Located at 46°53′19″S 37°44′08″E lies the Prince Edward islands and for people who can’t do the calculations in their heads it a place that is situated in the southern part of the Indian Ocean. The Prince Edward islands consists of 2 islands, the main island and the largest is Marion island and the other is the aptly named Prince Edward island. These islands are administered by the government of South Africa. The islands have no permanent population. The only persons present are those at a research station.
These remote islands are home to 14 species of Petrel, 5 species of Albatross and 4 species of Penguins. The seas around the islands teem with the Patagonian Toothfish. Now there is a connection between the Match fished by Watchet angling club at Summerhayes on Saturday October 24th 2020 and these Islands. No there are no Penguins, Petrels or Albatrosses at Summerhayes or indeed Pete has not stocked his ponds with Patagonian Toothfish. Oh no but there is a connection and that connection is the bloody weather. These Islands on average receive rain 28 days per a month and having only roughly 800 hours of sunshine a year it is reputed to be the cloudiest place on the planet, and being in the path of the Roaring Forties is deemed to be the windiest location on earth.
This was the type of conditions that meet the angling warriors of the Watchet mob last saturday.
Pete had to put the light on in his hut to clear out the darkness. This said it all, clouds of battleship grey and darkest blue which laden the sky from horizon to horizon put paid to any sunlight. It was dim, grim and and unpleasantly cold. It was blustery and squally this was weather with attitude and spite. We anglers were buffeted, battered and bashed. But like the defenders at Rokes Drift we withstood and resisted we dug in and endured. The show went on regardless and all carried on to the bitter end.
Bites were at a premium and although weights weren’t catastrophic many an angler present has had better days.
The results
Well what a turn around in fortune for one Mr Ian Townsend, this gentleman if you remember packed up early in the last match owing to the fact he did not have a single bite. Hence being the recipient of Abingdon Town FC award (see post Watchet Angling Club Winter League Match 5 11/01/2020) but boy what a come back. He certainly made amends this time with a very good performance by being top dog. From corner peg 8 Ian amassed a total of an all carp weight of 59 lb 13 oz. This was achieved with pole and corn.
2nd place was none other than Mr consistent Rob Dodd from car park peg 37. Poor Rob had the strong wind in his face, but that did not deter this maestro who managed to catch 36 lb 12 oz. Rob fished both margins and to the island with pole and maggot.
The NHS hero was 3rd, the one and only Dave Colley who made the long journey from Bristol. Dave who took my pound of of me (little beggar) fished peg 10 and put on the scales 20 lb 12 oz. This feat was achieved with feeder on the far side and maggot as bait.
4th spot went to Eric Searle who managed 20 lb 08 oz. From roadside peg 28 Eric teased his fish with feeder and pellet.
5th went to slivers bagger Dave Nash who struggled on peg 32 in the first half with the pole. But improved things by switching to straight lead on the far side with maggot as bait. His total weight for the day was 20 lb 06 oz.
6th position was Mr architect Paul Smith. Paul had drawn peg 17 on the opposite side from the road . Like all anglers in his vicinity he struggled with the strong wind. But never or less put 16 lb 13 oz on the scales. Paul fished at 10 meters and down the edge with maggot.
Occuppying 7th spot was match secrectary Alan Bland. His home for the match was peg 30 on the road side. Mr bland managed to eek out 12 lb 10 oz all on pole and maggot.
8th was Bob Pascoe with sound mind and accumen on peg 12 acquired 11 lb 15 oz using pole and pinkie. Me and Bob had a walk around the lake before the start of the match and at the same time was having a good old chin wag “you know I was suprised that I had done better than I thouhght in the last Match ” spoke Bob ” well there you go Bob” I replied ” I was also suprised that you weren’t last” Bob responded. Thanks Bob.
Yours truly was 9th I scrapped together from peg 34 a weight of 11 lb 13 oz Although I did have some fish on expander at 10 meters. Most of my weight was caught from the margin to my left on white maggot.
Phil Dodd who fished in appalling conditions from peg 14 owing to the fact that he had the strong blustery wind and squally rain in his face, spent the entire match on the feeder for a result of 8 lb 11 oz. His bait was dead maggot. Phil finished 10th.
Next at 11th in the weights was my next door neighbour for the match Alan Jenkins AKA matrix man. Alan on peg 36 struggled through out and not having many bites did not seem to bother him because it was a good excuse to have a fag. Saying that Alan put 8 lb 02 oz on the scales his method was mainly pole with maggot and pinkie.
At 12th place and todays wooden spoonist was Dave Gartenfeld. Mr G did not have the best of pegs being on number 19. He put on the scales 2 lb 02 oz. His tactic was worm and maggot down the edge.
Alan Bland 
Bob Pascoe and Dave Gartenfeld 
Alan Jenkins 
Yours truly 
Dave Nash 
Paul Smith
| Position | Angler | Silvers | Carp | Total | peg |
| 1st | Ian Townsend | XXXX | 59 lb 13 oz | 59 lb 13 oz | 8 |
| 2nd | Rob Dodd | 5lb 12 oz | 31 lb | 36 lb 12 oz | 37 |
| 3rd | Dave Colley | 2 lb 14 oz | 17 lb 14 oz | 20 lb 12 oz | 10 |
| 4th | Eric Searle | 1 lb 07 oz | 19 lb 01 oz | 20 lb 08 oz | 28 |
| 5th | Dave Nash | 11 lb 04 oz | 9 lb 02 oz | 20 lb 06 oz | 32 |
| 7th | Paul Smith | 5 lb 06 oz | 11 lb 07 oz | 16 lb 13 oz | 17 |
| 8th | Alan Bland | 1 lb 01 oz | 11 lb 09 oz | 12 lb 10 oz | 30 |
| 9th | Bob Pascoe | 2 lb 06 oz | 9 lb 09 oz | 11 lb 15 oz | 12 |
| 10th | Pete Curnow | 3 lb 12 oz | 8 lb 01 oz | 11 lb 13 oz | 34 |
| 11th | Phil Dodd | 1 lb 13 oz | 6 lb 14 oz | 8 lb 11 oz | 14 |
| 12 th | Alan Jenkins | 02 oz | 8 lb | 8 lb 02 oz | 36 |
| 13th | Dave Gartenfeld | 2 lb 02 oz | XXXX | 2 lb 02 oz | 19 |
This was the last Watchet club league match for 2020 and the fixtures begin again next year on March the 27th at once again Summerhayes on Sellicks. But in the meantime some of the die hards within the club will be fishing a series of one of matches throughout the winter break.
The fixture for this series of matches are listed below.
You will note that one of the fixtures is on the river Cripps at a place called middle bridge. Point of note for this venue is that it was once on the books of Bridgwater Angling Association but alas is no more. Hence it is free water, but bare in mind that a farmer either rents or own the land and hearsay says he can be a bit choosey whether he wants anglers on the banks or not. So be prepared for a change of venue. There is a map for people unfamiliar of the whereabouts of the proposed venue below.
Just to say that this blog is now one year old.
Well in true Bugs Bunny fashion just to say that’s all folks.
Pete C.