This match was a Harry’s Hero’s match with 22 anglers split over Middle and Ash pools. On a bright clear and windless day so I expected a hard days fishing but the big carp in Middle pool were feeding and I had a most enjoyable days fishing.

With water levels being really low at Manor due to the recent dry spell I expected to have to get into the water for this match but when I arrived at peg 8 I was able to place my seat box on the peg and stetch out my keep nets onto the water which was a surprise. The margin were only inches deep and with no wind forecasted I decided to fish the long pole starting on the bottom at 13 metres and then with the option of coming shallow later in the day. I also plumbed up a short pole line and set up a bomb and pellet rod as this tactic can work well at Manor.

So at the all – in I shipped out to 13 metres feeding 6mm’s with an 8mm hard pellet on the hook. It wasn’t long before my first bite. My elastic stretched out for miles and it was a Carp on, which sadly broke my 0.13mm hook length. Possibly a foul hooker as there are some big Carp in Middle pool. I felt I was fishing to light and a tied on a new hook length, changing the size 16 to 0.13 to a size 14 to 0.15 and shipped out for the next fish.

My first two fish were actually two nice Tench around 2-3lb each but I was glad I changed the hook length because my next fish was a Carp around 10lb !! and 20 minutes into the match, a great start. I then caught a couple of F1’s and then another big Carp in the next 30 minutes and all was good. Then as I was flicked out my rig into the water as I was filling my cad pot up with 6mm’s the elastic stretched out with another Carp on, which I safely landed. This made me think that although I was catching well maybe I should be fishing on my short pole line and I began feeding it. But never come off feeding fish and I shipped back out to 13 metres. I added a few more smaller F1’s during the next hour but my catch rate was dropping. So time to rest the 13 metre line and try my bomb and pellet line next. This gave me a chance for a cup of coffee anyway, while waiting for the rod to bend around.

Nothing came from the bomb rod for 20 minutes so I changed to my short pole line next, added one F1 but I wasn’t getting any indications on the float and after 15 minutes I was back out to the ‘rested’ 13 metre line. I caught two more Carp straight away. So maybe resting this line was the right thing to do. The water was fizzing now so I knew the fish were feeding on my 6mm pellets on the bottom and I stayed here for the rest of the match adding several more Carp and F1’s until the all- out.

I hopped to weigh in a tonne as this is always the bench mark for a great days fishing but my keep nets weighed in at 94lb 14oz easily beating everyone in my section. I was happy anyway as I’d had a great days fishing. I felt the key today was my feeding and being accurate with my catapult. I got bites quicker when I grouped my pellets around the float. Having a windless day really helped.

The Ash pool didn’t fish well and the match was won by the match organiser Harry who weighed in 109lb on Bomb and pellet caught fish from the opposite bank, He’s the venue expert, works in the tackle shop at Manor and knows every peg at Manor like the back of his hand. I ended up 2nd overall and I was happy just to give him a run for the money as I don’t fish Manor that often.

Best rig of the day

This was the 13 metes bottom rig. A 4×14 Preston F1 Maggot pole float in 5 foot of water, set up on 0.17mm mainline with a reversed tapered strung out shotting pattern above a size 14 Guru (0.15mm) SLWG banded 6 inch Ready rig. Set up with Preston 13 Dura Slip elastic though a standard top kit.