Barbel key to Walton's Westwood Lakes win
The big shoals of hungry barbel went into a feeding frenzy during the latest event at Westwood Lakes and Gary Walton took full advantage of that fact to haul out a winning 108lb 6oz bag.
After drawing peg 11 on Kestrel Lake at the Lincolnshire venue, the Spilsby AC man decided to use waggler and maggot tactics to land fish nudging double figures throughout the competition.
Several big pleasure weights of the species have also been taken from the lake in recent weeks, with pegs 9 to 11 the hotspots.
Teenager stuns rivals in Blundells Fishery event
Teenager Jack Howarth proved he is able to compete with the big boys on the match scene after he landed his second victory in a month at Blundells Fishery.
The 14-year-old – who has just netted a sponsorship with Mosella as a result of his recent success – blew away an experienced field at the Cheshire complex after he used long pole and pellet from peg 7 on Pine Pool for a winning 111lb 7oz.
No other angler was able to break the triple figure barrier on the day, with John Kerwin taking 77lb 12oz for second place and Kieron Rich just behind in third with 72lb 8oz.
Goddard bags Stafford Moor Silvermaniac title
Daiwa Dorking ace Mark Goddard walked away from Stafford Moor £1,000 richer after he landed the coveted Silvermaniac Final trophy with 42lb 3oz.
After drawing peg 5 on the prolific Tanners Lake at the Devon complex, Mark decided to use a small expander pellet over micros and the odd ball of groundbait to tempt quality skimmers and the odd tench throughout the competition.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for Mark though, with several of his rivals breathing down his neck right until the all out.
Preston Innovations ace Des Shipp has already won the title once in the past and came close again with 41-2-0 which was good enough for second and £500 in winnings.
Specimen roach banked in Messingham Sands match
The first silverfish event of the year at Messingham Sands turned out to be a memorable one for Steve Ellis after he netted a 2lb 14oz roach.
After tackling up on the popular Island Pool and the Scunthorpe complex, the former Division One National champion decided to fish casters on a light rig and was rewarded with lots of smaller samples before the specimen made an appearance.
Unfortunately he was unable to gain a place in the frame, with venue boss Kevin Johnson sealing the victory with 39lb 11oz of redfins and skimmers.
Town celebrates first ever 100lb plus match weight
Triple figure weights may be commonplace across the country but Andrew Mitchell became the first man ever to do the ton during a match in the North West town of Oldham.
The Failsworth-based rod managed to land a place in the record books when he took 101lb 4oz during the contest at Chadderton Mill Lodge and also sealed himself a place in the final of the Dave Slattery Memorial series.
After drawing peg 6 at the popular water, Andrew was able to keep fish coming to the net throughout the day, with 60 ide and 21 carp in his keepnets come the final whistle.
Lindholme Lakes agony for local ace Norris
A single fish can be the difference between success and failure as Greg Norris found out when he lost out on a £500 bonus by less than 2lb during the latest event at Lindholme Lakes.
The venue regular fished pellet at the Lincolnshire complex to amass a mixed bag from golden peg 14 on Willows Lake that sent the scales round to 96lb 3oz.
Although most of his rivals claimed he would have done enough to secure the cash prize, the glory was stolen from him when Dave Wright recorded 97lb 4oz from peg 19 on the same water.
Bristol Avon hits top roach and bream form
The first two rounds of the South West Winter League on the Bristol Avon proved memorable with the individual winners of each sharing over 100lb of silvers between them.
Maver Bathampton star Graham Hunt took inspiration from match anglers of the past and used a crowqill Avon float and caster to tempt a roach every drop in for a winning bag of 18lb 12oz in the first heat of the competition.
Just a week later, his teammate Darren Gilman found the bream in feeding mode and was able to use the long pole with worm to land specimens to 5lb and eventually placed an impressive 89lb 1oz on the scales.
Huge roach landed in Messingham Sands match
The first silverfish event of the year at Messingham Sands turned out to be a memorable one for Steve Ellis after he netted a 2lb 14oz roach.
After tackling up on the popular Island Pool and the Scunthorpe complex, the former Division One National champion decided to fish casters on a light rig and was rewarded with lots of smaller samples before the specimen made an appearance.
Unfortunately he was unable to gain a place in the frame, with venue boss Kevin Johnson sealing the victory with 39lb 11oz of redfins and skimmers.
Hillview Lakes record smashed by angler in form of his life!
A top match angler has continued his impressive run of form by taking three wins in a week and smashing a venue record in the process at a top commercial.
Daiwa Gordon League rod Steve Ford has been unstoppable at Gloucestershire’s Hillview Fishery and was able to haul out over 500lb in a week, with one match catch alone sending the scales round to 282lb!
“I caught almost all my fish in the margins but I do things a little different to everyone else and that has given me a big edge in recent weeks,” explained Steve.
For more details on his simple yet deadly winning ways, pick up a copy of this week’s Angling Times, on the shelves TODAY!
Alders Farm produces huge winning match weight
The temperatures may be dropping but the sport remains as hot as ever at bagging haven Alders Farm and the consistent Gary Thorpe added another win to his tally by hauling out a back breaking 347-12-0 during the first round of the winter league.
After selecting to fish the Match Lake during the teams of four event, the GOT Baits ace decided to fish pole short with maggot and caster and was into carp from the off.
Sport never dipped during the five hour battle, with Gary landing fish averaging around the 3lb mark on virtually every drop.
For full details on the event, pick up a copy of this week’s Angling Times, on the shelves from Tuesday October 25.
Big perch prove vital to River Mole victory
Big perch were vital to success during the latest event on the River Mole with eventual winner Tony West including a 3lb 5oz specimen in his net.
The Garbolino Banstead ace decided to fish half a lobworm on the long pole over a bed of chopped worm, casters and corn after drawing peg 75 on the North Bank’s famed outfall and was rewarded with the lump along with a brace of 2lb fish and a 4lb bream.
At the weigh Tony managed to record 29lb 8oz to beat Pete Turnbull’s 21lb 8oz into second place.
'Bivvy boys' approach scores for top match ace
A match angler that has taken a leaf out of the ‘bivvy boys’ handbook has been bagging up a weekly basis at a popular commercial fishery.
Dynamite Baits ace Lance Chambers has been unstoppable at a number of venues including Worcestershire’s Larford Lakes and has put his success down to using a bait rarely seen on the side trays of a seatbox.
“While most of those around me are using meat, corn and pellets, I’ve been using something that match anglers usually ignore. At first it was just a trial but I now use them everywhere and it never lets me down,” explained Lance.
For more details on Lance’s winning ways, pick up a copy of next week’s Angling Times, on the shelves from Tuesday October 25.
Win a day with a match angling star!
Four of the best commercial anglers in the country are set to offer their services in an effort to raise money for the ladies, veterans and disabled national squads.
The unsponsored teams have started their fundraising campaign to help them fish in the World Championships next year and the cream of British match fishing have offered to give a day’s coaching to the winners of a bidding process.
Angling Times columnist Steve Ringer, Will Raison, Darren Cox and Andy Findlay have all generously agreed to give up their time and the highest bidders will also be able to take a friend along.
Auctions have already begun and more details can be found by visiting www.anglingtrust.net
Ide bags dominate at Highfield Fisheries
Silverfish have been key to victory in the latest round of open events at Lancashire’s Highfield Fisheries with a duo of top anglers sharing over 190lb of ide over the last two matches.
Oldham’s Keith Hyde was the first to prove you don’t always need carp to win when he used red maggot up in the water from peg 13 on Oak Lake to take victory with 81lb.
Just days later Ted Carter Preston rod Graham Carter went one better and broke the triple figure barrier to win with 103lb 4oz from peg 33 on the same water.
UK Champs coverage on Sky Sports
Sky has announced its broadcasting dates for coverage of this year’s UK Angling Championship, sponsored by Preston Innovations.
The matches were fished at Lindholme Lakes, Barston Lake and Woodland View, and were contested by 80 of the best match anglers in the UK. Each round features on the bank commentary and analysis from experts such as Des Shipp and Steve Sanders. The schedule is as follows:
Round 1
26/10/11 18:30 Sky Sports 3, 23:30, Sky Sports 4 Digital
27/10/11 07:00 Sky Sports 3 Digital, 10:00 Sky Sports 3 Digital, 12:00 Sky Sports 2 Digital
Round 2
02/11/11 18:00 Sky Sports 3, 21:00 Sky Sports 3 Digital
03/11/11 08:00 Sky Sports 3 Digital, 10:00 Sky Sports 2 Digital, 14:30 Sky Sports 3 Digital
Round 3
09/11/11 18:00 Sky Sports 4 Digital
10/11/11 12:00 Sky Sports 4 Digital
Round 4
16/11/11 18:30 Sky Sports 4 Digital, 23:00 Sky Sports 4 Digital
17/11/11 03:00 Sky Sports 4 Digital, 10:00 Sky Sports 3 Digital, 11:30 Sky Sports 4 Digital
Mega Rayne Lodge haul taken on a top kit
The temperatures might be dropping but Gary Burton proved you didn’t have to start casting for the horizon just yet when he landed 148lb of carp on just a top kit during the latest event at Essex’s Rayne Lodge.
After noticing a lot of activity close to the bank while setting up on the Top Lake, the venue backed rod decided to fish at just 3m with corn over hemp and was able to fool carp to 3lb almost every chuck.
The victory was made even more memorable for Gary after he revealed it was his fourth win on the trot at the venue.
Kennet and Avon Canal produces 400lb of fish in big match
The latest Angling Trust Winter League round on the Kennet and Avon canal proved the venue is in fine condition with the field sharing almost 400lb of fish between them!
Roach, perch and bream fed in force during the match, and individual winner on the day Gary Etheridge was able to fool lots of hand-sized skimmers and a bonus tench on maggot and worm for 16lb 12oz.
Backing weights were equally impressive, with double figures required to make the top eight.
Shipp rewrites Parkdean Masters history
England international Des Shipp rewrote the history books after he became the first man ever to land the prestigious Parkdean Masters title twice.
The Preston Innovations ace first got his hands on the coveted trophy and the £25,000 cheque in 2005 and managed to seal a memorable double after he landed 87lb 8oz of carp from Jenny’s Lake at Cornwall bagging haven White Acres.
By reverting between worm and caster on the pole and the Method feeder he was able to keep fish coming throughout the event to fend off the challenge of runner up Paul Yates.
For an in-depth report on the big final, pick up a copy of this week's Angling Times, on the shelves tomorrow (Tuesday October 18).
Rice dominates at Tunnel Barn Farm
Top commercial ace Pete Rice continued his dominance at Tunnel Barn Farm by bagging three wins in a week.
The Bag’em Baits ace started his impressive run at the Warwickshire complex by landing 131lb 8oz on caster from peg 13 on Canal Pool and added another victory just days later with 91lb 8oz from Top Pool.
He ended the streak in style by beating off strong competition in the Sunday outing, netting an 85lb 1oz mixed haul from peg 9 on New Pool.
Lindholme Big Bash match rakes in the cash for charity
A massive turnout of 108 anglers descended upon Lindholme Lakes to take part in the latest Big Bash charity fundraiser and managed to rake together over £1,500 for cancer sufferers.
Since the concept was devised it has collected over £55,000 for the cause and this once again turned out to be a fun filled outing that was eventually won by Matt Pillay.
The Maver backed rod used pole and maggot from peg 55 on Oasis Lake and was able to extract 78lb 5oz.
Ultimate Barnsley’s Steve Barraclough had to settle for second place with 62lb 11oz, while Y’anglers ace Chris Kendall completed the frame with 59lb 14oz.
