4th Leg Summer Accumulator and Sabre Tackle Summer League Match 2 (Report)

Sunday 3rd May 2015 - Cley

With our England International reporting shed loads of Bass both day and night at Cley everyone was preparing for some great sport at this one. Probably “shed” is the wrong term to use at Cley these days but at least a replacement has been found and they did leave the chair. Really surprising what people will take these days. Anyway with just a week away from the Bass Festival this was going to be the “big” practice particularly as we were going to use the same stretch as Zone A in that event. Pegging was starting from just east of the wreck towards East Bank, not exactly a close stretch even end peg 1 was a short hike from the car park. The opportunity was taken to check out Zone B for the Bass Festival where end peg 50 would be 6 pegs past East Bank. It was going to be a long walk for those drawing these pegs although walking down East Bank would be an option. A long walk but certainly where the bass have been coming out so there is compensation for all this. It will be a matter of pacing on the outward trek but the return will be easier along the low water sand. Sad to see the memorial behind Zone B to the 4 USAF personnel who lost their lives in the helicopter crash in January 2013, very sad!

With pegs in place a healthy turn out started to appear in the Bus Shelter at Cley beach car park and immediately started moaning about the weather. A faint drizzle at the time but they were reporting torrential rain in Cambridgeshire and it was forecast to come our way and they were getting concerned, come on lads this is fishing! Unfortunately, “silver fox” had already made his mind up and decided to call it a day rather than jeopardize his appearance in the Bass Festival. The sea had bass written all over it with a serious swell coming in on a stiff north easterly which was forecast to turn south easterly and then south westerly. These would be ideal conditions for the fish although the swell looked bigger than predicted. Pegs were soon drawn and everyone was soon off in the rather damp conditions to really find out how far they had to walk. Those that had selected a close peg were soon grateful they had done this and for the Bass Festival all competitors will need to pace themselves at this venue. Fishing the end of the ebb and just an hour of the flood (if there was any) meant parking up on the shingle bank was the easiest option. Even before the whistle the predicted rain arrived along with a now strong south easterly. Not comfortable but at least not in your face.

Even with such a walk all were ready at the whistle and surprisingly even Mr Organiser. The big versus small baits dilemma was still there and in this match the results on this one were slightly closer. Although there was a big swell there was no real white water at the start although a little appeared towards the end. This meant that with a following wind baits for some could be accurately placed in the hollows and for others it was whacking as far as they dare. The direction of the wind did create problems as adjacent anglers were casting into bows in the lines of others and if casting wasn’t synchronised would result in other lines being regularly hauled. Unfortunately, this is part of the sport and we all have to accept these situations. With the rain now torrential and persistent everyone was snug in their buddies preparing their various concoctions although “21 Monday’s” brolley was not exactly snug. For most this was a relatively new venue so where to fish and tactics was a learning curve. However, it was soon apparent that some had already sussed out the venue as the first of a number of silver bars could be seen slipping up the beach.

The bass were here could heard reverberating along the stretch as the rain continued to lash down. A nice one of 51cm was the first ashore followed by one of 55cm but this was then surpassed by a monster of 61cm and worth 210 points or around 4 ½ lb in old money. A succession of smaller bass were added to the scorecards during the match resulting in 21 being recorded in total. Not to be out done, the flounders were playing a good supporting role in this match as some nice chunky ones could be seen being held up. Not real serious fish but with sizes up to 33cm they were adding good points to the cards. Also trying to mussel in on the match was a nice smooth hound of 62cm. As the “T” in torrential turned from big to small rod rests started to move down the beach following the tide and the buddy occupants did likewise, probably to dry out and have a bit of banter. This did not stop the fish as they kept coming ashore for most throughout the match, not in vast numbers but enough to keep everyone busy even if it was signing someone else’s card. There were a few luckless members who just couldn’t find a fish and others who were filling up their cards. In the end it was the bass that again did the business contributing to a winning weight of 12lb 5 1/3oz from 12 fish which included 5 bass. In total 91 fish (55 flounders, 11 dabs, 3 rockling, 1 smooth hound and 21 bass) were recorded weighing just under 61lb. Looks like the whiting have at last moved away from this venue leaving some serious fish for our attention. Excellent to see some quality bass here in numbers so all bodes well for the Bass Festival next weekend.

On the individual performances, it was “the boss” Morley who kicked off the stretch on peg 1and was more than glad to be avoiding the long walk on the shingle. He was soon into a small schoolie and then found a couple more of 38cm and 44cm but could only add a small dab to his score as the tide ebbed giving him a total of 181 points. Next peg 2 had “young catcher” Brown on board who was continuing NOT to live up to his nick name as he only managed to find one small flounder for just 5 points. He’ll have to do better than this in the Juniors Tournament next week end. Dad “super sub” Brown (peg 3) got off to flying start with a monster 26cm rockling but then was plagued with just small flatties throughout the match resulting in 91 points from 9 fish. With a holiday break on his mind “small hooks” Stannard (peg 4) thought he had better have a trip north to thwart his expected withdrawal symptoms. A few good flounders up to 29cm and a bass of 44cm certainly helped ending up with 180 points from 6 fish. With a similar scorecard, “the consultant” Allison (peg 6) also had some good flounder s up to 30cm and a slightly smaller bass of 41cm to leave him with 169 points from 7 fish. On next peg 7 was “short walk” Borley who was really struggling with the shingle (literally) but a nice 32cm flounder at the start helped him to forget those problems. Unfortunately, he could only find another 5 flounders up to 26cm to leave him with 99 points.

Then there was “take it easy” Tovell (peg 8) who as usual was fishing where no one else was as he just enjoys banging it out at range. Unfortunately, his favourite dabs weren’t there but after finding a small schoolie he locked into that 62cm smooth hound and his only two fish for 134 points. The morning after the night before was not too good for “blacks” Bulch (peg 9) and he was struggling to orientate himself (too much “Cottage”) but all of this soon came history as a splendid 55cm bass took his bait. Unfortunately, he could only add another smaller schoolie and 2 small flatties to his score to give him 212 points way behind his successful total of the previous week. Up on a rare visit to the shingle was “chippy” Doy (peg 10) although suspect it was for a bit of Festival practice but he was rewarded with that 61cm bass early on. He must have thought Christmas had come early as it was then followed by a 44cm but could then only find a rockling and a points earning 32cm flounder. However, although he only had 4 fish his total points score was 348 and well in contention for a podium place. Then there was “last cast” Watt (peg 11) back from his Caribbean jaunt and with his newly refurbished rods was soon into that first 51cm bass on the beach. He then followed this with a raft of sensible flounders up to 30 and then 4 more bass including ones of 53cm and 54cm. He was soon back in his grove this time and with 12 fish amassed a total of 592 points and a certain contender for to spot in this one.

“steady” Carter (peg 12) knew it wasn’t going to be his day as he reeled in a small rockling as his first fish and dreamt for those heady days early in 2015 when he couldn’t do a thing wrong. He thought his luck had change when he hooked into a bass but it was only a schoolie. He then had to be content with a raft of flounders up to 29cm and then another schoolie at the end which was exactly the same length as the previous one, probably the same fish. In the end he managed 145 points from 9 fish. In contrast to the previous match, “earl” Spencer (peg 13) was struggling and this time he had subscribed to the super pool. This time he just managed 3 flounders although the biggest was 33cm giving him a total of 82 points. Guest Leon Stamp (peg 14) was really struggling in his very first session on this section of Cley beach and could only find one small schoolie for 34 points. His compatriot “just made it” Scarff (peg 15) was having an even worse time and failed to find a single fish. Having a crazy time was “21 Monday” Randell (peg 16) who although his rod bent double twice failed to connect with that fish or any others. He really was not with it on this day probably as a result of “too much Cottage” and maybe just a bit too much pleasuring. The situation got so bad that he took an early bath but he certainly will be back.

In a similar vein “pikey” Muirhead (peg 17) was failing to get the fishto even have a sniff of his bait and there was plenty of it, two whole peelers on a size 6/0 Pennel or that’s what it seemed. Trying to make amends for the last match “hokey pokey” Loke (peg 18) although he was trying to fish at Salthouse from his peg rather than Cley. In his usual consistent way he managed to find 7 good to reasonable Flounders up to 29cm plus a couple of dabs to give him 138 points. Will the “Cleethorpes Warrior” return in time for the Bass festival? A grimace from “hokey pokey” as he realised “yoda” Thomas (peg 19) was next door but “yoda” was determined to improve on his last match disaster. With revised tactics, a baiting lesson from “blacks” and the mention of size 2 Sabpolo by “21 Monday” he was determined to try and do the business. Things looked good when a 28cm flounder was followed by a 38cm bass and even better when a 27cm flounder was followed by a 54cm bass. Another small flounder and yet another 46cm bass, he was really on a roll but then he could only find four more good flatties to give a total of 415 points from the 10 fish and well in contention for a podium place. Out on end peg 20 was “taxi” Kendrick who had a buddy erection problem in the strong wind which at least blew the cobwebs away from his early morning drive from Stansted. Unfortunately, although he was snug and dry in his buddy there was a distinct lack of fish on his card until “21 Monday” came over. Gave him some 6-7oz weights and said stick this lot in the gutter which he promptly did. Guess what much to the disgust of “hokey pokey”, flounder, flounder, flounder, flounder, flounder. Yes 5 of them on his card in almost successive cast and seriously challenging “hokey pokey’s” total particularly as the last two were 33cm and 31cm resulting in a final total of 128 points.

There was no doubt who did the business in this one, with his 5 bass Mike “last cast” Watts took the honours with 12lb 5 1/3oz from 12 fish. Runner up and finding some form at last was Tony “yoda” Thomas whose 3 bass amongst the flatties gave him 8lb 10 1/3 from 10 fish. Final podium slot went to Alan “chippy” Doy whose monster bass meant all the difference in his score ending up with 7lb 4oz from just 4 fish. Heaviest flat on the day was shared by Paul Kendrick and Nigel Spencer a flounder of 33cm (15oz) and heaviest round went to Alan Doy with his 61cm (4lb 6oz) bass.

Well another excellent club match and many thanks to “Speedy” for gathering up the unused pegs and Christian and Paul for going back and collecting the pegs left by our young 21 year old star. Well that’s all the practicing done and now we just have to do the business in the Festival and that will be tough particularly with the calibre of those booked in. With 21 bass being caught in this session it all bodes well for the Festival particularly as we will be fishing from top down and more of the ebb. Let’s hope the bass stick around and don’t get gilled or pushed off by the algae Tight Lines and Good Luck to all those who will be raising the Holt SAC flag in this event.

Next match is the Bass Festival on Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May fishing 10-3 and 11-4 respectively at CLEY and KELLING. Will club members participating please bring along a raffle prize for the draw on Sunday evening. Next Club match is on Sunday 17th May fishing 9:30-2:30 at BACTON via Castaways.

Club Match Result Top 5

1st  Mike Watts             12lb 5 1/3oz       (12 Fish)

2nd Tony Thomas           8lb 10 1/3oz     (10 Fish)

3rd  Alan Doy                 7lb 4oz             ( 4 Fish)

4th  Christian Bulch         4lb 6 2/3oz       ( 4 Fish)

5th  Keith Morley             3lb 12 1/3oz     ( 4 Fish)

------ ... ------