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Academy Manager, Tony Runnalls grew up on the River Roding and caught his first fish on the Ornamental Waters at Wanstead.
Tony is a good all-round fisherman, from Carp, coarse, sea and more recently, fly fishing - Tony has tried it all.
Tony has an English p.b of 32lb for a Common Carp, Pike over 30lb, a Barbel p.b of 13lb 4oz and River Bream to over 11lb.
Tony now manages Churchgate Lakes coarse fishery in Essex.
Tony fishing for Tench at Blenheim Palace
News from Tony - March 2nd 2010“I know I said let it rain at the beginning of my last blog, but I am now thinking enough all ready.
“How miserable has it been over the last 8 weeks - every time I have been fishing it’s been a disaster, the last time I went up the backwater on the Chelmer I had 6 Cormorants’ swimming up and down in front of me all day, my eyes on my rods just froze up and I got a wet boot crossing the little dyke, it all went wrong!
“But spring is on its way and the sun is shining today - perfect fishing weather but I can’t go out as I am stuck at home convalescing after a recent operation.
“I am starting to think about getting my baiting campaign going on Bovington 2 for the spring as I am going to target the Tench for the first couple of months as they wake up from their winter sleep with one of the new range of VX Twin Tips. I have still got my heart set on a Float fished double and I am sure Bovi is the place to do it
“The lakes have been really slow but on the flip side it has allowed me to invite some faces down to do some Articles for us with the likes of Danny Fairbrass, Derik the Don Richie, Alex Bones, Dave Lane, Dave Levy, plus a few others so keep an eye out as they will all be coming out over the coming weeks.
“A big well done to Cathall Hughes on getting picked for the Irish Team, I am sure he will do well and Churchgate would like to wish him and the rest of the team the best of Luck.
“Hopefully my next blog will be full of the joys of spring and tales of Giant Tench and mist covered lakes filled with bubbles as the sun rises over the trees, but until then, I hope you all have a great start to the year and catch that PB you have been after.”
Tight Lines
Tony Runnalls
News from Tony Runnalls – Monday 30th November
“Let it Rain! I am so glad we have had a bit of rain! I have managed to get all the pumps set up for the lakes and it’s nice to see the water levels coming up again, I know it affects our takings but we really need the water so let it Rain.
“It’s been a bit hit and miss for me the past month, like this morning I got up at 5am, went down to the Chelmer and it was horrible - the wind the rain were driving hard and the river was unfishable so there’s another wasted day, but I have managed to get a line out on a couple of occasions and have had some really pleasant days trotting for the Roach on the back water at Hoe Mill. I haven’t caught anything spectacular but with Roach and Chub nearly one a chuck it’s been great.
“I have been invited to fish on the Itchen next week with a group of guys from Wickford Angling so I have booked the day off and am itching to get there, excuse the pun; we are also going to Orford Island to have a Beach fishing session, apparently it been throwing up some double figure Cod so fingers crossed.
“Over the last month I have had a couple of days fishing with Dean Macey at Churchgate and Tight Lines have been down to the lakes filming for their slot on Sky TV. It’s been hard and even I couldn’t get a bite but Dean managed to get a couple of small Cats for the camera so all was not lost and they made the lakes look really nice on camera, not that they aren’t nice anyway, but you get a different perspective when you’re watching it on the telly, even though we didn’t catch much on the day they have said they would like to use the facility in the future so keep an eye out you never know I might be able to squeeze myself on there.
I hope you all have a really nice Christmas and hope you will look in from time to time.”
Tight Lines
Tony Runnalls
News from Tony - 29th August 2009
"I went down to Aldermaston a couple of weeks back with Tony who is my Bailiff as he is desperate to catch a Barbel. Unfortunately when we got there my heart sank and I knew from the off that we weren't going to catch anything - there were people waiting to get in and I knew that the lawns would be taken as its a first come first served and no taking of the shortcut is allowed, not that I would do that but in the past people have been asked to leave because of it.
"The water levels were as low as I have ever seen them and the weirs were more a dribble to their usual torrent but Tony wanted to try some long trotting so we decided to give it a go anyway on the backwater. At the end of the day we managed a couple of small Perch and some small Chub.
"On a better note I have been able to spend a few evening sessions on Bovington 2 and after some fine tuning of my set up and a change of rod, I have now started getting in to some fish.
"I have been fishing a big Waggler at the bottom of the lake shelf where it levels out at about 9 ft in a corner bay that is heavily reed lined and has the wind blowing into it most of the time. I started off using a soft rod but lost to many fish in the reeds so I changed my rod over to one of the prototype VX Prodigy Twins with a 1.75 top and felt a lot more in control and immediately started landing most of the fish. I bumped a couple but they were fouled hooked but none to the reeds - baits have mostly been Caster over Pellet and Maggot.
"The Carp boys keep telling me that they get pestered by the Tench all night on Boiles. Call me old fashioned but I have my heart set on a float fished double, and if the past 4 sessions are anything to go by and the weather holds out there might still be a slim chance of getting one! I have had loads of fish up to 6lb but the last evening session and I broke my previous 6lb Pb three times on the trot with two fish going 7lb and a 8lb 2oz fish that could quite easily have been a 10lb fish when full of spawn but I am a little too late for that.
"It has been a cracking month at the lakes with plenty of good fish out - also I have been asked by the boss to go and recce a potential site to build another fishery on and draw up some ideas to run by the council to see what their view is... hopefully it will be a goer.
"I am thinking of having a go on the Thames during the coming weeks - I haven’t got any particular species in mind more like a suck it and see type day.
"I will let you all know how I get on!"
Tight Lines
Tony Runnalls
News from Tony - 13th August 2009
"Blenham Palace - what a place! Me and Dave have been down there a couple of times and I went down on my own a couple of times. I caught Tench on all occasions but it’s not a easy bit of water by far, - they have so much natural food in there that its always going to be tricky! The Perch are a pest and all day I was pestered with 4/6 inch perch.
"It’s a lovely place but a tad expensive for me as a day on my own comes in at a hefty £100 for Petrol Bait and the Ticket, throw in some lunch and it’s not a cheap day.
"I have Joined a local club in order to get access to one of their waters which apparently holds a good head of Double Figure Tench. I have had a few sessions on there and have had some nice Tench but iIknow there are bigger ones about and I need to refine my Tactics to try and get one. I hooked a good Carp the other evening but couldn’t stop it and the hook pulled, Ihave had some really good eels to 4lb.
"I have been testing some of the new VX & TX Rods at the Lakes, be prepared for some of the best looking Rods you have ever seen they are stunning and the performance is out of this world, keep an eye out for them they will be in the shops soon.
"We had a great time at the Go Fishing Show and it was good to catch up with the other Academy members including some of the Carp boys. The stand was very busy and it was a great turn out. The only blight on the weekend was the thefts from some of the other companies that were at the show during the night - as a former security consultant for the film industry I know what I am talking about and I personally cannot see how such a thing can happen on a regular basis at open events! The organisers of these events really need to bring in somebody at the planning stages so that they can make the site secure- it’s not hard. In the 10 years I worked as a security consultant looking after some of the biggest outdoor film sets, we never had anything stolen and all attempts were foiled. We were looking after Millions of Pounds worth of equipment in every conceivable location possible from shopping malls to open fields.
"The Lakes have been doing very well with some cracking fish out and my Bailiff Tony has been slaying them up in the water with the Method Float - he took a brace of Twenty’s yesterday from our Middle Lake on a quick session with his son.Tony has asked me if I fancy a day down at Aldermaston on Monday as he wants to have a go at Long Trotting, we are going up early doors Monday and I will let you know how we get on
Tight Lines
Tony Runnalls
News from Tony - 21st June 2009
"Well the day has been and gone and what a start. I have just returned from 3 days at Belmont.
"We arrived at 8am and after a couple of hours we decided on swims and started settling in. I got out my machete and preceded to carve myself a nice path and steps down to the top end of a long shallow run with some overhanging trees that ran for about 50 meters with a deep hole under them and some very fast water. I set up my 13 ft Hardy Marksman Float Rod and Conquest pin Loaded out with 100 meters of new 5lb Greys Mono, a large Chubber with 5 swam shot about 14 inches above a size 18 Animal Hook with two dropper shot about 3 inches apart below the bulk. I then put a bucket of bait on my belt, some bits in my pocket and waded out to the top end of the swim.
"I started trickling in Maggots Caster and Hemp, put two Red Maggots on the hook and flicked the float out for the first time of the new season. I had set the depth at about 4 ft and the float glided through the swim as near perfect as you could expect. Just as it got a couple of yards off the last tree the float slipped under the surface, I lifted the rod and felt weed so I knew that was the end of the run as the water shallowed up to about 2ft. Another hand full of bait and the float was presented to the dark hole under the trees for a second time and as the float settled I applied a little brake on the reel the float rose up in the current and was slammed under and my first fish of the season was on, the fish was determined to get under the trees and i gently coaxed it round and out of harm's way and after a very spirited fight the fish was brought to hand, i didn't care whether i caught another fish for the rest trip as I hadn't blanked and what a stunning looking fish it was at the high end of 4lb. I was absolutely ecstatic and had a funny feeling that it was going to be a good start.
"The following morning I was up with the light and down on the river by 5 am. It was a perfect morning - mist was coming off the water and fish were topping all over - a forecast of great weather and my confidence was sky high. I settled into the same swim and started feeding in Maggot Caster and Hemp and after 20 minutes I could hold back no longer and let the float settle into the run. After mending the line it sailed off with the current and on the second run the float buried deep with a hard pull on the Rod as the fish tried to get back under the trees but, again after a very spirited fight another 4lb Chub was in my hands and being returned to the other side of the river so as not to scare the rest of the shoal. And so it began, for the rest of the day I managed to catch a steady stream of fish ranging from a couple of ounces to 7 lb. I caught big Chub, Barbel, small Trout and what was suggested as Salmon Par ( they all look like Trout to me! ) what a cracking day! I was in my element running a float down under the tree banging out fish in the sun what more could you ask for! I rested the swim periodically during the day and also to have a little catch up.
"After Lunch Darren and Rob were talking about Rob's swim and had said that they had seen some big fish just upstream but access was difficult so we went and had a look. It was a very long run over 200 meters with trees ether side and a nice deep gully right through the middle. I put on my glasses and peered down through the trees from the high banks and instantly knew I would be fishing there in the morning. At 2pm I returned to my swim, reloaded my bucket, checked my line, set up my little video camera pointing it at the swim and turned it on to record for a couple of hours.
"Again almost immediately I started catching fish and I was in my element as Barbel and Chub came to hand one after the other - some small some 5/6/7/lb but what a special day I will remember for a long time! By the end of the session I was shattered and the Cold Beer and Rib eye Steak that we consumed on the patio tasted so good we all said that we would be back again next year.
"I was up at first light again and decided to go to the long run I had looked at yesterday with Darren and Rob. I managed to get in the water some 100 yards upstream of the top end of the run and waded down to the position I had lined up to fish. I got myself comfortable and started to feed in Maggot Caster and Hemp.
"After feeding steadily for about 30 minutes I got my first proper fish on but lost it half way up the swim - the fact I hooked the fish at about 50 meters meant i had to guide it all the way back up through the fast deep water and that put everything to the test. I took off the light hooklenth and tied a Size 16 Animal straight to the mainline and was in again after another 10 minutes. This time I felt I was in control a bit more and I was a bit more confident in applying more pressure to guide the fish upstream.
"From there on it was fish all the way to the end of the day. I took most of the better quality fish at the tail end of the swim and made a few minor adjustments to the depth and added a couple more swan shot so I could hold back a bit more as I was losing sight of the float and was inching the float through and responding to the knocks on the tip. What a great way to fish the first 30 meters or so you could see the float and as I lost sight of it in the reflections I would apply some brake to the pin and pick up the line directly to the float causing it to rise slightly but enough to displace the water and you could feel the bites up through the Rod.
"As we were packing up I was chatting to Darren and we estimated that over the 3 days I had taken about 18 Barbel between 3lb and 7lb and 16 Chub between 2lb and 6lb along with a sack load of bits. I used nearly 12 pints of Maggot, 8 pints of Caster and 8 pints of Hemp along with a liberal helping of the Teme Severn Crustacean Pellet Mix. I would like to thank the guys at Teme Severn, when I was on my way I realised that I had forgotten my pellet, so after a quick call to them the next morning by 10am I had a tub of Pellet and some of their fantastic Lamprey Paste delivered to reception and brought straight down to my swim via one of the buggies - great service and even better bait! Check out their website at www.teme-severn.co.uk
"Even though this is primarily a golf course this is the second time I have been down there and I must say that the accommodation and the food was all of a very high standard the staff, including the grounds men were all very polite and more than helpful. I cannot rate this place highly enough and have already provisionally booked my next trip.
All is well and (Hopefully) next time Big Perch from Blenheim!"
Tight Lines
Tony Runnalls
News from Tony - June 8th 2009
"It's been a busy month at Home and at the Lakes. I have finally moved into our new house and I have no other projects on the go for the foreseeable future. I have been testing some new Braid over the last couple of months with Dave Coster and the quality and resilience of this braid is fantastic.
"I am still getting some cracking sport on the Middle Lake fishing up in the water and have had a good run of High Doubles just fishing hit a run sessions of no more than 3 hrs at a time mostly just grabbing the odd hour here and there at certain times when I feel my chances are at their best. I have been using the 11ft Avon Marksman and I know I have said it before but what a Rod! This rod has subdued Carp over the twenty pound mark with ease and it just seems to guide fish straight to the net without any fuss at all, if you are on the lookout for a good all-round 2 piece Rod you seriously need to give this rod some thought.
"6 days to go and counting - I for one can't wait! I have my bait order in at Wickford Angling; in fact I have had it in for a couple of weeks now. My gear is ready and the other guys that are going are texting me daily. We are like a bunch of school kids, we have decided to get a shield and make this a regular trip. Rules are- Pike don't count, biggest fish over the three day session takes the shield for the year, no arguments, no set times, go where you want, start and finish what time you want.
"The first Venue as mentioned in my last blog is The Belmont Golf and Country Club on The Wye and we will be fishing on the 16th/7th/18th and I will let you know how it all goes."
Tight Lines
Tony Runnalls
News from Tony - 12th May 2009
"As I can't get on the rivers yet I have been spending quite a bit of time on Churchgate, grabbing a few hours here and there, the Perch are not playing ball so I have been doing a bit of stalking around the Lakes aswell as a few sessions fishing the Pellet Wag up in the water.
"It never ceases to amaze me how many Anglers will sit on leads for days on end for a couple of runs in the hope of hooking a big un, even when I am sitting there with one rod a bucket of pellets slaying the place and hooking fish after fish, my best day so far last week was 12 upper doubles with 7 of them being 20lb plus in 4 hours, my first fish of the session was a 27lb Common on my
first cast.
"I have also been catching some cracking little Cruicans on light float tactics around the dense Reed beds, it's such a shame that everybody that fishes on the Middle Lake are so set on catching the bigger fish as they are missing such good alternative sport.
"On a really good note, our Match Team has now made it through to the Semi Finals of the Angling Times Super Cup, we managed to knock out two of the bigger names in the competition in the first round (Team Raiders & Terrapins) and Sunday just gone we managed to beat Elm Park and Hornchurch at The Warren Match Lake so a big well done to all the lads and we are looking forward to the next round.
"I have booked the first week of the season off work and have arranged a trip to the Belmont Golf and Country club fishing on their stretch of the Wye, I went there last year as part of a group and had a cracking couple of days and even as I write this I am chomping at the bit to get down there, have a look at their website for booking info and if you do go you won't be disappointed www.belmont-hereford.co.uk/fish/index.html
"We are on the move next week so my fishing time is going to be a little bit limited, we are moving into our new house I built last year and its only next door so we can just move in gradually over the next week as we have sold our other house, I will be sticking with the quick short sessions on Churchgate for the next couple of weeks and once we have moved in properly I can start to spread my wings and venture out a bit."
Tight Lines
Tony Runnalls
News from Tony - 27th April 2009
"So ends another busy and frustrating week.
"The Lakes have been really busy and there have been lots of quality fish out. I have been taking advantage of the late evenings on my quest for a Churchgate Perch, I have been fishing late into the evenings on the bottom lake with Maggots as my main feed with Lobs and Live baits.
"I have had a really good week if you count endless Tench, massive Carp trashing my swim 2lb plus Ide coming in like they are queuing up to get caught, it's funny really that when you have a certain fish in your sights and how frustrating it can be when you catch everything but your target species.
"What has surprised me is that I haven't had what I would call a proper bite on the live baits; I have had a couple of tentative enquiries but nothing that has resulted in a Perch. I had a good Bream of about 7lb take my live bait on the drop and I thought I had a real lump on until I saw a big old Bream roll on the surface.
"I am going to try a different approach, I am going to try ledgering some dead baits next week and see if I get a better response, surprisingly the top lake has been producing lots of Perch to just about the 1lb mark but I am sure that if I persevere I will be rewarded in the end.
"Watch this space!"
Tight Lines
Tony Runnalls
News from Tony - 15th April 2009
"What a manic week! It's been a really busy weekend at the lakes over the East Bank Holiday and they have fished very well. I have managed to get to the bottom lake in the evenings after everybody has gone and I am determined to catch big Perch.
"I have chosen the bottom lake over the middle as the middle lake has too many Catfish in and one one evening last week I had 6 of them in an hour on live baits and the worm just gets battered by the Bream and Tench.
"I am going through the motions with the bait, but primarily I was using Lobs Craster and Red Maggot. I have managed a few small Perch but the bigger fish are there, I have seen them striking at fish so I am going to switch over to live baits tonight and give them another go.
"I am finding that too many other fish are hitting my worms, I have had some cracking Bream, Carp and lots of Tench but I need to be a bit more specific with regards my bait so I am going to sit it out tonight with lvie baits.
"I am only fishing the evenings as I feel this is my best chance of one of the big Perch, I have been fishing the Waggler hard on the bottom but I will be switching over to a paternoster set up for the live baits as I feel the fish want the bait up in the water. I will let you know how I get on."
Tight Lines
Tony
News from Tony - 2nd April 2009
"I have had a really good start to the year with some good days on the bank aswell as some bad days.
"I have been up to the Kingfisher Complex at Ling, Norfolk and spent a couple of days on the Wensum. What a great place to fish- Buzzards call overhead not a soul about, just me and the river, pure fishing heaven as I managed to pick off some clever Chub on my first day to over 5lb,
"The second day was a Roach bonanza and I managed an estimated bag of 35lb of good roach to the 1lb mark. I found a shoal of roach tucked up under a long overhanging bush that gave the fish a nice bit of cover and had a cracking day. I caught fish more or less one a chuck all day and started on the maggot feeder in the same spot as last week, taking fish to 12 oz immediately and consistently until I hooked and landed Trout which trashed my swim 1 1/2 Hrs into the session.
"I kept feeding but the bites were very tentative, I felt the fish had either moved upstream or pushed really tight under the bushes. I opted to fish a big chubber over depth held back hard and got it right under the trees I edged it along and soon found the fish again. I managed to pull the fish out a bit and trotted through for some really nice roach to the 1lb mark, bites were consistent from there on with loads of small chub thrown in, nothing really big but the trout made my day.
"I used nearly 4 pints of Maggot and 2 pints of Caster and Hemp 90% came to red maggot and the rest to worm bits or caster, size 18 Drennan Super Specialist Hooks, Greys 3lb Mono, Conquest Pin and a 13 ft hardy Specialist Float.
"At Churchgate we have now updated our website and also stocked some new fish so if you get a minute drop in and have a look www.churchgatelakes.co.uk "
Tight Lines
Tony Runnalls
