The Big One show all you need to know
The Big One Show is almost upon us, so here is everything that you need to know about the UK's largest angling show
Talks
Don’t miss out on the live seminars, where you can learn from the pros and get involved in the Q&As.
Bait
Leading brands such as CC Moore, Sticky, Dynamite and Bait-Tech will be showcasing all their new products.
Tips
You can learn loads from world-renowned experts. Bob Nudd will be on the Browning stand, Alan Blair will be on the Nash stand, and lots of the Korda team will be present.
Celebrities
Meet the stars at this year’s show, including Danny Fairbrass, Bob Nudd, Steve Ringer, Dean Macey and more...
Holiday Stands
There’ll be chance to book a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, whether catfishing on the Ebro, carp fishing in France, or venturing to Thailand.
Food
An upstairs restaurant and outside catering centre will provide food and drink for all.
Clubs and fisheries
Join a new club or fishery. Farnham Angling Society will be there, as will Twyford & District AC and Hartley Wintney AC.
Tackle
All the major manufacturers will be attending, with sponsored anglers on hand for exclusive demonstrations.
New Steve Ringer book
Head to the Angling Times stand to buy Steve Ringer’s Ultimate Guide to Pole Fishing, and get your book signed by the man himself.
all the info at a glance
Date: Saturday, March 24 & Sunday, March 25
Location: Hall One, Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, Farnborough, Hants, GU14 6AZ
Directions: From Junction 4 of the M3 follow the signs for Farnborough by accessing the A331 Blackwater Valley Route. Turn off at the Ash Vale/North Camp Station exit and head back over the A331 from the roundabout. At the junction, turn left for Farnborough and travel on the A3011 Lynchford Road. At the second roundabout (Queens roundabout) The Big One will be well signposted from this point.
Sat Nav postcode: GU14 6AZ
Big One ticket prices:
Advance adult one-day ticket: £12
Advance concessionary one-day ticket (over 65s, blue badge holders and 12 to 15-year-olds): £8
Advance half-day ticket (entry after 1pm on both days): £7
Advance adult two-day ticket: £18
On the door adult one-day ticket: £13
On the door concessionary one-day ticket (over 65s, blue badge holders and 12 to 15-year-olds): £9
On the door half-day ticket: £7
Under 12s get in free!
Ticket hotline: 0345 8731900
Opening times: Entry for ticket holders is 8.30am on both days. Pay on the door customers can enter approximately an hour later on both days. The Big One closes at 5.30pm on Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday.
Parking: There is ample free parking in the north and west car parks on site. A quick buggy and mini bus service will be running all day if you don’t want to walk. However, the organisers would encourage
car-sharing to ensure enough spaces for everyone!
Catering: The new hall has a large restaurant upstairs, while food and hot and cold drinks will be available from the dozens of outside catering outlets.
The Big One Show Confirms Star Anglers
The Big One Show 2018 is set to be the best yet, as more than 30 of the biggest names in the sport confirm their attendance for the two-day event.
The show, which will run over the weekend of March 24 and 25, will offer plenty of opportunities for visitors to meet their idols, collect autographs and chat about all things fishing.
Match fishing fanatics are well catered for this year – four-times World Champion Bob Nudd will be available on the Browning stand, match ace Des Shipp can be found on the Preston Innovations stall, while commercial master Steve Ringer will be on both the Daiwa and Guru stands.
Steve told Angling Times: “The Big One is a fantastic event and I’m looking forward to meeting new people and helping them put more fish in the net.
“Each year the show seems to get even more popular, and it’s no surprise when you see just how many big-name anglers and manufacturers attend each year.”
Carp anglers are also well catered for at The Big One, with Alan Blair, Tom Dove, Darrell Peck and Ian Chillcott all making an appearance.
For the chance to interact with the stars, visitors can attend a number of live seminars across two state-of-the-art theatres, where they can pitch questions to their favourite anglers and improve their fishing with advice on different aspects of the sport from the experts.
To see the full list of attendees go to: www.fishface-promotions.co.uk/thebigone
INTERVIEW: Star of BBC's This Country is angling fanatic
“This is my best interview ever – for once I’m talking to someone who’s willing to listen to me talk about fishing!”
Charlie Cooper’s enthusiasm for angling is clear from the moment our chat begins. The 28-year-old is the co-star and co-creator of BBC Three mockumentary This Country, which recently returned for a second series.
Charlie Cooper as Kurtan in This Country
The exquisitely observed comedy was created by Charlie and his sister Daisy – they play cousins ‘Kurtan’ and Kerry Mucklowe – and draws on the pair’s own experiences of everyday life in a Cotswolds village.
Charlie was taken fishing by his dad as a youngster, but returned to the sport seriously fairly recently.
He said: “Two or three years ago I became totally obsessed, it’s consumed my life!
“It coincided with work getting busy and it’s just a great way of escaping and completely switching off. I like doing things that I’m completely consumed by.
“On the bank I don’t have to think about anything other than fishing.
“My dad worked in a school with kids in an exclusion zone and he would take them fishing. It was amazing that fishing was one of the only things the kids would focus on.
“It’s amazing what it can do, it can teach you so many things.”
This Country was created by and stars Charlie and his sister Daisy
Charlie fishes for a range of species, aided by the variety of venues available close to his home.
“At the moment I love river fishing – I live in the Cotswolds and the Thames is close by, and the Avon isn’t too far away.
“One thing I haven’t quite got into yet is carp fishing – it seems the lakes around me are always so packed with carp anglers, so it’s hard to get a swim – but I’m sure that’s the next step.”
Carping might be the next stage of Charlie’s fishing career, but he’s already had plenty of memorable moments.
Charlie's 14lb Thames barbel
“At Buscot on the Thames last summer I had a 14lb barbel. I wasn’t aware there were many in there and I had 5lb line and a John Wilson Avon Quiver rod that was almost bent in two – it was about a 20-minute fight!
“I actually sent it into Angling Times and you published a photo – I need to get it framed! I also had a 13lb 8oz barbel at Christmas.”
Aside from barbel, perch are one of Charlie’s favourite species and his inspiration comes from a source familiar to many fishermen.
“I’m a massive Chris Yates fan – A Passion for Angling sort of changed my life. I love those programmes and the vintage tackle.”
Filming This Country takes four or five weeks of the year and the rest of Charlie’s time is spent writing, affording the Fulham FC fan plenty of time to go fishing.
Charlie managed to get a fishing scene into series two, but would love to write more about the sport
“I’m lucky that we can dictate when we work. I can work in the morning then get out fishing in the afternoon or evening. When the weather is good, I’m pretty much able to pick when I go.”
Episode four of the current series (available on iPlayer from March 19) features a fishing plotline, and Charlie told Angling Times he would be very keen to create a comedy based on the sport.
“I would love to write something purely about fishing. All of the characters you meet…from the bailiffs to the people you meet in the clubhouse.
“I was speaking to the first AD [assistant director] on the show and he’s into fishing, and we talked about people who go sea fishing – they’re like a different breed and I’d love to write something about that.”
The whole of series one of This Country is currently available on iPlayer, along with current episodes of series two.
New look fishing rod licence for 2018
It's that time of the year again where many anglers will be needing to renew their rod licence for 2018. Every year the artwork for the front of the rod license is changed with this year being no different. The new artwork has now been revealed by the Environment Agency and we love it!
To the delight of many anglers, the EA have decided to choose one of the most iconic fish to star on the front of the new licence. Clarissa who will appear on the three rod licence was the UK record carp for 28 years and was made famous when angling legend 'Dick' Walker caught her from the historic Redmire Pool on September 13, 1952 at a then record weight of 44lb.
Once caught, Clarissa was transported to London Zoo where she stayed. This was done because many big carp were caught and killed back in the 1950s to establish their weight, an idea that Walker hated and didn’t want to happen to such an incredible fish.
Walker was a huge influence when it came to changing the face of angling. He was the creator of the ‘Arlesey bomb’ and the first-ever electronic bite alarm as well as contributing to the development of carbon fibre fishing rods. Mike Heylin OBE Chairman for the British Record (Rod Caught) Fish Committee said: “This is a fine tribute to a fish and an angler who changed our perspective and excited a whole generation of anglers, many of whom will hold this licence with pride.”
This year’s design has been created by well-respected wildlife artist David Miller who added: “Designing this year’s fishing licence combines 2 of my passions: fishing and art. The Environment Agency does a fantastic job and I’m proud to be supporting rod licence sales with my artwork. It’s been great to be able to capture a fish that has such historical significance in the fishing world.”
The other two images that have been designed for the new rod license include a gudgeon which will be on the 2 rod licence and salmon which will appear on the game licence. The EA managed to raise £21 million from rod licence sales during the 2016/17 season which was then used to restock the rivers with 6.3 million fish, as well as encouraging 35,000 people pick up a rod for the first time.
Kevin Austin, director of fisheries at the EA, said: “We’re delighted to reveal these new images as part of our continued drive to encourage people to give fishing a go. All the money raised from rod licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries benefiting anglers.”
A licence lasts 12 months from the day of purchase and is required to fish legally in England, Wales and along the Border Esk in Scotland. People who are caught fishing without a rod licence can expect to be prosecuted and fined for their troubles with the EA checking 63,000 licenses in 2016/17.
Buy a rod licence here: https://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences
Massive boost for UK barbel
A memorable season for big barbel has been topped by news this week that nearly 300,000 more fish have been stocked into Britain’s rivers.
The Environment Agency has revealed the impressive figure was part of a total of over three million fish introduced nationwide over the 2016/17 campaign.
The Nene, Thames, Avon, and Hull are among rivers that have benefitted most, with thousands of juvenile barbel to help sustain stocks of the species.
A spokesperson for the EA said: “The water quality in many of our traditionally industrialised rivers has improved dramatically in the last 30 years.
“This allows us to focus on improving barbel stocks which we can be confident will now have a great chance of repopulating reaches.
“We have therefore accelerated restocking from our Calverton Fish Farm of natural fish stocks.”
It’s great news for barbel anglers, who thanks to a combination of mild temperatures and perfect river conditions have enjoyed a stunning season which saw records fall on the Thames and Itchen, as well as an 18lb 14oz specimen from the River Trent.
One club to have benefited from a boost in their river stocks is Rowley and District Angling Society, which has been rewarded with 250 fish after monitoring barbel numbers on their stretches of the River Severn for the past eight seasons.
Just recently their match and pleasure anglers have also been taking scale samples and submitting them alongside catch results to the EA for analysis.
Rowley DAS vice chairman Max Taylor said: “Due to our diligence and our willingness to help in further data collecting, we have been rewarded with barbel from the EA hatchery at Calverton, which is to be repeated in 2018, 2019 and reviewed after that.
“The news is encouraging as our captures have proven that there has been a decline in barbel numbers from the Severn at Coalport year-on-year, and considering 90 per cent of our anglers fish for barbel there was cause for concern.”
71% vote to scrap closed season!
The results of an exclusive Angling Times poll have revealed that the majority of our readers would like to see the closed season scrapped.
As the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust reveal that they are in discussion over the laws that govern the annual break on running water, our online poll saw over 70 per cent of more than 7,000 participants vote in favour of abolishing the closed season on our rivers.
Those visiting our website - anglingtimes.co.uk - were given three choices – keep the current closed season (from midnight on March 14 until midnight on June 15); scrap it altogether; or move it to a different time of the year.
The Angling Times social media channels were also flooded with opinions from both sides of the fence over a result that’s been welcomed by river fishing legend and closed season abolishionist Dave Harrell.
“I base my views on a lifetime of fishing rivers and it’s such positive news that there are so many Angling Times readers that share my views on the outdated closed season laws,” said Dave.
“Now we’ll have to wait and see if the result is similar when the Environment Agency, too, invites anglers to vote on the closed season.
“This will follow the publishing of findings of an independent review group – of which I was a part – that was charged with examining the evidence for and against scrapping it.”
Angling Times columnist and fisheries scientist Paul Garner reckons our exclusive online poll reflects his own opinion, and that of the anglers who he meets on the bank.
“Fishing on stillwaters and canals hasn’t gone downhill since their fixed closed season was lifted. I truly believe that this would be the case on rivers as well,” said Paul. “It’s time for change.”
But the graphic on this page shows that many people out there believe the current closed season should either stay as it is or remain but with different dates.
River fishing maestro Bob Roberts is in favour of some change, and said: “We definitely need a closed season, but not in its current format.
“If we lifted it altogether there’s no doubt there would be way too much pressure on stocks aon the most popular stretches.
“Species like chub and barbel aren’t spawing in March and April. I believe that the closed season needs to be shorter, and one of my suggestions would be to move it from May 1 to July 1.
Bob added: “It’s so positive that we as a sport are now having these conversations about issues that will shape the future of fishing.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
The findings of an independent ‘closed season review group’ – made up of anglers, highly-respected fisheries scientists, venue owners – which was charged with examining the evidence for and against scrapping the closed season will soon be released by the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust.
Once these findings are made public and anglers are given time to digest the information, the nation’s fishermen will be asked to take part in a vote on what they think should happen to the laws that govern the current closed season on rivers.
Your chance to become a fishing TV star!
Are you the next Fishing TV star?
Angling Times has teamed up with the UK’s leading online angling TV creators - FishingTV - to work on a brilliant new project for 2018.
Full details remain top secret at the moment, but to get the ball rolling we’re looking for someone to take part in a pilot episode of this new show.
We’re looking for a coarse angler with access to a good fishing spot within 15 minutes of their place of work, and is great in front of a camera – could it be you?
To put yourself forward just send us a short video of yourself, and tell us the following:
* Your name
* Where you’re from
* Your occupation
* The name of the water closest to your workplace
* Your fishing experience and why we should pick you
Don’t worry about being an expert cameraman or having slick editing skills, we just need a short film which you can shoot on your phone, talking to camera.
Please send the film to george@fishingtv.com via WeTransfer
You must be over 16 years old to apply.
Deadline is FRIDAY 23rd FEBRUARY so get shooting!
The best perch lake in the world
Imagine a venue where the average size of the perch is 5lb and 4lb fish are put back unweighed.
Well, you’ve just pictured the aptly-name Perchzilla Lake near Bilbao, northern Spain, which has just produced a new venue record stripey of 2.96kg (6lb 8oz) to Spanish angler Dani Hidalgo.
The 54cm-long specimen was 5oz over the official British best, but the venue’s owners expect several 3kg-plus fish to show when the fish are at their heaviest this spring.
In 2017 alone Perchzilla saw at least 10 different fish over 2.5kg (5lb 8oz) caught and more than 200 weighing 2kg or more.
So why is Perchzilla so prolific? Jairo Gomez organises visits to the man-made venue and says that the excellent water quality and availability of natural food helps fish reach great sizes.
What’s more, the venue bosses are welcoming UK anglers with open arms.
“The lake is located in a valley between mountains. Usually the air currents are high so the oxygen levels are very favourable. We also have a lot of American signal crayfish and small fish, which the perch eat,” says Jario.
“The water is fit for human consumption. In the depths of the lake there are five sunken villages with houses, bridges, roads and mills. All these structures serve as shelters for predatory fish.
“The average perch from January to April was 52cm and 2.5kg. None of our new customers have gone home without smashing their previous record!
“If we get a perch of 2.3kg we don’t usually weigh it!” continued Jairo. Fishing on this amazing water is restricted to one small group at a time, and a professional local guide is always on hand.
Full packages are available, including accommodation, airport transfers, meals delivered, licences and documentation. You can even hire a Go Pro camera to film your day’s fishing trip.
For more information see the website www.perchzilla.com
Roach project goes national
groundbreaking project to help boost roach numbers in one of our most famous rivers is 10 years old this week.
And now the founders of the phenomenally-successful Avon Roach Project are offering to help the species thrive elsewhere.
Many clubs and associations have the ARP to thank for boosting the roach population in the Hampshire Avon. The project assists native Avon roach to become self-sustaining, and has reintroduced tens of thousands of healthy fish since it began.
ARP founder Trevor Harrop said that other clubs’ keenness to get involved represents a giant step forward for roach fishing, raising the conservation profile of the species and securing the future of our sport.
“Roach fishing on the middle Avon was in massive decline, but now it’s a different story. It’s down to 10 years of hard work from everyone involved,” said Trevor.
“But this is now about much more than the River Avon.
“There’s now a Kennet Roach Project in operation and I’ve had conversations and offered advice to clubs and associations that control stretches of the Rivers Wensum, Severn, Warwickshire Avon, Suffolk Stour and Axe.
“We want to help as many people as we can boost, healthy, native roach stocks.”
Back to the River Avon, and roach populations haven’t been in a better place for decades. Not only has there been a resurgence in numbers of small fish, but individuals have now been caught to over 2lb.
This is testament to a project that’s been hailed as one of the most successful of its kind.
“You can now walk over bridges on the Avon at places like Ibsley and see huge shoals of fish in areas that were all but devoid of fish 10 years ago,” Trevor continued.
“Anglers stopped fishing for roach on certain stretches, but they are now catching up to 50 fish in an afternoon in these same spots and 2lb roach have been caught right where we made
our first AVP reintroduction of 3ins-5ins roach all those years ago.
“Sometimes angling is very good at shooting itself in the foot and taking without giving much back, but it’s projects like this that help give something back to the sport and our river environments.
“It’s our duty to safeguard our native fish, and I’m delighted and honoured that we’ve been able to make a difference to the point where others want to replicate what we’ve achieved.”
The Big One is getting BIGGER
TICKET PRICES
One day adult – £12 in advance or £13 on the door.
One day concessionary* – £8 in advance or £9 on the door.
Half-day ticket (entry after 1pm) £7.
Two-day adult – £18.
Under 12 years old – free.
*Concessionary tickets apply to over-65s, 12-15-year-olds and blue badge holders.
VIP AND SUPER VIP TICKETS
A limited number of VIP tickets are available in advance, priced at £40. They entitle you to priority parking, two-day entry, food vouchers and a bucket of branded products (choose from match, coarse, carp or sea). Super VIP tickets include all of the above plus overnight accommodation for two at the hotel used by most of the exhibitors and celebrities, plus an evening meal and breakfast. Prices start from £150, available by telephone only.
ENTRY
Entry for advanced ticket holders is 8.30am both days. Pay-on-the-door tickets will be around 30 minutes later. The event closes at 5.30pm (Saturday) and 4.30pm (Sunday).
he UK’s biggest fishing show is breaking all records in the lead up to what organisers promise will be the biggest and best ever.
We can reveal that ticket sales for The Big One are 25 per cent up compared to this time last year for the two-day extravaganza that takes place on Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25.
The show saw 21,000 visitors through the doors last year and it’s this growing popularity that has now seen it move to a permanent new indoor site at Farnborough Exhibition Centre.
Visitors will be able to test baits in tanks, book fishing holidays, join clubs and check out new fishing books and DVDs.
There will be a new section dedicated to lure angling, which will focus on boat and kayak anglers. There will also be much more for sea anglers than ever before.
In addition, visitors will be able to get their hands on the latest tackle and meet and learn from the stars in two huge theatres that will stage talks and demonstrations. In addition, there will also be many new elements to its already hugely popular format.
“There’s always a big buzz around the show, but this year is something else,” said Vince Davies, of Fishface Promotions.
“I think the new venue is causing loads of excitement, as not only are ticket sales 25 per cent up on last year, but we are also selling more two-day tickets than ever before. This shows that anglers realise that there’s just too much to see and experience in just one day.
“The fact that we will also have lots more for lure, boat and sea anglers will make this the most all-rounded show we’ve ever put on.”
Manufacturers already booked include Korda, Daiwa, Nash, Preston Innovations, Korum, Avid, Fox, Matrix and Maver.
More new and exciting features are being added to the show all the time – Angling Times will bring you exclusive updates as soon as they are announced.
25 years of Drennan Q&A
When tackle company Drennan agreed to sponsor the England match team 25 years ago, neither party could have imagined what a successful partnership the deal would grow into in terms of medals won and the development of a worldwide angling brand.
In that quarter of a century, Drennan Team England has enjoyed unparalleled success at the World Championships with eight gold medals, five silvers and three bronzes, while nine individual champions were crowned – including Alan Scotthorne’s historic five wins and the third and fourth of Bob Nudd’s four titles.
England is now the number one match fishing nation in the world rankings and still the team that everyone else watches in practice to see what they’re doing.
The likes of Alan and William Raison attract massed ranks of spectators eager to pick up tips from these global fishing stars. In fact, from the 25 years of World Championships that Drennan Team England has fished, the team has finished outside the top five only three times!
None of this would be possible without the backing of Drennan International, who have pumped thousands of pounds into supporting the team on their adventures around Europe.
While the squad and its management may have changed, there’s been one man at the helm overseeing their rise and actually attending on the bank each year to urge them on – Peter Drennan himself.
So, with the Drennan and England partnership celebrating 25 years, who better to ask about the origins of this long-standing sponsorship than the man himself?
Q: Peter, why did you get involved with England in the first place?
A: Well, 25 years ago – back in 1993 – the England Team had only been getting some low-key sponsorship from the now defunct Steade Fast tackle company, who were no longer going to continue their support.
Determined to give his team every chance of competing at the highest level, manager Dick Clegg was seeking a new and better level of sponsorship, and together with the sport’s old governing body, the NFA, they approached us.
Q: What are the benefits of the deal for Drennan?
A: I can’t say it has been a lucrative process for us as tackle manufacturers, but we are proud of the association, we have friends in the squad, and are fervent fans, so sponsorship will hopefully continue for many, many years to come.
Q: How did it happen? Was there a chance discussion or was it something you put on the table?
A: I was mates with several of the regular team members and, as a tackle company, we liked the idea of getting involved.
I think we have been good, long-term sponsors, keeping very much at arm’s length and not interfering with administration or team selection!
Importantly, we recognise that individual stars on the team have their own sponsorship deals and have never sought to influence individual tackle selection in any way.
Q: Down the years, what’s the best venue you’ve been to?
A: For me, the best venue and performance has always been the River Seine in the centre of Paris in 2001 – not for the fishing itself but for the wonderful location and the crowds, when England beat the French in their own back yard!
Q: And the worst?
A: For the worst venue there are one or two candidates, but despite the great result for England, Holme Pierrepont is right up there, as there was hardly a fish to be caught.
It should have been a showcase for what we can offer, but it was a bit of an embarrassment and I felt bad for anglers who had come so far to catch so little.
Q: England have been hugely successful in these 25 years – how do you see the future panning out for the team?
A: For the first 15 years or so of our association, England were only really competing against a maximum of four or five other teams, principally Italy, France and Belgium – the rest were not in the same league at that point in time. All that has now changed and numerous nations, particularly Eastern Europeans, have come right up to speed.
Fortunately, the team has never been stronger than it is today, and in joining Mark Downes, Steve Sanders has bought all his Dorking captaincy knowledge to the management team. So, quite rightly, England are still rated as No1 in the world – a remarkable indicator of just how adaptable and versatile they are fishing all those very different continental waters and doing so under CIPS rules, which are so seldom applied in the UK.
Q: Name your dream team of six anglers that have fished since 1993.
A: I have been asked many times to name my best-ever team, and because methods and techniques continue to evolve, it is difficult to depart too far from the sophistication of today’s squad.
One other characteristic has to be considered in my selection process – the ability to win big events consistently. This is difficult to define but it’s easy to see the results, so Bob Nudd, with four individual wins and Alan Scotthorne, with five, have to be in my best-ever team.
Currently, William Raison is probably the first name on the team sheet and it’s equally difficult to leave out Des Shipp. From earlier years, I’m going to bring Kevin Ashurst and Steve Gardener into my six-man squad. This leaves out many great anglers – so my apologies to those I haven’t mentioned here.
Fisheries start stocking for the new year
Some of the best commercial fisheries in the country are introducing tonnes of fish in a bid to boost their stocks and make this one of the best-ever winters for big catches.
Bradshaw Hall Fisheries in Lancashire, Gold Valley Lakes in Hampshire and Lincolnshire’s Westwood Lakes are just three of the venues that have introduced thousands of pounds’ worth of F1s, carp and mixed silver fish species over the past four weeks.
Partridge Lakes fishery manager Barbara Ikin reckons that anglers’ demands have had a vital influence on the rising number of fish stockings taking place at the Cheshire venue.
“Our anglers want to be the first to catch the new fish going into the lakes and are always enquiring about the next stocking,” she told Angling Times.
“The main bulk of our stockings are strains of F1 carp known as ‘ghosts’ and ‘blondes’ as we’ve found they feed really well in cold conditions when other species tend to switch off,” Barbara added.
“So far this winter we’ve introduced 600lb into the Pine Canal, 300lb into the Spey Canal, 300lb across Willow and Piper Lakes as well as 150lb into Ribbon – we’ve even had anglers queuing up on Holbar Lake to catch two 20lb carp that we’d only just stocked in there.”
The news has been welcomed by many of the sport’s top match anglers who fish commerials throughout the winter.
One of those is MAP and Dynamite Baits-backed Andy May, who is applauding fisheries for their initiative and encouraging anglers to get out there.
“It’s easy to see why F1s are so popular as they provide bites throughout the year, no matter what the weather is like,” he said.
“Almost all the fisheries where I coach have a big head of them, in fact you could almost say F1s have been the saving of winter angling.
“Their willingness to feed means a lot more people are fishing all year round.
“The new stockings at fisheries throughout the UK will keep people on the bank, and that can only be a good thing for angling as a whole.”
The demand for extra stock has meant fisheries have had to ramp up their orders from fish farms across the country.
As a result these farms have been working around the clock to ensure orders are met – but some argue that practical fish management should be considered at this time of year.
Andrew Ellis, owner of AE Fisheries on the Warwickshire-Gloucestershire border, said: “We’re working with fisheries every day through the winter, so we get to see what’s happening on a national scale.
“This is a very busy period, as it’s when most fish farmers start their harvest.
“Cold water holds more oxygen, which means fish are less stressed and easier to transport, as they are not full of food or in spawn.
“On the other hand, fisheries still need to make sure they’re ordering just the right amount of fish – overstocking can lead to the malnutrition of individual fish in the long run.
“You don’t need half the stock many believe to make possible sustainable match weights and maintain good general fish catches in the winter.”
To find out more about fishery management practices and restocking your water responsibly, contact Andrew Ellis at: www.aefisheries.co.uk
Hayfield Lakes to host the 2018 Fish O' Mania final
Fish‘O’Mania XXV will move to Hayfield Lakes in Doncaster on Saturday, July 14 2018.
As revealed in Angling Times several weeks ago, the Maver and Dynamite-backed venue has long been the front runner to host the event, which had been at Cudmore Fishery in Staffordshire since 2008.
The annual ‘FA Cup of Fishing’ was staged at Hayfield on 11 consecutive occasions from 1997 and will return to Yorkshire this summer with a field of 24 anglers, comprising 22 UK qualifiers and two international qualifiers.
Fish‘O’Mania will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2018 with anglers competing for the £50,000 winner’s cheque on the Island Lake at Hayfield. The Ladies and Junior tournaments will also be staged on Saturday, July 14 at Hayfield Lakes.
Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled that Fish‘O’Mania will return to Hayfield Lakes in 2018. Fish‘O’Mania is 25 this year and, along with the team at Hayfield Lakes and our colleagues at Sky Sports, we’re determined to make this the best Fish‘O’ yet.
“Any match angler out there can enter the qualifiers and win through for a chance of landing the £50,000 first prize at the Grand Final in July. Fish‘O’Mania is one of the highlights of the summer and I’m excited to see who will peg it up at Hayfield Lakes in the simmer.
Robin Goforth, Chief Executive of Hayfield Lakes said: “We will work tirelessly to create an unmissable live event for the participating anglers, spectators in attendance and viewers live on Sky Sports.”
Competitions Development Manager James Lewis added: “It’s great to see the continued evolution of Fish‘O’Mania and with the return to Hayfield as the final venue, there’s sure to be an awesome competition for all the finalists.
“We’ve listened to the feedback from anglers last year and have made several changes to qualifier dates, locations and pegging in order to make the matches as fair and competitive as possible."
Details of the 22 UK qualifying matches will be released shortly. Spectator entry will be free of charge for the Grand Final at Hayfield Lakes, with tickets for free admission to be available from spring 2018 at www.fishomania.net. A car parking charge of £5 per vehicle will apply.
Enter the Angling Times/Bait-Tech Supercup here
Angling Times/Bait-Tech Supercup 2018
Britain’s biggest and best club team fishing event now enters its 19th year and is open to all clubs, fishery, tackle shop and match group sides.
The event works on a simple knockout system for local sides, culminating in big semi-finals and the final this summer, when one name will go on the famous trophy.
The opening two rounds are fished through spring and early summer with teams drawn out of a hat to decide each tie. These six-a-side matches are to be fished on dates set by Angling Times below on venues of the home-drawn side’s choice. Win through these two matches and you’re in the regional semi-final and if you finish in the top five of that special match the final beckons.
Teams must be registered to the Angling Times/Bait-Tech scheme – if you’re not, it’s free and only takes a phone call to 01733 395109. Once you’re in, send the entry form (below) to the Angling Times address on the form along with your entry fee and squad sheet of anglers wanting to fish – a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20.
All entries MUST be received by Tuesday, February 13 to go into the draw for the first round, which will be published in the Tuesday, February 27 issue of Angling Times. A full list of rules is available online at www.anglingtimes.co.uk
All it costs to enter is £30, and this can be paid via cheque or postal order. All you’ll have to pay from then on are the pools for each match you fish.
River Monsters is back... For its very last season!
The last-ever series of River Monsters is now upon us.
To celebrate, we caught up with charismatic presenter Jeremy Wade, who’s admitted to being both excited and emotional about coming to the end of an incredible journey that’s seen him bring fishing into the homes of millions.
Q) Was it an emotional experience filming your last-ever series?
It was, because River Monsters has been a big part of my life for many years.
When a series comes to an end it’s usually because viewing figures are on their way down, but this certainly isn’t the case with this series…it’s still so strong.
But it’s run its natural course and it feels right to finish on a high. The overriding emotion is most definitely pride, and here I know I speak for everyone who’s been involved in the show.
I’m still amazed that it’s been going for as long as it has.
Q) What can viewers expect from the final series?
It’s full of incredible fish stories and some of the most stunning venues I’ve ever visited. I catch the biggest fish of my life, which makes for amazing viewing.
Plus, I dive down in a home-made submersible to depths of around 600 metres in the episode called Killers from the Abyss.
It was only made for two people but three of us went down into the depths with it.
It took us 45 minutes to reach the bottom and I had a cameraman sitting on my knee.
Being down there on the sea bed in the pitch black, seeing what was swimming around, was both unnerving and exhilarating – you have to see it.
Q) Did you have a favourite venue?
I’ve been to Papua New Guinea before, but this time one of the shows takes me to one of its islands called New Britain.
As we all know, fishing isn’t just about catching – where you are and who you’re with is often just as important. This notion has been such a big part of River Monsters. I stayed in a village with people who dwelt on a coral island and lived from the sea. Such a simple, beautiful life… what an experience!
Q) What was the most extreme fishing you encountered?
Greenland is such an extreme and beautiful location.
At some points the temperatures plummeted to as low as minus 20 degrees, which makes any kind of fishing very difficult.
We were ice fishing at crazy depths. In fact I’ve never fished this deep before; it was as though the place was bottomless.
But, to be fair, there’s an extreme element to all the fishing in this series and that’s what makes it one of our very best.
Q) What’s been the biggest challenge while filming River Monsters?
This series has been a hit with both anglers and non-anglers alike and I’m very proud of that. For me this has been the biggest challenge.
It’s a really fine balance because there needs to be something to keep anglers engaged, whether that be a big fish, an amazing fight, or the location.
But on the other hand you can’t delve to deeply into tactics because then you lose people that don’t know the sport. I think we’ve pulled off this juggling act with every series.
Q) Where does the man who’s caught fish and visited venues that most can only dream of want to go fishing next?
I love fishing in the UK. There’s a small stream close to my house that holds some lovely brown trout, and I always really enjoy that particular challenge.
I’ve never done much barbel fishing but I visited the River Wye earlier this year for some filming – not for River Monsters – and was mesmerised by the river. That’s a box I’m going to have to tick.
A good friend of mine who I speak to a great deal on the phone about fishing has also got me really fired up about catching some big carp in the UK. There’s so much I want to achieve on home soil.
Q) So what’s next for Jeremy Wade?
Unfortunately, I have to keep my lips sealed for what I’ve got in the pipeline, but I can say that there is definitely life after River Monsters!
Trent barbel study needs your help!
Anglers are being called on to target barbel in the Trent and help with a ground-breaking study to make the nation’s favourite river even better.
The Trent is regarded as arguably the finest big-barbel water in the UK – not just for the size of fish that have been caught to over 19lb, but also the numbers of double-figure specimens that are spread throughout the whole river.
Now, in a bid to find out more about the stocks and ensure the barbel within the river continue to thrive, the Environment Agency has called for anglers’ help.
It wants them to collect vital information from the capture of adult barbel and chub with the help of a free scale-removing kit.
Each kit contains a cloth tape measure, tweezers, a detailed questionnaire, scale packets and instructions of how to remove a scale safely and without harming the fish.
The East Midlands Area Fisheries team is calling for Trent visitors to use this to not only record fish lengths and other information, but also to harvest scales which will allow the fish health and ageing team to investigate the population’s age, growth, length structures and year class strength.
Scale analysis can also reveal important information about diet and genetics.
“Our surveys suggest that the fish populations in the River Trent are doing well and reports of anglers’ catches support this,” said Karen Twine, who’s running the project with Ryan Taylor.
“We do, however, know that large lowland rivers like the Trent are notoriously difficult to survey and all applied survey techniques have their limitations.
“It is for this reason that we are hoping to adopt a complementary approach to assess two species of high angler interest – barbel and chub – with the aim to increase our understanding of the current population and ensure that the present success continues.
“We know Trent barbel and chub are ‘recruiting’, but we are working with Hull International Fisheries Institute to get an accurate measure using an 18-year data set from fry netting surveys along the Trent.”
The current study is focused on the lower Trent, from Sawley to the tidal section.
The project has an initial aim to collect as much information on both species as possible until the end of the season.
“It is very important that the information provided is truthful and the questionnaire in the free pack is filled out any time they go fishing – even if they don’t catch anything,” Karen said.
“We can also arrange events for those volunteering, where we can demonstrate how to measure and take a scale sample without hurting the fish, so that volunteers can feel more confident in supporting the project.
“A detailed report will follow the research and, to keep everyone engaged and assess our success, we will begin producing an interim report in the New Year to share the results with all involved anglers and angling clubs/societies.
“We are hoping to extend the project to the Soar and Derwent, as well as continue into the upper Trent working with West Midlands teams in the near future,” said Karen.
“We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank those anglers who have already provided us with their catch data, and got the project off the ground,” she added.
Trent expert and barbel fishing fanatic Alfie Naylor, who lives in Nottinghamshire, has one of the Environment Agency kits and is urging other anglers to take part in the research.
“I think this is a fantastic idea and I’ll be using my kit for sure,” he said.
“Lots of anglers like myself are getting so much enjoyment from the huge numbers of big barbel and chub in this river, so it’s only right that we do our best to help put something back.”
Whats in the kit?
each scale-removing kit contains a cloth tape measure, tweezers, a detailed questionnaire, instructions of how to remove a scale safely and addressed envelopes for sending the scale. The scales are sent to the EA’s national fish laboratory for analysis under a lowlight microscope which allows each fish to be aged.
For more information, email Karen Twine on: karen.twine@environment-agency.gov.uk
The 10 best coarse fish caught by anglers in 2017
For most of us, catching a 5lb perch, 4lb roach, 19lb barbel, 20lb bream, 40lb pike or 13lb tench is the stuff of dreams.
But for a tiny band of anglers those dreams became a reality in 2017. Here's our pick of the best specimen coarse fish landed over the past 12 months...
An epic 20lb 7oz bream for Gary Knowles, his first in four years fishing a North West mere. A 21lb 6oz bream for Robert Machin also came from the same area.
One of the biggest barbel of 2017 was Craig Lander's 18lb 14oz monster, from where else but the River Trent!
Scotland's Loch Lomond showed it still has the potential to throw up the pike of a lifetime as it did for Andrew Carson, at 40lb 5oz.
Two casts at a Cotswolds gravel pit produced perch of 5lb 2oz and 5lb 1oz in April for Dan Gale. Now that's what you call a brace!
You're looking at 4lb 3oz of roach, just 1oz under the British record. Ken Fuller was the angler and the venue was a Norfolk lake.
Check out the colours on this super 13lb 2oz tench. Rob Batters was all smiles after his capture on a Kent gravel pit.
A mega chub of 8lb 2oz from the Hampshire Avon for Paul Allen, who sat and watched it take his bait.
An absolutely perfect example of a roach in Matt Jackson's 3lb 5oz 8r specimen. A Southern chalk stream was the venue.
Eight nights on a Middlesex syndicate water gave Mark Salt an 8lb 2oz eel, by design. It fell to a bunch of lobworms.
The River Thames record barbel went in November with this massive 19lb 1oz fish. Gary Teer had only been fishing half an hour when he had the take.
BAIT-TECH SUPERCUP 2018 - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO FISH THIS YEAR'S EVENT!
Angling Times/Bait-Tech Supercup 2018 rules
1 – How to enter
Each club must enter a squad of anglers into the event. Along with an entry form and the £30 entrance fee, each secretary or captain must supply a squad list of anglers (minimum 10 anglers, maximum 20 anglers) that will be used to fish the competition.
2 – Squads
Squad names can be changed only with the permission of Angling Times. Should any team wish to make a change at any point in the competition, they must submit written notification to Angling Times BY POST ONLY – NOT BY TELEPHONE. Please note that teams will be allowed to request their opposition’s team sheets before the match. Should the team on the day not match that on the submitted teamsheet AND Angling Times has not been notified of any changes made then the team in question will be disqualified immediately.
3 – Sponsorship.
With more anglers turning their back on the open match scene and settling into the club scene, the standard of angler fishing Supercup has increased somewhat. With this in mind, our sponsored angler policy is as follows:
Teams:
Any team with sponsorship from a tackle or bait company will not be allowed to fish, even if this ‘deal’ means a few bags of bait or clothing. Shops fishing under a tackle shop or fishery banner are permitted. If a club is deemed to be the above, that side will be refused entry.
Individuals:
Any angler with a consultancy or sponsorship from a tackle or bait company will not be allowed to fish, even if this ‘deal’ means a few bags of bait or clothing or a few floats. This also includes field testers. Anglers of a high profile will also be barred from entering as Supercup is not the event aimed at them.
Angling Times and Bait-Tech only will judge what ‘high profile’ means and captains will be informed of any changes that need making to their teams. If a team does fish an angler deemed to be either of the above, that side will be disqualified immediately, not just the angler.
4 – Sponsorship mid-competition
If a team has one of their registered members join a sponsored team or gain personal sponsorship from tackle or bait companies during the 2018 campaign, then they will not be allowed to take any further part in the competition. They will also not be allowed to take part any further in the future of the event until their sponsorship ends, even if they are a valid team member. If an individual has sponsorship through being employed full time by a tackle or bait company (not sponsored), then this acceptable.
5 – Non-transferable anglers
Teams can enter as many squads as they like, but if fishing two sides, they must supply two separate squad lists with two different sets of anglers. These respective squad members will be non-transferable between the two squads whether they have fished or not.
6 – Cup tied
Likewise, an angler who fishes for one team in the competition, cannot then transfer to another that he/she is a member of – this angler will in effect be ‘cup tied’ and unable to take part further in the event for any side.
7 – Ties
The number of rounds to be fished will depend upon the number of teams that enter in each area with the format being two knockout rounds, one Semi-Final in your own region, and the final.
Round one will be a knockout between two or three teams, depending on the draw and the number of teams entered in your local area.
Round two is a match with again two or occasionally three teams competing, again with one team drawn as the home side as before, the other team coming from the same region.
The winning team from this round goes through to their regional Semi Final, either the North, Midlands or South, the top seven from these Semis then going through to the Grand Final.
8 – The draw
The draw details for each round will be fair and independent and the first round draw will be published in Angling Times in Tuesday February 27 2018.
All home-drawn teams will be instructed on who to contact from their rival team or teams and, at each side’s request, all sides will be expected to supply their squad list to the other team involved in the match.
9 – Venue selection
Home-drawn teams will have the choice of venue for the fixture ONLY. These venues must be large enough to comfortably accommodate the match and give every angler and equal chance to fish every method at their disposal.
10 – Match dates
The date for ALL first round Supercup ties will be the weekend of Saturday April 14 and Sunday April 15 2018. These are the ONLY dates matches can be fished unless of cancellations owing to severe weather, in which case an extension will be granted. It is expected that teams will decide amongst themselves which day their tie is to be fished. Second round matches are to be fished on the weekend of Saturday June 16 and Sunday June 17 2018 and the same protocol is to be followed.
If a team has a prior booking that clashes with these dates, then they must decide between fishing the Supercup of forfeiting their place in the event to honour their original commitment.
11 – Locality
If you enter Supercup and are drawn as a home team then your chosen venue is expected to be within easy travelling distance for all teams concerned – not the other side of London or three counties away!
12 – Practice dates
The home side should also allow the away team to practice twice on the fishery chosen for the match and must designate the pegs or rough area of the venue to be used, whether it is a club or privately owned water. If these pegs change, all parties MUST be informed. These practice dates must be weekend dates and not midweek.
13 – Fishery rules.
Fishery rules will apply, whether a commercial or club water. Home teams are expected to make their opposition fully aware of these rules to avoid confusion on the day. The home team will have no power to dictate fishery rules unless they own the venue in question.
14 – Number of anglers.
All first and second round Supercup ties will be SIX A SIDE.
15 – Scoring.
ALL Supercup matches will be decided on section points, NOT weight. Sections will contain one angler from each competing team, so will be made up of two or three anglers and will be decided as follows in a tie of three teams:
One point for a section win
Two points for section second
Three points for a section third
In the event of a blank, the angler in question will receive one more point than the last in section score. So, in a two team tie, a blank will score three points. If there is a tie on weight, both anglers will receive the points score for that position, not half points.
In the event of a tie on points overall, section countback will be used to decide the winners – for example, the team with more section wins or seconds will triumph. If there is still a tie after this then aggregate weight will come into play.
16 – Length of match.
All Supercup matches will be five hours long.
17 - Placing of anglers
NO TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED TO PLACE ANGLERS UNLESS MORE THAN ONE LAKE IS IN USE
18 – Severe weather
In the event of cancellation due to severe weather conditions, matches will be granted an extension for the tie to be fished. ONLY severe weather conditions will permit this, not any other reason.
19 – Semi finals
The three Semi finals are to be held at venues to be announced and at this stage, teams will be restricted to teams of SIX anglers to allow us to fit the matches in on these waters. The winners will be judged on section points.
20 – The final say
The adjudication of Angling Times and Bait-Tech on any matter relating to the competition will be final and absolutely no correspondence will be entered into.
Exclusive Mick Brown interview
There can be few anglers across the UK and beyond who have not heard of Mick Brown. ‘The Duke’, as he became known through his TV work with Matt Hayes, might not be fishing as intensely as he used to, but there is still plenty of unfinished business.
This week, to celebrate the release of his new book ‘Born to Fish’, Mick speaks exclusively to Angling Times....
Q. Mick, can you explain what Born to Fish is all about?
A. I decided to write it when I realised my active fishing days were behind me and I wanted to record the best of them in print.
It covers some great stories taken from every era, starting in the beginning at the Birmingham park lakes and Midlands rivers, through my specimen hunting days, travelling far and wide, and finally my television work. There are lots of photos, many not seen before, recording my life from a young lad to an old age pensioner!
Q. You’re largely recognised as a pike angler but it’s clear from the book you’ve fished for a great many species over the years. How has your angling career progressed?
A. My fascination with pike clearly runs through the book, but it will become obvious that I’m an obsessive person with a passion for many other species. As a young man, I just wanted to catch anything and everything, particularly carp, which were quite rare in the UK in those days.
Eventually the big-fish bug bit and expanded my horizons in terms of what was possible with a more thoughtful approach, which led me to target fish of a size I once only dreamt was possible.
Q. You’ve been fishing for more than 50 years. What changes have you seen in that time?
A. The chapters in Born to Fish are based upon works written throughout my career. I have tried to keep each one faithful to the time it was originally conceived.
Above all, I have seen angling move dramatically away from the innocent pastime that it was, into something much more focused and competitive.
I’m not saying this is a bad thing but I can’t help thinking that the end result nowadays far outweighs the adventure and excitement in achieving it.
Q. If you could go back to any era, and any venue, which would it be?
A. It’s clear to me that we have now made angling success into an easily-bought commodity.
But then again, why not? As in many other aspects of life, we have taken the heartache and drudgery out of it, and with a little research on venues and a swift visit to the local tackle shop the result you are seeking is there if you spend enough time at the water. I cannot be critical of this in any way, as millions of anglers thoroughly enjoy themselves.
I guess only people as old as me will understand when I say that the magic of the unknown, whether watching a float against the reeds on the far bank of a canal, or stalking something that was moving under your rod-tip using a piece of crust, provides an electricity that cannot be equalled by watching three rods on self-hooking rigs, often with the knowledge that a known fish will be the end result.
Q. Fishing has taken you all around the world – has there been a favourite destination?
A. Without a doubt, it was my first visit to the Baltic Sea. It was a place I had read about for years, mainly in the old Abu catalogues from the 1960s and 1970s. It was inconceivable to me that pike could be caught in the sea, and it wasn’t until the early 1990s that I found the means to get across there to find out. It was everything I’d expected and more.
Q. Many anglers will be familiar with your TV appearances alongside Matt Hayes – can you explain how that came about?
A. It seemed that Matt and I were destined to become an angling duo.
Fate brought us together on a cold winter morning at Ringstead Grange trout fishery, which was holding a pike fishing event. Neither of us had a boat partner so we decided to share. Idle chatter about fishing led to banter and the realisation that we shared common interests and values.
Q. Are there any angling challenges left for you?
A. They all relate to unfinished business. I know of a swim that holds huge zander, and I do catch one from time to time, but they are so difficult to tempt – I am sure I have not had the biggest.
Then there’s a venue that I have never been able to crack for a big pike, and yet I have found several upper 30-pounders dead after spawning.
Just when I think there are no big fish in there I find another one.
There is a lake that has amazing eel fishing potential that I’m trying to get back on to, and there are some monster stillwater chub I would like to catch.
World Lure Champs set to hit the UK
The World Lure Championships is coming to UK shores.
The Angling Trust has announced that the 11th FIPS-ed Carnivorous Artificial Bait Boat Angling Championships 2018 will be staged at the famous Rutland Water from Thursday, October 11th to Sunday, October 14.
It’s expected that as many as 20 nations could compete in the prestigious competition that’s heading to the British Isles for the second time in three years following the successful 2016 event held in Ireland.
- For more details and information on the event, visit www.anglingtrust.net.