Baitboat v Rods Charity Challenge Part 2

Markerfloat · Baitboat v Rods Charity Challenge Part 2

After the disappointment of last February when 22 very excited anglers descended on Sandhurst lake in Yately only to spend the weekend without a fish being caught, this the 2nd installment of the Baitboat v Rods trilogy turned out to be a great success.
I myself arrived at the lake at 4am on the Wednesday morning to find the swim i had hoped to find empty, was actually taken. So after dropping my gear off in the bottom car park, a walk around the lake was in order and an hour later i was all set up in the baliffs swim. 7am arrives and the guy in the car park swim which i wanted decides to up sticks and go home, so with no further ado, 3 trips later i am set up in the car park swim, breathless but full of optimism.
I was joined on the Wednesday morning by Westallc and Bertee who were fishing together till Sunday so chose the usually productive Island swims.
Wednesday and Thursday came and went without a fish being banked, except for a stunning 30lb common caught from swim 10 by Dave Toomey no less than 10 minutes after baiting up a spot directly in front.
7am Friday morning arrives and the 5 baitboat users and 13 Rod users begin the battle which over the next two days has its fair share of ups and downs.
Thursday brought a rainstorm like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster, but that didnt stop the road bank lads reeling in and indulging in a few beverages and a curry, two of which never got eaten because Davemac tripped and dropped his, and Flipper_Al went back to his bivvy for his headtorch and fell asleep till the following morning

Both Gary (30lb) and Barry (29lb 13) land UK personal bests by a country mile. I myself get off the mark with a lovely 21lb 5oz mirror at 5am. The normally productive Pipes swim is heaving with hungry bream and poor old Buttcracker had a total of 14 before landing a 25lb common.
Ironically, the Baliffs swim that i vacated two days earlier produces 2 x 20's and a lovely 30lb common for Digga.

Jim, the resident pub chucker, and all round top angler lands 2 x 20's and 2 x 30's from his favourite swim 6. These 30's were enough to give Jim the trophy at the end of the event so well done Jim.

Saturday night and everyone congregated in the bottom car park for the social where bbq's were lit, beers and spirits opened and tales of the ones that got away were flowing, especially from Dave Toomoy who if memory serves me, lost 5 fish to hook pulls.

So the Sunday saw Jim presented with his trophy for biggest carp banked (33lb) and everyone began the hateful job of packing up and heading home for a much needed rest and decent home cooking.

Guys travelled from as far as Somerset and Stoke to take part in what was a great weekend. Some only had to travel a mere 2 miles

The 1st event in February raised £3000 and this one should raise about the same

The 3rd Baitboat v Rods Charity Challenge is already in the early planning stages and hopefully will prove as popular as this one and in turn will raise even more money for Stoney and Friends

If you fancy joing us on the next one please feel free to drop me a pm