Pontypool Canal and my track bread punch line
My first match of 2013 was on the Mon and Brec Canal at Pontypool. Its not a stretch I have fished before but when I heard that there was a match on there with double figure roach bags needed to win, I couldn't resist but to book in.
It was quite a mild January morning once daylight broke which was a good sign, the canal however was a little clear than in recent weeks with the far and near shelves sporting clear water.
This wasn't to deter anyone though and after drawing peg 2 I was happy as I had a moored boat opposite me to give some cover and a decent depth down the track to target the roach.
The main attack was punch and the night before I had lovingly prepared my usual self made punch mix groundbait (not liquidised) ready for this. I also had Casters, Maggot and pinkies as a change bait in case the going got tough. As one thing I learnt very early in Canal fishing was to always cover all your options as every fish could be vital.
On the all in I fed a bait punch of my ground bait mix and went out with a 4mm punch on my light rig. The rig was a Colmic Jolly 4x12 on 0.10 main line to 0.08 hook length with a size 20 B511 hook. It didnt take long into the match until the first roach was in the net, and although it was only 1oz it was a good sign that there was fish there.
As the day progressed the bites kept coming and regular nuggets of my groundbait kept the fish coming all day long. I could see that team mate Chris to my left and his son Cethwyn to my right were struggling a little and didn't have the catch rate that I did so I made sure that regular top ups of groundbait were made so not to lose the fish to any of them.
The mild morning turned into a bitterly cold afternoon and it got the better of a few, as some anglers headed home for an early bath. I was catching well though and when the match finished I fancied my chances of a placing.
I weighed 6lb 14oz of Roach and one Skimmer which was enough for 2nd behind local and organiser Rob Skellet who had a lovely 11lb net of whip caught roach. Jon Harvey was 3rd with 4lb and on a freezing day everyone had caught which was a great result for a canal in January!
Hopefully there will be some more matches on there soon as really enjoyed the match, but learnings for next time would be to go on the whip instead of the pole as it will increas the catch rate and also saves time and worry with the amount of walkers and cyclists that are on there.
It was quite a mild January morning once daylight broke which was a good sign, the canal however was a little clear than in recent weeks with the far and near shelves sporting clear water.
This wasn't to deter anyone though and after drawing peg 2 I was happy as I had a moored boat opposite me to give some cover and a decent depth down the track to target the roach.
The main attack was punch and the night before I had lovingly prepared my usual self made punch mix groundbait (not liquidised) ready for this. I also had Casters, Maggot and pinkies as a change bait in case the going got tough. As one thing I learnt very early in Canal fishing was to always cover all your options as every fish could be vital.
On the all in I fed a bait punch of my ground bait mix and went out with a 4mm punch on my light rig. The rig was a Colmic Jolly 4x12 on 0.10 main line to 0.08 hook length with a size 20 B511 hook. It didnt take long into the match until the first roach was in the net, and although it was only 1oz it was a good sign that there was fish there.
As the day progressed the bites kept coming and regular nuggets of my groundbait kept the fish coming all day long. I could see that team mate Chris to my left and his son Cethwyn to my right were struggling a little and didn't have the catch rate that I did so I made sure that regular top ups of groundbait were made so not to lose the fish to any of them.
The mild morning turned into a bitterly cold afternoon and it got the better of a few, as some anglers headed home for an early bath. I was catching well though and when the match finished I fancied my chances of a placing.
I weighed 6lb 14oz of Roach and one Skimmer which was enough for 2nd behind local and organiser Rob Skellet who had a lovely 11lb net of whip caught roach. Jon Harvey was 3rd with 4lb and on a freezing day everyone had caught which was a great result for a canal in January!
Hopefully there will be some more matches on there soon as really enjoyed the match, but learnings for next time would be to go on the whip instead of the pole as it will increas the catch rate and also saves time and worry with the amount of walkers and cyclists that are on there.