Holt SAC Rocket House Open and Janet Waller Cup (Report)

Sunday 29th December 2019 - Salthouse

Holt SAC’s Annual 14TH ROCKET HOUSE Open was held at SALTHOUSE on SUNDAY 29TH DECEMBER. As seems to be the norm with this match the turn out was low not helped by a competing match not too far away. As we said last year, it’s a pity we cannot avoid such clashes, it only takes a little coordination and communication, so once again maybe next year! although established matches will not be changed even this one. Anyway there was still a good turn out of Club members and some coming from as far afield as Ely, Bungay, Heacham, Taverham, Norwich and the Humber plus the usual crowd from “round the corner”. Plus, just for a change a good smattering of locals with one noticeable absentee whose mussels need attending. Never mind Henry, Kim showed she’s a good match for you in this one. Interesting to see the result if you’d been there.

Forecast for the day was moderate southerly with broken cloud and none of this dreadful dampness of late and they were spot on although the wind was rather chilly. The sea was flat calm with next to no swell and fishing from 1½ hrs from high water down on a biggish tide meant a nice expanse of shingle and sand as the tide receded. Nice to see small shingle banks appearing with water being trapped behind them reminiscent of the days I used to fish here in the mid to late 1950s. Nothing much has changed and the Dabs were there in numbers then although they seemed bigger then.

Pegging for this one was from around 100 yards west of Beach Road or from where the old Rocket House used to be until 1953 to just past Little Eye Mound with two small Zones in this stretch. Everyone one was at the draw nice and early, even the tardy ones who enjoyed the sunrise through the crimson broken clouds. All were soon trudging across the horrible Salthouse shingle (wrong size) to their drawn pegs. With this being the Club’s only “Length” (no conversion) with every fish counting tactics were obvious. With everyone leisurely parked on top of the shingle bank for the start, the baiting up of multiple traces was soon in full swing. In one way this was going to be a relaxing session but it was going to be hectic and for some it was.

At the whistle everyone was in shingle mode, not too much distance as a quick retrieve allowed another of those baited traces to be launched within seconds, speed was the essence in this one. It was soon apparent that the fish were there as buckets could be seen moving between pegs and doubles and trebles of Dabs and Whiting were coming ashore in numbers. With this action there was some satisfaction that handing out additional extension cards was correct, how wrong this was proved to be.

This action continued whilst there was water lapping onto the shingle bank but as the sand started to show and water drop the action started to fade. Doubles and trebles for some were replaced by singles and blank casts. When this happens you know you’re in for a tough day particularly when your neighbour is still hauling in doubles and trebles. This was not helped by the lack of numbers of quality fish where it is difficult to keep in touch when recording single Dabs of 14cm or Whiting of 15cm. The situation got even more dire as slack water arrived and everyone was hauling in blank casts. Thankfully this situation did not last for long and the fish started to appear again as the tide picked up. The odd big Whiting and Flounder were found but not in serious numbers and for most the quantity of fish was not like at the start.

Some were finding fish close in (40-60yds) but the casters had no joy at range. For them to drop inside was hard as they were programmed for distance and could not get close enough to where the fish appeared to be feeding. By the whistle it was those who could consistently find the distance and were able to add to their card cast after cast. In the end it was England International KIMBERLEY LAWN (peg 18) who did just this and showed the boys how to catch numbers of fish and took the match with 955cm from 51 fish which included a 31cm Flounder and 32cm Whiting. Mind you when she knew she was in contention and other contenders were close she switched into true match mode running exhausted between pegs and bringing in treble shots of small Dabs each cast. Then when she brought in a single Dab on her last two casts she was so disappointed thinking she had blown it. Well done Kim by winning by a healthy margin and thrashing an old codger like myself on next peg.

Runner up was another old codger recovering from some Christmas turmoil in KEVIN GREEN (Peg 10) who was pushed hard by a very competitive next peg to record 811cm from 41 fish comprising 37 Dabs and 4 Whiting. Final podium slot went to the Humberite DAVE BURR (Peg 3) with 719cm from 34 fish which included a 34cm Whiting on his very first cast, the remainder comprising 29 Dabs and 4 Whiting. A successful session at last for Dave who had broken down on the way to this particular match in the last two years.

Zones were taken by the top two winners, Zone A by KEVIN GREEN (Peg 10) and Zone B by KIMBERLEY LAWN (peg 18). Longest Flat was a 34cm Flounder taken by PAUL HARVEY (Peg 6) and Heaviest Round a 34cm Whiting taken by DAVE BURR (Peg 3). The Super Pools was taken by the Overall winners. Altogether, 437 fish (372 Dabs, 57 Whiting, 4 Flounders, 2 Scorpions, 1 Bass and 1 Bullhead) were recorded with a total length of 86.28m.

Another competitive Rocket House Open with plenty of fish recorded for most. Being length only and everything counts meant that everyone had to change their tactics from the usual conversion matches. Targeting big Whiting or big Flounders was reward if you got them but going for two prolific 18cm Dabs would equal a 36cm version of these probable fish. So keeping the fish flowing onto your card was important and speed was essential. The ball game for this one was totally different to all our other Club matches. Handing out those extra match cards was a big mistake as only the winner used it, must rethink doing it again. Many thanks to everyone who support this match.

The next Club match is the NEW YEAR OPEN for the Ken Brown Cup at KELLING via Muckleburgh Collection on WEDNESDAY 1ST JANUARY fishing 10:00-3:00 HW 10:36 4.3m. Draw will be at the Muckleburgh Collection main gate (NR25 7EH) from 8:00. Please text 07780793141 if you are fishing this match. There will be a raffle after the match and any raffle prizes will be appreciated.

HAPPY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR to all Club Members and our readers … Tony T

Top 10 Individuals (on the day) …

1...Kimberley Lawn...955cm…(51 Fish) .Peg 18
2...Kevin Green……...811cm…(41 Fish).Peg 10
3...Dave Burr...........719cm…(34 Fish).Peg 3
4...Andy Gallacher....707cm…(34 Fish).Peg4
5...Tony Thomas.......680cm…(36 Fish).Peg 17
6...Mike Watts...........656cm…(32 Fish).Peg 15
7...Adrian Bordianu….583cm…(29 Fish).Peg 11
8...Billy Temple.........561cm…(30 Fish).Peg 9
9...Charlie Needham..551cm…(28 Fish).Peg 16
10.Bevan Self…………..535cm…(27 Fish).Peg 7

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