Most of November I spent practising and preparing for this match as I really wanted the team to do well in this.
Luke and myself had been up there practising a few weekends previous to get a plan formulated, but not just that it is also a real pleasure to fish here.
It is in the grounds of West Midlands Golf Course and is run exceptionally well by fisheries manager Nigel Harry.
In practise we had found loads of good Roach and Perch on a 5m caster line and also some lovely big skimmers on the 13m line.
Being fished to CIPs rules there was a 13m pole limit, plus bait limitations which I think is a good thing.
The Nomads team for this match was myself, Luke, Ian Driscoll, Shaun Wilson and Chris Wilkins. Luke, Shaun and myself were on Barston and Chris and Ian on Packington.
The plan was to fish the 5m caster line to start whilst the long pole line settles after feeding with Joker and Groundbait then go long and hopefully pick up the big skimmers.
As ever not all plans go as you think they will and despite catching well on the 5m line in practise they were just not there on the day. I had one two Roach and fishing was slow all over before I picked the long rig up.
It was a difficult day and despite regular feeding with leam and joker bites were hard to come by through the match.
After regular feeding though the skimmers did turn up and I had 5 nice ones for a total weight of 16lb 8oz and 3rd in my 13 peg section. I was relatively happy with that as next door weighted in 4lb and the other side only managed a few oz. Sean Ashby walked the section with 35lb of skimmers on the waggler With Lee Edwards 2nd.
A cracking match however and one I really enjoy fishing. I'd fish this style every week if I could and the next round is on Viaduct in January and I cant wait!!