I drew peg 13 which is 2 pegs up from "the pier" and not a bad area generally, so was optamistic as ever of a few fish.
The plan as usual was an out and out feeder attack with a 30g open end feeder taped up. 4lb Braid main line to 0.12 hook length and a size 18 red maggot hook on the business end.
My groundbait mix was a 50/50 mix of Sensas Black Lake and Bremes, with a handfull of white micro pellets added for good measure.
The match kicked off and I put in 5 quick casts at 28 turns to get a bit of bait down and then waited....and waited....and waited. The signs were not too good as half way through the match only two anglers had caught.
I had tried lengthening the tail, had gone out further up to 35 turns and tried a variety of hook baits but still the tip stayed motionless as it did for everyone else except Gary who had netted a few good skimmers and Mal next to him who had 1 skimmer
After about 3 hours in, the lad to my left had a perch so at least that was all the three places filled we thought.
Then at around just after 2pm the wind dropped and the dock went calm. It was at that point when I noticed a small indication on the tip. Only a little tap but it was pull!
Shortly after the wind picked up again but it had changed direction to a westerly. As if by magic the fish turned up, it wasn't long before everyone started to get a few fish.
I have never honestly seen the wind change having such an immediate affect to the fishing, It was just a shame that this happened in the last half hour of the match as apart from the guy to my left on peg 12 who blanked, everyone else caught fish.
I didnt find any skimmers in the half hour though just Roach, but two of them were over the 1lb mark which when we came to weigh in was 5th.
Gary Martin won with just over 13lb which was 8 skimmers, but if the wind had changed earlier it could have been a different story,
But thats fishing for you, and although the dock can be a cruel place its another example of why it is so facinating and addictive to fish.