THE NORTH WEST JUNIOR CARP FISH-IN The lake is approximately 9 acres in size, and holds a good stock of fish from singles to mid doubles, and a few up to 26lb, and depths ranging between 3 and 12 feet, so a pretty good venue to teach juniors the ins and outs of carp fishing. The event started four years ago, when Joe Goldson (AKA Joe de Blanke) decided that there was not enough done in our region for the juniors, and any events for juniors seemed to be done down SARF! Joe put together the first one, and then ran and organised the following two events in 2003 and 2004. I had the honour of helping out at all of them and helped to organise the 2004 event. Due to circumstances, Joe has had to bow out of this year’s event, but not wanting to see the event fade away, both Jimmy Clarke and myself opted to take over, and that decision was taken back in late October. So with thinking caps on we decided we’d give it a go and what has happened over the last few months has been incredible, the amount of support we have received from the industry has been superb. Our big problem though was funding the event, and it was the usual thoughts of, sponsored this and sponsored that, that I asked on the Fishingmagic forum for any idea’s and the response was amazing! We had to raise approx 600 pounds to run the event, and within two days YOU guys had done it… incredible… and a massive THANK YOU goes to everyone at Fishingmagic. Within the last four weeks we have received 17 applications for the event, including two girls (which is a first for us) and more than any of the other events – and the flyers have only just reached the local tackle shops. We are hoping to take between 25 and 30 kids this year, which will more than double last year’s attended event, and with around 20 pegs on the lake, it looks like every one of them will be taken. After having a few conversations with some good friends we have decided to slightly change this year’s format, with the lessons in Carp Care, Photography, PVA bagging and rigs, along with marker and spodding, and bait and particles, are being done on the Saturday morning, rather than on the Sunday afternoon. Our thinking behind this is that when they arrive they are all fired up and keen, and that’s when we can get the information through to them. If we left it till the Sunday, they will be tired, have done their fishing, maybe caught a few, and won’t concentrate as much. MB Baits, have also kindly offered their support, and Mick Ball has guaranteed that he will supply 1kg of boilies, 1kg of pellet, a bag of groundbait, a tub of pop-ups and a tub of dip for everyone who takes part in the event. The bank account has been set up, and your donations can be either transferred direct into the account, or a cheque can be sent, this alone has taken the best part of three weeks to sort with the bank concerned. So it’s with hard work and bated breath we move forward to the first weekend in July, and hopefully, FishingMagic.com and it’ members will have something to be proud of in the North-West. This is What Happened at the North-West Junior Fish-In 2004 It was the weekend of the 24th July, and for the 3rd year running the North-West Junior Fish-In was about to take place. The event was being held at Leigh And Districts High Hall Flash, Near Wigan, a lovely looking water set into a dip in the hills, and holding a good stock of fish to 25lb,
Ideal for a group of youngsters who want to start carp fishing. The juniors arrived at 08.00hrs Sat a.m. and the introductions took place between the instructors and the juniors, with the usual rundown of the do’s and don’ts, and they all made their way to their allocated swims. The swims were sponsored by Angling Publications, Mainline, Planet Prints, Fishrite, Armaled, Jack Frost Tackle, Gold Rig Tailors, Gardner Tackle and MCF, with bait supplied by Mainline in the shape of Maple 8 boilies and response pellets. An hour later the Kids were set up and ready to go, and at 10.00am Luke Marsden accompanied by Jimmy Clarke received a massive drop back, hitting straight into it, his rod takes on a familiar curve, but straight away the fish comes towards him, and the net is slipped under a 5lb BREAM!.. Oh well at least fish are around, and spirits were still up!
Young Ben Aldred was next to receive a pick up, half an hour later, and again the net is slipped under another bream. The Weather had started to turn nasty with howling winds and driving rain at one end of the lake, but up at the top end, the lads were sat in T-shirts! And getting a sun-tan, a difference of about 250 yards! I was in the peg next to the car park, and had fish bouncing all over the place, but Daniel who I was with couldn’t buy a bite. We tried everything from zigs to hard on the bottom, but the fish just were not going to play ball. At 6.00pm the BBQ took place at the meet up tent, and a bit of a re-think takes place between the lads and instructors; given the appalling weather conditions, and some of the tactics to be used. After settling on the way ahead for the night the lads made their way back to the pegs for a bit of spodding and PVA bagging, with some of the lads opting for single baits at range. The general opinion was that the fish had moved out, due to the amount of pressure that had been put onto one side of the lake. At 7.25pm THE shout that we all wanted went up, and the first carp was on, Mike Breen, and instructor Lee Anderson had hit into a fish in the Planet Prints Swim. This time it was a carp, after a short fight an 8lb 8oz fish is on the bank, and a few photo’s are taken. At 9.00pm I received a call from Mick Cooper, who was with Nathan Potter, right up at the top end of the lake, and Nathan was into what appeared to be a good fish. I left Jimmy Clarke in charge of Daniel and went up to the far end of the lake, the Angling Publications swim, just in time to see Nathan slip the net under a fish. Smiles were all around the swim, and Nathan punched the air. Mick and Nathan both knew that this fish could be the biggest of the weekend, and taking the scale reading, the needle settled on 20lb 2oz. The fish was a stunning common, and this fish did win the event for the biggest fish of the weekend. Darkness arrived and things went quiet except for the rain and wind, which was now gusting down the lake. Then around midnight a few more of the pegs switched on. By Sunday Morning Daniel Hannett in the MCF swim with Tony ‘The Rat’ Fielding had Landed three fish, the biggest going 13lb 8oz, and landing Daniel with the prize for the biggest combined weight for the weekend. Mike Breen who was first off the mark on Saturday evening had also landed another fish through the night which had come in at 12lb 4oz.
We thought that that was it for the event, and with the morning wearing on, and rods out at midday, ready for the instruction lessons in carp care, photography, rigs and PVA, and an insight into other junior events held around the country, the lads slowly started to pack the gear away, still in driving rain and gusting winds. But not to be outdone, one of the lads, Adam Priday, who had never been carp fishing before, and had never even caught a carp, got a pick up, with about an hour to go. Adam shot across to his rods, and hit into the fish. His face was an absolute picture, and the concentration he used was commendable, there was no way he was going to lose this fish, his first ever carp graced the net for him and the scales read 18lb 4oz. This was to be the last fish of the 2004 North-West Junior Event, But a massive thanks goes to all those involved and to Joe Goldson who has organised the events for the last three years but has sadly had to bow out from the 2005 event. Also the tackle shops, ie, Romiley Carp Specialist, B.A.S., Baileys Bait and Tackle, and Daves of Middlewich, for providing the corporate sponsored shields, for the biggest fish, and the largest combined weight of fish. Places are available for approx 25 kids for this years event soAnybody interested in fishing the 2005 event please contact either Jimmy Clarke … 07708 942111Ozz Buchan ….. 07841 462301 |
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