Supermarket bait scores big on Swale match scene
A tough northern waterway that is home to shoals of cagey chub has sprung to life after a group of anglers switched to using a rarely selected supermarket bait.
Regulars on Yorkshire’s River Swale have scored well throughout the year on offerings such as cheese paste, maggots and worms but have been forced to change since the cold snap hit home.
“I’ve been using it for years and it’s helped me fool 40lb bags, even in the snow! I wouldn’t leave home without it at this time of year as its cheap, effective and the chub love it,” explained one local.
For more details on the deadly bait, pick up a copy of next week’s Angling Times, on the shelves from Tuesday January 3 2012.
Heaps seals Holgan Farm festival win
Former England international Ian Heaps proved he is still amongst the best anglers in the country by taking victory during the Holgan Farm Christmas Festival.
The Pembrokeshire-based fishery boss decided to use long pole and caster on the Match Lake and was able to take quality carp and roach at regular intervals for a winning 125lb 11oz.
Wolverhampton’s Clive Wright also broke the triple figure barrier with 101lb 8oz and second place while Swansea’s John Charlesworth completed the frame with 82lb 4oz.
Dabrowa smashes Headfen Lakes record
Tempting a few bites can be tough enough in the winter months but Tim Dabrowa shocked his rivals during the latest pairs event at Headfen Lakes by breaking a lake record!
The venue regular drew peg 37 on Trev’s Lake at the Cambridgeshire complex and put his faith in the Method feeder cast tight to the island and was into fish around the 6lb mark from the off.
By the end of the five hour period he had won the lake with ease, taking 92lb 8oz.
The achievement also helped him and his teammate Richard Bond take the overall victory on the day with a four point score.
Dicks notches up hat-trick of White Acres wins
England Youth international Callum Dicks showed exactly why many consider him to be the most exciting prospect in match fishing by notching up another festival win at White Acres.
The Maver backed ace saw off a strong field during the Garbolino Silverfish Festival at the Cornish complex to land the coveted trophy for the third time in his career.
Over the five day event, Callum was able to land almost 200lb of roach, skimmers, tench and F1s to beat a strong challenge from the likes of Adam Wakelin and Darren Cox to seal victory and the £1,000 cheque that went with it.
For more details on the tactics that helped Callum succeed, pick up a copy of this week’s Angling Times, on the shelves from Tuesday December 6.
Maher takes glory in River Wye Team Champs
Running water expert Steve Maher added another piece of silverware to his already bulging trohpy cabinet by landing the individual glory in the coveted Wye Team Champs.
The professional float maker was pegged against 101 other top class anglers and showed his class by winkling out 66lb 8oz.
After drawing at Bartonsham, Steve decided to use traditional wag and mag tactics down the middle of his peg and was able to fool chub to 4lb at regular intervals.
Backing weights were equally impressive with runner up Dave Rutter weighing 48-10-0, while on the team front Woody’s recorded 37 points to top the table and nudge out WB Clarke who were on 39 points.
Findlay's dominance at Packington Somers continues
Commercial fishery ace Andy Findlay kept up his impressive run of form at Packington Somers by picking up his fifth win on the bounce.
The Preston Innovations ace made sure of another victory after he was able to extract 56lb 8oz from peg 29 on Gearys Pool at the Warwickshire complex.
It was far from hectic sport for Andy though, with just nine fish falling to his pole and corn approach presented tight to the bushes, with the biggest specimen sending the scales round to 15lb 7oz.
Huge perch hauls dominating at top commercial
A venue that has built a solid reputation as one of the best carp commercials in the north has shocked match anglers across the country by producing 80lb plus hauls of perch!
The venue has produced some of the biggest weights the area has ever seen but the mirrors and commons have taken a backseat since the cold snap hit the nation, with perch now featuring heavily in winning bags.
“If you get your tactics right and are willing to ring the changes regularly, you can put a huge weight of perch together. You’ll catch plenty around the 1lb mark, a few 2lb fish and there is a good chance of a 3lb plus monster,” explained one local insider.
For more details on the complex and tactics required to succeed, pick up a copy of next week’s Angling Times, on the shelves from Tuesday November 29.
Pensioner makes mile round trip by foot to win Thames match
Pensioner George Clark endured a mile round trip by foot to get to his peg during the latest event on the River Thames and was rewarded for his efforts with three chub to 5lb 8oz that helped him bag the win.
The Slough-based 76-year-old was able to select his own swim during the rover match at Clifton Hampden but rather than pick the spot closest to his car, he trekked well down river to a well-known hotspot.
By using simple maggot feeder tactics he was able to fool a brace of 4lb 8oz fish alongside the lump and a few bits that secured a table topping total of 14lb 11oz.
Whittle lands 1200 fish in five hours on River Wye
A fast and furious approach helped Hadrian Whittle net an astonishing 1200 bleak on the second day of the annual Wye Festival.
The Kamasan Starlets ace – who eventually placed 34lb 10oz on to the scales – was able to land a fish every 15 seconds during the five hour outing after he adopted whip and maggot tactics.
Despite his heroics during the outing, he was forced to settle for third overall in the three day extravanganza, with Gloucestershire’s Lee Green taking the coveted trophy and former Welsh international Andrew Murphy sealing the runners up place.
Specimen roach wins Kennet and Avon Canal match
One fish can make all the difference as Nathaniel Johnson proved when a 2lb roach caught late in the day helped him seal victory in the latest round of South West Winter League on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
The Preston Innovations Thatchers ace had plundered the small fish shoals of his peg – which was in the bay at Darlington Wharf – before switching to caster in search of the odd elusive bonus.
A number of skimmers fell for the approach before the match winning redfin made an appearance.
At the weigh in Nathaniel placed 16lb 9oz on to the scales, with his team mate Liam Braddell taking second place with 14lb 8oz
Steve Gardener takes victory in Bury Hill festival
England international Steve Gardener blew away a quality field during the latest two day silverfish festival at Bury Hill Fisheries to take the overall glory.
The Milo ace started the competition off in style by bagging 41lb 4oz of skimmers, tench and crucians from peg 23 on Milton Lake to win the day and almost double that of his nearest rival.
Just 24-hours later he set about sealing the victory and put in a tremendous performance to once again seal the top spot with 29lb 14oz on pole and pellet.
His overall two day weight took the scales round to 71lb 12oz while second place Nick Whiting took just 28lb 4oz.
Stickfloat tactics bag Burnside River Swale victory
The River Swale was in great form during the latest event and Charlie Burnside took full advantage of that to take a table topping 51lb 10oz of chub.
After drawing on a peg at Holme near Thirsk, the Durham-based rod decided to use stickfloat and caster close to the farside willows and was able to fool 15 specimens to 4lb and a lone grayling.
Backing weights were equally impressive, with Yarm’s Mick Broadley needing 28lb 4oz for second place.
Foul hooked brace help Reynolds to Larford success
Match angler Glyn Reynolds needed more than just a touch of luck during the latest match at Larford Lakes when he foul hooked a carp and a pike that eventually helped him to a place in the frame!
The Awashima rod had been using the Method feeder from peg 16 on the Specimen Lake at the Worcestershire complex when the tip rapped round and after a tense battle a 17lb carp that was hooked in the fin surfaced.
Fully aware that the chaos caused during the tussle had ruined that swim he came down the edge on pellet and shortly afterwards latched into a 13lb pike which had the hook buried in its tail!
At the weigh in it was revealed Glyn had done enough to secure second place with 52lb 13oz, only being beaten by Dave Powell’s 52lb 13oz netful from peg 70.
Roberts continues dominance at Tylers Common
Alec Roberts is proving a hard man to beat at Essex’s Tylers Common and managed to rack up his fourth win on the trot during the latest competition.
The Middy-backed rod decided to use long pole with maggot over a bed of micros after drawing peg 33 on Horseshoe Lake and was able to fool carp to 4lb at regular intervals.
His run could have been ended if Terry Pritlove had landed just one more fish though, with the Ockendon Bait and Tackle ace just behind in second with 78lb 2oz.
Fossdyke Canal team matches announced
Match anglers are being invited to enter a team into a league on one of the most in-form canals in the country.
The Fossdyke Canal in Lincolnshire has been throwing up big bags of skimmers, roach and perch all year and it has been announced that a teams of six competition sponsored by Rilmac will start at the beginning of the New Year.
Entry is £120 per squad and the first of the five heats will take place on January 15 2012, with the final outing on March 11.
To book your spot, call Alan Henry on 07712 620385.
Big bream catch seals Raison victory at Furance Lakes
England international Will Raison proved why he is considered by many to be one of the best anglers in the world when he banked a winning 82lb 12oz of bream and skimmers during the latest match at Furnace Lakes in West Sussex.
The Daiwa-backed rod decided to use long pole and pellet and was able to keep fish to 3lb coming at regular intervals throughout the day.
Backing weights were equally breathtaking, with his team mate Mark Goddard taking 72lb 6oz of silvers for second, with Mark Glyn just behind in third with 71lb 8oz.
Huge barbel catch tops Warks Avon match
A hungry shoal of barbel kept Steve Robson busy during the latest event on the Warwickshire Avon and he eventually placed an impressive 94lb 9oz winning haul on to the scales.
The Cradley Heath Labour rod decided to use stickfloat and maggot tactics after drawing just below Jubilee Bridge on the Fladbury section and was able to fool specimens to over 12lb during the five hour competition.
Elsewhere his rivals struggled to entice a bite, with Richie Owen needing just 5lb 15oz to secure the runners up spot.
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.
Wright takes glory in Holgan Farm festival
Former Fish O Mania champion Clive Wright added yet another title to his trophy cabinet by winning the annual Holgan Farm Festival.
The Mosella and Willis Worms rod managed to notch up section wins on each of the three days of the event at the Pembrokeshire complex to record a perfect score and fend off the competition of Chris Barley who sealed second place.
Clive’s best outing of the event came on the Match Lake, with pole and pellet tactics helping him tempt carp to 6lb for an overall bag of 121lb 1oz.
Big fish attack helps Hellewell bag victory on Huddersfield Broad Canal
A big fish approach helped Martin Hellewell seal victory during the latest match on the Huddersfield Broad Canal.
The Trabucco Halifax rod decided to use double caster towards overhanging cover from a peg close to Cooper Bridge during the Mirfield AC Huddersfield Broad Canal Champs and was able to extract five big chub to over 4lb.
A few small roach were added later in the event and he was able to place a table topping 22lb 4oz on to the scales.
Runner up Chris Lees was never in contention to take the victory and took a bream and plenty of small roach for 9lb 4oz.
