The much awaited return to the club’s river stretches got underway today. A switch from the traditional Welland venue onto the River Nene at Stibbington. The Welland in Deeping St James has been running low and clear for many months, with heavy reed growth narrowing the river considerably. Whilst all 26 pegs were strimmed and raked, the noticeable absence of fish led to the decision for a change.
The recent heavy rainfall had seen the Nene rise over its banks twice in a 2 week period. Pleasure anglers were still seeing good sport during this past week whilst the floods ran off.
This would be the annual Remembrance Shield fixture. Held with a 2 minute silence at 11:00 to honour those that had served and those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Twenty one anglers were registered for the match and they were met with the first local frost of the winter. To say it was difficult going was an understatement, with eighteen anglers blanking. Water flow, air temperature, water colour ….. who knew ? Suffice to say, not many stayed until the end.
The clear outright winner with a huge haul of nine fish was Trevor Walker from peg number 20. But weighing them was going to be a challenge, so we opted to call it 2oz. Trevor’s catch was made up of some very small Bleak, Roach and Dace which came on the pinkie at 9m. Disappointingly, Trevor confessed he could have doubled his tally, but the fish kept dropping off whilst swinging them in.
Second place and by great scrutiny of the match officials, was Steve Borrett with his single Perch. Awarded, rather than weighed at 1oz. This specimen was trapped at 5m. Whilst fishing 12 inches over depth with a pinkie on a size 22 from peg number 15.
Third place was Derek Drover, with an awarded 1/2oz for his 2 Dace. Derek’s brace of Dace fell to pinkies whilst on the long pole from peg number 12.
Default Sections – courtesy of the draw hat went to: Andrew Wilson, Mick Wright, Antony Johnson and Neil Speechley.
