When I got there however all the lakes were frozen apart from a few at the back end of Windmill lake. Dave the owner sensibly postponed the draw until 10.30pm to give them the chance to clear enough pegs for everyone.
After some icebreaking and a few going out into Island pool on rowing boats the draw was done and I pulled out peg 13 on Windmill lake. Of all the times I have fished Manor, I have never drawn Windmill so but heard good things about it so was quite looking forward to it.
The peg though was in the shade and heavily iced up and despite some breaking already done I could only clear up to 6m out and unable to cast the tip out which was one of my plans.
I could only fish one line on kick off so fed the 6m line with maggots and a couple of dampened pellets. Despite working the swim the best I could and careful feeding I didn't have a bite on it and was starting to fear a blank was on the cards.
But then as if by magic the wind picked up, which started to melt the ice. By 3pm the iceberg that was in front of me was gone and I could finally chuck the tip out to the Island in front of me. I had a great last half hour land 4 Carp that went 22lb 5oz for a section win and 5th in the match. I was a bit gutted though as if i'd only had another hour on that line feel sure I would have won the match as the fish were lined up in front of me but I just couldn't reach them until the ice melted.
The full results were:
1ST ANDY GRIMES 37-4-0
Arthur’s Angling Supplies Peg 40 Boundary
2ND GRAHAM SCOTT 30-0-0
Mosella Selby Peg 6 Island
3RD TREVOR WILLIAMS 29-9-0
Fishermans Friend Peg 29 Windmill
4TH COLIN WOODWARD 23-12-0
Smithys Peg 22 Windmill
5TH IAIN SWANSON 22-5-0
Browning Peg 13 Windmill