Profiling local spots

So this week we visited the Riverside complex situated on Gibbet Lane between Harworth and Bawtry on a cold and rainy Monday morning, to see how the relatively new management team of John Bleakley and Terry Pixley are developing the site.

The complex has been established for a number of years and comprises a main 40 peg match lake, two strip ponds and a stock pond providing sport for all age ranges and abilities.

In fact John and Terry have paid particular attention to ensure that one of the strip ponds is especially safe and user friendly for younger anglers.

Since we last visited the transformation has been remarkable, with all platforms overhauled to the highest standard and reed beds pruned to provide the optimum opportunity for each peg to have a margin feature to fish to.

The main lake is a standard dog leg and as with all commercials chosen methods depend on which peg you choose to fish, with the feeder or bomb remaining a favourite for the pegs where you can get a chuck to the sunken island.

Seasonal baits presented on the pole always score well in matches

The well sheltered top end of the dog leg also provides the ideal opportunity for waggler fishing on those pleasure sessions where you just fancy a change and are in the mood for some free line fishing.

As well as the all the development work, one of John and Terry’s proudest boasts is that the whole fishery is rat free, this is attributed mainly to John’s terrier Bess.

There are hopes for increasing fish stocks before the start of the summer season and there are plans to run a pike match before Christmas.

For information on this event or for future match bookings you can contact Bleak on 01909 723951 or 07513861397.

For those of you with internet access, look up the ‘The Bombardier’ guide to fishing – it is guaranteed to raise a smile.

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AT Riverside Tuesday’s open saw T. Lees take the win from peg 6 employing the feeder for 25lb 9oz to squeeze John Bleakley into the runners-up position on peg 38 with 22lb 7oz taken on his favourite bomb fished meat.

Wednesday saw Pete Ware take the honours weighing 18lb 12oz on pole and pellet from peg 22 with Mick Cordwell in second with 15lb12oz.

Friday’s open saw the weights much improved with Mick Hall claiming the win with a very respectable winter weight of 45lb 15oz, Pete Ware having to settle for the runners-up spot with 38lb 2oz.

Pole fished maggot qA the chosen baits for the top two

At Lodge Farm the match weights are a little down in general but Mick Pogson bucked the trend with a winning bag of 55lb 6oz tempted on the pellet feeder in Tuesday’s match on the long island, pushing Jack Locket into second spot on peg 91 with 49lb 7oz caught on bomb and meat.

Mel Kirton was third on peg 78 weighing 39lb 4oz pole fishing pellet.

In Wednesday’s over 50s affair on the signal pond Len Squires triumphed with a net of 26lb 5oz poling maggot on peg 17 with Reg Turner in second weighing 20lb 11oz on number 12 on pole and caster.

Thursday’s competition on the field pond saw Reg Turner go one better, this time putting a winning net together of 66lb 6oz pole fishing caster on peg 14, clear of DaveFantom in second on peg 12.

Saturday saw the contest on the field pond again with Cris Wake claiming the honours on peg 11 with a bag of 26lb 10oz taken on pole and maggot.

Brian Chatterton was second weighing 17lb off peg 2.

At Lakeside Fishery Pete Atkins ran out the winner in Wedneday’s open match, employing the maggot feeder for a net of skimmers and ide which weighed 27lb 4oz from peg 26.

Paul Lancaster took second on peg 30 with 26lb 11oz.

Saturday’s second round of the venue’s winter league was won by Daz Godley on peg 4 with the maggot feeder, weighing 28lb 14oz, while Sunday saw the first round of the Shaws for Sheds League take place . Les Richmond put together a winning net of 27lb 11oz from peg 28 fishing the method feeder with a maggot hook bait.

On the trout lake Alan Walsh cast his bloodworm on a sinking line to tempt 13 fish to a creditable 8lb.