Kelling Sunday 23rd September 2012 – Pairs Shield
With remnants of a tropical storm approaching from the Bay of Biscay it was decided early on to switch this match from Caister to Kelling. Strong East/South Easterlies with driving rain and sand are not conducive to our sport and bringing the match forward by an hour meant we would probably miss the approaching wet stuff. A nice bright coolish morning with ominous clouds to the south heralded what was to come. A brisk East North Easterley had created a nice 2 to 3 foot but the colour of a few days prior was unfortunately slipping away. We would have to wait to see if this had pushed the fish away. With a couple of pleasurers packing up under the small cliff we were able to peg our usual slot from the end of the small cliff towards the wreck but well away from that hot spot to prevent anyone having an advantage. We were now more than ready for the challenge ahead.
With a number of members away on their own personal challenges there was to be smaller than usual turn out. Undeterred by reduced competition first to appear over the track was DC, fresh from his continental experience and eager to get back on the shingle to test out his new light rods. He was soon followed by the usual band of regulars as well as AV reappearing from his summer sabbatical, welcome back Ash. With pegs drawn and bait sorted the majority were soon off to do the business, well nearly all except two key players. PT who was normally first was nowhere to be seen but through a quick call he admitted that he thought he knew it all, got the text he said but didn’t read it so missed the new start time. On the other hand, Young Henry had got the text and read it but the 9 sizeable bass he had struggled with at Cley the previous evening had put him a bit behind. However, he soon appeared negotiating the Muckleburgh undulations and was rewarded with a supposedly hot peg 1 under the small cliff.
A small flooding tide allowed all to set up on top of the low shingle bank and all were soon ready for the off. At the whistle the majority opted for the “Kelling Chuck” of 40 to 60 yards into the close gully. All except “class act” Thorburn (peg 10) who could be seen hitting it to the horizon, well he was in the vicinity of the wreck effect. First fish on the beach went to “trolley” Conway (peg 11) but we soon realised that it was a schoolie bass as it was immediately returned. At least he had found fish at his range and tactics so it was up to others now to follow suit. As usual it appeared that “yoda” Thomas (peg 2) was first to card with a double shot of a 24 & 19cm dabs on his second cast. With the tide continuing to flood we all had visions of a flattie fest but again how wrong this was proved to be. Single flatties started to appear with “class act” Thorburn (peg 10) finding a small dab as well as a reasonable flounder and next to him on peg 11 “trolley” Conway also picked up a couple of small dabs.
The action was still slow but “no hat” Attew on end peg 12 found a nice 24cm dab and “mobility” Morse (peg 7) used his flounder skills to locate a good 29cm specimen to get him off the mark. At the other end on peg 1 young “red stuff” Randell was still in bass mode using his 2 hook 1/0 traces from the previous evening and repeatedly saying he was only after one species, bass! With his card still empty he was given a handful of yellow tail fresh outs on one of his many walk abouts. Within minutes he was holding up a flattie double shot on his 1/0s which included a nice 29cm flounder and yes all caught on those yellas. To rub it in even further he repeated this feat within a couple of casts with a 30cm flounder along with an 18cm dab which had easily taken his 1/0. Back down the stretch “sandy coke” Loke (peg 4) and “new gear” Vertigan were looking on in disgust as they were failing to card anything and not even registering a bite. It was becoming a struggle for poor old (well not that old) Ash who had got to the stage of nearly calling it a day as footy was on the box but give him his due he stuck it out for most of the match.
Things were still slow on the high numbers with “trolley” Conway finding another schoolie bass and more small flatties. Bass also came the way of “no hat” Attew but his luck was out as it was just under a cm too small, never mind Sam you’ve had the luck in the past. However, the luck was with “class act” Thorburn who at last managed to hit into a sizeable bass of 37cm and 51 points on his card putting him in contention for the lead. This wasn’t much consolation for “silverfox” Neave on next peg 9 who was having another torrid time and unable to find a fish all match. In contrast young Henry was really showing his flounder skills and although he was still focusing on bass he soon had a 33cm specimen flounder on the beach and a very useful 44 points on his card. Uncharacteristically, “sandy coke” Loke was doing a few walkabouts and he seemed to be a bit agitated on the day but all of this was part of his “flounder walk” strategy which eventually paid off with a small flounder on his card and avoiding his blank. At last all of this was too much for poor old Ash who near the end decided to at least see the second half but he’ll be back after his speciality monster flounders.
Also contemplating an early finish for the footy was surprisingly young Henry himself but although he had notched a probable match winning score anyone with a sizeable bass could have sneaked it so he opted to stay and placed his sticky blacks just beyond the third wave at around 40 yards. Not too concerned what was to happen he promptly got on his perch in “yoda’s” tent to witness “yoda’s” rod miss a good bass bite. Then he suddenly catapulted himself out of the tent towards his nodding rod and after a short while fighting something had a splendid 50cm bass on the beach giving him an amazing 122 points or over 2½lb. Well he had set out his stall at the outset for bass and that is precisely what he got in the end, well done Henry!
Needless to say even without the bass Henry “red stuff” Randell took the honours with 5lb 14 1/3oz from 11 fish. Second and some way behind was the other bass man of the day Paul “class act” Thorburn with 1lb 10oz from 4 fish followed by Peter “mobility” Morse with 1lb 3oz from 4 fish. Young Henry also took the club heaviest flat and round points with his 33cm flounder and 50cm bass. As one would expect the Pairs title went to Henry Randell and John Carter with a combined weight of 6lb 7 2/3oz followed by Paul Thorburn and Sam Attew on 2lb 8 2/3oz and then Peter Morse and Dene Conway on 2lb 4 2/3oz.
Fishing over the top at Kelling is not too brilliant unless the whiting are about but we had no option after switching from a venue where the time was right for the right tide at that venue. Catches at Caister had been poor of late and what with the “in your face” strong wind along with the impending rain we made the correct decision to move even though the fish numbers were not good. The final act of the day was as we were travelling home when the heavens opened and everyone must have thought, thank goodness we started that hour earlier.
As now well advertised the next club match at CLEY has been brought forward by a day to SATURDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER fishing 10:00-3:00 to allow club members to participate in the Gorleston Tackle Open at GORLESTON on the Sunday. The North Norfolk Sea League teams of 5 kicks off on SUNDAY 14TH OCTOBER at BACTON so if you are not yet in a team or know of a team wishing to participate please contact the club committee. Please note that this year’s North Norfolk Sea League will be run by Holt SAC.
Club Match Result Top 5
1st Henry Randell 5lb 14 2/3oz (11 Fish)
2nd Paul Thorburn 1lb 0oz (4 Fish)
3rd Peter Morse 1lb 3oz (4 Fish)
4th Tony Thomas 1lb 2 1/3oz (5 Fish)
5th Dene Conway 0lb 15 2/3oz ( 5 Fish)
Please use this link for full set of club match results … Holt SAC Match Results (23Sep12)
Please use this link for current league table… Holt SAC League Table (23Sep12)
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