The Jinx Series.

Round 6. Rolf's Lake. Oxford.

Saturday 9th September 2006.

Well The Jinx Series really lived up to it's name, as it returned with a vengance, reducing even Rolf's Lake to mediocrity and biting most of us on the bum in the process.

Twentyone of the series regulars were joined in the car park by eight guests, such is the reputation of the venue, and with the outcome still to be decided in both the singles and pairs, the draw was eagerly awaited.

As usual it was a tad late, and after drawing peg16 I wasn't exactly chuffed, but with 2 guests in my 5 man section things were maybe not so bad.
For company I had Keith on 15 (today's Golden Peg ) and Paul on 17. These are normally better winter pegs, but Keith had already decided to fish the meat as it had brought him plenty of success recently (2 double tons), and being the Golden Peg would ensure that Keith gave it his full attention. Paul was still in with a very good chance of the pairs title so would also giving it his maximum attention.

I had decided to go with paste with 6mm expanders as a back up and when the All-in came at 1·30pm I potted 2 large cups of squid/liver pellets in at 7mtrs in front and one into the bush to my left for later. Out with the paste at 7mtrs and wait for a bite, even if it wasn't the best area I was sure that a few fish would come my way.

1 hour in without as much as a knock I was starting to have misgivings, normally with pellet going in at a steady rate you'll get a fizz in the swim, I hadn't seen so much as a bubble . A couple of fish had come out on the car park bank, but other than that most seemed to be struggling.

1½hrs in and Keith was finally into one and so was I as the float finally buried.
Mine was only about 5lbs, but it was a start.
Adding a section to fish beyond my feed produced nothing, while a quick look under the bush produced a foul hooked fish that tore off leaving me with just a scale. Keith meanwhile had added a 13½lb weigher, while Paul's swim appeared entirely devoid of carp.

Eric opposite me on 25 managed to put a few together as the match progressed, but not in the usual numbers.

Apart from another couple of foul hookers that left me scales for souveniers, I managed just 2 more carp and a small skimmer for 16lbs 6ozs . Keith had managed another couple boosting his weigh to 31lbs 12ozs, which would prove to be enough for the section , while Paul managed just 6 small roach for 6ozs .

Colin guesting on peg 19 said at the end that he hadn't had a bite all day, but did manage to land a couple of foul hooked fish, the largest right at the end weighed 18½lbs ..............

The weigh in soon revealed just how hard the day had been,as it was conducted in what must have been a record time............

but with Eric winning his section, I knew he had pipped me by a point, but it was all academic once Brian put an excellent 109lbs 8ozs on the scales to win his section and the Individual Jinx Series overall .

Results on the day

Clive............ .120lb 8oz (Guest)
Brian B .........109lb 8oz
Biglad........... ..61lb 11oz (Guest)
Derek R ..........51lb 4oz (Guest)
Malc D.......... ..47lb 12oz
Dirk W.......... ..42lb 10oz
Simon R .........38lb 8oz
Nick W-P.........38lb 2oz
Eric R ..............33lb
Nick J ..............32lb 8oz
Keith A ............31lb 12oz
Mark C ............31lb
Kev L ...............31lb
Geoff E ............30lb 8oz
Ant H ................28lb 8oz
Chris ................28lb 4oz (Guest)
Colin ................26lb 8oz (Guest)
Steve W ..........23lb 8oz
Dave ...............22lb 12oz (Guest)
Neil Mc ...........21lb 14oz
Matt N ............18lb 12oz
Tony ...............17lb 8oz (Guest)
Peter M .........16lb 6oz
Gemma D .....15lb 8oz (Guest)
Dave A ..........13lb
Dave M ..........12lb
Dai T ................7lb
Paul R............... 6oz
Nick W......... D.N.W

Total Weight on the scales was 951lb 3oz and only 1 Blank recorded

I'd just like to say a big WELL DONE to Brian, he's fished a superbly consistent series with 4 section wins and 2 seconds, all on venues that were new to him, making him a worthy winner of the series .

The final prizegiving/farewells were of course a complete cock-up as is usual with Malc , as he had left the trophies, prize money and pairs running totals on the kitchen table in Wales. So no change there then .

I'd just like to say a BIG THANK YOU to Malc for organising what is probably the most enjoyable and friendly match series I've ever fished, and another BIG THANK YOU to all the anglers that have fished the series, It's you that makes the series the success it is .
Let's do it all again next year .