For the first time in a couple of years the club were able to get back onto the River Welland in Deeping St James. No Covid Lockdown or Flood conditions were present this year to stop the 2021 winter club days getting underway. A warm welcome was extended to some new faces and the return of some familiar ones. Fourteen anglers turned up to fish a well presented stretch of the River. Thanks to club members Ron Needham for opening the swims and Graham Wright for new peg markers.
The anglers were equally divided into 2 sections, upstream and downstream of the road bridge. Fishing for the Remembrance shield a minute’s silence was observed at 11:00 to honour those that had served and those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice. Cool, slightly blustery but bright conditions were the backdrop for a river with good pace and a little colour.
Ray Torrington fishing peg 10 just below the pedestrian footbridge finished in top spot with 7lbs 11 oz. Ray fished bread punch on the whip and across on the pole with maggot. Second Place was Graham Wright with 6lbs 15 oz from Peg 4 which is one of the deepest in the stretch. Graham used a combination of Stick float, pole and whip on bread punch and maggot. Third place to Paul Barron on his return to match fishing with 6lbs 2 oz from peg 7. Paul mainly focused on the stick float using his favourite bronze maggot approach with castors and hemp as well.
Plenty of Roach, Dace, Chub and Perch were caught, along with Minnows that seemed to be able to consume the largest of hook baits. As always the local Pike were out in force – particularly around Mel Saggers on Peg 11.
Section Wins for Ray Morland and Dave Preston
Full Result
1st Ray Torrington 7 lbs 11 oz – Peg # 10
2nd Graham Wright 6 lbs 15 oz – Peg # 4
3rd Paul Barron 6 lbs 2 oz – Peg # 7
4th Dave Preston 5 lbs 12 oz – Peg # 20
5th Antony Johnson 4 lbs 11 oz – Peg # 24
6th Ray Morland 3 lbs 5 oz – Peg # 5
7th Mel Saggers 3 lbs 2 oz – Peg # 11
8th Jason Chatham 2 lbs 13 oz – Peg # 9
9th Ron Needham 2 lbs 7 oz – Peg # 14
10th Stephen Smith 2 lbs 3 oz – Peg # 18
11th Richard Grech 1 lbs 2 oz – Peg # 16
12th Neil Speechley 0 lbs 13 oz – Peg # 6
13th Ian Martin 0 lbs 2 oz – Peg # 26
14th Robert Heavens DNW – Peg # 22
