KENNET Ospreys match at Bowsaw Lake was a sell out with anglers coming from far and wide, top rod on the day was Darren Wright whose 127lb 4oz of carp fell to pole and maggot tactics.
Keith Saunders made second spot with 114lb 6oz of carp again on pole and pellet, Phil Rogers mustered 107lb 4oz on pole and pellet just edging out Ian Jones who netted 107lb 3oz. All 25 caught.
Staceys Match Group were at Cheriton Farm on Sunday last where Tadley Angling's Kevin Roberts put the pellet waggler to good use and won with 82lb 8oz of carp.
Scott Butler employed the same tactic for his 74lb 8oz, Staceys supremo Keith Brown used pole and maggot (what else) for his 71lb 4oz, Andy Wicks made up the frame on 66lb 8oz. All 12 caught.
Camrose AC fished their latest match on New Barlows Lake, where Bill Atkinson trotted up with 36lb 4oz of bream on pole and corn.
Match secretary Pip Seeney took second spot on 26lb 10oz of mixed on pole and maggot, Jason Marcham’s 26lb 6oz made third, followed by Ralph Sneddon’s 19lb 6oz. All 12 caught.
Ten Adventure AS members went to Greenridge Farm Lake, where Graham Spiller topped out with 82lb 8oz of carp on pole and pellet.
Kevin Smith’s 81lb 8oz of carp was also a pole and pellet affair, Rob Gallagher was next with 57lb 12oz caught on pole and pellet. Everyone caught.
Oxoid AC were on the adjacent lake to Adventure lake four at Greenridge Farm, where the aptly named Harry Roach scored with 90lb 12oz of carp on the feeder, match secretary Peter Lovegrove was second with 62lb 14oz on pole and pellet, Geoff North was third with 44lb 14oz on pole and pellet. All nine fished and weighed.
When Basingstoke boasted four major clubs and numerous works outfits there were upwards of 2,000 anglers in our area, the more talented anglers fished representative fixtures, nation championships, open matches etc leaving club matches for the less talented anglers and those on a budget.
As travel became necessary to fish at the top level and costs soared, top anglers turned their attentions to easy pickings on club matches thus ordinary anglers were squeezed out and club membership dropped.
To compensate for this clubs put their prices up and squeezed the ordinary anglers yet again.
Catch me next week.
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