Lewy's Lines

Our final days fishing at Stafford Moor and I was pleased to find I was in the middle seeded group so I’d improved on last years efforts at least. Once again one of our group would be drawing for lakes and still nobody wanted to get Woodpecker. I’d been banned from drawing for the lake due to my terrible failure yesterday so Hathers stepped up to the plate. The Draw Well Hathers pulled out Tanners for our group much to the delight of everyone. My home for the day would be Peg 5 on the lawns a very easy walk from the lodge with neighbours being ickle Wayne and Captain. Set-Up Today’s match plan was to feed two close in lines, one heavily and the other less positive. The wind was up so I decided that 5 metres would be my limit today. The pole lines were: 10 and 1 o’clock at 5 metres Margin line on my left at top two + 2. I also set-up the feeder rod to see if any larger skimmers where close to the island. All-In I put 4 balls of groundbait laced with casters on the 1

The curry night was a blast, we had 76 Trombones ordering the hottest curry they could cook, John “I’ve got a naan bread on my head” Beasley to ickle Wayne “I don’t like onions or tomatoes”. Needless to say there were a few different smells in the tackle shop this morning! The Draw I’d been nominated by Herbie to draw for our lake. Wonderful, I could be a hero if I drew anything but Woodpecker… of course I drew Woodpecker much to the “delight” of my section members. Quite a few abusive comments would come my way throughout the day, all tongue in cheek of course! I drew Peg 10 on Woodpeckers, one of the better pegs which made me even more popular! Set-Up I broke out the waggler rod and set up the following pole lines were 13 metre lines straight ahead and towards the island  4 metre line All-In Feeding a ball of groundbait on each long line I started on the waggler in the white water behind and between my two long pole lines. A fruitless 30 minutes followed but hey, t

Day 3 of the MFS Silvers festival at Stafford Moor.  My group would be on Pines today.  It was a very heavy night at the Lodge of Plenty and my head was in bits due to a large amount of spiced rum and coke! The Draw Peg 3 on Pines was my home for the day. Set-Up Pole lines only today and they were very deep!  One at 13 metres that was 7 feet deep and the 5 metre line was 6 feet deep.  I also opted for a short margin line to my left side just up the shelf. All-In Match plan was to follow Animal’s lead from the previous day and to try and get as many fish short using 4mm expander while having a long line as backup. When we were setting up you could see some fresh water coming into pines, it mixed up with the cloudy water and looked like tea with milk before it’s stirred. This cold water was moving towards my peg and I was worried that it would push the fish further up the lake and away from me. I cupped in a nugget of groundbait on the 13 metre deep line and some chopped w

Day 2 of the MFS Silvers festival at Stafford Moor.  As I'd been on Tanners the previous day my group would be fishing Woodpeckers.  Woodie's had not thrown up large weights the last two days so a good draw would be needed. The Draw Woodpeckers has been re-pegged by Paul and my draw resulted in Peg 18 (old peg 32) in the bay at the back of the lake.  I've been here quite a few times over the years and never had a good result from it so I wasn't too pleased with my drawing hand. Neighbours for the day were Hathers and Al Rutherford. Set-Up Pole lines today would be 2 lines at 13 metres 5 metre line Margin lines to the left and right I also set up the waggler to cast around the bay. All-In A normal pose from Hathers for a change! I spoke to Steve Martin who had fished this peg earlier in the week. His advice was to put in chopped worm on one line and leave for as long as possible before going over it. The other line would be fed with groundbait a

Day 1 of the MFS Silvers festival at Stafford Moor fishery.  The weather on the previous day was pretty horrid and the forecast wasn't looking any brighter but spirits were high amongst everyone.  Herbie gathered us all in the tackle shop at 9am for the draw and to outline the rules.  We would be fishing from 12pm to 5pm so plenty of time to set-up. The Draw Today we would be drawing for either Tanners, Woodpecker or Pines as Oaks had been taken out due to a large amount of carp caught yesterday.  Peg 9 on Tanners for me today which meant a very easy walk from the Lodge of Plenty. Peg 9 in on the lawns side of Tanners and the peg could be classed as the point. Set-Up The previous day an open was fished on Tanners and the guys were picking up large skimmers using an open ended feeder towards the island, so I thought I'd emulate this and set up a feeder rod. Pole lines were 12 metres and 6 metres both straight ahead.  I had a margin line to my left too. All-In Tann

That time of year has come round again, the annual trip with the Match Fishing Scene crew to Stafford Moor in Devon.  The build up on social media was brilliant with everyone excited to head down to the fishery that Jo and Paul took over a few years ago.  Jo and Paul have worked really hard to improve the fishery and the results look great!  The new tackle shop is extremely well stocked with plenty of room for Herbie to call all the anglers to attention. What Paul has done to the fishery, a new Pines lake that has been stocked with silvers from Lodge and other lakes, stocked some "Robinson's" aka carasio's, improved the lodges and seen to the paths, roads and parking areas, reboarded many of the lakes islands including renewing the pegs themselves.  I'm sure I'll have missed something but believe me Stafford Moor is on the way up! I'd driven down on the Saturday, meeting up with Shedders on the road, stopping for a quick caramel cappuccino (Shedders

Just for you Herbie, an empty box!  Peg 18, Willows The first outing of 2017!  To say I was looking forward to it was an understatement.  The winter had been quite harsh and I'd decided not to venture out at all, so I'll take the "fair weather fisherman" abuse without complaint. Colbrad had organised a match at Lawn Farm Fisheries, Cambourne with the MFS crew.  As I'd been to this fishery over the years I knew it was to good to miss out on.  It was an early start from the good ladies house in Surrey but even though the alarm was set for 5am I was straight out of bed and on the road. The obligatory breakfast meet was at Mcdonalds a few minutes from the fishery and as always it was great to see so many familiar faces.  Colbrad even tried to use the new technology to order his meal despite there being no queue at the tills, he still required assistance from the lady behind the counter! The Draw Willow Lake was the venue today, 38 Pegs available to 18 ang