to drive to far to get there!

Tactics today were a small Korum Carp feeder with a B911 size 14 hook hair rigged to take sweet corn and luncheon meat with some sticky ground bait mix and micro pellets. Bites were sharp hard pull rounds and I set my drag nice and loose so they could tear off with out breaking the line and hook themselves. It was fun, but it wont beat catching bream on the river on the start of the fishing season, rivers rule in my book.

Active Norfolk Club Mark presentation evening.

Apart from feeling horribly car sick this meeting was well worth going to. The meeting in Derham football club was to present awards to the clubs in Norfolk and Suffolk that have gained the club mark status. Amongst the club awarded  were Bungay Cricket club and I was able to have a chat with them to find out how gaining club mark had helped them. One thing that was pointed out to me through the presentations, was how club mark had enabled all these clubs to obtain help with there juniors sections and developed the structure of there clubs so they were much more efficient and well organised.

As the Bungay Cherry Tree AC continues to work towards gaining the Club Mark award it is my hope that our junior section will continue to grow in numbers and that we can offer training and coaching to the youngsters in and around Bungay who need help with their fishing skills. Not just youngsters but those who have been away from fishing for a time and would like some help getting back into it. We begin this task on July the 26th with our National fishing week event, Hey Lets go Fishing day. This day will give everyone who wants to have a go at fishing the chance to take part and spend time with a fully trained level 2 angling coach and then have the chance to follow this up with training events and matches to test and develop your skills. Its all free and everyone who would like to take part is welcome see here for details.

And on a personal note I was sad to see that Walpole trout fishery has been turned into a commercial carp fishery, as if we don't have enough of them already! It used to be favourite place of mine to go trout fishing. I don't mind commercials that have a good mix of fish but I feel the poor old carp is being turned into the equivalent of a McDonalds beef burger. I have seen many of them with there mouths ripped to bits there fins ruined and its all rather horrible to see. But that's just my opinion I don't like seeing fish mass produced to be hammered day in day out for profit it all seems rather ugly. So I will be down at the river this season in some secluded quiet spot with a few cows for company and maybe a kingfisher to brighten my day. See you on June the 16th.

Glasses on Fire

After a lovely long slow root canal job in the dentist chair followed by a drive with the mother in law and a 3 hour wait in the hospital I was not having a good day. The next day I was down the club pit clearing out wood and burning it on the fire, the sun was shining I could see the carp surfacing in the middle of the lake and things were looking better. While throwing a branch I then managed to flick my glasses off my head and into the roaring fire  which caught them and sent them to there doom! So off to spec saver for a 4 hour wait to get another pair of glasses. The bad news I cant see to tie my hooks on, the good news my tooth ach is gone. Roll on June the 16th!

Working at the club pit, we need more volunteers!

Well there is tons to do still so I have been down there with Eric clearing away trees and dead wood, not much chance to go fishing with all the work to do if we are ever going to get the fence up. I would really be grateful if a few more club members could spare some time to lend us a hand, I know your all busy but if you can spare some time we can get this job done faster. The hard bit is finding enough people to help when we have cut a tree down its easy to cut it down and get it out of the water but it takes twice as long if we don't have enough volunteers to clear away the branches with 4 more people we could really make some progress so how about it Saturdays 10-5 if you can come we would love to see you. Cheers.

Its no good I must get my fly rod out and go trout fishing

In case you didn't know I used to live in Bristol years ago and fish at Chew Valley and Blagdon for the trout on a regular basis. I have always been an all-rounder when it comes to fishing and enjoy a break from the match fishing and river fishing now and then to cast a fly after a wily old trout or two. To date my best trout is just over 5lb for a rainbow trout and just over 4lb for a nice brown trout. My favourite method is fishing with a team of buzzers with a slow figure of eight retrieve waiting for that exciting yank on the line as a trout take my buzzer and puts a bend in my rod. I also love catching them on the dry fly but still find it hard to avoid striking too soon when they come up to take the fly. So there may be some serious fly tying going on this evening followed by a few trout in my freezer by the week end.

Angling Unity and the NFA conference = a very long drive and a very tired Club secretary but...

It was worth it to hear Terry Fell the president of the NFA say he was 99% certain that by the end of 2008 we will have one voice for angling I certainly hope so indeed. Do your realize that our local sports organisations do not have angling on there agendas? I attended a meeting of the Waveney sports partnership a few weeks ago and despite the fact that angling is one of the largest participation sports in the country and that the EA rake in 20 million from us we were not even represented until I went along to see what they were doing for angling. That is awful and is a clear example that unless angling clubs start to get in there and make themselves known all the funding and support being handed out will go to more proactive sport clubs and we will lose out once again.

I fully support the NFAs attempts to get angling on the map with the work of the Angling Development board and the introduction of the national standard for junior clubs called Club Mark its high time anglers stood up for themselves and got on the playing field. I went to our local youth club last week and enrolled 17 people on the national fishing week event in one evening! these kids were keen to learn and start fishing and this rammed home to me the message coming from the NFA conference to participate in the push for unity and development.

I am sick of seeing wasted opportunities there are so many kids out there who could become brilliant anglers but they are not being given the chances and anglers are constantly having to bow down to others to get what the help they need. Well heads up everyone, its our very important Annual General Meeting coming up this week on Friday the 25th of April 7.30pm at the Bungay Bowls clubs and I really want to see you there fellow club members. Be a part of it all and show your support for the work this club is trying to achieve please, its the one day of the year that your presence and voice can really count so make every effort to be there if you love your fishing and want to support the club.

Tight lines

 Mark.

Fish'o'mania at Barford Lakes

Had a great day down at Barford helping to steward the event today, got to meet Tommy Pickering and Steve Ringer and watch them in action and also had the pleasure of weighing in hundreds of pounds of big carp from Colton Lake. I got covered in fish slime but thoroughly enjoyed the day. Watching Steve ringer feeding his peg while still playing a 15lb carp was something else and its always an education at these events to see the pros in action. Here's some pics for full match results go to our links page and click on the Barford link.

Tommy Pickering                     Steve Ringer                         Winner Lez Thompson 157lb  Jim Borrowman                 Ashley Presteg

Good Progress being made now at club pit.

Johns amazing digger in action down at the club pit today we are now able to really get going with the work down there thanks to this digger and Johns great generosity in helping us out. We are steaming ahead clearing paths and removing old trees around the lake. I reckon at this rate the club pit will be amazing when we have finished all we are doing. But we still need more hands on the deck so please come down on Saturday and help us. Oh yes and don't forget the club newsletter is now available for you to down load just click here or go to the news and updates page.

Big Carp spotted at club pit.

Hard to see I know but they are there biggest one just to the left, and look at the stretch of water we have behind the club pit ooh I want to go fishing...

While down at the club pit today with Eric and Gary doing some midweek work we were very excited to see much to our great relive several large carp one about 28lb possibly 30lb and several more around the 20lb mark. I feel a degree of excitement and worry however because I know these fish could also become otter food if we do not do something about it. I am looking therefore to remove these fish and move them to a safe stock pond until the fence is in place as I see no point in letting them become otter food this year and will be in touch with our president to discuss this with him. This is good news though as it means the otters have not managed to get to these big fish yet and if I have my way they wont get them at all. If any club member would like to help with this then meet us on Saturday please we will be having a very big work session down there and need as many of you to help as we can and with the weather improving it is a good time to get down there. I am excited and pleased with the efforts we have made so far it is really beginning to pay off. I just wish more club members would come and help us, so if your reading this PLEASE come down and give us a hand.

 The work is going to go on for the rest of this year every Saturday so don't ask when because I just told you every single Saturday from 10-3pm all you need to do is turn up or call the secretary and tell me when your coming.

We have some great ideas to make the place better one of which is to make some nice wooden benches for people to sit on and admire this lovely lake if your any good at making rustic garden furniture then come on down. Another idea is to use ash tree poles to strengthen the banks and create some more fishing swims to replace those old ones that look so tatty. A shed for the anglers to use is already on the way to being finished and the whole place is really beginning to look so much better for all our efforts. I think I am falling in love with the club pit! Why don't you come down and share your ideas with us we would love to see you. All the best Mark.

Eric on the chainsaw, Mark on the strimmer, Lloyd and Sam on the Burger bar, its the club pit work party in action again...

We did really well today, had some more willing workers and got lots done clearing away dead trees and old barbwire and rubbish. I got busy trimming all the nettles down and went all round the lake, saw several carp moving as well which was encouraging. Its great to have us all working down there together, we all clearly enjoy the work and friendly banter with each other and to me that's what being part of a club is all about. There really are some great people in this club, Frank came down and helped lend a hand rolling up old barbed wire, Colin gave us a brilliant strimmer that really helped us get to grips with the nettles and weeds, Lloyd and Sam are superb at keeping us all fed and watered Eric is making a great job clearing the pathway for the fence and the juniors like to come along and do there bit as well, its a great team effort and one that really makes a big difference. Remember every Saturday we will be down there from 10 to 3 the more club members help us the faster the work will get done so lets see some more of you down there. And don't forget to bring some burgers and buns with you!

What a great bunch of blokes, especially the one making the tea!  Clear of brambles in 2 hours and the path way for the fence is coming along.

Work continues at the club pit then a spot of carp fishing.

Down to the club pit on Saturday for some serious trimming away of the bramble bushes with a great strimmer given to us by a kind club member for the club to make use of. Eric, Lloyd, Sam, Andrew, Gary, Alex and all of us made good progress today clearing away trees and brambles ready for the fence to go up. Then I went off to Top Croft fisheries for a bit of carp fishing as the weather was really nice and sunny for a change. Had a good day catching carp on paste, it was a pleasant if expensive days fishing and our junior club member Alex had a great time catching his first carp on the pole. Were back down the club pit this Saturday so hopeful we will see you down there.

Carp caught on paste just grind up some sinking pellets in the food grinder mix to a paste at the venue with lake water to a smooth paste and fish it on a size 12 hook no shot on the line with a long bristle pole float at dead depth. Feed sinking pellets with a pole pot and carp on!

Foul weather mysterious returning trophies and club pit progress all in one day!

Well it was a most foul day today wind, rain and snow we had it all but we still went down to the club pit and carried on the work. Today we managed to clear out some more bushy trees by the water and I nearly fell in but we struggled on and got another area cleared up. By 3pm we had had enough and decided it was time to head for home and a hot cup of tea and something to eat. We will be there again next Saturday though just hope the weather starts to improve its been horrid hasn't it.

Where is everyone then?             Eric gets busy despite cold and snow       The Long Lost Lacon Cup returns!

Much to my amazement when I was checking my email this evening a lady from Ipswich had written to me asking about a cup she had picked up at an auction. She had done a search for the Lacon cup and found the small bit about our missing Lacon cup on the trophies page so she emailed me to ask if it was our missing trophies. As it turned out it was the Lacon cup given to the club back in 1947 by Lacon Brewery in Norwich because the Cherry Tree pub our head quarters sold Lacon Ales. So I called the lady and she has given it back to the club again which is great news. How incredible that it should find its way back to us after being missing for so long. It was normally fished for on the first match of the year and now we have it back we can fish for it again. You can see a picture of it on the news and updates page.

Not in the mood.

It was cold I got one fish came home very grumpy.

Club Pit Work Party Join us now the seasons closed and help us get ready for June the 16th.

Crikey my phone didn't stop ringing today lots going on members ringing about this and that and I had to get down to the club pit to get some work done with the volunteers. Well we cleared lots of fallen trees one blocking the path way and really got a lot done it was great to see everyone mucking in and lending a hand, restored my faith in humanity even. You hear so much in the news about bad things it can get you down if you let it but being with the club members all helping out today really boosted my spirits. It just goes to show that when we all get together as members of this club we can really make a difference. Thank you to everyone that came today and helped out, I have been feeling a bit low at times with all the things that need doing but today showed me that when we pull together we can really make things happen. We will be down there again on Saturday so if you have been following my blog and want to come along then please make the effort and come.Heres some pictures of today's helpers in action.

And my my those beef burgers went down a treat mmm mmm.

Last Day of Season

Yes its that time again the last day of the fishing season. I went to the river and our lay by pit for some piking fun. Had several small jacks which put up a scrap and did some tail walking even! Then went to the river and had a few chub on bread flake that put a nice bend in my rod. As the day came to a close a stopped off at Wainford and had a chat with two older club members and shared our thoughts on the useless fishing platforms put up by the EA which I am happy to say they are going to change, come on guys they are not platforms at all just pointless mats on the ground! Any way I have been assured that we are going to get some proper platforms put in, why they cant get it right first time amazes me to be honest. So things are looking up as we say bye bye to the rivers for a few months until June the 16th the club membership levels are fine and many of you have emailed me to say thanks for the website and the info on it and I am glad your all enjoying your fishing with the club. I'm also pleased that many have volunteered to help at the work parties that's a big help so thanks to all who mucked in this year and last year. And the news that we are heading for one unified body to represent angling is good news indeed. So I think this year is going to be good one and don't forget the National Fishing week event Hey Lets go fishing is taking place again on July the 26th at the Common pond more details later but all good stuff. Don't forget to come along to the AGM in April please we need you there. Now I can get on and fix all those little jobs around the house I guess... Tight lines Mark

A new dawn for angling?

I read in this weeks angling times the move toward one united body for angling in this country (page 4 Tuesday the 11th of March 2008)

This we all hope will now be the move we have all longed for where anglers can have a real say in the future of angling instead of having to be told what we can expect from those bodies that have conflicting interests and are trying harder to be political correct instead of giving the paying anglers what they want. I am so tired of chasing others for help on angling issues instead of having one governing body that truly knows the heart of all anglers with the power to make change where change is due, in many cases long overdue. Its a great shame that  Ken Ball the NFA president is no longer alive to see this change happening, could this year be the year angling finally gets what it needs? I sincerely hope so.

Please visit the the One Voice For Angling site at www.anglingunity.co.uk to read the excellent coverage on this important issue.

Falcon Meadow open, lovely chubbly!

It was hard work today lots of small fish to get just over 4lb of fish only to be be beaten into second place by Billy Coote with a big fat chub going 5.8.It was a pleasure taking the picture of Billy with this nice fish. Billy has been in the club for many years now  and is still enjoying his fishing as you can clearly see from the picture, well done mate.

Lazy club secretary goes piking while others do the work.

Oh the shame there I was pike fishing on the river waveney while our loyal club members carried on working at the club pit. Bobbing up and down in the boat in the biting cold wind not a pike in sight all day! When I could have been eating hotdogs and warming my bones by a big bonfire foolish mark...Well I was with the loyal club member who donated the fence for the club pit having a chat so that's my excuse. Good news the EA are funding us for NFA coaches at our National fishing week event in June and we are getting some new platforms put down at Wainford to replace the cruddy ones down there at the moment all good stuff. The members did a grand job down the club pit today and Eric's chainsaw was on fire so I hear. Lloyds wife was chef of the day and lots got done so come along next Saturday and join us why don't you. Don't forget the AGM coming up in April we need you club members there please and if you don't know what club mark is and why we need it for the junior section then click here to find out all about what it is and why we need to have it. Back tomorrow with a full match report on our open at Falcon Meadows...Tight lines Mark

   Is it a Jaffa cake?          Oh no I forgot the sauce       Wow looks clear now!

The work continues along with some competition for Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver.

Back down the club pit again armed with chainsaws and boats we got on with the clearing of the paths and removing dead trees at the back of the club pit. It was great fun lots of bonfires and wood clearing going on as well as a welcome bit  of cooking by Lloyd and that weird hemp flavoured tea again from Eric next time I'm bringing my own flask mate! We are going to be down there every Saturday from now on till its finished and there's lots to do if you fancy joining us and lending a hand we would be glad to have you help out. Remember every Saturday 10 till 3pm unless the weather is against us. I don't know how Eric keeps going I was puffed out after a few hours must be that tea he drinks.

The lads get raking        Time for a well earned break                 Come on Lloyd more onions mate!         Mines a coffee please 3 sugars please

Work started at the club pit.

Big changes are about to take place at the club pit starting today with the BCTAC work party beginning the first stages of putting up a fence. We all had a good day clearing the ground to get things ready for the posts, and going out in the boat pruning trees ready for the summer was great fun. We have so much to do down there and plan to meet every Saturday from 10am to 3ish from now on so, if you want to help us please come down and join in you will be more then welcome. (Especially if your good at making tea and like  bringing bacon butties!)

Eric, Alex, Kelly and Lloyd also Gary, Mark, Chris and Frank came along to help out. Eric's looking a bit miffed because he had to do more then the rest of us today and his tea tasted a bit weird, but hey we all had a good time and got off to a great start. If you want to come along next Saturday click here for the details as there loads to do and we need some extra hands to get the jobs done.

Beccles on good form today.

Had a friendly match with a few club members today at Beccles right side of the main bridge. I was pleased to see it is back on form and enjoyed a good match coming third with just over 10lb of skimmers and winning weight was just over 14lb of roach and skimmers. Tactics today were fairly straight forward stick float or Waggler for the roach and feeder for the skimmers. I started off with a my standard stick float rig and then swapped over to the feeder and stayed with it for the rest of the match. Bait for the day was double red maggot on a size 18 hook with a feeder full off ground bait and casters clipped up to the spool and casting to the same spot every time soon had the skimmers going while others loose fed and caught good bags of roach on the Waggler or the pole. Always a pleasure catching roach at Beccles brings back happy memories of fishing down there with my father when he was alive, we would stay all night and go home in the early hours of the morning with a big bag of bream to our credit. I have spent many many nights on the banks of Beccles river right from when I was 16 years old and now I am 50 I still love it as much as I did then. Of all the things I have done in my life the times I have spent fishing this river are some of the happiest memories I have and they will stay with me forever. Misty mornings with the sun cutting through the fog bank, cobwebs laced with silver droplets of morning dew or the barn owls searching for there dinner in the surrounding marsh land. I remember one night watching a tiny little shrew leaping with great courage into my bait box to steal a maggot then leaping out again victorious in his quest for a meal, so funny to watch. The river can give us many great gifts if we are willing to spend some time being still and simply enjoying the peace and freedom of a star filled evening just you the river and some time spent fishing. The best things in life are free well I guess that's what the shrew thought!