Team angling match on North Level Drain has fewer entries this season
The King of the Fens team match got underway on Sunday but unfortunately teams from around the area and quite a few that usually travel to fish this event decided not to enter this season.
Opening weekend is always very busy right across the country and with so many matches taking place anglers were spoilt for choice.
The event did go ahead though and round one was fished on the North Level Drain at Tydd Gote. Bream were expected to show but John Taylor needed a modest 7lb 12oz of small fish taken on pinkie to record his first win of the season. John Bates came second with a similar catch for 5lb 5oz, followed by Martin Roper on a level 5lb.
On the team front Sensas Mark One Black are the early leaders.
The latest Townsend Lakes open was fished on the Woodpecker Pool which saw Johnny Clark continue his good run of form, topping the field with 119lb 2oz. He drew peg 15 and caught close in, alternating between meat and paste over pellet.
Runner-up was Percy Baxter, who caught well on casters for 83lb 2oz from peg 7, then came Bob Coulson from peg 5 with 61lb 6oz.
Every now and then local clubs manage to get onto the famous Beastie Lake on the Decoy complex and last week Spratts AC had the pleasure of fishing this match lake.
Leading the way in this match was Peter Spriggs.
He drew peg 5 and fished close in all day with paste on a short pole line, then switched to the margins with meat to weigh in 144lb 10oz.
Martin Parker was drawn on peg 23 and caught well fishing the long pole with pellet up in the water for 102lb 3oz, then came Trevor Cousins with 88lb taken from peg 3 fishing a pellet waggler close to the island.
In-form North View Fishery at Gedney Hill was the venue for Fenland Rods on Saturday, with good weights taken from all areas.
Dave Garner is an ‘old school’ angler who still prefers to fish a rod and line approach, no matter what. But never let it fool you: he is a master at meat fishing with a rod and reel combination and showed us all yet again how good he is, topping this match with a huge 168lb 7oz for a very comfortable victory. Runner-up was Mac Campbell, who had a good late run of fish to finish with 119lb 13oz, followed by Tony Nesbett on 103lb 9oz and Callum Judge on 82lb 8oz.
The Buttonhole Fishery Summer series already has a massive prize fund of over £2,500 for the grand final in September so expect to see more and more anglers from across the area trying to qualify in the regular weekend matches but with only six matches left you had better get booked in soon.
With the top two anglers in Saturday’s qualifier already through Dave Berry put a modest 38lb 6oz to the scales which gave him third place on the day but that all important ticket to the final. Steve Pool took the honours from peg 17 with 67lb 8oz, he had a good late run of fish late on catching on sweetcorn. Runner-up was Johnny Clark with 66lb 3oz.
There was a full house for the popular Tuesday evening match at the fishery which saw Andy Carter on peg 23 out in front catching on paste close in for 80lb 10oz. Runner-up was Billie Smalley on peg 23 catching up in the water for 69lb 14oz, then came John Bishop with 65lb. To book in to matches at Buttonhole Fishery call Chris Smith on 07928222462.
Chatteris Workingmens Club had a really good start to the new season on their waters at Bulls Mill, there were plenty of small fish showing but the bigger specimens also put in an appearance. Top rod was Steve Newell, he had three good tench to seal the win with 19lb 4oz. Runner-up with 5lb 2oz was Derek Yorke, then came Peter Cornwell with 4lb 2oz.
