YOU KNOW YOUVE FOUND YOUR CARP FORUM HOME!

It all started on an internet fishing forum where a group of people with one similar interest decided it was time to put faces to the log in names. What could we do? There was only one thing to do…..go fishing! After asking who would be interested in going a few members thought it would be great to meet up and chat about the sport that brought us all together in one place. We originally started on another site but we felt more at home and at ease on this site www.toasteds.co.uk so preparation began and dates, times and venues were discussed and put to a poll for everyone to decide. After a few week delegating we decided on Selby 3 lakes in north Yorkshire. The time, 13th - 15th may. Now all it was a case of doing was getting more people to join and trust me with their money, don’t forget we had never met each other before! Well, after a few setbacks which I expected we finally had a date, venue and people to go fishing. The bailiff at Selby had done us a deal for 48 hrs fishing the whole lake to ourselves at a cost of £550, we split this cost between the people going, everyone paid the same. But what else could I do to make this fishing weekend more interesting? I didn’t want our meeting to turn into a grudge match where everyone was intent on winning a cash prize, that wouldn’t be enjoyable to me personally so (my sense of humour taking over). My husband jay suggested holding a fun match with silly prizes. I wasn’t to know that this prize he had in mind would make people so determined to win and come back next year to have another chance at winning it too. I know you are curious to know what the prize was so I’ll not go on any more. The first prize was a garden gnome holding a fishing rod, I was also not aware that these little blighters would be in hiding from me and everyone else. After a few months I finally got hold of one for £1.00. I wanted no prizes to cost a lot of money; the second prize was donated by strider/hobbit. A bottle of champagne. And the third prize donated by Steve Blow was the singing fish -Billy Bass. And that was that, all money had been collected. (Thank you for trusting me and jay guys) the venue was set and the date was fast approaching. Jay and I set off to Selby to pay the bailiff the money owed. But to our dismay Gordon was not there when we got there, so we had to pay his secretary. After walking round the lake and getting a receipt for the payment we headed off back home. When we got home we phoned Gordon to let him know we had been and paid for the lake. Gordon sounded bemused?? He told us he had no secretary, and had not received any money regarding payment for the lake! He proceeded to add that the woman we had paid had actually been fired that morning and was clearing out her office, she wasn’t his secretary but did work with him and she had left no money for him. My stomach churning and jay getting ready to drive back to Selby in a rage I asked Gordon to get the police involved as I had a receipt and wanted this sorting. Upon which Gordon laughed and said got you there didn’t I. Phew…relief at last I had a chuckle and revenge was on my mind. Discussions about what to do with Gordon were fore most now as nothing else could be done except wait for the day to arrive. In the mean time I was preparing sheets for people to record their catches and have them verified and jay was busy spraying the garden gnome gold.

This gnome was to be the most sought after and coveted prize yet! Finally the day arrived for us to go fishing and meet the people who we had become friends with. So off to Selby we went. When we arrived we were met by Steve Blow and Strider/Hobbit. Feeling at ease with them we waited for the rest of the gang to arrive so that I could hand out the weigh in sheets, discuss the rules and let everyone pick a peg. Selby 3 lakes is a nice venue and will comfortably hold 25 anglers. After drawing the pegs and setting up our tackle it was time to go round and see if everyone was ok, also get a few pictures so that members of our forum could also put faces to the names. The photos can be found in the members gallery under the heading the whole Selby photos.

A special mention goes to sergeant Hagz and his wife who celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary that weekend.

Now for the fishing, the first fish to be caught was by Adam Freeborn / CraftyCarper. His fish weighed a whopping 22lb and took him into first place.

That was until Sme2310 caught a new Pb at 23lb 4 oz. Sadly there was no photo of sme’s fish but I do have a picture of him.

Then Saturday morning at 5 am my alarms screamed off and I bagged a 17lb 12oz carp taking me to 3rd place.

Next was Steve blow’s turn knocking me out of third in to forth place with a 19lb mirror.

Another fish went to Adam Freeborn taking him back into first place, a carp weighing 24lb 1oz.

Strider/hobbit was next to catch with a weight of 26lb 6oz, resulting in the biggest fish of the match and taking him to second place. Sadly I have no photo of his fish. The fishing was superb I pulled out of a further 5 fish through the weekend, Jay caught one 3 hours after the match had finished, but it didn’t matter to either of us as we were just glad that everyone got on and enjoyed the weekend. Gordon had been popping down to see us occasionally and was impressed that we were in total control and he was not needed hence giving him his first weekend off in years. So he obliged us by donating his own prize for the biggest fish caught. Well that was it now all that was left to do was to call time and hand out the prizes and thank everyone for turning up. So waiting in the car park for strider to get around to us after his 10 mile hike, it was time to do the honours. 3rd place went to sme2310, winner of his new Pb and a singing fish. Which he eagerly accepted and promised to bring back next year for Selby 2006.

Next was second place, which went to Strider/ hobbit. He also won Gordon’s prize of free 48 hrs fishing for the biggest weighing carp. He also won his own donated prize, a bottle of champagne.
Last but not least first place went to Adam Freeborn / Craftycarper. For a total weight of 46lb 1 oz. giving him the coveted golden gnome, which also has to be returned next year.

Time for one last photo before everyone parted their ways a group photo of everyone who went.
• From left to right, front row. Strider, Jaxter, Jayax, Grottbags, Lizzylulu.
  
• From left to right, middle row. Jamiemullen/, Andy Cattle, Pooboilies, Sme2310, Adam Freeborn/craftycarper, Hagz, Dadzchadz, Steveblow.
  
• From left to right, back row. Karl Murray, Martin Parsons, Beggo.
  
  There was also Howard and his son, who left before the prizes were being handed out. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank you all for going and trusting us with the organization. Thank you strider for giving me your bottle of champagne, (hic, hic). And sorry to those who didn’t come due to problems, rigmaker, boomshanka and sandancer. As promised all who went this year will get first refusal for next year, if anyone cant make it then there places will be up for auction to the highest bidder. Once again thankyou all for making it happen and cant wait for Selby 2006 and will hopefully try to get down to see you on Steve’s reunion in September. Until then I wish you well and tight lines.
  Jaxter and jayax.

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