Holt SAC 6th Leg Winter Accumulator (Report)

Sunday 5th February 2017 - Salthouse

It was back to the shingle at SALTHOUSE for Holt SAC’s 6th Leg of the Winter Accumulator. It is quite remarkable that after the small tidal surge of two weeks ago we were even able to fish there but amazingly not a lot had changed. Except the shingle is flatter than before, with iron works now half way to Cley and sadly “Great Eye” mound is no more. The site of the infamous Rocket House has had its last clump of earth removed and all of this is now confined to history, sad! Anyway beach road was accessible and clear and a good turn out for a Club match was soon assembling for the draw. The weather was rather benign with a very light south easterly forecast to turn more northerly during the match but remaining light which it duly did. Fog had hampered the travellers and this came rolling in from the sea at the draw as the wind moved round but this was short lived and we were left with clear blue sky for the majority of the match with some heat at last from the rising sun.

Fishing up and over the top at Salthouse is always good as you park on top of the shingle bank and not have to move. With a glassy sea at the start changing to a very very light swell as the wind switched meant for a change you could see all the bites, one of the satisfactions of this sport. Pegging here is always west from the now defunct “Great Eye” as east from the beach road can be rather hefty. A couple of great guys from Newark had already set up in the middle of our usual stretch so it was decided to go further towards the iron works than had planned. The trouble with doing this is that the shingle at Salthouse is the wrong size for walking on comfortably but nobody really complained as they made their way to their allotted slots, a few stops helped.

It was business as usual from the whistle with the majority opting for their well honed casting ranges for this venue and those that were new to this stretch of shingle a bit of observing what others were doing around them.   First cast is always a good indicator of what sort of day we were going to have and as rods started to rattle from the off it was a good measure of how the rest of the match progressed. The same match on the 1st Sunday of February at the same venue in 2016 produced a lot of fish and this one was producing the same results. Lots of Whiting were coming ashore, some small but there were also a few up to 30cm, full of roe so they won’t be around for much longer. As usual the Dabs were there in force giving good old rattles but a lot of them were small and of that thin green variety (hyperpigmentation). In addition, there were a few good Flounders being recorded which was surprising as they should have been well on their way to spawning by now.

For once this was a very close competitive match with plenty of fish being recorded but it was PAUL TOVELL who at last found some form and fish to take this one with 7lb 9oz from 39 fish. Coming in close on his heels was JOHN CARTER who found some quality fish for 7lb 4oz from 31 fish. Final podium slot went to Ipswich Ace who always does damage up here in JOHN SMITH with 7lb 0oz from 33 fish. The heaviest flat was a 31cm (12oz) Flounder taken by John Carter and heaviest round a 32cm (8oz) Whiting shared by John Neave, Neil Smart, Tony Thomas and Mike Watts. Altogether 320 fish (162 Whiting, 152 Dabs, 5 Flounders & 1 Rocking) were recorded weighing just over 64lb.

On the pegs, John Carter was on prime Peg 1 and he used it well to find that top 31cm Flounder and recorded 4 out of the 5 Flounders along with a few points earning Dabs. With 349 points from 31 fish gave his 2nd place in the match as well as elevating him to top of the Overall League leader board and current leader in the Winter Accumulator, well done John! Enthusiastic Neil Smart on peg 2 was in form again with some good Whiting including that one of 32cm ending up with 330 points from 30 fish for 5th in the match. The old “silver fox” John Neave on peg 3 continues to defy his age creating frustration around him as he pulled in trebles of small fish with a few good ones thrown in from his usual range at this venue. That 32cm Whiting helped him to 332 points from 35 fish placing him just 3 points off a podium finish in 4th place.

Frustration was overcoming Mike Watts on peg 4 as he could not find the fish “silver fox” was finding at the same distance but a change of tactic to his normal range helped improve his score which included that 32cm Whiting. Eventually ending up with 280 points from 31 fish and 7th place although he was still gutted, beaten by just 1 point by “the boss”.   A slow start for that man from Ipswich John Smith on peg 6 but he soon got his lug tipped gar rigs to work once he found the fish with 335 points from 33 fish and 3rd place overall, he was glad he entered the Super Pool this time. In contrast Tony Thomas on peg 7 got off to a flyer with that 32cm Whiting but was then pestered by single undersized or just sizeable Whiting ending up with 269 points from 29 fish and well out of contention in 8th place.

Mr consistency “the boss” Keith Morley on peg 8 had a slow start and then he found the fish and was carding them regularly. Not monsters but keeping his card topped up and a 30cm Flounder near the end helped him to 281 points from 32 fish and 6th place. For Bev Self on peg 9 after his sterling performance at Trimingham found he has to take the rough with the smooth for his first taste of this venue and although he had plenty of fish struggled to find enough sizeable ending up with 106 points from 13 fish and 11th place. Back into fishing mode again was Peter Loke on peg 10 and straight into some small Dabs at the start but although he found a 31 Whiting he could not use his very, very fresh Blakeney bait to attract enough finishing with 232 points from 25 fish and 9th place, thanks for the coffee Pete!

When you get a nice 30cm Whiting at your comfortable range at the start you know it could be your day as it was for Paul Tovell on peg 11. With a mixture of small Dabs and Whiting after this and a succession of good Whiting midway and then a raft of small Dabs at the end his total of 362 points from 39 fish easily gave him the match. End peg 12 man Paul Kendrick also kicked off with a 30cm Whiting but failed to get number of fish afterwards although he did find the Newark boys ending up with 204 points from 22 fish and 10th place.

All in all yet another highly competitive match with pairs of anglers just one fish or less between them. It is surprising that as mentioned before the same match last year at Salthouse produced 316 fish with one less member against this year’s 320 although the total weight was less at 65lb as opposed to 69lb. Let’s hope future matches during this period are as good.

Next Club match is the 7th Leg of the Winter Accumulator and 5th Round of the North Norfolk National Sea League at KELLING via the Muckleburgh Collection on SUNDAY 12TH FEBRUARY fishing 10:00-3:00 HW 7:26 4.9m which is 1 hour later than advertised. Draw will be in the Muckleburgh Collection Café from 8:15 and breakfasts will be served from 7:30. A few extra pegs will be put in for Individuals and if anyone wants to book please text 07780793141 (got it right this time, thanks Colin!) … Tony T

Top 5 Individuals (on the day) …

1…Paul Tovell.……..7lb..8 2/3oz…..(39 fish)

2…John Carter..……7lb..4 1/3oz……(31 fish)

3…John Smith……….6lb..15 2/3oz…(33 fish)

4…John Neave……..6lb..14 2/3oz...(35 fish)

5…Neil Smart……….6lb..14……….....(30 fish)

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