Spring Bank Holiday promotion encourages anglers to take a friend fishing for free. The Take A Friend Fishing (TAFF) campaign, organised and run by the Angling Trades Association, is back again this Spring Bank Holiday weekend. TAFF is designed to encourage regular anglers to take their family members and friends fishing to let them try the sport for themselves. Free one-day rod licences (each worth £3.
Underwater secrets revealed. Match Fishing Magazine has launched a new series that sheds light on exactly what goes on under the water. The series is the brainchild of Match Fishing's Editorial Assistant, Joe Carass, who has taken a lead from the carp fishing world – where underwater filming has revolutionised the way anglers fish. Joe has enlisted the help of Rob Hughes – an experienced underwater cameraman, and keen carp angler.
Reserve ticket sees Browning rod in Fisho FinalBrowning Hotrods ace, Andy Leathers has qualified for the Fish 'O' Mania Final, after winning last weekend's qualifier at Barford Lakes, in Norfolk. Heavy rain overnight and cold conditions all day made for a hard match for most, but with a few anglers failing to turn up, Andy was left with plenty of room and a spare peg to his left!Drawing Peg 30, Andrew fished worm and caster to the corner, and worm and groundbait down the edge. He was able to keep fish coming virtually all day, and win the match with a 154lb 15oz net of F1s and carp to 10lb. Runner up was Middy rod, Marc Rodger who drew Peg 3 on the Top Lake, where he fished pellet shallow down the edge to net carp and F1s for his 91lb net.
Awesome Andy makes it three finals in three years. Preston Innovations and Sonubaits-backed ace, Andy Powers has qualified for the Maver Match This Final for the third year on the trot, after winning the qualifier at Boldings Fishery in Shropshire. Andy is now the first angler to qualify for all of the Match This finals to date – a truly unbelievable achievement by the Somerset-based rod. Andy drew Peg 28 on Chestnut and opted to fish caster shallow to catch F1s ranging between 1-3lb.
Drennan Cup Champ wins Ivan Marks memorial with 238lb haul. Shimano and Dynamite Baits-backed angling consultant Rob Wootton has won the Ivan Marks memorial weekend, with a 238lb haul of carp. The catch marks the third time that Rob has won the prestigious trophy, with all three winning weights being in excess of 200lb. Rob explained: “Of all the matches that I fish in the course of a year, the Ivan Marks Memorial means a lot to me – not just because it is a prestigious event to win, but also because I knew Ivan, and he was a great inspiration to me.
Famous scales manufacturer weighs in with new media!Weighing scales and tackle firm Reuben Heaton is embracing the internet and social media to raise awareness of its products. The
firm is ensuring that interested parties can get up-to-date news
information about the company, its products, the latest press releases
and event information as it happens from its RSS feed via this link: www. reubenheaton. co.
Counter shows some venues have less than 10 tickets remaining. . . The Angling Trust has added a counter facility to the Riverfest 2013 page on its website which has revealed that some venues have as few as seven tickets remaining.
Historic Spring festival celebrates 30th Anniversary. As one of the oldest commercial fisheries in the Country, it is hardly suprising that Docklow Pools in Herefordshire boasts some of the oldest commercial fishing competitions - but the famous 'Jacko's Festival' that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year must surely go down as one of the oldest. The event was originally run by venue owners Mike & Josie Bozward, who founded Docklow Pools back in 1972! As Mike reflects on the Docklow website, back in those days the charge for rent in the Farmhouse was just £1 a night!For the last 25 years Dave “Jacko” Jack & Phil Hoad from Essex have taken over the running of the festival,and created quite a following. Jacko explained: "At first, the event ran over Easter, and in the early days the close season rules were still in force - which meant targetting coarse fish was illegal, so Mike would stock some trout in the lakes, which we would fish for with worms.
Star studded open day at Norwich store. Angling Direct have announced a star studded open day at their Norwich store. The day is to be attended by Daiwa star anglers, Will Raison, Steve Ringer and Kieron Rich, who will be demonstrating and discussing their favourite tackle, tactics and techniques. The day will include a tank demonstration, bait and rigs clinics, plus lots more!The store are also offering a 10% discount off everything in store, except price checked items.
Reading rod leads UK Championship. Paul Holland has won the opening round of the Preston Innovations UK Angling Championship, with a 68 kilo 500g bag of carp and F1s from peg 14 on Maver Larford's Match Lake. The Preston Innovations and Sonubaits ace took victory by the narrowest of margins, after beating Shimano Dynamite rod, Nick Speed by just 820 grams. He explained: "I had a lovely day, catching a few fish on pellets short, before moving on to a long pole line, where I caught some fish on caster shallow, and hard pellet on the bottom.
Will Raison’s success on Old Ghost Baits. “Before I signed for Old Ghost, I was confident that I was getting involved with a forward thinking company, with some great products – but after fishing with the products over the last few months I have to say that they are even better than even I expected. ”These were the words of Daiwa and Old Ghost backed rod, Will Raison, following a great run of form on Old Ghost baits. “My most recent victory came at Gold Valley, when a mix that I have pioneered for fishing down the edge came up trumps in grand style.
Long-range feeder is key to first AT Stillwater Championship Qualifier. Leigh Angling backed rod, David Howard has won the first Angling Trust & Canal & River Trust Stillwater Championship qualifier of 2013. The match was fished at Boddington Reservoir using Pegs 50 to 99 on Sunday, May 12th, 2013. After what had been a really warm spell of weather conditions this changed dramatically with a cold wind blowing down the reservoir and rain later in the match.
Four late fish for 75lb see northern rod in Match This final. Barnsley rod Mark Stainsby has qualified for the Maver Match This Final, with a fantastic 126lb 12oz net from Maver Larford Lakes. The near-sell-out qualifier was attended by 106 anglers. Conditions, however, were disappointing and difficult to say the least.
On form rod wins 130-peg Fish 'O' Mania qualifier!The wins just keep on coming for James Dent, the talented youngster from Teesside who has now qualified for both of this year's major big-money finals – and won a 180-peg White Acres Festival and finished second in another, all in the last month!The latest win for the MAP-backed ace came in the 130-peg Fish 'O' Mania qualifier at The Oaks Lakes at Sessay, where James romped to victory with a 37. 5 kilo net of carp and F1s. James explained: "I drew Peg 55 on Maple Pool, which is a corner peg with a big overhanging tree to fish up to, and although it isn't really a noted peg, it is one that can hold a lot of fish when the wind is right! Fortunately, today was one of those days, and I managed to catch the odd fish all the way through the match. I alternated between fishing shallow on the pole, and throwing a small Method feeder to keep fish coming right through the day.
Preston ace nets new personal best. England International Des Shipp has smashed his personal-best match weight, after breaking the venue record at Ridgeway Lake in the Cotswold Water Park. The Preston Innovations and Sonubaits-backed rod put together a 446lb winning net, comprising of 80 carp taken on pole tactics, and smashed his previous personal-best match weight by 139lb. He explained: "It was one of those days when everything just went right.
