Double Bubble

Well quite a busy Saturday first my son had a Match The Jenkins Trophy run by Newton Abbot Fishing Association on Wheel Pond in the Rackerhayes complex.
Secondly I had a pleasure session at a relatively new fishery called Spring Ponds in Rocombe.
I will start with my sons Match which brings back fond memories as this was his first ever match which he won so we were both looking forward to it.
We awoke to a very grey and wet morning which put a slight dampner on it but with a weather forecast of the raining clearing we set off.
A quick stop at Tackle Trader http://www.tackletraderfishing.com/ for some maggots led to us buying some more tackle and a tin of Scopex flavoured sweetcorn.
We headed to the Lake and found a reasonable turnout out of 10 kids.
Most of the junior matches are run as rovers as this was no different unfortunately Robbie drew no 8th choice so missed his first choice peg but was happy enough with peg 7 as he wanted to try and fish to the far bank and this peg gave him this option.
We quickly set up 3 pole rigs 1 for the small silvers and 2 for Carp 1 for the far bank in two and half feet of water the other to the right hand margin in around 18 inches of water amongst some very fishy reeds at top two plus 2
We also set up a straight lead for the far bank which he likes to use when eating his lunch.
The all in was called and Robbie cupped in a few micro's and dead Maggots then started on his Roach rig at top two plus 2 with double maggot on a size20 hook and was rewarded with 3 small roach in as many put ins
He continued catching small roach for the first hour and had 15 small roach and looking around seemed to be doing OK as no big fish had landed.
A quick look on the far bank produced nothing and watching the older kids it seemed the far bank was devoid of fish and the Carp and Tench were more interested in spawning than feeding so he returned to the roach line.
A few small perch and more Roach were landed and then the lad on the next peg landed a small Tench so we knew we had to up our catch rate to stay in touch.
The second and third hour really didn't go to plan including a few chucks on the lead so we could have Lunch (Cheese & Onion Pasty today)
With an hour to go the lad on the next peg caught a nice Crucian to go with his Tench  and I reckoned he had gone ahead. Robbie put 2 cups of Groundbait, Corn and Dead Maggots in the Margin and let it settle
Within 5 minutes we could see the reeds starting to jig so were hopeful of a bonus Carp or Tench
Robbie went in with a 6mm hard pellet on a size 18 hook and had a small touch which he missed 30 seconds later the float dipped and he struck into a 1oz roach.
Another cup of Groundbait and Maggots went in Robbie lowered his rig in the perfect place and there were definite signs of line bites but no real bites he persevered and was rewarded with another small roach. 3rd put in saw him snag a reed and lose his hook link and scare any fish lurking away.
We saw 1 of the older lads a little Tench and a small Carp and were aware of another carp being landed around the 2 pound mark so knew we were now struggling for a top 3 finish.
The last hour was frustrating as Robbie seemed to loose patience and sat watching everything but his float so lots of missed bites ensued.
The all out was called  and i though we had around 1.2 to 1.5 kg so it all came down to how big the small carp and Tench were.
1st to weigh was 1 of the Carp the only fish caught by one of the youngest anglers on the lake it weighed 900g so i thought Robbie would beat that and perhaps a top 3 finish wasn't out of the question.
Second weigh was a lovely bag of slightly larger Roach than Robbie had and it went 1Kg 650(back to being Worried) 3rd weigh was 300g then fourth was a bumper bag of Roach,Rudd and Perch which went 2kg 800g and all hopes of a top 3 vanished a few small weighs followed then the lad with Tench and Crucian weighed 1kg 550 followed by Robbies 1kg 150g and finall the oldest lad weighed his Carp & Tench fo 1kg 800ish so a pleasant 4 hr match with all kids catching and Robbie coming 5th out 10 which is good as he is the 2nd or 3rd youngest.

I quickly packed the car and drove Robbie home for his Birthday Party that had been put back a week left him with my wife and 2 other children and headed to Spring Ponds https://www.facebook.com/Springpondsfishery
I arrived and was greeted by the owner who i happily paid and saw 4 anglers on pond 1 and no-one on pond 2 although i was expecting the fishery manager to arrive soon as i had just met him(Elliot Fay) back at Racherhayes.
I got to the first corner peg and could see fish showing so set my gear down and started to set up 2 rigs for the pole and a straight lead for the far bank which i didn't use.
Elliot arrived and headed for the far corner peg so we would both have plenty of room.
He was very helpful and explained the swim to me and best places to fish and what to expect so with that in mind my first rig was a Maver Black Ice 4x 12 to a 4lb hook link with a size 16 hook set at 41/2 ft fishing at 5 sections straight in front of me.
Second rig was a margin rig set at around 2 foot with a size 16 hook with a pellet band on the Hair.
I started straight in front of me and cupped in some groundbait and sweetcorn and followed this by some micros and groundbait in the margin.
I went straight out with a single grain of corn and waited and waited and nothing happened so i shipped back in and put 3 maggots on shipped back out and the flaot boobed then disappeared and i had a nice 2 oz roach another roach followed by 3 gudgeon so i went back on corn, i had to wait around a minute a small dip in the resulted in slightly more resisitance than a i had from the roach and i knew i had my first Spring Pond Carp only a small one at around 12oz the next put in and again a small carp came to the net around the same size. 5 more \carp followed in the next hour and i could see Elliot catching at a similar rate.
I thought i would have a quick look in the Margin but had nothing so went straight back out.
Elliot was still catching at a good rate but my swim seemed to have died.
Elliot came down for a chat and advised going out to 13 Mtrs as the fish tended to hold up at that length and also gave me some meat to try.
I did try at 13 mtrs with meat and corn but couldn't get a bite so came back to around half way between where i had started and 13 mtrs and immediately had another Carp on corn 3 more followed before it died again.
I kept trying the margin but it seemed devoid of any fish apart from 1 foul hooked Gudgeon.
Back out in front and I had 1 more small carp and was starting to check the time as I promised to be home before all the kids left when the float moved slightly to the left than dipped slightly i struck and my elastic shot out to the far bank.
I played the fish for a few minutes and Elliot came to look and take a photo if i managed to the land which i nearly didn't as i missed with my first attempt with the net.
Second try and i landed a beautiful Mirror carp of around 6lb which had the largest shoulders i have seen on a Carp.
Elliot took a few photo's and then i slipped it back that was to be the last fish of the trip but a nice ending to the evening.
Elliot finished with 23 and certainly knows his lakes well.
I am now looking forward to the Take the Bait Summer league which starts next month and also the nNewton Abbot wednesday night matches which start next week,but my next outing will be At Key Transport for my sons Summer League on Saturday follwed by the John Loveridge Memorial pole Match on Sunday
Happy Fishing