Wigan DAA, Infirmary Cup, 80 pegs

It was back down to earth with a bump today as we headed back to t'cut for a bit of a warm up match in readiness for the impending Winter League. I must admit it was hard to get motivated after another great season with the Sharks fishing all kinds of different venues and all kinds of different methods but once I arrived at Bramble Way I was up for it. It was good to see all the old faces, some uglier than others, and a few new ones too. Pearl's back on the scene, the legend that is Kev Stothers, Little Les, the Bolton bread y'eads and Tony '10 arnce' Prescott to name but a few.

There is something extra special fishing a big match on the canal, 20 peg knock ups are all well and good on a carp puddle but you can't beat the atmosphere of a big 'un. There were 80 pegs down today but in fact nearer 70 anglers graced the bank, still a good turn out, and plenty 'names' not even on show. Proper fishing in a proper match!

Me and the Warrior along with 5 or 6 other members of the new Standish Match squad turned up today which meant that almost the whole team for next week was out for a chuck. The match length was billed as Parbold but it was more like Newburgh and my sticky mitt pulled out peg 31 which was 5 to the right of Culvert Lane bridge. You can't park down Culvert anymore 'cos of Little Lord Fontleroy so I parked up at Dean's, I walked left and the Warrior headed right. No more parking behind your peg and short walks for a bit :) When I got there the water was unusually clear which don't bode well for bigs weights, hmmm .... ?

So to the match and not a right lot to tell. Dave 'I've 2 lb odd' Massey won it from the sticks to the left of Dean's lane bridge with 4 lb odd, mainly small roach and perch while Kevin Garry took second with a big 3 lb made up of 2 big skimmers from a peg about half way between the banana bridge and Maggie's Nest. After that it was the usual struggle with a few 2's plenty 1's and a lot with just ounces. The Warrior won his section with 1-10-0 but my 1-2-4 did nowt at all. I had plenty fish, probably gettin' on for about 30 but as you can gather they were bits, little roach, perch and tommie's. I fished for a big fish but it wasn't to be but at least I got the dust of my canal rigs and I'm all set for next week. Highlight of the day was definitely Gorgeous George having a walk up the bank fresh from his 6 month's holiday in his caravan on the Norfolk Broads. Even the fishing there's been crap this year so George tells me :)
So we're off and running, next week is the first round of the Angling Trust Winter League and apparently the Wigan Division has eight teams in it so decent sized 80 peggers for the next six weeks. Sary's y'ead is the venue for the first match, draw at the Slipway at 8.30 am. Get there early if you want one of Graham's crackin' brekkies :)
That's that, 'till next time .... tight lines :)