Real Cornwall Winter League

Round 7 Retallack 7/4/02

A last minute venue change put the penultimate round of the league on this unpopular canal, the original choice, Argal, being swamped with carp anglers. The canal does fish well when not under pressure but unfortunately, cannot stand match pressure. With 36 anglers in the league it would mean using almost every peg so it was not expected to be easy. To make matters worse, a stiff easterly wind would make presentation very difficult on the long pole.

Midway through the match it was clear that everyone was struggling. Dave Taylor (Atlantic Angling) had drawn peg 37 where he’d won the previous weeks practice match. This week the extra wind was making life difficult and he was counting the cost of having pulled out of several good bream on the long pole.

With one hour to go eventual winner Phil Watters (Newtown Angling) on peg 40 had only a few bits in the net. He too was suffering the frustration of having lost a large carp on the long pole and was now unable to fish across to the far bank because of the increasing wind. However, a long awaited drop in the wind allowed him to put the pole across at 14.5m below a tree on the far side. Two carp succumbed to double corn hook bait giving him 15lb 8oz and overall victory.

At peg 46 Pete Mawby (Whiteacres) alternated between the pole and feeder as the wind allowed with red maggot on the hook. His one carp a tench and skimmers totalled 11lb 15oz and gave him the second spot.

Next door at peg 45 TMS Newts rod Kevin Venables took bream and skimmers for 9lb 4oz to secure third place.

B-section was won by Dave Barnes (St Columb Imports) who included a carp in his 8lb 4oz total from peg 25.

A-section went to Mike Bennetts (Whiteacres) with 8lb 1oz from peg 15.

Top team on the day was Whiteacres with 36 points followed by Phoenix on 31. As we go into the final round at Porth in two weeks time Bait Bunker seem to have an unassailable 17-point lead.