Rob Hales set to create new competition venue

The owner of some of the UK’s most successful and prolific specimen carp waters has revealed his plans to build the ‘best match fishery in Britain’.

Rob Hales, boss of the RH Fisheries Empire which includes venues such as The Monument and The Avenue ¬ a water tipped to produce the next British record carp ¬ has told Angling Times that he has plans in place to create a host of state-of-the-art, big-weight match venues.

The Shropshire-based fishing entrepreneur has already put his plans into motion, having thousands of pounds worth of carp ready to be stocked into the complex.

He says this will not only give anglers the chance to take 200lb-plus weights of carp from pegs that are accessible by car, but will also be designed to ensure every swim is identical in depth to make his new waters the fairest in match fishing.

“I have the funds, the know-how and the right people to make this the best fishery of its kind,” said Rob.

“I don’t do things by half measures. Every year I net around 3,000lb of the best fry money can buy from my big-fish waters and these are going to be the stock for the new lakes.

“The biggest problem with matchfishing is that in many cases you know whether you’ve won or lost before you get to your swim. But this won’t happen at my waters because I’ll build them in a way that gives everyone a fair chance from every swim.

“We’ve achieved great things in carp fishing at RH Fisheries and given thousands of specimen anglers days they will remember for the rest of their lives. Now I want to do the same for matchmen.” Even though Rob is yet to confirm a site for his fishery, he has not ruled out the idea of extending his Shropshire site which currently holds the popular Monument Fishery to house the match waters.

The news has been celebrated by the matchfishing world, especially those who live locally. Anglers are not only of the opinion that the area needs such a complex, but that Rob has the proven ability and knowledge to create something ‘truly special’.

Preston Innovations-sponsored angler and Fish O’ Mania finalist Ed Warren lives seven miles from The Monument.

“The problem with many commercial match waters is that they’re run by people who don’t know much about matchfishing or fishery management, but Rob is an experienced angler who knows how to build and create a successful and healthy fishery,” said Ed.

“There’s no doubt that his new venture will be a huge success.”