Gary Lakin has set a record for the biggest carp ever caught in a match at Packington Somers Fishery – at a whopping 21lb 8oz. The big fish, which fell for a popped-up bread bait fished on the bomb on Molands Lake, is the first ever 20lb-plus fish caught in a club or open match at the Meriden day ticket venue and helped him to first place with 67-10-0 – 20lb more than the second place weight of 47-6-0 posted by Max Higgot. “It was an impressive fish to see in a match and the biggest carp we’ve had for some time out of Molands,” fishery manager John Burchell said. “We’ve seen a few fish in the past come out in matches at 18lb and 19lb, and I think the previous biggest was 19lb 11oz, but I’ve never known another fish of over 20lb caught in a match.”

Ouse The Daddy?
I’m going to try and get out on the bank more this year and set things off on the right foot (sort of) with a session on the Great Ouse on New Year’s Day. I used to be a member of a syndicate on the upper Ouse where I caught loads of big perch, although when I say big I had a stack of two pounders but never a three. It’s my kind of fishing, moving from swim to swim on a water where you know there are specimen fish there. Catching them is the issue. This new stretch is mainly noted for quality chub with a real chance of beating my PB of 5lb 4oz. I’ve actually caught chub that size twice – one on the Dorset Stour and once on the Upper Welland. Well my first session on this new water, while very enjoyable, produced no bites. That’s nothing unusual on the Ouse but I plan to put in a bit of a campaign there if I can find the time as there are apparently a lot of 6lb chub in there – or were anyway. I just hope the otters haven’t eaten them all.

Glebe Festival 2012
The TF Club Festival at the Glebe will be on a Thursday and Friday this year. Roy Marlow is running more festivals for his members in May this year so we couldn’t get a weekend date. The match is booked for the 17th and 18th – if you are a member of the club site, the details of how to secure your entry are on the site now.... You need to get your entry money in by January 31st to ensure you have a place.

Palser Racing
Another match angler to latch into big carp this weekend was serial Tunnel Barn Farm Fishery winner Stu Palser, who walked away with the win in the big Sunday Open largely thanks to carp of 15lb 5oz and 10lb 3oz making an appearance. Stu drew peg 7 on House Pool where he fished pole and pellet on three lines and added F1s for a 61-11-0 winning total, around 18lb clear of second placed Andy Jackson.


BAA Winter Fishing
A useful thread on www.Total-Fishing.com (coarse forum) has flagged up some of the best venues available to fish in winter on the Birmingham Anglers Association book. Website users recommend trying Fladbury on waggler and maggot tactics for chub, with Ribbesford to Stourport the places to head for if you want good, cold-weather roach sport on maggot or bread tactics. The Ladyham stretch at Clacks Farm also has its admirers as a top winter venue for silver fish. See http://www.total-fishing.com/phpbbforum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=58035 . The 2012 guide to BAA waters is now available at £3. More information on the BAA’s many river, canal and stillwater venues can be found online at http://www.baa.uk.com/.

Des Taylor Weekly Blog
Larger than life Midlands angling personality Des Taylor has started a new weekly Blog on the website of the magazine I launched for David Hall Publishing – Total Coarse Fishing. Des was never afraid of a bit of controversy in his long running column in Angling Times, and you can read what he’s been up to by going to http://www.tcfmagazine.com

Top Weight At Tunnel Barn
The biggest Midlands match of the week also produced the biggest match weight as Richard Knowles bagged the 84-peg Garbolino Tunnel Barn Farm Winter match with over 90lb of F1s. Richard drew peg 23 on Club Pool and fished punch to start with, later on switching to pellets, to see of Shakespeare’s Paul Bick in second place on 80-3-0.

Cooperman Bags Biggest Trout
Sutton Coldfield’s Gary Cooper took the biggest trout of the week at Packington Somers with a fine 6lb 8oz rainbow, which took a boat-fished White Lure on Park Meadow Pool. Fishing has improved with the milder weather in the last week, with a rod average of nearly three and several 4lb-plus fish being taken. Top patterns are Cats Whisker, black Tadpole, white Minkies, Viva, Appetizer, Gold Head Damsel, black Buzzer and Bloodworm. The best areas have been the lodge corner and the high bank of Cocks Close, the shallow end to the left of the boat jetty on Great Pool and the dam wall at Hall Pool. 

The Matt Hayes Experience
Anglers are being offered the chance to fish with fishing TV celebrity Matt Hayes at Furnace Mill Fishery next month, but you need to act quickly. Matt, star of the award-winning Total Fishing series, has been concentrating on salmon lately but will return to his coarse fishing roots during three ‘Matt Hayes Experience Days’ when he will concentrate on the tips and techniques that saw him become one of the country’s most successful and most recognised big fish anglers. The first two days have already sold out at the time of writing, so if you are interested email jane@furnacemill.net or call the fishery on 01299 266777 straight away.

Browning Back SPA Match Group
West Midlands based SPA Match Group is the latest to be snapped up in a sponsorship deal with Browning Fishing. The team will receive support in their match fishing activities and will assist with promotion of Browning products and brand. The move is the latest in a series of team and individual signings by Browning aimed at broadening product exposure in the region. Zebco’s Frerk Petersen said: "Sponsorship is important to us and we take it very seriously. The primary aim is to help our retailers by generating interest in Browning products on the bank. We also feel that we are putting something back into match angling. SPA join the large number of teams, both in the UK and across mainland Europe, that represent the Browning brand in matches and provide us with an incredibly diverse test-bed for our products." 

Ultra Sells Float Brand
Midlands float manufacturer Ultra has sold the rights to its brand name for a reported six-figure sum. Ultra Fishing Tackle was founded almost 50 years ago and is regarded by some as one of the key pioneers in float design advancement and manufacture. The Ultra name has been purchased by The Sport HQ, which will source its own products. 

Caster Roach On The Birmingham-Worcester Canal
The first match of the year on the Stoke Works section of the Birmingham-Worcester Canal saw plenty of caster roach showing, with winner Dave Lowe of Harris MG including ten, plus a skimmer bream, in his 4-3-0 total. Dave drew peg 11 at the start of the wall in the 39-pegger run by Gary Kirkham, with Maver Tipton’s Paul Turner only just missing out with 4-1-0 for second from the end peg by the factory. He had a skimmer, caster roach and 100 squatt fish. Browning Spa’s Mark Robertson was only four ounces off the winner with his 3-15-0 third-placed net – 12 caster roach from the 'wides'.

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Results

Packington Somers, Meriden, WarksWed, Little Gearys: Danny Tresigne (Birmingham) 19-12-0, F1s, pole and pellet, peg 11; Horace Davis (Rover) 18-13-0; Tony Musticone (Alvechurch Fishery) 15-9-0. Sat, Molands Mere: Max Higgott (Rods and Reels) 61-5-0, 10 carp, straight lead and bread, peg 27; Dave Elliott (Packington) 42-0-0; Paul Cetti (Force Baits) 41-12-0; Glen Holman (Packington) 28-0-0.

Packington Somers Winter League, Meriden, Warks, Molands Mere, Gratuities, Gearys Level, Anniversaries and Willow Pools (97 fished)
John Johnson (Youngs Tunnel Barn Farm) 20-2-0, five carp, straight lead and bread, peg 1, Molands Mere; Lee Richards (Packington) 11-14-0; John Burchell (Packington) 10-6-0; Mark Sumners (Beaufort Angling Club) and Steve Arnold (Talk Angling) both 9-8-0; Mark Drew (Packington) 9-0-0.

Dams and Lock, Birmingham-Fazeley Canal, Forge Lane, Minworth, Birmingham
Darren Massey (Shakespeare Superteam) 13-4-0, six perch around 1lb each to lobworm, plus roach to bloodworm and joker, peg 80; Kevin Perry (Maver Tipton Van den Eynde) 8-13-0; Mark Taylor (Shakespeare Superteam) 8-8-0; Tony Foster (Dams and Lock) 7-10-0; Phil Taylor (Dams and Lock) 7-6-0; Dave McCall (Shakespeare) 6-15-0.

Garbolino Tunnel Barn Farm, Shrewley, Warks
Mon, New Pool: Pete Caton (Dynamite Baits/Banbury Gunsmiths) 46-0-0, F1s, pole and maggot at 5m, peg 13; Pete Rice (Bag Em Baits) 37-14-0; Ed Warren (Preston Innovations) 33-14-0; Richard Knowles (MCM) 30-14-0. Tues, Jennys and New Pools: Bob Greenbury (Leicester Sensas) 87-2-0, carp and F1s, pole and bread punch at 17m, peg 17, Jennys Pool; Chris Neale (Rutlanders) 68-3-0; Tony Hobbs (A4 Sensas) 60-13-0; Pete Rice (Bag Em Baits) 55-4-0; Nigel Rimmer (Maver Gold) 54-9-0; Steve Townsend (Banbury Gunsmiths) 53-10-0. Thurs Veterans, House Pool 2 and New Pool: Chris Haille (Meadowlands) 39-2-0, F1s, pole and white maggot at 14m, peg 24, House Pool 2; Steve Stokes (Tunnel Barn Farm) 37-15-0; Colin Easton (Tunnel Barn Farm) 37-5-0; John Stockton (Meadowlands) 33-3-0. Thurs, Canal Pool: Mark ‘Magic’ Johnson (Maver) 41-4-0, carp and F1s, pole and pellet at 12m, peg 7; Mark Barwell (Maver Gold) 35-13-0; Matt Stockton (Mosella) 35-12-0; Pete Caton (Dynamite Baits/Banbury Gunsmiths) 34-1-0.Sat, House Pool 1 and New Pool: Stu Palser (Banbury Gunsmiths) 57-0-0, F1s, pole and bronze maggot at 16m to the island and at 8m, peg 27, New Pool; Arthur Hicks (Mosella) 50-8-0; Richard Knowles (MCM) 48-12-0; Chris Neale (Rutlanders) 47-10-0; Pete Caton (Dynamite Baits/Banbury Gunsmiths) 44-7-0; Ed Warren (Preston Innovations) 43-7-0.

Moorlands Farm, Hartlebury, Worcs
Mon, Meadow Pool: Sid Julian (Moorlands) 42-12-0, nine carp, straight lead and corn, peg 10; Paul Bick (Shakespeare) 40-2-0; Neville Groves (Fosters) 37-2-0. Tues, Bank, Meadow and Island Pools: Steve Parker (Tilly Cutters) 50-0-0, carp, straight lead and corn, peg 20, Bank Pool; Dave Highfield (Moorlands) 48-12-0; Trevor Hodges (Elmbridge) 46-4-0. Wed over 50s, Silver and Middle Pools: Paul Foster (Starlet Veterans) 31-4-0, F1s, pole and pellet at 6m, peg 44 Silver Pool; Warren Jennings (Moorlands) 29-0-0; Dave Johnson (Club 2000) 28-2-0. Thurs, Moors, Bank and Meadow Pools: Paul Foster (Starlet Veterans) 38-0-0, carp, straight lead corn and pellet, peg 3, Moors Pool; Paul Bishop (Moorlands) 34-14-0; Mark Roberson (Browning Spa) 30-0-0. Fri, Meadow Pool: Chris Hill (Mosella) 47-12-0, carp, waggler and corn, peg 8; Brian Clark (Marukyu Vespe) 30-8-0; Karl Haywood (Moorlands) 18-10-0. Sat, Silver and Middle Pools: Colin Pace (Colin Pace Angling Academy) 58-9-0, F1s, pole and pellet at 10m, peg 43, Silver Pool; Chris Hill (Mosella) 55-12-0; Ben Stanford (Mosella) 47-9-0.

Stirrup Cup, Birmingham Fazeley Canal, Curdworth, West Midlands
Ant South (Dams and Lock) 4-8-0, roach and perch, pole and caster, peg 34; Colin Lane (Weddington) 3-15-0; Brian Parr (Stirrup Cup) 2-6-0; Tony Robertson (Stirrup Cup) 2-4-4; Alan Newman (Stirrup Cup) 2-2-0; Paul Turner (Maver Tipton Van den Eynde) 1-12-0.

Garbolino Tunnel Barn Farm Winter League, House Pools 1 and 2, Top, New and Club Sat (84 fished)
Richard Knowles (MCM) 90-8-0, F1s, punch then pellet, peg 23, Club Pool; Paul Bick (Shakespeare) 80-3-0; James Dent (MAP Bag ‘Em Baits) 79-1-0; Paul Caswell (Shakespeare) 58-4-0; Shaun Huggins (ABU) 58-3-0; Brian Greenbury (ABU) 53-14-0.

Bishops Bowl Winter League, Bishops Itchington, Warwickshire, Sun, Final round, Match Lake
Roy Quail (Bishops Bowl) 32-8-0, carp to 8lb, pole pellet; Dave Gibbs (the Castle) 32-0-0; Gavin Webb (Devon Dirty) 22-13-0; Chris Alcock (Devon Old) 21-4-0. Teams: Bishops Bowl 19; The Castle 19; Devon Dirty 13. Final League: Bishops Bowl 1; Devon Dirty 2. Aggregate: Gavin Webb (Devon Dirty).

Garbolino Tunnel Barn Farm, Shrewley, Warks
Mon, Bottom Pool: Alistair Darling (Tascas) 42-11-0, F1s, bream and roach, pole and pellet over slop at 7 and 10m, peg 8, bonus £50 peg; Brian Edwards (Youngs Tunnel Barn Farm) 35-11-0; Roy Winferdale (Stirrup Cup) 31-4-0; Graham Young (Youngs Tunnel Barn Farm) 24-4-0. Wed, House Pool 2: Steve Townsend (Banbury Gunsmiths) 78-12-0, F1s and bream, pole and pellet at 14m, peg 33; Pete Rice (Bag Em Baits) 59-10-0; Andy Searle (Middy) 42-2-0; Richard Knowles (MCM) 37-5-0. Thurs, 37 Veterans, Canal Pool: Stan Stokes (Tunnel Barm Farm Veterans) 46-10-0, F1s, bream, roach, perch and golden rudd, pole and maggot at 11m, peg 7; George Munday (Tunnel Barn Farm Veterans) 42-6-0; Mick Palfrey (Blythe Waters) 30-8-0; Bob Gilmore (Tunnel Barn Farm Veterans) 26-9-0. Fri, Jennys Pool: Shaun Huggins (Dynamite Baits) 74-9-0, F1s and stockies, pole and pellet at 14m to the island, peg 24; Phil Moore (Litchfield) 59-1-0; Simon Skelton (Melton) 58-9-0. Sun. 41, New Pool and House Pool 1: Stu Palser (Banbury Gunsmiths) 61-11-0, two double figure carp going 15lb 5oz and 10lb 3oz, plus F1s, pole and pellet at 16m, down the edge and at 12m in front, peg 7, House Pool 1; Andy Jackson (Mosella) 43-10-0; John Stockton (Barford Angling Club) 39-4-0; Matt Hall (Sensas Nottingham) 38-15-0; Pete Rice (Bag Em Baits) 36-6-0; Pete Caton (Dynamite Baits/Banbury Gunsmiths) 34-14-0.

Merry Hill Winter League, Dudley Number Two Canal, Dudley, West Midlands, Sun
Kevin Clarke (Cradley Heath Labour) 5-2-0, skimmers and perch, pole and caster, peg 53; John Billingham (Halesowen Royal British Legion) 3-10-0; Dave Wood (Cradley Heath Labour) 3-8-0; Barry Robson (Cradley Heath Labour) 2-8-0; Simon West (Cradley Heath Labour) 2-2-0.League: John Billingham (Halesowen Royal British Legion) 4; Barry Robson (Cradley Heath Labour) 5; John Babbington (Cradley Heath Labour) 8.

Moorlands Farm, Hartlebury, Worcs
Sun, Meadow and Bank Pools: Trevor Hodges (Moorlands) 77-0-0, carp, straight lead and corn, peg 7, Meadow Pool; Steve Owen (Kings Pools) 60-10-0; Dave Hill (Fosters) 53-8-0. Mon, Silver Pool: Wayne Mellings (Maver Midlands) 38-11-0, F1s, pole and pellet at 6m, peg 28; Ben Stanford (Bilston Angling Centre) 36-9-0; Colin Pace (Colin Pace Angling Academy) 29-12-0. Wed, over 50s, Moors and Meadow Pools: Mal Watson (Daiwa Gordon League) 42-12-0, four carp on straight lead and corn, peg 3, Moors Pool; Clive Munslow (Moorlands) 38-6-0; Paul Addlington (Club 2000) 17-4-0. Thurs, Silver Pool: Phil Moore (Tunnel Barn Farm) 37-12-0, F1s, pole and pellet at 6m, peg 46; Clive Wright (Mosella) 35-2-0; Paul Little (Moorlands) 33-4-0. Sat, first round of the Winter Pairs, 16 pairs fished, Silver and Meadow Pools: Mal Watson (Daiwa Gordon League) 42-8-0, carp, waggler and corn, peg 4, Meadow Pool; Clive Wright (Mosella) 36-2-0; Danny Ludgate (Mosella) and Paul Wedge (Mosella) both 33-2-0. Pairs: Danny Ludgate (Mosella) and Paul Wedge (Mosella) 2pts; Mal Watson (Daiwa Gordon League) and Colin Pace (Colin Pace Angling Academy) and Clive Wright (Mosella) and Clive Munslow (Moorlands) both pairs had 3pts. Sun, Bank, Moors and Island Pools: Richard Kings (St Davids Angling Club) 75-10-0, carp, pole and pellet at 14m, peg 14, Island Pool; Chris Hill (Mosella) 53-8-0; Mick Henshall (Fosters) 47-2-0.
Packington Somers, Meriden, WarksWed, Little Gearys: Steve Edwards (Packington) 20-14-0, F1s and skimmers, pole and pellet, peg 13; John Stockton (Barford) 20-0-0; John Burchell (Packington) 17-8-0.Sun, 45, Gearys Level, Little Gearys and Gratuities Pools: Nigel Whitworth (Packington) 42-0-0, carp, straight lead and bread, peg 19, Gearys Level; Lee Richards (Packington) 38-4-0; Danny Wooding (Maver Solihull Angling Centre) 35-10-0; Bill Hill (Packington) 34-0-0.

Stirrup Cup, Birmingham-Fazeley Canal, Curdworth, Birmingham, West Midlands
Ant South (Dams and Lock) 5-15-8, roach, skimmers and small fish, pole, squatt and caster, peg 40; Graham Massey (Dams and Lock) 5-8-12; Sam Lewis (Three Ems) 3-11-4; Clark Taylor (Stirrup Cup) 3-1-12; Dave Freestone (Three Ems) 3-0-0; Ray Wallbank (Stirrup Cup) 2-2-8.

Walsall Arboretum Winter League, Hatherton Lake, Walsall, West Midlands, Sun, Round Four
Norman Carpenter (Walsall) 9-4-0, roach and perch, pole and caster, peg 6; Ronnie Jackson (Leamore) 3-4-0; Ron Nicholls (Walsall) and Mark Edwards (Jessar AC) both 2-12-0; Mark Greening (Streetley) 2-7-0; Dave Gough (Walsall) 2-2-0.

geepster