Holt SAC 1st Leg Summer Accumulator (Report)

Sunday 10th April 2016 - Kelling

The club’s first match of the new season was played out as tradition dictates at Kelling on Sunday 10th April. With NAC’s festival in full swing pegging was just east of the Kelling block house to stay well away from their action. On a bright but slightly chilly morning this decision was spot on as we had selected a very fair venue with plenty of fish coming out from all pegs. Fishing from top down on a big big tide meant plenty of fish at the start, a quiet period over slack water and fish coming back on towards the end. A lot of small stuff primarily dabs and a few whiting with some quality fish amongst them. The sea had plenty of colour with a very slight swell and expectations were high for those silver bars but only two schoolies bothered to turn up. If history repeats itself this should be the last appearance of the pins and then hopefully the bass will really appear along with some of those stonking flounders.

A healthy turn out of club members from around East Anglia contested this match and it soon came apparent that the competitiveness was probably going to be turned up a notch this season. Mind you, still plenty of Fun and Banter there with a few more new faces in the mix at the end so we are in for some cracking matches this year. However, it was still the same “old” face at the top at the end with Mike Watts doing the business yet again with 6lb 15oz from 40 fish. Speed appears to be his strength and until we can match this he is always going to be there or there abouts. Next was the young man that even Mike said we should all watch in Luke Brierley with 6lb 4oz from 35 fish putting a lot of seasoned match anglers to shame. Final podium slot went to Suffolk based Adele Smith who made the early morning trip up with hubby John worthwhile with 5lb 9oz from 31 fish. Time after time over the last few months she has outperformed some creditable match anglers at this venue so it seems crazy that she has not been selected for the England Homes Ladies team at this venue in July. Top flat fish on the day was a 29cm Dab recorded by Adele and Tony Thomas, with the heaviest round being a 30cm Whiting taken by John Smith and all will receive the new “reduced” 5 league points bonus. Altogether 284 fish (234 dabs, 4 flounders, 44 whiting and 2 bass) weighing just over 49½ lb.

This match demonstrates more than ever that the club does cater for everyone with a Lady, Junior and of course a “senior” man making up the podium. In the club’s 63rd year it can only bode well for the club’s future particularly this year.

Next club match and Open is the 1st Round of the West Norfolk Challenge on the West bank at Kings Lynn on Sunday 17th April fishing 9:30-2:30 LW 11:15 4.1m. Pre-book please to 07780793141 and for directions set Sat Nav to PE34 4BZ and follow down Clockcase Lane until you see Holt SAC sign.

The club is running a Summer trip to Orford as well as the Autumn one and this will be on Wednesday 18th May. If you are interested please contact Tom Gibbs on 07747779826 to book a seat. The club will be subsidizing some of the trip for club members.

The Bass Festival (7th/8th May) bookings are coming in steadily and we are now over 40 fully booked in. However, there are lots more to come in so it would be good to have more in now rather than at last minute so please get your forms in.

Top 5 results …

1st  Mike Watts    6lb 15 1/3oz (40 Fish)
2nd Luke Brierley  6lb 4 1/3oz   (35 Fish)
3rd Adele Smith    5lb 9 1/3oz   (31 Fish)
4th Jake Cooper    5lb 2/3oz     (30 Fish)
5th Tony Thomas  4lb 5 1/3oz  (26 Fish)

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