Ringer's Roundup - From Belgium Waters to the ever-challenging Ferry Meadows

Finally, the sun is out, and things match-wise are getting busier! So, what have I been up to?

Firstly I've been to Belgium to film with Matt and Tank on a vast lake. This is the same venue where I won the European Feeder Cup individually at the end of last year, so I couldn't wait to return. The lake is fed by the river Maas, so you never quite know what will be in there at any time of year, but they do get runs of giant roaches over 2lb if you catch it right.

The fishing was challenging but very rewarding on our trip, so it's one of the best films I've made. Particularly regarding the number of tips and tricks I've given away, it should be available on our YouTube page in the next week or so.

Well, after a quiet start to the month, I jumped on the Wednesday match at Ferry Meadows. The match was all on Overton, and I knew it would be hard, but a match is a match, as they say! I drew peg 16, which is not an area I like, but with it still being cold, no one knew what to expect.

After an hour, no one admitted to having a sign, let alone a bite! With this in mind, I scaled everything down to 14 pole special, longer 65cm hook length of 0.14 pure fluorocarbon, xs caged window. I decided to fish for a bite; a single maggot fished at the back of my bait, so I had to be patient with just groundbait in the feeder. This worked, and I managed two bites, a hybrid and a skimmer, for just over 2lb. This amazingly won the bank and my 10 peg section as everyone else went dry as the bream the venue are famed for just didn't show.

Next up was the start of my Bait-tech feeder masters campaign. Decoy Lakes and Oak Lake peg 18 was my home for the day. This was okay, although it would most likely be right on the edge of the fish! The wind was also blowing down to the other end, which, although a cold wind, worried me as my peg was flat and calm!

I set up 3 x 10ft Aventus Steve Ringer rods and a 10ft Guru bait-up rod. I planned to fish two lines across, plus the edge to my left. After a slow start, I had a great run on my right-hand swim, catching 8 carp in 10 casts fishing a 28g large hybrid feeder to a 12 QM1 with a 4mm pink/orange Ringers wafter on the hair. 2mm Ringers method micros around the feeder with a splash of yellow boilie crush. After this run, though, it just got harder and harder. My edge never produced, I'm sure, because it was flat calm, and I finished up with 16 carp and an f1 for 134lb for 3rd in the zone and 3rd in the match. I needed 154lb to win, and I didn't know where that was coming from. It was noticeable that the two weights that beat me were in the wind!

Next up was attempt number 2 at Albans Lakes. I drew match Lake 19 right in the corner. I was told it's a decent peg if the wind blows in. Sadly, when I got there, I found the wind hacking down the other end of the lake and my peg flat calm. I feared the worst with the crystal clear water as I felt really hemmed in with a peg on the side bank. I knew I had to catch in the edge to have a chance, and after 2 hours, I knew the writing was on the wall as I had just one little carp, whereas others already had 10 plus fish. With no ripple, I felt the fish wouldn't come in or settle, and it was too deep down the middle. I managed a few bites in the last 90 minutes, fishing a zig down the middle with a white pop-up and sloppy groundbait, but even that wasn't amazing. It just kept me busy!

It was one of those days when I didn't even know what I'd do differently if I went back. Although if the wind blew into that corner, it would be a very different peg! And that is the theme at the moment, as in wind, and being in it is key. Even though it's been a cold wind, the fish seem to love it.

So that's it for this month. I've got loads coming up, though, with the three-day Ferry Meadows festival and feeder king and feeder masters qualifiers. Here's hoping when I'm writing my April catch-up, I've booked my place in a final or two!