Winter League 2023 - Match 3
Angling Feats in Winter's Chill
Angling Feats in Winter's Chill
On a chilly Sunday morning, November 19th, 2023, the Athy & District Anglers Club crew geared up for the third round of the Winter League. We kicked off at 8:30, drawing Pegs under a light sprinkle – not the best weather, but hey, we're anglers, a bit of rain won't dampen our spirits.
Out of the 14 of us, 11 showed up, but we missed Ollie, Fergal, and Barry. Can't wait to have them back on the bank soon! Winter was making its presence known, and we could feel it in the cold drizzle. Originally, we planned to fish the River Barrow, but overnight rain had the river pegs underwater. Quick change of plans, and we relocated to the Marina club grounds.
Some pegs were submerged, but we were determined. It was also the first time using Peg 1, installed back in September. A bit of a wild card, but who doesn’t love a freshly installed peg!
At 10:00 am, Des shouted the all-in, and we were off. Hugh, Clive, and Ryan on Pegs 1, 3, and 4 hit the ground running, pulling in barrow roach like it was a party. Meanwhile, Tommy and Des had a pike party, not by choice. Those sneaky predators were determined to steal the spotlight.
The weather played games with us, alternating between cold and cloudy, occasional rain, and surprise sunshine. Classic winter unpredictability.
As the clock approached the usual wrap-up time, we decided to extend the match by 30 minutes. A bit more time to show those fish who's boss.
At 3:30 pm, the all-out call echoed, and we gathered for the weigh-ins. The Marina surprised us, delivering over 100lbs of fish. Hugh stole the show with a whopping 27lb 10ozs, followed by Clive with 18lb 4ozs. Ryan clinched the third spot with 15lb 4ozs, and Jimmy and Chris rounded out the top five with 14lb 9ozs and 13lb 9ozs.
It was a fantastic day, proving that winter angling can be a real adventure. The Marina held its own as a top-notch venue, and we can't wait for the next round of the Winter League. Tight lines, folks!
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