White Springs
   Fishery

The weekend before last saw the Raymond John Memorial Pairs event held for the first time at the fishery.

The match was held on the specimen lake with twenty anglers all competing to win an array of prizes from different sponsors and raise cash for the White Springs registered charity which provides much needed help for the children’s cancer ward at Cardiff hospital.

This was to be the third such event held on the lake this year in aid of the charity.

Event organiser Sparky Jon, a long time regular at the fishery and one of the founding members of the ever more popular Carp and Co angling forum had arranged with Vince to run the event on what was to turn out be a gorgeous weekend.

Forum members and other anglers took a break from their syndicate and hometown lakes and travelled from all over Wales and beyond to take part in this much esteemed event.

The pegs were all arranged by 2pm on Friday afternoon and anglers proceeded to set up their equipment. The rods were cast in at 6.00pm for the scheduled thirty six hour competition.

The fishing started off quite slow as the event warmed up with so many experienced anglers on the lake. The fish going to ground with the sudden influx of lines into the water didn’t help and the evening past without a single alarm being heard.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, reports started coming in that Brian Hollett (Tony Smith memorial organiser) had landed a beautiful twenty seven pound mirror from peg nine at approximately twenty past five. This was a big fish due to the number of thirties that had been out in previous weeks and looked like it could be a sure fire winner.

Other reports of fish being caught early on the Saturday morning were also reported and verified with Gav Morris landing another mirror from between the trees to a reported 16 pound.

The weather, although overcast became quite warm through the day and the fishing slowed again.

In the afternoon many of the competitors took time out and reeled in the rods and joined the barbeque for a chat on the previous night’s events and lack of bites before returning to their swims.

The match was going to be close as there was information that a few hard fighting fish were lost through the previous night.

Sunday morning was going to prove decisive.

Then as daybreak wandered out of the night sky, White Springs catching machine Alfie Calford got on the board with a thirteen pounder. And the carp were on the feed again.

With the match due to end at midday it looked as though Brian was going to be the outright winner with his earlier capture from a Weston bait service pineapple special.

Then at about eleven a.m. from the old cabin swim there was a sound of a screaming alarm and lots of shouts as John Taylor’s lifted rod arced round.

Taylors as he is know amongst the Carp & Co forum members skilfully landed his quarry which turned out to be CTC a named fish that weighed in at thirty one pound fourteen ounces, the heaviest the carp has been caught on the lake to date and a new UK personal best for Taylors.

But all was not over, Taylor’s angling partner Phil Fear who was helping with the weighing turned as his alarm sounded and proceeded to play a fish which didn’t provide the vigour or bend that Taylors rod had produced.

None the less Phil landed a twelve pound mirror to save his session from a blank and duly got a soaking from his fellow anglers as did Taylor.

The event proved a success with raffle and entry fees raising seven hundred and fifty pound so far for the cause.

Again, big thanks must go to Vince for the barbeque and for closing the lake for the event.

To Nash, and the other sponsors for providing the raffle and competition prizes.

Another great charity event which, as White Springs seems to do.

Bring anglers male and female from all walks of life, too not only hope to catch and win these events but to also have a thoroughly good time whilst doing it.

Until the next one.