Match Fishing debates the current state of the sport. As we move into 2013, there is little doubt that the sport of angling is changing. Compared to 25 years ago, we are seeing new and different venues, methods and anglers rising, while other disciplines are seemingly declining in popularity. Tom Pickering has been fishing for over 40 years, and has risen to the very pinnacle of the sport, being crowned World Champion, and now captaining the England Feeder Team.
Mild weather sparks January feeding frenzy!Venues up and down the country have been enjoying an unseasonal run of form, as mild temperatures have stirred the fish in many of our lakes, rivers and canals into feeding. Match weights soared to over 100lb at many venues, as carp, F1s and skimmers went on the hunt for bait. Pole Fishing Editor, Jon Arthur was one angler lucky enough to find himself on fish in the Tunnel Barn Farm Teams Of Four Winter League, and made the most of a good draw by winning with a 131lb net of F1s!He commented: “Our Match Fishing Drawbags team really lived up to its name this week – I pulled us out four fliers! I was over the moon with peg 31 on House Pool, and fortunately there was a big ball of F1s in front of me. I caught most of my fish on maggots shallow, though I also dobbed a few fish.
Exciting start to 2013
The New Year has got off to an eventful start, with the unseasonally warm weather leading to some remarkable nets of fish. Commercial fisheries have been throwing up some enormous weights, with some remarkable catches also being taken by specimen hunters. There have also been some freak events in the animal world, including a marine seal swimming over 70 miles down a river, and into an inland lake. Then there is the ‘leaping mullet’ video, that is trending on You Tube and has already attracted almost £1.
Scotthorne on mud, and Joe Carass goes potty in the February issue of Pole Fishing!
Pole Fishing's February issue has hit the shelves today, and is teeming with ideas to make 2013 a net busting year! We have Alan Scotthorne's must read guide to leams, and soils, Nick Speed on how to 'round up carp' into your peg, and Joe Carass revealing a clever invention that will catch you more F1s! On top of this, we join Rob Wootton as he banks a big net of river roach, and pit two top Southern rods against each other in a dual on a fish fillled canal. Southern legend Dickie Carr reveals his bream fishing secrets, and Matt Godfrey explains 18 key pieces of advice on being more accurate. We also have over £700 worth of top tackle and bait for you to win! What are you waiting for? Pick up your copy today, or click here to subscribe!. .
Seal swims 50 mile along flooded river before entering lake. A seal is thought to have swum more than 50 miles along a flooded river to an RSPB nature reserve, where it was filmed "hopping" into a lake. The marine mammal was filmed in a lake at the RSPB owned Fen Drayton Lakes Reserve, in Swavesey, Cambridgeshire. Thought by experts to be a common seal, the footage shows the seal battling to cross a barrier to get into the lake.
Lee Kerry wins Thorne Individual LeaguePreston backed ace, Lee Kerry has won the Thorne Individual league after a very tight finish on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal. The result comes after the most challenging series in a number of years at the Yorkshire venue, with winning weights on some rounds being as low as 8lb. Going in to the final round, Matt Godfrey was leading to the series, by just a couple of ounces, but with a result to be dropped after the final match, there were a lot of people in contention. Lee Kerry made the best of a reasonable draw to finish with 8lb 8oz, and when the dropped result was taken into consideration, he ended up finishing almost 3lb in front of second placed James Dent.
Big weight in first round of pairs league. The first round of the Maver Bait Tech Pairs Competiton took place this weekend. Conditions didn’t look too good on the Town Welland, the river was chocolate brown and stood virtually still with all the main river flow going down the Coronation Channel. Surprisingly the roach decided to have a real feed.
Angling Trust Announce Northern and Southern matches. The venues have been announced for this years Angling Trust Winter League Semi Finals. The matches will see qualifying teams from up and down the country battle it out for a place in the Winter League Final, taking place in July. The Southern semi finals will take place at Gold Valley Lakes in Surrey on the 2nd March, and on Milton Keynes Grand Union Canal on the 3rd of March.
Ton up haul for Garbolino aceSimon Fry has won the Barston Christmas match, setting a new winter record for the venue. He drew the fancied peg 17 at the Coventry lake, a peg with good recent form, and fished the Method feeder at 70 yards. The venues F1 stocks took a liking to his Bag Em XP groundbait, and with a single dead red maggot on the hook, the Stratford rod put 50 'big F1s' and three small carp on the scales for an incredible 116lb 10oz - a record for any winter match at Barston. He commented: “I had an amazing days fishing, especially when you consider just how cold the water was! Barston has been very kind to me over the last few years, and it was great to end 2012 on a high!”In second place was Southam rod Maurice Williams from peg 20.
Scotthorne, Ashby, Shipp, Carass and Godfrey in Christmas special! The bumper 100 page Christmas special of Angling News Week is packed with news, views and tips guaranteed to put more fish in your net in 2013! On top of the usual host of features, we have an extra special selection of extra content - including the best images of the year, and 14 video highlights of 2012. We have also asked ten of the country's best anglers to reveal their biggest lessons for 2012! It has been a busy week in the news, with big fish being banked, exciting new sponsorships announced - and no shortage of controversy either! On top of this we have no fewer than twelve features, guaranteed to give you a Christmas read to remember! Happy Christmas!Click here to get your copy now!. . .
Anglers who don’t attend presentation will see their winnings donated to charity. White Acres Fishery Manager, Clint Elliott has introduced a new rule, that will see anglers who don’t attend the presentation without good reason have their winnings donated to charity. The rule comes after a string of poor presentation attendances, culminating in this years Parkdean Masters Final – where just ONE competitor –Phil Ringer - watched Harry Billing picked up the bumper cheque for the second time in his career. Clint has also had enough of the big-name anglers fishing the various festivals failing to attend the nightly presentations where daily lake prizes and section winnings are handed out.
Anglers mourn the death of southern legend.
The match angling world is mourning the death of top southern rod, Ray Mumford. Ray, remembered by many as the man who bought the pole to the UK, passed away last Friday, December 14th, at the age of 77 years. He died of pneumonia, but had been suffering from dementia for several years.
Anging Trust hit back at critics.
The Angling Trust has hit back at critics, who slammed the £1. 8m funding package secured for angling from Sport England. The amount of funding each sport received was announced on Monday, with angling ranking 35th out of the 46 sports awarded funding, despite being among the country’s largest participation sports.
Korum get behind award winning 'Angling Projects' scheme.
Club Korum has joined forces with Les Webber’s Angling Projects in a bid to get even more youngsters hooked on fishing in 2013. I Heart Fishing ambassador, Nigel Botherway, visited Angling Projects' Wraysbury headquarters to present Les with Club Korum fishing kits to help them with future angling events. The float, feeder and pole packs include a How To DVD featuring Nigel and former world champion, Tommy Pickering.
Disappointment at derisory sum.
Anglers have reacted with anger to the news that their sport will receive just £1. 8million in funding from Sport England over the next four years. Over the same length of time, badminton will receive £18 million, netball £25 million and golf £13 million.
