Tunnel Barn Spring 3-Dayer
Entered the three-day Tunnel Barn Spring Spectacular for the first time this year. Weather’s been all over the place, but I managed three decent days fishing.
Sunday was the practice match with over 70 anglers fishing in the wind and rain. I’ve drawn a very poor Club 6 but had a respectable 74lb to get me back into carp and F1-mode…
Day 1 I’ve drawn peg 15 on Jennys, which I was reasonably happy with. I’ve had a terrible first hour catching very little while 17’s bagged short and 13’s caught shallow in the scum. I’ve eventually got going on maggots tight across, then a few up and down at 6m and then a great last 30 mins down the edge over Sonubaits Match Method Mix and F1. I’ve ended up with 80lb in an extra-close section, pipped by an 82lb, an 83lb and Kristian Jones’ 88lb. That poor start’s been a bit costly…
Day 2 I’m back on a familiar peg 13 on Extension. Definitely not top of your choices in that section, but it has its moments. Thankfully I’ve had a great start down the side on pellets, but lost a couple that have charged through snags. Thought I’d catch across pinging maggots, but that was surprisingly poor. The rest of the match I’ve just fished up and down, short and down each side on maggots. My 88lb was 2nd in section. Agonisingly just 1lb adrift of Matt Redman who had 89lb off peg 19.
Day 3 I’m in the same section on Extension, but this time on peg 9. Happier with that, but you’ve still got 5, 7, 19 and 21 to contend with, which are all strong pegs. Slow start down the side on pellets and felt the fish were being moody after several days hammer. Eventually lined up a few shallow to the pots, but the wind was getting ridiculous. Had a few down the side and the last two hours I’ve caught really well short on maggots. My 124lb was enough to win the lake for a nice end to the festival.
A big well done to Danny Grimsey for winning the festival, Paul Holland 2nd and Kristian Jones 3rd. All really nice lads. Also a big thanks to Shimano and Blake’s Bait for sponsoring it, Catch More Media for the coverage and of course Tunnel Barn for being such a terrific venue.
Gearwise I’ve used my XTR700 each day. I’m absolutely sold on the new 2m Short Match Kits for this game for both deck and edge work with 1.7m Super Short Kits for shallow fishing. There’s nothing better than red 10-12 Slik elastic this time of year and that’s all I’ve used in every kit. Floats for deck fishing have been Matrix Stubby Slims in 0.2g, 0.3g and 0.4g sizes and for shallow I’ve used either home-made in-lines for overshotting, a Frank Rosz micro jigger and 0.1g Matrix Dibbers. All with 0.16 or 0.18 Power Micron to 0.12 bottoms and either 18 X1 or 16 X2 hooks.
Nice to get back into a bit of springtime F1 fishing. Just need some nice springtime weather now…
