Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 3640 i Angling Times

WHEN you follow the exploits of some of the sport’s top anglers, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it was all plain sailing for them, with a regular supply of big fish gracing their nets. But, just like the rest of us, most of them have a ‘one that got away’ tale that still haunts them. While reading these tales (page 14), I couldn’t help but think of my own ‘missed opportunities’. The first occurred on only the second time my grandad had taken me fishing. We were catching silvers at a local farm pond when I hooked into a carp. I can still remember playing it for ages on the light waggler rod I was using and how, as we got it within a few inches of the net,…

RICKY TEALE, pioneering innovator of the tackle trade and respected match angler, died unexpectedly on Saturday 23 September at the age of 57 following a heart attack. Instrumental in the rise of Preston Innovations, Ricky was the brains behind Offbox, the first range of accessories to fit any seatbox leg design, before adding to the company’s portfolio by setting up Korum and helping to launch Avid Carp and SonuBaits. Later Ricky founded Fox Match, now known as Matrix, before moving to Daiwa as European Sales Director. Hailed as ‘the most important and innovative person in the fishing tackle trade since Peter Drennan’ by close friend and follow industry stalwart Paul Boothby, Ricky will be sorely missed by the industry and fellow anglers alike. SHOCK PASSING OF INSTRUMENTAL INNOVATOR…

SEND YOUR PICS AND LETTERS TO: ATLETTERS@BAUERMEDIA.CO.UK CAN’T BEAT THE THRILL OF LURE FISHING I’M AN all rounder, happy to fish the float, the feeder, the lure or the fly, so I really enjoy Dom Garnett’s page each week. It was particularly nice to read about how we fish and the methods – not always the most productive – that we choose to deploy (August 29 issue). I have been doing a fair amount of summer pike fishing this year on my local river (well, stream). I know live or dead baits would probably produce more fish but I love dropping my plastic lure into the most inaccessible spots and feeling the tug of a decent river pike. Keep up the great work but please, please can we…

I’m struggling to catch short on the pole. Any tips would be brilliant! John Anderson, Rugby THE short line, also called the ‘5m line’, is a great place to fish for carp at this time of year and when used with hard pellets, it’s a method that wins a lot of matches. I always think it’s a very safe way of fishing too, because you’re using a bait that will always catch fish and, as a consequence, it will never be ‘wrong’ as a method. FIND THE ‘FLATS’... Let’s break the method down. Firstly, where to fish – the answer is not always at 5m! Every venue is different but as a guide I like to fish on a flat bottom as opposed to a slope, which can cause problems…

THE VOICE OF MATCH FISHING Preston Innovations Feedermasters Final (Sat & Sun) Tamar Lakes (60 pegs) THERE’S no stopping Lee Kerry when it comes to this event, the England feeder man reeling off his third Feedermasters triumph after a great two days of action at south-west silverfish Mecca, Tamar Lakes! Preston Innovations-backed Lee added a third trophy to sit alongside those from his 2019 and 2021 wins, plus the small matter of £15,000 to his bank balance, but it’s the title and being able to say he’s the first man to have won the event three times that will mean the most, especially after fishing in such exalted company. Lining up alongside event co-founder Lee were the great and good of UK feeder fishing, including former Feedermasters winners, household names,…

THIS WEEKEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM THE WORLD OF FISHING THE BIGGEST junior match since the turn of the century has just taken place, with 330 hopefuls lining the banks for this year’s National Celebration of Young People and Fishing. Participants between the ages of seven and 20 battled it out on the Shropshire Union Canal, with a wide range of skillsets on display. Some had just mastered the basics of fishing after a handful of taster sessions, while others were at the top of their game, such as Joshua Duffy, who’s just been crowned the Under 20s World Champion. “It was a fantastic day, and truly a celebration of the growing junior fishing scene in the UK,” said John Ellis, National Fisheries and Angling Manager for the Canal…

AT THIS year’s Division 2 National, Maurice Mobbs became the oldest angler ever to compete in the event.. at an impressive 92 years young! He wrestles the record from Donald Pearson, from West Yorkshire, who fished his last National at the age of 88. Maurice fished his first National in 1973 for Cambridge Fish Preservation and is showing no signs of slowing up. In fact, he’s planning on attending again next year with his son, Steve, not only to set a new record, but to lay claim to another accolade. “We hope to become the oldest father and son duo ever to compete in a National,” Steve (68), told us. “It’d be great to see dad set another record!” This year’s event also saw the youngest-ever female participant,…

TROTTED CASTER TEMPTS IMPRESSIVE RIVER ROACH SPECIMEN river roach can be hard to locate, but after travelling from his Hertfordshire home to the River Frome, John Trimmer’s efforts paid off with this fine 2lb 15oz redfin. Kicking off with a breadflake hookbait after feeding a ball of liquidised crumb mixed with hemp, John had little response initially, before a switch to caster brought a surprise 13oz dace. After introducing another small ball of feed, he saw a big fish roll just under his feet. Pulling his float back gently over the spot, it soon buried, and John hooked a fish that gave a short but dogged fight. After landing his prize, John admitted that his legs were shaking when his scales hit 2lb 15oz! PB PERCH FALLS AS LIGHT FADES…

CANAL CARP IS WELL WORTH THE WAIT! BILLY Johnson proved that good things often come to those who wait when he caught this 15lb mirror carp from the Trent and Mersey Canal. The 12-year-old had seen it regularly in a stretch at Sandbach, Cheshire, and had been trying to catch it for almost a year. His patience was finally rewarded when he found his target fish cruising near the surface recently. A piece of floating bread was all that was needed to tempt the fine mirror, which gave a great account of itself before Billy was finally able to slip his net under it. Great angling young man! SEND IN YOUR PICTURES Email us your child’s details, including their name, the weight of the fish, where and how they caught…

Honest advice to help you to catch more fish on every trip, without breaking the bank. HAS LURE fishing become a victim of its own success? This is something I often wonder while browsing the racks of gaudy artificial baits in tackle shops. If I were starting out today, how could I possibly choose the right lures from all those available? Yet, the reality is, I fish with a few highly successful lure anglers, both from the big fish and competition scenes and, interestingly, they tend to carry just a few different lure patterns that have been matched to the venues they fish. Similarly, I often find myself using just one or two types of lure for the whole day, which might seem counterproductive. Let me explain. At the start…

IT’S PERHAPS not their names on the big trophies every year, but behind every one of our biggest match final winners you’ll find a faithful bank runner. Ever observant and switched on, there are good reasons why it has become almost unthinkable for the most successful match anglers not to have one. Helping to diffuse pressure and execute plans, they can be the ‘difference makers’ in tightly fought contests. Putting another angler first can mean it’s not a role for everyone, it must be said. But if you’re willing to put your own glory second for a big day out, it can be rewarding in more ways than one. So what is being a top bank runner all about? IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL “Above all, it’s doing those little…

THERE are many things to get right if you want to catch well on the pole, from correct feeding and using the right rigs through to deciding where to put your lines in, but none of this matters if you don’t get the basics right, and that begins with plumbing up. For some, this is just a quick 30-second job, but I always devote 10 minutes or so to thoroughly searching my swim. It’s time well spent and what I find out will go a long way to deciding where I do and don’t end up fishing. Even though most commercial fisheries have a fairly uniform depth and flat bottom, there will be variations as, over time, erosion from wind and feeding fish results in deeper holes and shallower spots.…

GURU GENERIC TOP KITS WHAT THEY SAY: Introducing a brand-new range of Generic Top Kits to the Guru pole fishing family! Designed to fit all Guru poles, there are three top kits in the range – 3.5mm, 4.7mm and 5.8mm – along with a Cupping Kit which is the same length as the top kits once a Rapid Release Cup has been glued into place. The kits are made of Zero 400 Carbon, which offers the perfect balance of strength, stiffness, and lightweight performance, come pre-bushed, and have a reinforced carbon wrap where side bushes can be fitted. WHAT WE SAY: These are the same top kits that come with the A-Class poles but also make cheap additions for your Aventus, should you want an extra for the short line…

■ Local know-how for bumper nets■ Your tried & tested top waters■ Expert venue tactics HAYFIELD LAKES, DONCASTER, SOUTH YORKS Adam’s Lake is a great bet for a mixture of species. Fish maggots on a top kit and catch everything from big skimmers to perch. Contact: 01302 864 555 LINDHOLME LAKES, EPWORTH, LINCOLNSHIRE The large Loco Lake is best known for its head of carp and F1s, but there are loads of silvers here. Short pole tactics with natural baits will score. Contact: 01427 875555 LANGOLD LAKE, WORKSOP, NOTTS Set in the North Nottinghamshire countryside, Langold Lake is home to roach, bream, perch, and carp to 30lb. Book fishing online before setting off. Contact: www.embryoangling.org/venue/langold-lakes BAIN VALLEY FISHERIES, LINCOLNSHIRE The seven lakes here are former old quarry pits, up to…

As the seasons change, you need to tweak your approach if you want to keep catching SEARCH THE DEEPER WATER As the temperatures start to fall, the parts of the lake that the carp feel happiest occupying will change. Carp are cold blooded creatures, so they will naturally search out the warmer water, where they feel most comfortable. Lakes lose heat from the surface downwards, which means that the shallow areas which carp loved to frequent in summer will be the first to cool down. This means that the fish will start heading towards deeper parts, where the temperatures are much more stable and which tend to retain heat into the autumn and winter. CHECK FOR CLEAR SPOTS One of the main signs that autumn is upon is the leaves…

HADRIAN’S FLAT FLOAT PERCH RIG Where on a river should I be looking to catch big perch? Dennis Parkin via e-mail A I’d try to find an area that’s on the edge of the main flow with a flat bottom. There still needs to be some pace, but perhaps only half as fast as down the middle on the river. You could target this area on float or feeder, but for me, the pole is unbeatable for precise placement of the feed and bait, and for the ability to ‘work’ the rig, lifting and dropping it to make the bait move and to spur a fish into taking it! This could be 9m out or it could be on a top kit, but generally we’re talking just over the nearside…

THE VOICE OF MATCH FISHING NOT THE BEST WEEK! Another busy seven days, with a last crack at making the Golden Reel Final and a shot at £12k in the Fish Midlands finale at Marston Fields – and sadly, neither ended in any glory! First up was Larford for the final Golden Reel qualifier. We all wanted an end peg, and I got close with one off the end of the chalet bank on the Specimen Lake. Hard pellet at 11m got me four small carp early, but when I changed to meat, it was brilliant, with about 100lb of big skimmers in the next three hours. I needed carp though, so went back to pellets and rounded off with a few lumps in the edge to win the lake…

MATCH SCENE BEFORE the draw, all eyes were on D section at Hack Green on the Shropshire Union to produce the best weights, and so it proved, as first and second played out a peg-to-peg battle in the same area that gave Alex Clegg top spot in the Individual National a few weeks earlier. Coming out on top was Bridgnorth AS man John Conway with 13-280 from peg 25, leaving Tri-Cast Rochdale rod Graham Sayner to pick up the silver medal on peg 26 with 10-040. Third place was filled by Liverpool DAA canal ace Gareth Charnock with 7-550 from H section at Shady Oak on the Trent & Mersey. John’s plan was to kick off down the track for a big fish before changing to the long pole over…

THE VOICE OF MATCH FISHING Fish Midlands Final (Sat) MAP Marston Fields Fishery, Elm Lake (15 pegs) DAVE Pimlott is no stranger to winning big-money matches, the Manchester ace having won the Fish O’Mania crown way back in 1996 – and he’s still got the knack, as demonstrated with a fine win in the first-ever Fish Midlands final. The Elm Lake at West Midlands water Marston Fields welcomed the 15 qualifiers, all doing battle for the £12,000 prize, and it was Frenzee-backed Dave who came out on top, weighing in 90-6-0 off peg 12. That denied ‘man of the moment’ Andy Bennett another big payday, as he had to settle for second place from next-door peg 14 with 79-1-0. Simon Skelton completed the top three with a weight of 65-10-0.…

LAST CAST WITH DOM IF THERE’S one thing that keeps any angler going, it’s hope. No matter how duff it is today, next time could be completely different. This is especially true in match fishing. The draw bag alone can stitch you up one week, before being your best friend the next. That feeling of hope is a constant in any local league. Even if you cover yourself in spilled bait instead of glory, there’s always next time. And in the case of my local Tivvy AC, there’s always the prospect of the cup final. The only hitch this year was that, for the first time ever, I’d not made the top places and would have to fish a qualifier to revive my hopes of silverware. This format is a…