| This was a feature that was promised, and one that I thought we were not going to be able to fulfil, due to the commitments of both anglers. Weekday sessions were out for Norman so that only left the weekends. Both anglers having a full match calendar through the winter months meant that this get together could only be done on a match day. It was therefore decided that the Woodland View silver fish individual final was to be the day. Norman knew about this but we forgot to tell Paul until the morning of the match. Never mind, Paul was winning the league so he didn't need the extra pressure of a feature to worry about!
I arrived at Normans house at about 7.10am to take him down to Woodland View, we loaded his kit into the car and off we went getting there in plenty of time so that he could get the brekkies in as the draw wasn't until 9am. The previous night had been very cold and the wind was also getting stronger. Norman, however still fancied the place to fish predicting that double figures would be required to frame.
For those that don't know the rules, even though this was classed as a silver fish league, ALL fish counted apart from proper carp. Tench, crucians, goldfish, barbel, perch were all counters. Now the previous week saw a silver fish team final taking place at the same place, which was won incidentally by a starlets team, and Paul was Carped out of it. I mean if the carp could have counted, Paul would have been putting 83 lb on the scales instead of the 3 lb he was allowed to weigh. I have never heard anyone cuss carp so much! Paul, fishing light lines for the smaller stuff, was bullying these carp to the net without even the hint of a break. Try that on the heavier gear in the summer months and see what happens! All those carp coming on bloodworm and Joker feed. It just goes to show what a tremendous bait it is, and I for one don't know what all the fuss is about in its use. It is natural bait. Is Sweetcorn and luncheon meat? Perhaps that discussion is for the forums page.
Entry monies paid and over to the draw bag, where nick was recording the peg and respective anglers details. Twenty-seven anglers were taking part and the match was being treated as an open even though it was a final, and was being fished on Arles. Paul went in first and came out with peg 38, Not a bad draw but not the best place on the pool. Norman next, peg 18. Not only was this peg in an isolated area, it was also the Bonus peg. Jammie so and so, five hundred extra quid up for grabs. Never mind perhaps this evened out the pressure, what with Paul and the league and all.
We joined Paul, who was on the car park busily selling bait to those that wanted it, where we told him of our feature. Gob smacked he wasn't, unperturbed he smiled and said "Okay" and off they went to their respective pegs.
I had decided to try my luck in the match and drew peg 13, Sandwiched between Tim Guise to my right and Pete Wedgbrow to my left. Peg 13 meant I could see Stormin but could not see Paul to well. Along with Norman, Pete and Tim, in my section was Kim Milsom on the fancied Peg 10, Mark Downes on the other fancied peg 9. On peg 8 was England ladies international Clare Dagnall and Simon Fry was on peg 7! Well, I thought, what time do the pubs open round here!
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