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National Fishing weeks GO fishing day at Bungay Common pond what a great day!

This was our second Go fishing event for National Fishing week and it was a total sell out with lots of mums dads and kids all taking part and having a try at fishing many for the first time. It was really hot but the fish kept feeding and we all enjoyed ourselves.

For the full story and all the pictures click here. Sometime its not what you take but what you give that really matters.

First River match at Dunburgh

Arriving at 6.30am the club members faced a long walk down to their pegs for the match but it was well worth it. This stretch of water used to hold big matches for local clubs many years ago and this is the first time in many years that a match had been held on its banks. I just knew I was going to draw the last peg and so it turned out to be but it turned out to be ok and I managed to come third with a nice mixed bag of roach perch, gudgeon, dace and chub. Surprised that no bream turned up on the day and the match was won with just over 11lb of Roach. For me however the pleasure was fishing at such a lovely spot on the river and as the tide came up the roach really started to feed in earnest and it was a fish a chuck. I used my standard stick float rig and fed hemp and red maggot to catch but I think the pole would have been better. I had decided not to take so much gear with me however and the pole was left at home that day. Our man on the job Bob Bradford arrived in his canoe to see how we were all getting on and had very kindly put some more signs up for us telling anglers to return all fish looks like our Bailiffing efforts are now paying off. So a good match all round with everyone catching and despite the steep hill we all had a good days fishing which is what its all about and not a pasty overfed, pellet gorged, commercial carp in sight!

Starry nights, slimy bream and long lost relatives.

After a hectic week of running around doing errands for every one I managed to get down to Dunburgh again and do a spot of night fishing with my friend. It was a lovely evening and as the night set in the clouds pulled away to reveal a wonderful star filled sky. I sat there looking at all those tiny specks of light above me and wondered why on earth do we all get so stressed out, those stars have been there for millions of years shining above us while we worry and fret over every little thing that comes our way. The more I thought about it the smaller my worries seemed what a vast and beautiful back drop for a nights fishing. Well we caught a few bream and I had a surprise chub take my big bit of bread flake and with a good tide going out the bream put a good bend in the rod. I have been taking less gear with me lately just a chair and a bag with my rods much better and much less hassle when it comes time to pack up. The little owls were out again calling to each other, getting ever closer to us as we mimicked there call.

And who would have thought that across that vast canopy of stars on the other side of the world working in his office in North Carolina a young man called Dalton Walters would stumble across the Bungay Cherry Tree website and send me an email. Are you the son of Herbert and Rita? he asked. And so I came to be in contact with my long lost second cousin from the USA! Amazing. Thank god for fishing.

Rivers are on form.

The TSB trophy open match at Ellingham produced some good bags of fish from the top pegs with a winning bag of bream for our club chairman Steven Woodcock and a nice bag of bream perch and chub for Justin Hunt. Despite it being very clear and low at the start of the match the fishing picked up later on and the match had a good turn out. Amazing isn't it on peg 3 last year I had 83lb of bream in less then 3 hours but with clear water and low tide I could only manage a couple of pounds of small fish on the pole today, that's why I love rivers so much they are always changing with the seasons time and tides.

Stuart and Steven with a there river catches this week.

Had a report form The 3 Old Pikers telling me of a lovely big 19lb fish from the fullers stretch this week and they were all well pleased with there visit to our new water. Our Division 2 team face the challenge of canals again on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at  Wiggin under the guidance of our long standing team captain and past chairman Stan Woods we wish them all success on this hard venue and hope they do us proud again. As for me I will be down at Dunburgh again one evening for some more of those bream and roach.

Tight lines and happy fishing Mark.

Match on Bungay common Dunburgh and club pit work parties

Busy, busy, lots to do with the Match on bungay common last week and national fishing weeks coming up soon. The Match at bungay common was good fun, nice to be back on the river for a match, ok so the winning weight was not 300lb of carp but who cares it was much better. Herons flying over the common, damsels and dragon flies flitting past you, and all of us enjoying a nice day on the river. The match itself was won by Geoff Penn who has been in the club for a long time now. I watched him fishing a small stick float on the next peg down and he showed us all what a great angler he is by winning the match with a nice mixed bag of roach perch and chub. Next time out was down at Dunburgh again for a night session with a good bag of those lovely big bream you get down that section I also lost a lovely big tench at the net taken on lobworm but you win some you lose some I guess sigh. Back at the club pit on Saturday but had to cancel the work party due to the weather then clearing out swims for the Match at Ellingham on Sunday hopefully the rain will put a bit of colour in the water for the match. Don't forget everyone the Lets Go fishing event is coming up on the 26th of July so if you want a free coaching session to improve your fishing skills then get on the phone and book your place with the secretary my numbers in your club cards.

Tight lines Mark.

Dunburgh evening session.

Had a great session on my favourite stretch of river this evening, took very little with me just some worms and sweet corn a feeder rod and some ground bait to catch some nice bream and roach. Only stayed for a few hours but it was just great, lovely and peaceful evening. Here's some pics.

Got there looking nice...        Ready to catch...         A few hours later...             then time to go home...      lovely jubbly!

Tench from the club pit and nights by the river.

Well its been a good week several nice tench have come from the club pit to club members and last night I indulged in another night session for the bream on the river. I love night fishing its so relaxing and peaceful and if its a warm mild night the fishing can be very good.

We had our first match of the season down at the club pit for the Myhill Cup and this was one by our long standing member Geoff Penn with just over 10lb of fish followed closely by our chairman Steven Woodcock who actually had his fishing gear out and using it blimy!

On the down side we have caught several people fishing our waters with out licences and have reported this to the Environment Agency let hope they can do something about this issue as its been going on for some time at Dunburgh and other stretches you can do your part to by reporting any fishing with a licence to the club secretary who will inform the bailiffs.

So lots of good fish coming out and a good start to the season ahh lovely fishing ...

Yes Steven the seat needs a good clean mate.

Start of the fishing season the magical June the 16th. 

Hooray, at last June the 16th has arrived! Another season packed full of fish and fishing, rods, bait and slimy nets. Well I started the season as I always do down at Beccles with my fellow anglers for a night session for Bream. It turned out to be pretty chilly as the sun went down not only that but the Bream seemed most reluctant to feed and we all had a fairly sparse night despite having lovingly prepared our ground bait for them they were not interested. However as all anglers know its not just about catching fish is it. June the 16th is a magical time for me and always has been so let me share some of that magic with you in the photos I took in the morning. Tight lines Mark...