Match Report for Wednesday 17th September 2025
16 anglers reported to Slapton for this week’s mid-week match on the GUC. The day dawned cloudy and windy with rain in the forecast for later in the day. However, following the break in the recent drought the canal had a reasonable colour and the hope was that the fish would be as keen and eager as the humans were (optimism is forever present in the angling fraternity).
Our forever present mainstay, Dennis Hunt, could not be with us, choosing the company of his family preparing for yet another holiday. However, as usual other stalwarts of the Club in the form of Richard Gibbs, Ray Burton, Barry Roper and Bart Bonito stepped into the breach to administer matters practical and financial to ensure that a good day was had by all. A special thank you to Bart and Barry for undertaking what turned out to be a route march to peg the stretch.
We split the match into 2 sections with 4 pegs on the higher pound on the winding hole past the Slapton Road Bridge to cater for those of lesser mobility and the remaining 12 pegs on the lower pound towards Grove.
Barry and Bart undertook an endurance test which became necessary due to the terrible state of the towpath towards Grove with hedging being out of control on one side of it and overgrown weeds and reeds on the canal side making some pegs normally available, totally unfishable. This problem along with moored boats meant that even with 4 pegs to the other side of the Slapton Road bridge for the less mobile of our brethren, fitting in the remaining 12 pegs entailed going beyond the occupation bridge towards Grove. Thus, the later numbered swims needed a walk of around 1,500 yards. Of course, this was doubled for Barry and Bart in pegging the stretch and returning to the car park plus it doubled again when they then had to walk to their own pegs after the draw. It was reported that Bart and Barry were a stone lighter and 2 inches shorter at the end of the day!
The weather was kind to us overall with a dry day though a gusty wind did cause a little hindrance to some pegs. Unfortunately, Tony Hickmott was not with us, so the water temperature is unknown.
There was plenty of evidence of fish movement in the water and everyone managed to find some fish.
The weigh in was conducted jointly by the indefatigable Colin Holmes with assistance from Jim Tookey together with Bart Bonito and of course the invaluable Tracey Leatherland. Thank you to all those mentioned.
The winner of the main 12 pegs match was Simon Foulkes with a weight of 9lbs 4 oz made of roach and small skimmer bream. Using a pole set up, Simon fished 2 lines at 11m and 13m respectively using pinkies as his main bait. The first 4 hours on the 11m mark over groundbait produced fish regularly. After that line became unproductive, he switched to the 13m line which he had fed with pinkies throughout the match, and his reward was finding more small roach eager to feed.
Also using similar tactics, second place was taken by Jim Tookey with 7lbs 4oz, closely followed by Sean Leatherland in third place with 6lbs 12oz.Fourth place was taken by Barry Roper with 5lbs 10oz.
First place on the 4 peg match above the lock was taken by our former crime fighter Richard Gibbs who eulogised at great length that we were fishing very close to the scene of the Great Train Robbery of 1963. Les Burton revealed that his Dad was stopped by the police at the time of the robbery. The other 2 anglers made no comment on the matter stating that to do so may incriminate them!
Richard fished with a tried and trusted rod and line method using a waggler set up. The fishing was slow but with perseverance he landed 2lbs 4oz of fish which did include a couple of nice quality Roach. Well done, Richard. While the fishing in this section was slow the compensation was that with a large hedge behind them the anglers here were sheltered from the worst of the wind. Thus, an enjoyable relaxing time was had in excellent company.
The overall result of the Match was as follows: -
1st Simon Foulkes 9lbs 4oz
2nd Jim Tookey 7lbs 4oz
3rd Sean Leatherland 6lbs 10oz
4th Barry Roper 5lbs 10oz
5th Bart Bonito 5lbs 1oz
6th Colin Macbeth 4lbs 13oz
7th Tim Watts 4lbs 8oz
8th Peter Mills 4lbs 4oz
9th Graham Stringer 2lbs 12oz
10th Colin Holmes 2lbs 2oz
11th Dave Ridley 1lbs 13oz
12th Dudley Frankland 1lbs 8oz
The four peg match result was :-
1st Richard Gibbs 2lbs 4oz
2nd Terry Vickers 1lb 4oz
3rd Les Burton 1lb exactly
4th Ray Burton 3oz
Our next match is another away venue on Pines Lake at Alders Farm on Ivy Lane Braggenham on Wednesday 24th September 2025. Draw at the venue at 8.30am, £5.00 optional pools plus £2.00 Pegging Fee, together with the day ticket cost of £10 for the Fishery. Fish 10.00am – 3.00 pm.
For anyone thinking of joining us for the first time please message Dennis Hunt or Ray Burton so we know you are coming before turning up. This will help us to manage the pegging of the venue. Please bring your club membership book with you as you will be asked to produce it for your first appearance.
That is all we have for this week, Please keep your catch reports coming in! You can send them via our social media pages, the club website or directly via What's app to 07940 229071.
Tight Lines,
Dave
Luton AC
Saturday: Cadet Success
Sunday: Junior Grit and Glory
Thanks and Looking Ahead......
Well done, Daniel—a great effort. We’re proud to see our juniors representing the club with skill and sportsmanship. 
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