The week we had been waiting for all year. Docklow Pools trip 2017.
Saturday morning 5am and I was up pacing around getting ready to set off to meet Dad at his. I could hardly wait. A week off work, a full week fishing and a week away with my Dad what more could we ask for... oh yeah good weather and......... it was day one of a projected heat wave. Fantastic.
I got to Dads and threw my bags of clothes into his car and we set off. My 3 cds of "oldies" were to accompany us on our trip. Dad was not well but his love of fishing and excitement for the week ahead eased his pain somewhat.
After a brief stop off for Brekkie we arrived at Docklow at 11am. Four hours after setting off from Dads so not that bad really.
We checked in and sorted our clothes etc into the rooms before heading out for match number one of a planned seven:
MATCH 1 - MICKEY MOUSE LAKE
This was a six hour match and I was on peg 18. The heat was unbelievable, really warm and sunny. In fact fishing took place with no tops on haha. I caught constantly for the duration of the match and many species were caught (Chub, Barbel, Ide, Roach, Bream, Mirror Carp), however all small fish. I finished with 13 fish for 16 lb 14 oz. In these conditions I sort of expected the low weight. Many fish were near the surface and not feeding. Dad caught a whopping 26 fish but of a tiny stamp. He finished with 26 fish for 13 lb 4 oz. So a great start to the week for me with a 3.5 v 1.5 victory.
MATCH 2 - MATCH LAKE
This was a seven hour match with me on peg 9. Again the weather was scorching and the fish weren't biting. Quite a few dead fish worrying floating on the surface too. Result of spawning or something more sinister I'm not sure. The match was a war of attrition. Dad only caught three fish all day for a measly total of 4 lb 6 oz. I did a little better netting six carp for a total of 17 lb 1 oz. A 5-0 victory for me meant an overnight lead of 8.5 v 1.5. Great...
MATCH 3 - FARMER JACK
This was a 7.5 hour match and on a lake Dad destroyed me on last year so I wasn't confident. I positioned myself on peg 45 the same peg as last year too. The weather for the 3rd straight day was in the 30's and glorious. I managed to bank ten carp of various species for a total of 27 lb. Dad however won the match after a topsy turvy session. The lead changed hands a few times but a brilliant last two hours from Dad won it for him with an impressive total of 38 lb 7 oz (fifteen fish) The biggest fish of the day was my 7 lb 6 oz Mirror Carp so at least I gained one point but still a 4-1 defeat was not good for me. My overnight lead now stood at 9.5 v 5.5. This day will also be remembered for Dad suffering Heat Stroke and being sick in Morrisons......
MATCH 4 - MOBY DICK
This was a 7.5 hour match on a lake I'm not a huge fan of either so again I was not confident. I did ok though. With the weather 30 degrees we were sat in a shady area so was a little cooler for us than the anglers on the other lakes. I won easily today as Dad really struggled. Dad only caught four fish for a total of 4 lb 15 oz. I had nineteen fish for 17 lb 5 oz. I won 5-0 so overnight lead stretched to 14.5 v 5.5
MATCH 5 - FARMER JACK
This was an 8 hour match back on Farmer Jack, Dads favourite lake and once again he hammered me. I fished terrible catching nine fish for 20 lb 12 oz whereas Dad caught thirteen fish for a good total of 40 lb 1 oz. My fish were Bream and various types of Carp. The weather was glorious like it had been all week. My peg 6 was in sunshine all day, shame my fishing was terrible!!!. Dad wins 5-0 so my overnight lead was cut to 14.5 v 10.5
MATCH 6 - MICKEY MOUSE
This was an 8 hour match and I was desperate to get the 3.5 points I needed for the Docklow title. We chose pegs at one end of the lake. Mine being peg 29. The weather was dry. The projected storms had not materialised but the red hot weather had definately disappeared. This was poor match in terms of weight again. I thought with the drop in temperature the bigger fish would feed but nope. This match was a match of catching lots of tiny fish. I managed to bank 21 fish, the same as Dad. My 21st coming with only three minutes left. My biggest fish was a small 2 lb 1 oz which was exactly the same as Dads best effort so 1 point each there but Dad had an overall weight of 21 lb 12 oz compared to my 15 lb 6 oz so a 4-1 win for Dad takes it into a final day shoot out. Have I really bottled it? Lost two days on the trot and now my lead was only 1 point. 15.5 V 14.5.
MATCH 7 - MATCH LAKE
Well this was an 8 hour match and everything came down to this after a fantastic six days fishing. I was really feeling the pressure after seeing my lead closed to next to nothing. The first 90 minutes saw neither of us catch. The cooler conditions once again not improving things and like most of the previous days quite a few dead fish in sight. After 2 hours the match came to light and the lead changed hands various times during the next 4 hours. I was leading all be it narrowly and then...... DISASTER.... Dad netted a carp of over 9 lb. The biggest of the week and put him into a nice lead. With his confidence up he went on to catch steadily for the last two hours whilst I continued to lose fish and get generally frustrated. My lead relinquished, my pride battered and my trophy lost.... Damn
!!!!
I finished the day with eight fish for a total of 21 lb 7 oz. Dad well clear with 9 fish for 34 lb 9 oz and a 5-0 win to close out the week and cop off a brilliant comeback.
So after winning 3 of the first 4 matches Dad came storming back to hammer me in the last 3 matches to win the title 19.5 v 15.5. A well deserved victory for Dad and the title of Docklow 2017 winner. Well done Dad
A fantastic week and I loved every minute of it. Time away with my Dad, good food, drink and plenty of laughs. I may have lost but I will be back stronger next year be rest assured of that.
Docklow is a great place where everyone is super friendly and laughs are a plenty. An old fashioned fishing village in the woods is how i best describe it. The pub on site and the accomodation first class. All anglers meet up in the pub to tell stories over a pint. The weather being so hot was not great for match weights but great for everything else.
I already cant wait to go back. Docklow 2018 Bring it on !!!!!
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