Holt SAC 3rd Leg Summer Accumulator (Report)

Sunday 7th May 2017 - Kelling

The 3rd leg of the Club’s Summer Accumulator was fished at Kelling via Muckleburgh Collection on Sunday 7th May. For the past 2 weeks we had been suffering from very strong NN Easterlies and big swells a real pain for the local Commercials but this day brought a short rest bite from all this with less wind and swell. It was barking cold but the sea was that perfect Bass one and all were prepared to suffer a little discomfort for some rod bending experiences. All except the Humber contingent who went 140 miles north to do battle in the 1st round of the Humber Summer League at Hessle in      more balmy conditions. I wouldn’t say “do battle” is an ideal description as it was absolute crap with the Asian Ace only having a few twitches on his rod, the International struggled desperately for a couple of fish, the two Humber rookies managed to find a “few” fish as did the “wriggler man” to keep up with them. There will be more fish in the next rounds but they could have snookered the League with selection of this venue. Anyway enough of this digression.

Meanwhile back at base on the shingle a good turn out of the other Club regulars were having a cracking match where all manner of species appeared in particular Smooth Hounds which caught everyone by surprise except young Henry who said they would be there. Pegging for this one was west from the end of the low cliff towards the pillar box and Kelling Hard, the infamous radar section. An early 9:00 start to catch as much as the ebb as possible which more than paid dividend. From the off the fish were there straight away including those Hounds particularly to those that invested in some crab. It was soon evident that this was going to be a special match as the Hounds were joined by Dogs, quality Flounders , plenty of good Dabs and surprisingly some decent Whiting which keep on hanging around. There was also just three Schoolie Bass which was disappointing considering the sea. The wind a stiff Northerly freshened as the match progressed switching to a bit Westerly and notching up the chill factor but nobody really noticed as there was too much rushing around.

For a change it was those with a little bit of distance and crab who were succeeding in finding the Hounds which significantly bumped up their scores. It was MIKE TOPPING who benefited from this action taking the day by a healthy margin with 22lb 7oz from 38 fish which included 9 Hounds. Some way back in the runners-up spot was PAUL TOVELL with 16lb 7oz from 23 fish seriously helped by his solitary 85cm (6lb 11oz) Hound. Final podium slot went to CHARLIE FRARY with 11lb 15oz from 25 fish which included 4 Hounds. Heaviest Flat was a 35cm (1lb 1oz) Flounder taken by BEVAN SELF and heaviest Round that 85cm (6lb 11oz) Hound to PAUL TOVELL. Altogether 242 Fish (138 Dabs, 65 Whiting, 20 Smooth Hounds, 11 Flounders, 5 Dogs and 3 Bass were recorded weighing just over 98lb.

On the pegs, Neil “Smarty” Smart was on his regular end peg Peg 2 who was into a species hunt with some good Dabs, pin Whiting, a 60cm Hound, a 46cm Dog and a nice points earning 32cm Flounder giving him 327 points from 18 fish and 8th place. John Neave was on Peg 3 and his lack of crab certainly showed as his lug and fish baits could only entice Dabs and Whiting resulting in 15 fish for 119 points and 10th place. Coming more familiar with this venue was Albert “piffy” Randelsome on Peg 4 who managed a collection Dabs and Whiting along with a 60cm Hound, a 54cm Dog and a small Schoolie Bass for 377 points from 22 fish and 5th place. Back in form Bevan Self on Peg 5 also found a raft of Dabs and Whiting along with that stonking 35cm Flounder plus others and 4 Hounds the biggest being 64cm along with a monster he left in the surf for 563 points from 26 fish and 4th place.

The Topping contingent were on the next two pegs Peg 6 & 7 and it was Mike Topping who found a 69cm on his first cast that set the scene for his day as this was followed by a further 8 slightly small Hounds a 57cm Dog plus Dabs, Flounder and Whiting up to 32cm for a match winning 1077 points from 38 fish. His protégé, young Jack Topping was getting some practice in for the Bass Festival and although hampered by lack of distance found Dabs and Whiting plus 29cm and 32cm Flounders and the biggest Bass of the day of 30cm for 181 points and 9th place. Charlie Frary on Peg 8 soon realised his journey from Diss was worthwhile when his first fish was a Hound of 69cm and immediately followed by one of 52cm and another 2 of a similar size along with Dabs, Whiting and Flounders one of which was a points earning 33cm giving him 572 points from 25 fish and 3rd place.

A frustrating day for Peter Morse on Peg 9 who was very very busy reeling in Dab after Dab and Whiting after Whiting and although he was in the middle of the Hound action he could not find one on his crab bait, even a points earning 32cm Flounder could not match a Hound’s score ending up with 361 points from 34 fish and 6th place. In contrast Paul Tovell on Peg 11 found nice 61cm,58cm and 56cm Dogs and then that 85cm Hound for a monster 320 points as well as losing a similar fish in the surf and all of these topped up with Dabs and Whiting gave him 788 points from 23 fish and 2nd place. End Peg 12 Ivan Allison knew he should have had crab as he signed in Paul’s Hound as all he could find was Dabs, Whiting up to 34cm and Flounders up to 30cm for 348 points from 30 fish for 7th place.

Once again a cracking match where the Hounds took everyone by surprise considering it was a rather lumpy sea. Hopefully, these fish will stay around for a few more days which would bode well for the Bass Festival. It was encouraging to see some good Flounders and they should certainly be there next week along with the dependable Dabs and even the Whiting may remain for another week. The lack of Bass is worrying as everything was right particularly the sea state for there to be plenty even if they were just Schoolies. Anyway there is still a few days left for this to all change.

The next club event is the NORTH NORFOLK BASS FESTIVAL on 13TH/14THth MAY and don’t forget it is a 9:30 start for both days. A few extra spare pegs will be put out so if anyone is interested please contact 07780793141 to book. There will be a big raffle over the weekend and any raffle prize would be welcomed.

The following weekend on SUNDAY 21ST MAY is the 1st round of the Series of 3 West Norfolk Challenge match at KINGS LYNN and 4th Leg Summer Accumulator. The venue for this will be the north end of the West Bank via Clockcase Lane fishing 12:00-5:00 LW 9:46 4.0m. All bookings for this one to Mike on 07858758669. There will also be a raffle so prizes are welcome and all proceeds from this will go towards the Free Pairs competition.

Good Luck to all those participating in the Bass Festival, it could be an outstanding weekend … Tony T

Top 5 Individuals (on the day) …

1…Mike Topping.………..22lb..7oz………....(38 fish)

2…Paul Tovell………….….16lb..6 2/3oz…...(23 fish)

3…Charlie Frary………….11lb..14 2/3oz…..(25 fish)

4…Bevan Self………………11b..11 2/3oz…...(26 fish)

5…Albert Randelsome….7lb..13 2/3oz…..(22 fish)

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