We recently made our annual trip to The Oaks fishery, Sessay. An event hosted by the Police force and always well attended. The pressure was on this year after our win in last years event.
At the draw we were not unhappy as we had been drawn in some pretty good areas. Both Wayne Thompson and Harry Bullock would attack the New lakes, whilst myself and Neil Avery headed to Cedar and Maple lakes, respectively.
I headed to my peg and at first glance it looked very inviting with overhanging grasses and ‘mud-holes’ set back screamed fish. Once we got underway it was clear that it was going to be a hard day and I spent the first hours trying various methods for little reward. A quick call to squad member Russ Hall, also located on Cedar, changed my outlook and approach as he was catching odd fish on chopped worm and Casters. After quickly chopping half a kilo of worms and adding casters I began to locate a few fish and started to build a weight. As the match progressed it was clear that particular areas of the lake were extremely difficult and only 2 or 3 pegs were doing well. I persisted with the Worm approach and when the scales arrived at the end, I was disappointed to only have put 45lb on the scales. What I didn’t realise was that this was good enough for a 5th place from the 25 on the lake.
As weights were tallied and the results announced we had secured a fourth-place finish for our second team, with the first team securing another win, not be a small margin but an unbelievable margin. Neil Avery had fished another fantastic match on Maple lake with Harry and Wayne continuing their good form on the new lakes.
A team win and the only service to have won this event ‘back to back’.
Roll on the 2023 event.
Andy Bowness
Head of Operations
HMP Hull
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