The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Wallyboy Rob wrote: ↑Wed Jun 09, 2021 10:43 am This is Funtley lake many years ago
(Picture courtesy of Keston) surprisingly there is someone fishing there

IMG-20210609-WA0001.jpg

Screenshot_20210609-100811~3.png

That is a amazing photograph. Please tell me they cleared all that rubbish before they filled it with water.

Thanks
BB

BoltonBullfinch wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 9:11 pm

Wallyboy Rob wrote: ↑Wed Jun 09, 2021 10:43 am This is Funtley lake many years ago
(Picture courtesy of Keston) surprisingly there is someone fishing there

IMG-20210609-WA0001.jpg

Screenshot_20210609-100811~3.png

That is a amazing photograph. Please tell me they cleared all that rubbish before they filled it with water.

Thanks
BB

Most of it has gone, the Southsea subaqua club used to dive there at the clubs request and help romove some of the big stuff like large tree stumps but the works hut and a truck are immovable

BoltonBullfinch wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 9:11 pm

Wallyboy Rob wrote: ↑Wed Jun 09, 2021 10:43 am This is Funtley lake many years ago
(Picture courtesy of Keston) surprisingly there is someone fishing there

IMG-20210609-WA0001.jpg

Screenshot_20210609-100811~3.png

blocks
That is a amazing photograph. Please tell me they cleared all that rubbish before they filled it with water.

Thanks
BB

Its a very interesting water , full of character .
It also contains debris and large concrete blocks of varying shapes and sizes that were dumped there during the construction of the M27 ( or so legend has it ) . Some of these blocks can be seen below the surface given the right conditions,

Return to Funtley

The Ancient Mariner, tired of getting thrashed on the Wally Brook, declared that he wanted a return to Funtley......forgetting the blank he had endured earlier in the season. Talk about short term memory loss compounded by being a complete idiot.

A shortage of pies meant that Friday would give Fatty time to cook a few for a day out. The time was arranged for a 1230hrs shootout....last Mole standing.

Parking, often a drama with the AM was all good; Happy Days!

He was still moaning about the traffic though, as pie number one found itself consumed by Fatty; a good slurp of tea and the walk to the Brick Pit could be undetaken.

Sherpa Mole was carrying his Alcock's Benny Ashurst float rod, a converted to quivertip Rod Hutchinson Floater Rod and a self made Glass Waggler rod, a bag of wagglers, a very large tea flask and tin of pies, accompanied by various tackle sundries, whilst escorting a senile old Gimp and his dog to a secure swim.

Setting up took very little time as the floats are all set up at home on winders......Parkinson's has pretty much put paid to setting up floats and tackle in general on the bank and as for knots just forget it,evreything is now loop to loop

First cast.......



Nice.

Forty of his mates came too throughout the day, all on pellet.

Disbursed amongst the shoal of roach was this chap and a few of his chums:



At nearly 7lbs was very pleased to see him.



This Lass came ashore eventually putting a good curve in the Benny; as did this lump:



The carp boys in their Acme Little Giant Palace Bivvies nearby stood to watch the frolics caused by this Chap:



Not sure the Benny Ashurst Trent rod was designed with this sort of fish in mind.....



But it coped as did Fatty, who needed a restorative pie and slurp of tea followed by a lie down after this chap. However, the Bivvy Boys seemed interested, with one or two popping round for a chat etc. Not believing an old match rod and Daiwa 125m could land such a monster.....they've not met Fatty before.

The AM caught some roach so was relatively happy until shown the pics above but given a small pie seemed a lot happier at the end.

Knackered the drive home passed in a blur with Matron sending her fish slime covered spouse up for a bath double quick time.....they say true genius is never recognised in his own life time

As ever,.....

Moley

It's recognised here chap. Great work & most entertaining - Keep it up

Splendid again Mr Mole

You the man

Well done Moley, I see you still haven't managed a gudgeon from there yet

I too have a Benny Ashurst match rod - the 14' version. I sometimes use it for crucians, as they do appreciate its delicate shade of gold

GregF wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:24 pm It's recognised here chap. Great work & most entertaining - Keep it up

Very kind of you to say so GregF.....the next problem isto convince Maton of such.

Two kinds of hope spring to mind .....NO HOPE and Bob Hope, with apologies to the training NCO''S at Catterick.

Wallyboy Rob wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:30 pm Splendid again Mr Mole

Fatty likes Funtley as the tench are good fighters Rob

Dave Burr wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:25 pm You the man

Thanks Dave but more like You the Fat Mole and compared to the AM any one could look good

GarryProcter wrote: ↑Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:56 am Well done Moley, I see you still haven't managed a gudgeon from there yet

I too have a Benny Ashurst match rod - the 14' version. I sometimes use it for crucians, as they do appreciate its delicate shade of gold

Not sure if there are any Gonks present at Funtley so catching them could be a challenge. But just for you Garry is a picture of a near 7 inch monster......Gonk. Can't think what else would fit the bill.....




The Gold colour of the Benny is unique and striking and stands out from the crowd Glad to hear you still use your 14 footer for Cru's.

TTFN

As ever,....

Moley

The Fatty Returns

So armed with a triple signed day pass, a tin full of pies, a large flask of tea and suitable tackle, Fatty made good his escape without resorting to his famed Herr Bartlett impression or any need for 'Broadsword calling Danny Boy!' nonsnse.

After scoffing a celebratory pie having found a parking place easily this time, all the paraphernalia needed for an afternoon by the water carted to the
Swim, Fatty could sit down on a proper chair without fear of the deadly BUMBAGO suffered by other elderly site users, and scan his selected home for a few hours.

Setting up a Milbro Match Rod with Alcocks Pop, loaded with 4lb maxima to a waggler and 16 Guru Hook all was set fair.

And so the onslaught began.....



Wow what a pretty roach.....not quite hitting the two point but nice all the same.

Then here we go........



Long lean, fighting fit and bristling with 19lb 6oz of weight, taking the best part of thirty minutes of carefull play, dictated by the match rod and 4lb line. A pie and long slurp of tea was needed to restore Mole Equilibrium and a small lie down, you know just to help the old Zen State

Fishing recommenced with forty smallish roach delighting in the waggler fished deep shallow on the drop. Happy days but covered in slime as a result.

Then followed by....



This fish is recognisable by the strange mouth and seems to follow Fatty round the pit; at just over the 7lb mark always welcome

Some more roach followed with play coming to an end when slurping tea and pies ran out and hooklink smashed by another Funtley Funster who took off just too quickly for the smoking Pop to cope with.....oh well.

Returning to the loving arms of Matron to be dismissed on sight and sent up for an early bath to remove the fish slime, not interested in the prattle about big carp, tench and rudd. Life is a bowl of cherries in the Fatty household at all times isn't it my love, my sweet, my petal!

Best to quit whilst ahead of the possee.

As ever,......

Moley