The first two weeks of December saw above average amounts of rainfall and some very flooded river conditions. A brief respite from the rain followed, but not soon enough to allow any of the club’s water to be fished safely. This meant a long postponement of the annual fur and feather club day. Saturday the 30th of December was selected, but a wet Christmas week again meant the rivers were high. The fish refuge at Stibbington was used as a plan B in order to complete the festive fixture.
It would be the first of five matches used to gain points for the Deeping Individual League Series (DILS). Each of the 16 anglers received a small gift, with 3 lucky anglers also receiving a bonus gift donated by Stuart Redman.
Ron Needham didn’t let the pressure of drawing the flyer get to him and finished in first place. Fishing pinkie and red maggot on the hook over loose fed pinkies and a slop ground bait. Fishing on peg number 1 Ron weighed in at 13lb 9oz.
Last year’s DILS winner Antony Johnson finished in second place on peg number 7. Antony fished the 4m whip loose feeding pinkies and maggots, with single maggot hook bait. With the odd Roach but mostly consisting of Bleak, Antony weighed in with 8lb 12oz.
Third place went to Derek Drover with 4lb 11oz from peg number 2. Derek also fished the 4m whip with either bronze maggots or pinkie hook bait over ground bait.
Sections Wins for Alan Thomas, Steve Borrett and Mick Fowkes.
Full Result
1st Ron Needham 13 lbs 9 oz – Peg # 1
2nd Antony Johnson 8 lbs 12 oz – Peg # 7
3rd Derek Drover 4 lbs 11 oz – Peg # 2
4th Alan Thomas 4 lbs 4 oz – Peg # 6
5th Dave Donald 3 lbs 13 oz – Peg # 3
6th Trevor Walker 3 lbs 0 oz – Peg # 5
7th Steve Borrett 1 lbs 5 oz – Peg # 9
8th Mick Fowkes 0 lbs 11 oz – Peg # 21
9th Ian Benton 0 lbs 10 oz – Peg # 12
=10th Pete Wray 0 lbs 6 oz – Peg # 17
=10th Graham Wright 0 lbs 6 oz – Peg # 18
12th Jason Chatham 0 lbs 5 oz – Peg # 23
13th Gary Boxall 0 lbs 4 oz – Peg # 14
14th Neil Speechley 0 lbs 1 oz – Peg # 11
=15th Alfie Kendall 0 lbs 0 oz – Peg # 15
=15th Lindsay Horsman 0 lbs 0 oz – Peg # 20