Do this, do that , use this method, employ that tactic, don’t fish there, but fish there. Not that bait but this bait, fish on the bottom, don’t forget the upper layers. Waggler, pole and feeder. OH BLOODY HELL. This was the advice given to me by very creditable and capable anglers before the start of the match. Well with all this information coming at me in all directions I employed the KISS tactic. KISS is an acronym used in the advertising industry and it stands for keep it simple silly. So I just used the pole. But while I was fishing away during the match my mind wandered to the time I was doing a course with the Open University way way back in the late 80’s.
Every 2 weeks the people in the local area who was on the course would meet up at Taunton College for evening lectures. It was at one of these lectures I became friends with a very well to do lady called Wendy Langley. Wendy was indeed very upper class but also had the very good grace to lower one standards considerably to talk to some one like me. In fact we became very good friends, but unfortunately Wendy is no longer with us. But one of my fondest memories of her was when she told me a true story of a problem that the Bridgwater and Taunton canal boating association in which she was secretary had on the canal. A situation a bit like my fishing experience that I was having. A seemingly complex situation at first but had a simple solution. The culprit was a gas pipe that went over the canal which was located just beyond Bowerings. It was to low for some of the newer boats to go under.
Bowering’s end on the canal near the docks. 
A similar Gas pipe line still in use near the YMCA but it is much higher.
So meeting upon meeting was set up about how to solve the problem. It was decided that a feasibility study at great cost should go ahead to see if a solution could be found. The conclusion was that the gas pipe could be relocated underneath the canal. So once again at great cost plans were drawn up and contractors were sought for the job in hand. The relevant people were contacted such as the council and the civil authorities for permission to close the footpath etc. Everything was set, a day had been chosen for the work to begin. However it then occurred to the people of the boating association that the gas board should be informed, well after all it is their gas pipe. The gas board was contacted and the situation was explained.
The people at the gas board was confused about the whole state of affairs and the pipe line itself. So to make matters come to light and to try to clarify the situation a senior gas engineer was dispatched to meet the members of the association at the pipe line on the canal. The engineer looked at pipe from different angles and decided that it was indeed a gas pipe line. He opened a brief case that he had with him and took out a map. With his finger on the map he followed the route of the canal until their position at which point he looked rather puzzled . “uhm strange, some thing odd here I have to go and make a phone call I noticed a call box on my way here won’t be long”. (1980’s no mobiles). The association members loitered around waiting for his return. “oy scuse me” came a voice from above. The members heads turned towards the top of the bank. It was the engineer who’d arrived back “ just found out, that pipe hasn’t been used for donkeys years it’s disused just cut it down and sell for scrap. See you”.
Now the morale of the story is, that if this gas engineer is still alive and is a angler with his simplistic approach he can give me advice any time.
The Results
First on the day was Eric Searle with a very good weight of 93 lb 09 oz His main tactic was pellet feeder. During the week he was so mixed in his thoughts about what tactics to employ in this match he forgot to have a hair cut. This hippy type creature fished peg 35.
2nd was paste maestro Alan Bland on peg 38. Owing to the wind conditions though he could not employ his favourite method hence he used a variety of other different baits and had a few in the margins. His weight was a chunky 73 lb 04 oz.
3rd was Brum city supporter Dave Gartenfeld. In his own words, what ever bait he put on the hook the fish took it. Dave fished mostly the pole in the margins. Peg 40 was Dave peg his weight of fish was 64 lb 15 oz.
4th Rob Dodd achieved top four by way of once again having a cracking bag of silvers which came to 37 lb 01 oz. Rob had 80% of his fish on pole fished maggot. His total weight was 52 lb 09 oz from peg 24.
5th place went to happy go lucky our one and only NHS hero Dave Colley who amassed a weight of 50 lb 10 oz. From peg 39. Pole and maggot was the tactic employed
6th was Paul Smith on peg 23 who collected a total weight of 49 lb 13 oz. Maggot was his main bait on top 2 + 3.
7th Bob Pascoe who used pole and corn on peg 27 done better than he expected by putting 43 lb 09 oz on the scales.
8th was top sweet pea grower Pete King. Pole and pellet was the key to his weight of 38 lb 06 oz on peg 22.
9th It was simple pole tactics at 12 meters with worm as the main bait for yours truly. The weight obtained was 35 lb 14 oz. Corner peg 21 was my home for the match.
10th was feeder king Phil Dodd on peg 36 . Phil had a different approach today and employed the waggler for 33 lb 02 oz.
11th with a very respectable catch of 31 lb 05oz was angling veteran Alan Jenkins. Mr J tempted his fish mainly with the pole on meat and maggot from peg 33.
12th was none other than Dave Nash, this guy weighed in a total of 29 lb 10 oz from peg 32. Pole and red was the method.
13th place went to out of sorts Ian Townsend, Ian who normally finds himself in the top half, caught most of his fish in the last hour. Fishing peg 26 his weight totaled 29 lb 10 oz. Pole and corn was what was used.
14th place was taken by one Wally Adcock. Making a very rare guest appearance Wally fished for silvers and tempted 12 lb 13oz in to the net from peg 31.
15th position went to newcomer Dave Searle, Dave struggled from peg 30 for a weight of 4 lb 07oz.
16th was Dave Gartenfeld’s grandson Ashley Johnson. Ash had a challenging day of of peg 28 for a bottom weight of 3lb 04 oz, But promised grandad he will do better next time.
The next match is at Avalon (singles and points) on Saturday 15th August so see you there.
Tight lines
Pete C