An Icy First Match Of 2026!

Saturday was my first match of 2026 and back to Tunnel Barn for Round Six of the teams of four. A lovely big Wolf Moon in the sky as I drove up the motorway.

I’ve been on a very nice peg 6 on New Pool. It’s a peg I’ve wanted to draw for ages, although it’s not been so special in recent weeks. We all had to break the ice first thing and I made three nice channels. The glare from the sun’s been a nightmare, yet it’s still not stopped my holes re-icing over all the time!?

Despite all that, I’ve had a good day catching F1s on maggots and weighed 42lb for 2nd on the lake. Just needed one more as peg 31 had 43lb, but still a great result for me and the team. We’ve once again had mixed results teamwise and hanging on to 3rd, just nine points off the top.

Had my friendly grey wagtail for company again (apparently it’s not a yellow wagtail, despite the yellow colour!) and a pied wagtail this time.

Rigs have been the usual 0.2g and 0.3g Matrix F1 Slims, 0.10 to an 18 X2 with 8-10 Slik in a 2m Short Kit. Used my XTR400 pole, too, as I didn’t mind that whacking the ice quite so much as my 700!

Great to kick the year off with a days Eskimo fishing. Day at home today. Think I’ve caught my first cold of the year, sniff! Knew I would after being stuck around so many coughing and sneezing people on a recent family outing!

Hope you managed to catch a few if you braved the conditions.