Cley Sunday 6th January 2013 – 1st Leg Winter Accumulator
This match was the 1st Leg of the Winter Accumulator where the highest accumulated weight over 10 matches determines the winner of the associated cup. In addition, all these matches contribute points to the overall league which expected to get very close at the top as the 5 worst scores begin to get dropped, we are in for an interesting 10 weeks. Expectations were high for a good turnout for the club’s first true club match of 2013. As it happened only one of the expected guests and potential new members turned up, well done Ricky! and one or two club members didn’t feel too well for an early 9:00 a.m. start. However, it was soon apparent that we were still in for a good turnout as the long distance travellers from Lowestoft , Norwich, Dereham, Billingford, Snettisham, Attleborough and Litcham along with others closer to home started to appear through the mist at Cley beach car park. Even “young Henry” made it managing to wangle his way out of Mussel & Reed cutting duties although his Dad probably took pity on him after he had to miss the New Year Open.
A slightly mirky morning met this loyal band of club stalwarts as the sun could be seen clearly visible rising over Salthouse Heath. Nice to see but not necessarily a good sign the sun as bright skies always seems to push the whiting off. Not to grumble, it was dry and not too chilly with a light south westerly which is always good for the shingle whereas anything with north in it is uncomfortable and seems to push some of the fish off. The sea had a reasonable colour but was starting to shear off in the flat calm conditions although there was a good 1-3 foot swell coming from somewhere out in the North Sea. Fishing the flood and just over is not usually the norm for the club but these are the conditions for good bags of whiting and we had to give it a shot. After the last match at Cley the previous week fishing the wreck eastward, the majority wanted to go back to our traditional slot west of the boats although the wreck end would conjure up more whiting. With “young henry” back he was soon pressed into service to do the pegging and sort of reluctantly with hoody up he was off to peg west of the boats. Have a feeling he didn’t want to miss any of the banter but well done Henry!
Another poor showing of the trolley brigade with just 2 this week on the grid but they’ll be back when the need arises. Pegs were drawn and everyone was soon setting up either on top of the high shingle or slightly closer to the water’s edge. With a neap tide the latter was preferred avoiding all the clambering up and down the bank to cast and retrieve. At the whistle the usual Cley 60-80 yard lob was the order of the day although some like “better booms” Beeton (peg 1) and “ captain” Ellis (peg 16) were attempting a painful few more yards as they were both carrying back or shoulder injuries. For the first 5 minutes all was quiet although “yoda” Thomas (peg 14) had a cracking whiting bite but sadly no fish. In contrast, “peep peep” Conway (peg 17) was soon into his 10 minute regime producing a sizeable whiting and small dab on his gutted fresh outs. Further activity could be seen at that end as “no cley man” Ricky found a few small dabs on his fresh blows and fish bait.
At this very early stage fish were coming ashore but not in serious numbers and primarily very small dabs. To get their session kicked off “ping pong poo” Loke (peg 15), “yoda” Thomas (peg 14), “no hat” Attew (peg 9) and “new gear” Vertigan (peg 7) were into a good dab or two although none were of any significant size. Unfortunately, this early action was not for “silver fox” Neave (peg 2), “red stuff” Randell (peg 11) and “no name yet” Ellis (peg 12) who were waiting for their rods to nod. As was “captain” Ellis (peg 16) whose woes of a couple of matches ago were back with vengeance and he was finding nothing at range. At the other end “consultant” Ellis (peg 6), “steady” Carter (peg 4) and “class act” Thorburn (peg 5) at last found some small dabs but it was peg 1 “better booms” Beeton who was finding small dab after small dab at his injury reduced range.
At this stage slack water was soon upon us and for most the fish switched off as usual but prising out any fish at this stage was a bonus. For once slack water was over quickly and the fish were back on the feed but mainly small dabs and a lot of undersize specimens. As the match wore on all knew that it was a handful of whiting that could do the business and “peep peep” Conway (peg 17) thought he was in with a shout as he found another 27 cm and then a 32 cm whiting along with a handful of small dabs. At the other end “class act” Thorburn’s (peg 5) tactic of a bit of range with a rolling lead produced small dabs along with lots of undersize whiting, ‘just couldn’t find a sizeable one in the passing shoals’ he said afterwards. For all it was dabs, dabs and more dabs with “red stuff” and “no name yet” both starting to build up a score.
As we moved into the final hour, “no cley man” Ricky started to find the fish ensuring he would end up with a respectable score but “peep peep” Conway started to stutter and no more sizeable whiting were to come his way. Back in the middle “yoda” and “ping pong poo” were having their own personal battle but “poo’s” consistent approach of 3 hook clip down at his distance was being matched by “yoda” but in the end he had too many double shot undersized dabs. However, it was “red stuff” Randell who was doing his usual Cley trick and back into the ‘gutter’ he went resulting first in a 29 cm dab and then almost at the end a monster 34 cm flounder. This was followed by another big flounder on his last cast which unfortunately did not quite make it on to dry land. However, “red stuff’s” late charge was not quite matching “better booms” Beeton’s steady flow of small and reasonably sized dabs that he had throughout the match along with one solitary 27 cm whiting.
It was this consistency that gave Bill “better booms” Beeton the honours with 5lb 2oz from 31 fish. Next place went to that gutter man Henry “red stuff” Randell with 4lb 2/3oz from 18 fish. Final podium slot went to Dene “peep peep” Conway who just managed to keep ahead of the chasing pack by 4 points with 3lb 1/3oz from 16 fish. Heaviest club flat points went to Henry for his 34 cm (1lb) flounder and round points to Dene for his 32 cm (8oz) whiting. The Super Pools result was the same as the main match.
Another good match for most although quality of fish was not as good as the previous Sunday with 209 fish caught (201 dabs, 4 whiting, 2 flounders, 2 rockling) weighing 36lb 5oz.
The next match is the 2nd Leg Winter Accumulator at SALTHOUSE on SUNDAY 13TH JANUARY 2013 fishing 10:00-3:00. This will also be the North Norfolk Sea League Round 4 so will all club team members please try and attend. Non-club and non-team members will also be able to fish this match as an Open.
Club Result Top 5
1st Bill Beeton 5lb 2oz (31 Fish)
2nd Henry Randell 4lb 2/3oz (18 Fish)
3rd Dene Conway 3lb 1/3oz (16 Fish)
4th John Carter 2lb 15oz (15 Fish)
5th Peter Loke 2lb 14oz (17 Fish)
Please use this link for full set of club match results … Holt SAC Match Results (06Jan13)
Please use this link for current league table… Holt SAC League Table (06Jan13)
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