Diss & District Angling Club © All Rights Reserved. Match Rules | Club Aims and Rules
Welcome to the Diss and District Angling club web site. I do hope you like it and you find it useful and informative. I want to give Julian Davies a big thankyou for all the work which he as put into this site. It has really taken this club forward and more accessible to club members as well and anglers who wish to learn more about the fishing on offer in the local area.
The main aim of my blog is for me to just put across something I find interesting in fishing or just give you my thoughts of how I fished at the weekend. Maybe I heard something funny, how knows…. We will see how it goes over the coming months and hopefully you will find the page enjoyable and wonder what I may waffle on about next.
14th September 2009
Well its been just over a month since I last wrote to you faithful few who muse through the rambling of a crazed fisherman.
I must say since we last talked. Or should that be I’ve talk to you and you wonder what I’m on about. Well, as far as I can recall. And by the way I fished Saturday I don’t recall to well as I messed up fishing the muppet. That, the last six matches I have fished I’ve failed to be outside of the top two. Quid's in I know and gratefully received and may it keep coming. But why I hear you cry am I in such a place. The truth is I don’t know, its not like I’ve used some special bait. Far from it, one of my baits I’m using at the moment is the worst I’ve ever seen it and needless to say the cash wont be going that way again. I’m not a man to use flavours a great deal. IT really does fox great minds like mine why I could be in such good form. But then look at what I wrote last month. You can only do well when you draw well. If you not on the fish your no where and with the best will in the world, you cannot make a bad peg good. Only a good peg bad.
So all I can think is lady luck is greasing my hand with something as I’m still drawing well.
What does September mean to me. Its kind of a sad month is some ways. By the end of this month a handful of Saturday matches left and only team match. Or, if im lucky enough to get through the knockout cup will bring the course gear out for a quick dusting off. The carp quiet en down and the weed starts to die back . Then one fish start to come into its own. Its getting hungry not long till February and spawning. Its cover is blow by the lack of weed and they pack shoals of roach up for feeding. Smashing through the shoal it picks of the weak and dying, then sinks to the bottom once its had its fill. Pike angler the length of the country go in hunt of the perfect day. When the float sails away and a new pb is reached or a brace of 20’s lay on the back. Money get wagered in qualification for the next year finally.
And what of me do you ask. For me from November on I march the banks weighing in fish and handing over the winning. Happy day’s when the pike men come calling.
3rd August 2009
Well its been a little while since I updated my blog. So what has happen??
Diss Had a great win at Gipping valley Angling clubs barking Tye lakes. It was just the odd guy doing well for us, It was the full team putting in good weights to take the win. I think a big pat on the back is in order for everyone who came out that day.
Draws. I am really hating drawing at the moment. Every outing match I can draw a flyer but when it gets to a normal match on our home waters im really being let down. Its unbelievable that for the last two years I draw the fish in the outing. To prove this, we fished New waters, the hot peg is 30, and I Drew it. We then fished eye ponds. There was 12 anglers turn up for a choice match, what did I get left in the hat, you guessed it, number 12. A fluke you say. Creeting, an outing, I draw peg 15 on the fish and came third. Still not getting it. Super cup match had back in Feb. Peg 14 left in the hat for me by my team. Where was that [e.g. You may catch on. Right smack bang on the dam fish... And I was second in the match and top Diss weight. How on earth I got laters on the mere with number 6 choice one Tuesday I will never know , but you see, its just how things have been lately for me. Lately?? That's an understatement, its been 2 years of the same. Lucky old Bill I hear you cry. Lucky I think not. I hate drawing hot and then not. Its Besthorpe this weekend. An outing. Will I draw crap. Well after this I properly will. But in truth, ive spoken about this for a while and I know I will draw the fish. Grrrr.. Then the next home water match I will be back down the order and sitting on a duff weedy peg...
27th May 2009
Its so good to be back!!
I don’t know if your like me but there is nothing better I like doing, than sitting round a lake with a few mates fishing. What’s even nicer is to take a little money out of there pockets.
Sorry winkle, Slim pickings for the holiday fund this year.
I do think after Hinderclay’s match its name should be changed to saucegate. Whose for brown sauce???? Now your wondering what I’m on about. Well they ran out of brown sauce when its came to tea time and we all got offered red sauce or BBQ. Doesn’t sound funny hey. Well you should of been there. Maybe next year you will.
Creeting and Hinderclay’s pre season match for me have been really nice. A 2nd at Creeting and winning at Hinderclay with some people tipping back, you know who I mean, has really lifted my spirits. Seeing new faces at the matches and hopefully into the season to come will all be good and bring a new excitement for everyone.
The Mere is fishing its head off already and the next few seasons on there, hopefully we will see much better weights of fish come out as well as some really big fish for the carp anglers . It such an exciting time and makes me so glad I’m some how part of it all.
The match angling within the club is going to be a hectic and hotly contested as it ever has been. Plus hopefully more and more of you will come and see if you can compete along side the regular match guy’s. Its a great way to learn more about this fantastic hobby we have.
WE as a club are looking to hold a open night, where members of the club can come a question the committee about the club, what we are hoping to archive and learn more about fishing from one another.
5th May 2009
As some of you may know , April for me is a time away from fishing for me. It gives me a chance to spent time with my lovely kids and just relax and take stock of the season which we have had.
Like many people, last season was full of highs and the odd lower. Overall I had a disappointing season, I felt I didn’t fish as well as I could of and fell foul of the draw bag quite a few times. Oddly on outings the draw was kind to me but for the bread and butter matches, I couldn’t draw.
So looking forward to this season I’m going to spend some time away from the matches. Try a few things out and gain some much need knowledge, which will also help when it comes to the time when I can finally start coaching.
It doesn’t mean that I want be there for outing and team matches. Just a few matches that I would normally of fished I’m going to enjoying a pleasure session here or there.
My first session back from my break, saw me arriving at the Mere around 6pm for an evening session. Cloudy skies and a warm
night saw the carp feed early and by 8.30 I was into a few small carp. As 11pm rolled round, I’d had over 25lb of fish and lost a few good fish.
For these of you who have never visited the mere, give it a look. The roach will keep you busy all day and they are not scared by a bit of grub going in and once the evening comes round the carp come to life and tackle testing fights are on the cards.
23rd March 2009
Well its nearly the end of the season. The rivers are now closed and so is the Mere in Diss. Eye ponds thankfully are still open all year but for me I’ve got one more trip then I pack away my gear for the month of April. Well that is unless we have a team match.
So what has the last few months held for me, Well I attended an angling course for coaching at Bungay. After what was a shock to the system of being back in the classroom , I felt by the end of day one that I hadn’t learnt a thing but doing my homework during that week, and it was a lot of homework, the old grey matter had taking in some of what was being taught. Child safety, Risk assessments as well as planning for coaching session. Where to get help from the friendly people at the E.A and bodies like that. Day two for me was mainly sitting about waiting to do my demonstration and a chat with the teaching coach. But I can proudly say now I’m a level one Angling Coach and will be going on to do the level two so I can be the lead coach in coaching sessions for Diss Angling Club.
Supercup...... After a frustrating practice where the carp didn’t want to play ball, the match itself was a big learning curve and I think Diss can Proudly hold its head high. Ok we lost but the way we set about it was a credit to the chosen few who was there. Ricky Legget, Jason Rigby, Peter Wall and Karl Hales all had section wins and Team Captain Davies had overall second.We took Norwich Oddfellows to a draw on points and lost on weight with Oddfellows having 176lb to Diss’ 135.
Deadbait cup. Well I couldn’t keep my hands on it for a second year. Barry Day just needed one fish in the final match to take the cup and a fish of 4lb 8 was more than enough for the series win. Its been an odd year for Diss when it comes to pike fishing. Who of believed that 7 anglers fished Hoxne and only one fish took the bait. Well tight lines for now
3rd November 2008
Mice mice mice. O the down side of fishing. Been keeping some things in my shed for when the kids are older and they hopefully want to start fishing and I’ve just had them destroyed by mice. They have eaten through a carryall and damaged a keepnet I had for them. So its out with the traps and goodbye mice. What a way to spend your Sunday afternoon cleaning up after the mess the mice caused.
Well my coarse matches are good as over for another year. Just an inter club match and Supercup and that's it. Not the end of my fishing I must say. The pike are now fully in my mind and another few months chasing a fish of over 25lb. Some people find them easy to come by. Wether up on the broads in a boat or some trout lake. For me its not that easy. I’ve fished a few good places but that fish is still out of my reach. Maybe this year... Its what drives me to go out and hunt for that fish and crowning glory that what make this season special for me...
October 13 2008
What a depressing fishing match I had at the weekend. I drew well and though id made a good choice of pegs. Loads of floating cover. Good head of fish to 12-14oz’s and I finished with just 2lb 11. Not only that but I was so sore after 4hrs from a operation I had in February that I nearly packed up early and went home. I still packed up early. I had a pike take a Rudd with 30mins to go and it trashed my rig that I gave up on a bad job.
The thing with fishing is that you leave after a poor day on the bank and within a few hours you can’t wait to get back out there and improve. This weekend coming I’ve got two matches. Firstly on the Mere in Diss. I don’t mind if I draw well or poor. I’m going somewhere no one will expect me to go. And fish a method that you wouldn’t normally fish from there and that’s all your getting at this point. If it works I will put it down on here. The second match is at Taswood’s spring lake. I know in Diss A.C we have some lovely places to fish but this lake has to be on of the prettiest lakes I have the pleasure of fishing. It doesn’t matter if you do well or poor, the settings that are around you are wonderful and just that can inspire you to greatness.
I’ve just taken on the running of the A.C.A pike qualifying matches which are held at Barham’s b pit which is part of the G.A.P.S club. These matches are for the Angling Times Pike Championship held once a year on the drains around Whittlesea up in Cambridgeshire. My first one I’m running is the 1st Nov and I’m hoping for dry weather as walking round a lake for 5 hours in the rain isn't how I like spending a day.
October 1st 2008
Well its now the beginning of October and to tell the truth I’ve had a rubbish season so far. Yes it was nice beating Winkle at Besthrope but as an over view things just haven’t been going my way. So winkle says I even came last in a match for the first time in several years. I’ve been trying to sit down and put my finger on what it could be that has caused this drop off in form. Was it bad bait. Its true I’m getting crap maggots at the moment but I don’t think its all down to that. I’ve been working with flavour and maybe I’ve been added to much flavour. In truth apart from drawing badly I just think I’m owed a bad season. I’m also thinking my new pole is a bit like a foreign premiership football and take a season to get going and breaking it early on in the season didn’t help, cos I had to go back to the old pole and in some matches I did bump off a lot of fish because I just didn’t have the right set up’s in top kits. Who knows , I just know that this year it hasn’t gone my way on the bank but thankfully there is still a lot of matches out there to be won and you never know I could just come up a few times before I pack the gear away
June 30th 2008
Ok biggest thing to happen this season so far… or breaking news as some may like to call it.
MY NEW POLE…. I don’t think the tears have properly dried yet. I bought it in early April and was like a little kid with a new toy. Over excited and couldn’t wait to start using it. Now April is my time to have a break from fishing, time to spend it with the family before the return of the Saturday matches with Diss Angling Club. So with the arrival of the pole I carefully elasticised all 8 top kits and had it sitting in my bedroom. What a tease that was, everyday it reminded me it was there waiting to be used and hopefully bag a few fish. Thankfully May arrived and I was 2 weeks away from my first match with it. So it was time to take it out for a road test. Off to Creeting Lakes I went. It was so enjoyable, not only was I out fishing but I was using it. Bagged quite a few fish and was very happy with the pole and couldn’t wait for the match to come round. The 2 weeks pasted the match came and went and I was over the moon even though I was only 3rd in the match but winning my bank was nice. Then it was off to Hinderclay with it. Maybe my biggest error in fishing to date. Willow pool looked superb and with a great draw on peg 6 I couldn’t wait for the off, get some pellet in and see how the pole preformed with a power kit. Over 2hrs in and I’d lost 4 fishing and was thinking it wasn’t going to be my day. The float slid and the carp headed for the pads yet again. Time to stop it I thought and gave it some pressure but as I moved the pole to my right there was a horrible noise and my 4th section snapped and as the pole recoiled the 6th section broke as well. The top kit was floating on top and I walked round to take it off the surface and the 4th section the broke again and so it had broken in 2 pieces when it went. Utter horror and depression was then set over me and I though my day was totally over. I then remembered I had a short No 4 and took that out of the holdall put on a top kit and fished with my No 5 section and well. Feed up a new area and soon had the fish feeding again. Well I finished 2nd overall and despite not having a single fish before breaking the pole. Guess it goes to prove you can’t keep and me down for long. Well I’m still waiting for the new section at the moment from MAP but I’ve still got my grim reaper so I’m still out there beating a few people and still learning from my mistake of using that pole at Hinderclay. We all know those carp are pole breaks!!
I took my daughter fishing for the first time the other day, she is only 2yrs old and knew she would get bored easily but that still didn’t mean I didn’t have a great time. We fished a local pit close to me in stowmarket and were there only for 2hrs 45 min's but we still had over 30lb of small carp and we were both over the moon. She kept wanting to thrown pellets and corn into the water and even though it went no more than 2ft out she was delighted. Every time I brought in a fish she was excited and wanted to touch it and said how pretty they were. Fishing isn’t all about bagging huge weights and winning matches. It can be a great way to share time with the ones we love and to show them, even at a young age, the joys of fishing and hopefully she will want to learn off her old man and become as good as she can be through fishing. Whatever she does I will always be proud but if it through fishing it would be the icing on the cake..
