Kings Lynn Saturday 14th July 2012 – 9th Leg Summer Accumulator & West Norfolk Challenge Round 2
In general, Kings Lynn is always a difficult venue to fish as you need small tides to give you sufficient time during a match when the tide is not gushing through. Of course the fish are always there but the techniques used by our club members dictates that we prefer the smaller tides and comfortable fishing. The options here are to either fish over the top or over the bottom to give some period of slack water and the club’s experience in the past has shown that bottom is best although the locals prefer over the top. Therefore with this date being a very small tide the second WNC Series match had to be this weekend and with DC’s Rite Gear Challenge on the Sunday at the same venue we had to plump for an early start on the Saturday to give us our favoured state of the tide, over the bottom.
With access still a problem on the West Bank and with security issues at other Kings Lynn locations we had to stick to our known territory of the East Bank behind Dow Chemicals. With DC’s Rite Gear match the following day at the southern end of this stretch we decided to venture as far as we could north on the East Bank . This would take us past the coastguard cottages and up to the dyke which was supposed to be the locals hot spot although we weren’t going to give anyone that favoured spot or were we? Even with such an early start the majority had gathered at the end of the track nice and early eager to get into action. The weather had done its usual trick of deluging us on the way there but the wind was a light northerly and it was dry!
With “Young Henry” unfortunately on Morston mussel duty (that’s screwed his chances in the Summer Accumulator) it was down to TT to do the business. So off he charged with no thought for the dampness of the terrain and soon much to the amusement of other club members was dancing around trying to keep his trousers dry in the wet grass. ‘I bet he puts his chesties on when he gets back’ could be heard coming from “class act” with a wry smile. Pegging this stretch was a bit of a guess with 20 feet of pure mud between vegetation and river bank except where the high end peg was placed. On top of a grass bank at the edge of the river bank, no mud but far away from the dyke and locals hot spot not to give an advantage although the advantage was already there, no mud!
Pegs were soon drawn by the healthy club turn out and a few “crack” anglers who had joined us for the day for a bit of pre-DC match practice. Also with us was an aptly named “achilles” Watts with his Achilles now on the mend whose cast had been removed the previous day and just could not wait to get his rod out. “Chauffer” Rach was there and when asked if it was not a bit too soon she replied ‘just had to get him out the house, he’s driving us crazy’. Sorry about that Mike and welcome back. He gingerly negotiated the bank, ’I’ll be alright now, as long as I don’t go in the mud’ he quipped as he with everyone else made his way to his peg. With rain certainly on the cards, Buddies and Brollies were soon up in the grass well all except “consultant” Allison who preferred a little sun bathing during his sport.
At the whistle it was difficult to gauge tactics as the crack anglers are now keeping these close to their chest these days which is beginning to rub off on some of the club members and beginning to bring some good mystique into the game. With not much of the ebb left it was expected that the tide would be slackening at the start particularly as it was a small tide but it was still ripping through at this point. It was the skill of “matchman” Dawkins (peg 12) (not saying what he dubbed himself and son Mike who were joining us for the day) who knew exactly where to place his bait as he picked up first blood a nice 31cm and then a 26cm flounders on consecutive casts. ‘When the tide is strong those flounders like to lay out of the stream at the bottom of the bank’ he was heard to say, precisely where these two beauties had come from. Another lesson from a true matchman! Not to be out done “steady” Carter on next peg 11 was also reeling in a nice 29cm flounder followed shortly afterwards with a 27cm and 25cm flounder double shot , he was back in the groove!
Whilst this action was going on most were trying to adapt themselves to the conditions, particularly the mud and the rocky outcrop that appeared to be 10-20 yards out from the bank. Here, poor old “no hat” Attew (peg 7), “captain” Ellis (peg 6), “class act” Thorburn (peg 5) and “sandy coke” Loke (peg 9) were all losing gear as they struggled to negotiate this obstacle rather than catch fish. Even further down the stretch “inspector” Morse (peg 13) and “consultant” Allison (peg 15) were finding the obstacle and also losing gear. Amongst all this the rejuvenated crack summer angler “big fish” Elliott (peg 16) who had, yes drawn that hot peg, was not into the snags but into fish as he carded a nice 28cm and then a 25cm flounders. He had got his act together with 3 rods ready for action all primed with straight through braid and he had that grassy knoll with no mud so all he had to concentrate on was the fish. He was certainly doing this as a couple of eels and a plump 32cm flounder were then added to his card.
At the other end things were a little quieter but “achilles” Watts (peg 2) found a couple of eels and “son of matchman” Dawkins (peg 3) an eel and a nice 31cm flounder. “class act” Thorburn was getting to grips with his lost gear woes and managed to find an eel and a 26cm flounder but “smooth” Conway on next peg 4 was not having a good day. Although he managed to find an eel and small flounder he commented to “class act” that he could not get his act together with his successes of late deserting him, probably the following day’s match was pre-occupying him. Further down the stretch “yoda” Thomas (peg 14) was struggling particularly with the mud but did at last find a double shot of reasonable eels followed by a similar version. In contrast, the man at the end “big fish” Elliott was reeling them in, flounders and eels including one of nearly a pound, he was well and truly on a roll.
With the predicted low water over the tide was still ebbing, strange river this particularly when you have a lot of freshwater upstream. However, at last the tide turned and the small flounders came on with “yoda” Thomas picking up a couple as well as at long last “consultant” Allison and “inspector” Morse found a flounder . “matchman” Dawkins early success had come to an abrupt end but he then found a clonking eel of just over a pound. “sandy coke” Loke was also at last getting his act together as he found a nice 31cm and 25cm flounder. Slack water was short lived as the tide started to switch on and flood which allowed “silver fox” Neave (peg 1) and “captain” Ellis to save face and find an eel a piece. Not so for poor old “no hat” Attew whose Mackeral Bash woes continued and after not being able to retrieve a single trace decided to abandon the match and fish the locals hotspot. Unfortunately, it’s only a hot spot for the locals as he couldn’t even find a single fish there, better luck next time Sam.
With the tide beginning to flood fast the river gods hadn’t done with us quite yet as they presented a new challenge to us all, rafts of freshly cut green reeds. Whilst pegging heaps of this green stuff was seen pouring out of the nearby dyke and seawards. As the tide had turned this was obviously coming back in and of course along our side of the bank. Rods could be seen being lifted and dropped as they negotiated the large mats of the stuff flowing upstream. It was during this period when “class act” put his flounder hat on as well as a 2oz bomb and did the “matchman” Dawkins stuff, straight down the bank with immediate success and a 25cm flounder on his card but just a bit too late. Others were finding the odd flounder but it was that man at the end, “big fish” Elliott who was steadily reeling in the eels and flounders mounting up a colossal number of points. As the tide flooded harder the fish went off slightly and “big fish” could be heard moaning about lack of fish although he was still bringing in the odd eel and flounder.
In the end it was of course Trevor “big fish” Elliott who took the honours with an amazing 6lb 3oz from 15 fish. Next was Andy “matchman” Dawkins someway behind on 2lb 13 ½ oz from 5 fish whose good flounders and big eel did the business. Final podium spot was a tie with both Mike “son of matchman” Dawkins and John “steady” Carter having 2lb 5oz from 4 and 6 fish respectively. Section A was taken by Mike “son of matchman” Dawkins followed by Mike “achilles” Watts with 1lb 13 ½ oz from 5 fish. Section A was taken by Trevor “big fish” Elliott followed by Andy “matchman” Dawkins. The heaviest fish was taken by the Dawkins duo who both had a 1lb ½ oz eel.
On the club front John Carter took the top spot and almost guaranteed himself the Summer Accumulator. He was followed by Mike Watts and then Paul “class act” Thorburn just ½ oz behind with 1lb 13oz from 5 fish. Club heaviest flat points went to Peter Loke for his 31cm flounder and heaviest round points to Ivan Allison for his 14 ½ oz eel.
I don’t think too much can be said about this venue except thank goodness it didn’t rain. It may be a good hot spot for pleasure fishing in the right place but afraid to say that it’s not a good match stretch and don’t think we’ll be trying it again in a hurry. The next match which is the 3rd Round of the West Norfolk Challenge Series and Final Summer Accumulator will be on Saturday 11th August fishing 11:30-4:30 over the top at Kings Lynn but on the West Bank and we will make sure we can get a key. Please bring a raffle prize for this match.
Club & Open Match Result Top 6
1st Trevor Elliott 6lb 3oz (Guest)
2nd Andy Dawkins 2lb 13½oz (Guest)
3rd= John Carter 2lb 5oz
3rd= Mike Dawkins 2lb 5oz (Guest)
5th Mike Watts 1lb 13½oz
6th Paul Thorburn 1lb 13oz
Please use this link for full set of club match results … Holt Sea Angling Match Results (14Jul12)
In Club’s Summer League John’s top spot in the match has put him in a commanding position and with just 1 match left he is in prime position to take the Summer Accumulator .
Club Summer League Top 5
1st John Carter 139 points
2nd Henry Randell 133 points
3rd Peter Loke 128points
4th Tony Thomas 127 points
5th Ivan Allison 117 points
Please use this link for full club summer league table… Holt Sea Angling League Table (14Jul12)
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