Innholdsfortegnelse for 14th October 2015 i Angling Times

A 15-YEAR campaign to break his perch personal best came to a stunning climax for Mike Lyddon with this fin-perfect 4lb 9oz fish from a Thames tributary. The Gardner-backed angler had lost a giant predator last year from the same waterway, so he returned for a short session to settle the score. Having located a deep hole close to an overhanging bush, he cast a float-paternostered gudgeon livebait within inches of the snag. Several jack pike were the first to come, but he was given his ultimate reward just as the light was starting to fade. Mike told Angling Times: “This is definitely the same fish I lost just under a year ago, and I am delighted to have finally banked such an incredible perch. “The moment I struck I…

THE predator season got off to a flying start at Esthwaite Water with Paul Varcoe’s 21lb 8oz fish. The predator specialist moored in a likely looking spot and it wasn’t long before his lure was hit aggressively. Several other 20lb-plus fish have also been netted this week, with venue bosses expecting the first thirty very soon now. Professional guiding and coaching is available on Esthwaite Water throughout the winter. Find out more by calling 01539 436541.…

JON Miller couldn’t stop smiling after he banked a 70lb catfish from Furnace Lakes, but a charity was the real winner, as the session raised more than £10,000 for a good cause. The giant moggie was caught during the three-day Catting for Cancer event at the Sussex complex, and at the end of proceedings the kind-hearted participants handed over a five-figure sum to Cancer Research. Organisers have revealed that the event will run again at the complex again next year. Find out more by visiting www.cattingforcancer.co.uk…

ANGLERS are being asked to help police discover who stole more than £17,000 of tackle from one of the nation’s top commercial fisheries. Thieves made off with rods, poles and boxes after they broke into a number of cars at White Acres in Cornwall during the Maver festival. Officers have now launched an investigation and are asking anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour on the evening of October 2 to come forward by calling 101 and quoting crime numbers CR/68709/15, CR/68710/15 or CR/68730/15.…

I AM a bit of a fetishist when it comes to tying knots. I have quite a wide-ranging repertoire and a pretty good idea of good and bad knots, so I’m delighted that Angling Times is using a question based on loops in this week’s Q&A feature (see page 34 ). The difference between a well-tied and badly formed loop can be massive – certainly a good loop will be up to twice as strong as a bad one, so read and learn. I use many different knots for different circumstances and there’s no doubt that my fishing abroad has helped enormously. And here’s something interesting – one of my old regular guests when I was presenting Tight Lines brought in some spools of a new brand of line…

UNFORTUNATELY I was unable to make this year’s Avon Roach Project get-together. The assembled throng raised a wonderful £6,000 for the project to continue and flourish, not only by rearing lots of ‘roachlets’ to be returned to the river in which they spawned, but to continue to co-fund the habitat improvement essential for roach, and other species, to reproduce naturally and return the river to its former glory. Yet more great news was that the ‘friendly’ competition that precedes the evening session was fished by 67 guests and was won with a roach of 1lb 7oz, the first time a redfin has triumphed. It was also the third year that roach have featured in returns, so the ARP is definitely doing something right, with over 10,000 mature fished released this…

THIS WEEK'S 2 FOR 1 WATERS 1 Angel of the North Fishery, Co Durham 2 Broom Fisheries, Scotland 3 Cheshire Fishing, Cheshire 4 Eden Meadows Fishery, Co Durham 5 Fleets Dam Fishery, S Yorks 6 Hunters Lodge Fishery, N Lincs 7 Lindholme Lakes, S Yorks 8 Castle Ashby Lakes, Northants 9 Chequered Lake Fishery, situps 10 Coppice lane Pools, Staffs 11 Celtic Lakes itesort, Wales 12 Meadowlands Fishery, Warks 13 MM RoadFishery, llodfolk 14 Springwood Fishery, Derby 15 Alderwood Ponds, W Sasser 16 Bitterwell Fishery, Glos 17 Broadlands Lakes, Hampshire 18 Bullock Farm, Somerset 19 Oakfield Fishery, Bucks 20 Puddledock Farm, Essex FISHING VOUCHER This week's venues Angel of the North Fishery • Broom Fisheries • Cheshire Fishing • Eden Meadows Fishery • Fleets Dam Fishery • Hunters Lodge Fishery • Lindholme Lakes • Castle…

THERE’S been some good fishing here despite a couple of frosts over the last few days. The drop in water temperature has resulted in fish shoaling up. Keep feeding the margins, as some good catches are still coming from close in down by your feet. Pellet and paste plus maggots are catching carp and silvers. Chopped worm and caster are great baits across all lakes in these water temperatures. 0191 4100449, Sat Nav: DH3 1RF…

NAR VALLEY LAKES, KING'S LYNN, NORFOLK Prices: £100 a year, dawn till dusk, £80 a year concessions Contact: 01553 636507 or 07900 285313 Sat Nav: PE321LH NORFOLK'S Nar Valley Lakes offer superb membership packages that won't break the bank, and there's no better time to join, as the fishing here of late has been fantastic. The Lake Geneva carp have responded to the colder weather by going onthe feed, with 20lb fish being taken from all areas of the venue. The best of these was a new fishery record of 43lb 8oz.…

THE spell between summer and winter can be a time of plenty for the pole angler – it’s not time to break the ice or feed zero just yet! Autumn is usually one last excuse for fish such as carp and bream to have a munch on stillwaters – but you’ll fail to catch them if you try to go at it all guns blazing as you might have done in the long hot days of July or August. That’s the view of top match angler Jon Arthur, who was recently crowned UK Champion for a record third time. One of the country’s top pole fishing experts, Jon gives you his top tips to keep the fish coming as the leaves turn russet red and golden. Over to you Jon……

I’VE just been having a look at river levels around the country, courtesy of the information on the excellent Environment Agency website. Even though we’re now into October, everywhere is in desperate need of some water. Levels are extremely low and all our rivers are running clear. Colder nights have resulted in sport becoming a little patchy, but in places where there are chub to be caught, the next few weeks could see some seriously big catches recorded. I’ve had recent success by fishing well off the bottom. It’s something that a lot of anglers don’t do enough of, which is a shame, as they are missing out on some really good chub sport. So how do we go about catching chub shallow and why should they come up in…

THROUGHOUT my 40 or so years of fishing, believe me there have been plenty of highs and lows. So many, in fact, that I have put many of them together in my new book ‘Scratching the Surface’. Things have certainly come a long way since those far-off summer days spent with my family on the River Thames! As my mind wanders down memory lane there are so many significant lessons that I have learnt along the way. Here are just a few of those very special moments and what they have taught me... 38 MAKE A ‘SPECIAL’ BAIT As a teenage match angler I was always messing around with different groundbait recipes to hopefully give me an edge. The first special baits that I made myself, though, were trout pellet…

LINK CLIP  This is attached to one end of a wire trace (the other has a swivel to join to the 6ft fluorocarbon leader). The trace is insurance against pike’s sharp teeth, and this arrangement is quick-change. HOOK  This needs to be a strong pattern with a wide gape, size 2/0-6/0, with either a micro-barb or a barb flattened with pliers to make its removal easier. SYNTHETIC BODY  Pike flies must be light, so they don’t get waterlogged and hard to cast. I was given this bright yellow creation by Mike, ideal for the coloured water conditions. WITH its prominent eye and modern synthetic dressing the gaudy fly was nigh on impossible to miss as it travelled through the water. Action was imparted to this beautifully crafted creation as my…

THE annual angling trade show season culminated at the weekend with the Tackle & Guns show held again at the Stoneleigh showground in Warwickshire. The popular event is attended by most of the major fishing tackle companies that are based in the UK, and is used to showcase all of their latest kit to the hundreds of retailers who fly in from as far afield as China, Russia and Japan. Although many of these products have already been previewed by Angling Times over the past few weeks in our exclusive trade show coverage, some companies such as Fox International, Matrix, Rage and MAP always use the show to exclusively debut their latest products. Plus, there are always a few tackle items that have slipped the new gear net… FOX FX9…

It’s a wonderful time of the year! I LOVE this time of year. As the leaves take on their autumn colours the fish know that winter is on the way, and they don’t half start feeding in earnest. We’ve had a bit of an extended summer, and this means extended fishing time too. The number of anglers out on my local waters last Sunday was incredible, and it was great to see so many methods being employed, from spinning to drop shotting, pole, waggler, and feeder. If you’re looking for some autumn inspiration, our specially-themed issue this week will give you all you need to know. And with advice from Steve Ringer, Dave Harrell, Martin Bowler, Paul Garner and Jon Arthur you simply can’t fail… First impressions… I WAS out…

1 BENNY ASHURST Perhaps the godfather of modern match angling, a tough competitor from the North West and innovator of methods we now take for granted. Gifted on his native canals and, of course, the father of the legend that is Kevin Ashurst. 2 ROBIN HARRIS One of Ivan’s long-term rivals, a World and National champion and brilliant fishing the waggler at range on the Nene and Welland. 3 RAY MUMFORD The king of the South, famed for wearing a tie when fishing and coming up with unfathomable expressions! Very good on small fish when speed was of the essence. 4 FREDDIE FOSTER The swingtip king of Sheffield and a feared angler when drawn on bream on any East Anglian river or drain. 5 KEN GILES One of the clutch…

TWO of the South’s most prolific commercial fisheries show no signs of slowing down. Tyler’s Common and Arran’s Lake, both in Essex, continue to astound, and it’s not yet time to stop putting three keepnets in at the start of the match! Warren Peaty has enjoyed a phenomenal summer fishing the Lee Green AC matches at various commercials, and he claimed his best weight of the year so far with a mind-boggling 726-8-0 of carp from Arran’s using pellet on a match that saw all manner of records set. Over at Tyler’s Common, the Willow and Ash Lakes received a pummelling from BTIRA AS and Laindon Allsorts. Allan Bayman won the first match on Willow with 311-10-0 of carp on polefished pellet, while Gary Somerfield topped the Laindon visit with…

Stafford Moor Winter Pairs League (round 1) Tanner’s & Woodpecker Lakes (22 pegs) LEADING the way in this opener from Tanner’s Lake peg 13 with 184-6-0 was Mark Cullerton. The Milemead-backed matchman fished 8mm banded pellet on the pole down the edge to land carp into double figures and take an easy win. Ben Broxham was at peg 32 on the same lake, finishing second with 132-15-0 of carp to 9lb, also on pellet. He fished the waggler and bomb before ending the day in the margins. Result:1 M Cullerton, Milemead, 184-6-0; 2 B Broxham, Stafford Moor, 132-15-0; 3 I Wallsgrove, Stafford Moor, 107-7-0; 4 M King, Stafford Moor, 88-8-0; 5 K Osbourne, Exeter, 70-13-0; 6 M Hayman, Stafford Moor, 66-7-0.…

POPULAR Fenland fishery Rookery Waters is running a Winter Pairs Series taking in nine matches of which the best six results will count towards your final score of the series. Entry is £120 per pair, with £800 going to the winners based on 15 pairs fishing. Pools of £25 per match per angler are payable, with £40 five-peg sections paid out on the day, plus the top-two individuals on each lake. Magpie, Raven, Jay or Rook Lakes will be used depending on their form nearer the time. Dates are as follows with Alex the man to call on 07824 878492: Saturday, October 10; Saturday, October 24; Saturday, November 7; Saturday, November 28; Saturday, December 19; Saturday, January 2; Saturday, January 30; Saturday, February 20; Saturday, February 27. JOIN US ON…

Angling Trust/Canals & Rivers Trust Canal Pairs Practice Birmingham/Fazeley Canal (66 pegs) THERE was a good turnout for this practice match fished on the Minworth section of the canal which saw the northern contingent dominate affairs. Out in front from peg 81 at Fords Lane was Wayne Kearney, the Tri-Cast Rochdale rod taking four good bream on caster fished tight over to the roots on the long pole line for 15-1-12. Second place was Simon Mottram who fished at 10m from end peg 184 and caught five skimmers on maggot for 8-10-0. Result:1 W Kearney, Tri-Cast Rochdale, 15-1-12; 2 S Mottram, Drennan NW, 8-10-0; 3 Dave Massey, Sam’s Tackle, 8-8-0; 4 S Bird, Ted Carter Preston, 7-11-2; 5 Darren Massey, Shakespeare, 7-11-11; 6 K Perry, Maver Midlands, 7-7-8.…

Brookside Fisheries Snake & Willow Lakes (28 pegs) SNAKE Lake peg 41 saw Stu Conroy lead the way at Brookside Fisheries. The England star banked 89-8-0 of F1s to 3lb plus a few ide as the Kamasan/Sensas man fished at 12m and 14m over to the island with maggot and then switched to pellet presented in the margins. He ended the day well clear of Paul Jones on peg 23 of the same lake, who used pellet to take 58-2-0 of mainly F1s. Result:1 S Conroy, Kamasan/Sensas, 89-8-0; 2 P Jones, Brookside, 58-2-0; 3 R Wightman, Drennan NW, 53-0-0; 4 C Ruscoe, Parkfield Angling, 52-6-0; 5 N Rogerson, Ashton Angling Supplies, 49-4-0; 6 J Turner, Ray’s Tackle, 45-8-0.…

Editor-in-Chief Steve Fitzpatrick – 01733 395097 steve.fitzpatrick@bauermedia.co.uk Deputy Editor Kevin Wilmot – 01733 395098 kevin.wilmot@bauermedia.co.uk Deputy Editor James Furness – 01733 395104 james.furness@bauermedia.co.uk Editorial Secretary Mary-Ann Payne – 01733 395105 mary-ann.payne@bauermedia.co.uk Tackle Editor Mark Sawyer – 01733 395107 mark.sawyer@bauermedia.co.uk Features Editor Richard Grange – 01733 395109 richard.grange@bauermedia.co.uk Features Editor Mark Parker – 01733 395140 mark.parker@bauermedia.co.uk Senior Feature Writer Ben Fisk – 01733 395101 ben.fisk@bauermedia.co.uk News Editor Ben Miles – 01733 395102 ben.miles@bauermedia.co.uk Senior Reporter Thom Airs – 01733 395106 thom.airs@bauermedia.co.uk Senior Reporter Tony Grigorjevs – 01733 395100 tony.grigorjevs@bauermedia.co.uk Senior Reporter Mark Peck – 01733 395103 mark.peck@bauermedia.co.uk News Reporter Ian Jones – 01733 395111 ian.jones@bauermedia.co.uk Digital Media Manager Rose Lloyd – 01733 395108 rose.lloyd@bauermedia.co.uk Head of photography Mick Rouse mick.rouse@bauermedia.co.uk Staff photographer Lloyd Rogers lloyd.rogers@bauermedia.co.uk Studio photographer Jacques Portal jacques.portal@bauermedia.co.uk Join…

BOSSES of the nation’s biggest coaching scheme are urging Angling Times readers to help them raise thousands of pounds to replace tackle stolen during a devastating raid. Get Hooked on Fishing is responsible for boosting junior participation numbers every year, but the charity’s efforts were hampered when crooks made off with a huge stash of tackle that was vital to one of its centres. Police are currently investigating the robbery at the regional headquarters, Bradshaw Fisheries in Bolton, Lancs, but the chaos the thieves caused has left officials unsure as to whether the large scale coaching operation will be able to continue this winter. Sarah Collins is the organisation’s Chief Executive and has now asked anglers for help so that the charity can continue the progress that has been made…

FISH stocks on the Norfolk Broads are at an all-time high – despite the impact of a devastating incident that threatened the future of angling in the area. Visiting anglers have reported bountiful catches as the hotspot recovers from April’s disaster, when thousands of fish were wiped out by an oxygen-depleting algal bloom. The dramatic recovery is thought to have been sparked by an explosion of silverfish on the rivers Thurne, Bure and Ant, and Tony Gibbons believes the region’s visitors have enjoyed the best fishing in more than a decade. The Norwich & District AA chairman said: “Roach and skimmer numbers are incredibly high at the moment on all the Broads rivers. “We have had numerous 70-plus peg matches on the Thurne recently which have seen an average of…

A NEW breed of carp that could break the UK record could be coming to a fishery near you. ‘Super Freaks’ are the creation of fish farming specialist Rob Hales, who has spent years adopting special techniques in order to produce the super-fast-growing fish. The strain is being made available to the public through Rob’s firm, RH Fisheries, whose team of experts has already successfully bred carp to over 50lb at The Monument, in Shropshire. Rob believes the mirrors and commons could reach record sizes within a decade, and he said: “Our current Super Freaks are only 18 months old, but already they average 3lb – that is double the size of other carp at that age. “They all have the potential and genetics to grow beyond 40lb and will…

SILVERFISH continue to make a comeback on running waters across the country, as Pete McCleary demonstrated when he took this 2lb 4oz roach from the River Severn. The Shropshire angler headed to a stretch of the waterway close to home and used long pole and hemp tactics to land the exceptional fish. This isn’t the first large river redfin he has landed this year either, as the 69-year-old banked a two-pounder from the Hampshire Avon just weeks earlier.…

SENIOR officials from within angling will attend a number of meetings with the major political parties to debate the big issues affecting the sport. Angling Trust staff visiting the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat party conferences hope to gain support for the hot topics that need addressing. National Campaigns Co-ordinator Martin Salter said: “Attending these conferences is an important way of getting the key messages about our sport across to politicians and decision-makers.”…

I WAS talking to Jason Lewis, who manages the iconic Royalty Fishery on the Hampshire Avon, and he was bemoaning the fact that so many of his customers fish only for barbel. They are very much still the flavour of the month for many anglers because they can use more or less identical tackle as they do when fishing for carp. With that in mind, a potentially prime barbel stretch of the River Wye coming on stream for day-ticket anglers must be good news (see page 10). Although I have had one disastrous day salmon fishing on the Wye, mostly watching the rain fall and river rise in equal measure, I have still yet to cast a line intended for coarse fish into its bountiful waters. That’s something I’ll have…

IF YOU'VE GOT A CATCH TO REPORT CALL OUR HOTLINE ON 01733395103 RIVERS & CANALS RIVER AIRE, CHAPEL HADOUSEY, NORTH YORKSHIRE THE pegs above Pipe Bridge have seen big catches of roach failing to long rod and big float tactics with casters or maggots as feed and hookbalt. Contact: 01132 253366, www.leedsdasa.co.uk Prices: £50 a year, Leeds DASA CALDER AND HEBBLE CANAL, SOWERBY BRIDGE, W YORKS The conservatory length is producing double figures of roach to casters, squatts or bread. Contact: Rybum & Halifax AS, 07050 288 003 Prices: £5 on the bank, Rybum & Halifax AS HUDDERSFIELD NARROW CANAL, SLAITHWAITE, W YORKS Good weights of gudgeon to whip fished short with small balls of groundbait. Contact: Chris Roberts Tackle, 01484 545032 Prices: £5 from Chris Roberts Tackle, Slaithwaite DAA…

IF YOU’VE GOT A CATCH TO REPORT CALL OUR HOTLINE ON 01733 395103 RIVERS AND CANALS RIVER SEVERN, BUILDWAS, SHROPSHIRE SPECIMEN barbel well into double figures are showing here along with chub to over 4lb. Halibut pellets and meat are currently the top baits. Contact: 01952 590605, Telford AA Prices: £4 from local tackle shops, Telford AA GRAND UNION CANAL, CATHERINE-DE-BARNES, SOLIHULL, W MIDS Plenty of small fish from pegs on the rushes to worms, casters or pinkies. Contact: 100 AC, 07809 571624 Prices: £2 a day in advance, 100 AC RIVER AVON, BARFORD, WARKS Wag and mag tactics is working for chub in pegs in the 50s and 60s. A 10lb barbel was landed in a recent match. Contact: Barford AA, 01564 777411 Prices: £45 a season, Barford AA…

IF YOU’VE GOT A CATCH TO REPORT CALL OUR HOTLINE ON 01733 395103 RIVERS AND CANALS GRAND UNION CANAL, BERKHAMSTED, HERTS TRADITIONAL worm, bread and maggot baits are working well for bonus fish in the form of big perch and skimmers on the boats section. Contact: London AA, 020 852 07477 Prices: £5 on the bank, London AA KENNET & AVON CANAL, SEMINGTON, WILTS The Piles section is seeing bags to 20lb of skimmers and perch to worm over groundbait. Contact: Wilts Angling, 01225 763835 Prices: £4.50 in advance from local shops, Devizes AA RIVER ADUR, STEYNING, W SUSSEX Coloured water means ideal conditions to catch a specimen barbel. Contact: 01798 831525, Pulborough AS Prices: £5 a day from Beeding News Agency, Pulborough AS, RIVER GREAT OUSE, KEMPSTON, BEDS Chub…

IN the late 1980s and early 1990s, because of my love affair with the 15ft-deep swims on the Severn at Shrewsbury and Stourport, I realised the need for bigger stick floats carrying up to 16 x No4 shot. For the Wye, and winter fishing on parts of the Severn, I made some even bigger prototypes to raise the bar still further. The end result was three bigger sticks in my Dome Top family. These take 20 x No4, 25 x No4 and 30 x No4 and can present your hookbait to big roach in a way that no other rig can do. In deep boily water, most anglers would reach for a Bolo or an Avon float. While there are days when these are unbeatable, on others you just can’t…

46 NOW comes a change in my fishing. Gone are the days of crashing out big floats and feeders, or bagging up just inches under the surface, and in comes a more subtle approach. Autumn is when the thinking, adaptable angler who puts in the extra effort will reap the rewards. A prime example of this is the pellet waggler. Most anglers think this is a summer-only approach but with a bit of thought about how carp feed you can use it to your advantage right now. Water temperatures have started to fall, and the carp will drop down lower in the water column. So instead of fishing the waggler at, say, 2ft deep I will fish it at 4ft-5ft to ensure the bait gets down to where the fish…

FOR the past year I’ve been researching the story of Britain’s best-loved match angler and his team-mates, and ‘Ivan Marks and the Likely Lads’ has just been published by M Press. In common with many other budding match anglers in the 1970s, Ivan was my hero, and I eagerly pored over his weekly column in Angling Times. Later I watched him fish. Although Ivan died in 2004, my admiration for him remains undimmed, and when I had the chance to tell his story I didn’t hesitate – many of his former team-mates are still around and were delighted to help, and I’ve told their story as well. Ivan Marks was one of England’s best-known match anglers. His consistent success at the highest level, his willingness to share his secrets and…

DAIWA has blitzed the trade show season, producing a simply stunning array of new fishing kit that is guaranteed to leave all anglers drooling. As exclusively revealed in last week’s Angling Times sneak peek, the Glasgow-based firm has produced a new flagship carbon pole and several new ranges of rods and reels. However, this week we can reveal all, as Daiwa has thrown open the doors on its first trade show to showcase the company’s new seatboxes, match luggage and an array of mostly very affordable reels. Daiwa has also lifted the lid on the all-new and improved Whisker 16m pole. TWO NEW SEATBOXES SURE to be massive sellers next season, Daiwa has adding two new models to its seatbox range. Both the Daiwa 160 and Tournament X250 are designed…

WHEN Ryan Gibson slipped his net under one of the biggest fish in the lake he thought his night-time battle was over – but it was just the start. Thinking he had just secured the known 50-pounder, the tackle shop manager watched in horror as his landing net came apart and the fish charged off 40 yards back into lake. “She powered away in the opposite direction and pulled the head of my net from the end of the pole,” recalled the 28-year-old, who was fishing Cambridgeshire’s Rosemere syndicate. “Never before had I ever had this happen to me with this style of net and I don’t suppose I shall ever have it happen again but, at that moment in time, I was absolutely gobsmacked at what had just happened.”…

IAN Russell felt his ‘whole world rolling around in the margins’ as he brought the biggest day-ticket carp at Linear Fisheries to the net. The much-coveted Oxlease Lake common weighed in at 48lb 8oz to give the Avid-backed carp tutor a new personal-best common. “To say I was blown away would be an understatement,” said Ian. “This is obviously a carp that is constantly on your mind when fishing Oxlease. These moments mean so much to those of us who truly still appreciate our hobby.” The fish, which had topped the 50lb mark for the first time earlier this year, was caught after Ian cast at showing fish during a coaching session at the Oxfordshire water. Having seen four carp show at dusk, Ian fired a fake-corn rig out to…

WHO said river fishing here in the UK was finished? My week proved that great fish are there for the taking, even if you sometimes have to think outside the box to catch them! MONDAY A very short session on the Severn with Mark Latham. To be honest, I didn’t hold out much hope for a barbel because the river was low, and clear as tap water. We planned to fish into the dark, and with such a sunset it was no hardship waiting for a bite – there’s something very special about being out on the river at this time of year We both sat there for the last two hours of daylight without a touch, and even into dark no interest was shown in my huge lump of…

Family fishing day goes down a storm on canal MORE than 50 people turned up for a fun-filled family fishing day held on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Stretton, Burton on Trent. Organised jointly by the Angling Trust, Burton Mutual AA and the Canal & River Trust, the free event included a morning of coaching from qualified and licensed Level 2 Coaches, have-a-go sessions for those with experience, drop shot tuition and lots of hints and tips. A two-hour Family Pairs match was organised for the afternoon, where everyone could put their new skills to the test. Prizes were supplied by the Canal & River Trust and were given to the top three places, with a special award for the biggest fish. Everyone involved had a great day, with…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH STU CROSSMAN, SOUTH YORKSHIRE ASKS: Q My local venue holds a good head of skimmers and the feeder at 30-50 yards works well. I’m struggling to compete, though, as I never know how much to feed. Too much and I don’t catch until very late, not enough and I seem to just catch the odd fish. A First I would look at your bait choices, in particular your groundbait. I find a fine, flavour-packed groundbait is best, with very few loosefeed items, and if your water sees a lot of fishmeal I would opt for a mix of Bait-Tech Special G Gold and Green mixed 50/50. This will have a very fine texture yet pack massive attraction, as the fishmeal content is so high. Cast regularly through…

Tuesday, October 13 Acorn Fishery Tuesday Tenner, Kingston Seymour - Mike 01179 497310 Alders Farm, Affordable Open, Great Brickhill – Trevor 07860 235655 Aston Park Fisheries, Sheffie d - Alex 07743 845737 Coleman’s Cottage Fishery, Witham – Gerry 01376 516383 Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery, Retford – Nick 01777 710448 Decoy, Eastrea – Di 01733 202230 Garbolino Lindholme Lakes, Epworth – Neil 01427 872905 Heronbrook Over 55s, Neil - 07879 441288 Janson’s, Elton - 07976 317864 Kobra, Dynamite Ba ts Mak n’s Fishery, Wolvey – John 07749 284823 Little John Lakes, Ollerton Steve 07715 096738 Meadow View Fisheries OAP & Dis, Warrington Br an 01925 757985 Moorlands Farm, Kidderminster Mal 07967 107913 Oaks, Sessay Chris 07885 553323 Old Hough Fishery, Midd ewich – Doug 07976 381996 Partridge Lakes, Culceth Me /Ne 07950…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Alvechurch Fisheries (Thurs) Horseshoe Pool (16 pegs) Since coming to this fishery Rob Gandley has been all but unbeatable and once again in this midweek open took the honours, putting 88-1-0 on the scales from unfancied peg 34. Fishing chopped worm and caster on the long pole line, Rob caught all day netting 60lb of F1s and carp. Result: 1 R Gandley, Alvechurch, 88-1-0; 2 W Beech, Alvechurch, 83-15-0; 3 R Taylor, Alvechurch, 76-14-0; 4 P Watts, Alvechurch, 74-9-0; 5 P Evans, Alvechurch, 71-15-0; 6 P Mace, Alvechurch, 59-6-0. Alvechurch Fisheries Horseshoe Pool (22 pegs) Match winner Rob Gandley notched his sixth win out of seven visits to the fishery, this time ending up well clear of the field with 104-10-0. Drawn on peg 3, he fished…

Lakeview Fishery Marina & Serpent Pools (19 pegs) THE Marina Pool proved to be the better lake to draw on, with Shaun Kemp taking the top spot with his winning weight of 125-14-0 off peg 9. He took carp to 6lb, F1s and skimmers on pellet and maggot down the middle and in the edge. Bronson Arme was next with 118-13-0 off next-door peg 12, taking smaller carp and F1s on pellet and maggot. Result:1 S Kemp, Lakeview Select, 125-14-0; 2 B Arme, Lakeview Select, 118-2-0; 3 J Adcock, Match Catch, 111-13-0; 4 Bob Greenbury, Leicester, 77-2-0; 5 Brian Greenbury, Lakeview Select, 66-10-0; 6 S Butler, Notts AA, 60-13-0.…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Angling Trust Heronbrook Fisheries Winter League (rnd 2) Canal, Bridge, Meadow & Match (48 pegs) Maver Gold made it two wins out of two as they took this second round with 22 points, Maver Midlands ending up second. Top weight came off Canal Lake peg 78 where Browning Lifestyle’s Mark Kearns weighed-in 120-15-0 of F1 hybrids fishing pellet across at 13m. John Ashwell on Meadow Lake peg 9 fished pellet shallow to the reeds to claim second with 116-9-0 of carp and F1s. Result:1 M Kearns, Browning Lifestyle, 120-15-0; 2 J Ashwell, Maver Gold, 116-9-0; 3 A Bennett, Drennan NW, 103-3-0; 4 C Wojak, Oakengates Angling Centre, 102-12-0; 5 I Sinker, Eddie’s Bait Supplies, 102-9-0; 6 H Rushton, Maver Midlands, 99-4-0. Teams:1 Maver Gold, 22pts; 2 Maver…

Partridge Lakes Covey Canal Lakes (52 pegs) ANOTHER good turnout at this North West fishery saw Chris Weeder Junior top a strong field from peg 100 on Canal 4. The St Helens Angling man fished tight over at 13m and caught a net of carp to 7lb and a few F1s on pellet to weigh-in his 82-11-0 net. Runner-up from peg 63 on Canal 3 was Maver NW rod Roger Priestley who fished maggot at 4m in the deep water to finish with 72-8-0. Result: 1 C Weeder Jnr, St Helen’s Angling, 82-11-0; 2 R Priestley, Maver NW, 72-8-0; 3 S Knowles, Matrix Leigh Tackle & Bait, 67-14-0; 4 R Buckley, Garbolino Elton, 66-0-0; 5 B Conroy, Warrington Tackle & Guns, 64-12-0; 6 P Humphries, Rochdale Angling, 63-12-0. JOIN US…

THE Angling Trust RiverFest final is fast approaching and six more anglers threw their names into the hat to win the big money prize next month after qualifying from matches on the Rivers Severn and Medway. Saturday saw the Upton stretch of the Severn play host and James Robbins, Leigh Gardener and Clive Branson made it through. James won with 13-14-0 of roach on bolo rod and maggot tactics as the bream failed to show, while former World Champion Clive took third overall with 13-2-0. Next up was the River Medway in Kent, making its RiverFest debut. An unusual approach on hemp fished on the stick float with a centrepin reel put Sussex rod Richard Leduc into the final. He weighed-in 12-5-0 of roach but it was mightily close, John…

ANGLERS wishing to play a part in the fight against illegal fishing still have the opportunity to get involved in a groundbreaking scheme. The Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiff Service was initially trialled in the South East region but its success means it is now on the verge of being rolled out nationally. In a bid to make the scheme work effi ciently, anyone with an interest in becoming a voluntary bailiff is being asked to register on the database. Interested parties should email bailiffs@anglingtrust.net with their name, date of birth, address and contact number, and then wait to hear from officials.…

THE fundraising effort to help rejuvenate roach stocks in the Grand Union Canal has got underway with a special match hosted on the venue. A Deanshanger & Stratfords AC stretch saw a strong field turn out to compete and collect funds for the Roach Restoration Project, recently launched by the Canal & River Trust to boost redfin stocks. Almost £100 was donated to the cause but ironically it was perch that won the match, Les Ramsden’s 7lb 14oz catch of stripeys taking the spoils.…

ALREADY started thinking about the ideal Christmas present for your loved ones? Why not book one of the nation’s finest anglers to give them a professional coaching session. Highly acclaimed matchmen Andy May and Mark Pollard have both won numerous major titles and have revealed that they have a number of coaching slots available this year and in 2016. Canal, river and stillwater venues are available to help improve your skills on waters you regularly target. For more details on how to book your session visit www.fishingcoaching.co.uk or go to www.markpollardfishingdays.com…

THE final of the annual Angling Trust Pike Champs takes place on the Whittlesey AA waters, Cambs, on Saturday, November 7, 2015, and only those anglers who qualified from a preliminary round may apply to fish it. The closing date for entries is Friday, October 9, 2015. The latest qualifying dates are: SUNDAY OCTOBER 18 Mapperley Reservoir, nr Ilkeston, Derby. W. A. Stevenson: 07505 792484 SUNDAY OCTOBER 25 Daventry Country Park. Tony Doolan: 07889 080087 Englefield Lagoon, Reading, Berks. Steve Parker: 07918 025472 Scoulton Mere Fishery, Norfolk. Matthew Morley: 07977 106717 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1 Old Nene, B1040, Ramsey St Mary’s, Cambs. Keith Rayment: 07551 840409 Stainforth & Keadby Fur & Feather PAIRS. George Martindale: 01405 815939…

VENUE records and personal bests fell left, right and centre on rivers across this country this week as barbel sport went into overdrive. Mild temperatures and rising water levels switched the species on to the feed on numerous iconic waterways, and those factors helped Jerry Brown bank a 16lb 2oz fish that smashed a long-standing record for the River Lea in Hertfordshire. The Essex-based angler had been minutes away from packing up during a day on the Kings Weir stretch when the biggest barbel ever landed from the fishery fell to his tandoori flavoured meat hookbait Jerry told Angling Times: “The fishery manager suggested I reposition my rigs slightly while fishing close to an overhanging tree and once I did, I had no signs of an offer for almost three…

STRONG winds prevented me doing much fishing on my recent birthday trip to Portugal. I only take one light rock fishing outfit with small jigs and it was impossible to work it for long without it blowing into rocks by the harbour. I managed about an hour and had just two fish – one was a comber, a species that I first encountered there in 2014, the other I’d not seen before. It looked a bit like a sea scorpion but its pectoral fins were set high on its body and it croaked non-stop while I held it to remove the hook. It was a toad fish. If you are taking a holiday abroad and you can fit an LRF outfit in the case, do it. A pack or two…

HOW would you like to fish a prime stretch of the River Wye that hasn’t seen a coarse angler for years? Well, now you have the chance – a new length in Herefordshire is opening up to day-ticket anglers this Saturday (October 18). Over the last 10 years or so, the river at Goodrich Court, near Ross-on-Wye, has been predominantly a salmon beat, and although the very occasional coarse angler has fished with the permission of the owner, it is effectively as good as a virgin fishery. Now it’s available to fish once more through Angling Dreams. The potential is enormous, with barbel, chub and pike that have almost certainly never been caught before. There is vehicle access to within a few metres of the right bank, whose upper limit…

WHY I’VE GONE BACK TO LOOP-TO-LOOP TO JOIN LINE TO HOOKLENGTH Q I recently watched an old video of yours where you were recommending a water knot to attach your hooklength. Do you still do it this way? Martin Price A I used a three-turn water knot for many years, but now that we’re using much more advanced hi-tech lines, I’ve gone back to loops, as it’s a better way of connecting lines. Aside from that, loop-to-loop means that your rig will be exactly the same depth every time once you’ve attached your hooklength. SOIL ADDS BULK AND WEIGHT TO GROUNDBAIT Q I had never heard of putting soil in groundbait until recently. Why do you do it, and how much should I use? David Kelly A I use soil…

Catch carp on sloppy pellets GET on sloppy pellets! If you’re fishing on a stillwater then you’ve got to try this simple pole fishing tactic – it’s perfect for catching carp and F1s from shallow water. In this exclusive Angling Times video Steve reveals how you can make the perfect pellets and the best way to feed them to draw fish into your swim and keep them there. He also shows you why heavier rigs are crucial for success and explains how you can set up such a rig. How to fish Steve’s Hybrid feeders JOIN Steve at Bishops Bowl Fishery as he puts the new Guru Hybrid feeders through their paces. Learn the best way to set up the feeders – including information on mainlines and the best hooks…

Getting the best from this section Rigs Baits Venues Tackle Species Float Feeder Pole How do I tie a simple loop?  WHAT is the best way to tie a neat and strong loop on my rigs? Nigel Beasley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire LOOPS are the most important part of any pole, waggler or feeder rig. Tie them wrong and the chances are they will break when a fish piles on the pressure. The simplest way to tie them is to use a loop tyer. Follow the four simple steps on the right and you’ll be able to knock up the perfect loop in seconds. How can I pull in more fish? HOW can I attract lots of fish into my swim without overfeeding them? Liam Nuttall, Leighton Buzzard, Bucks CARP, F1s and…

NASH has unveiled its new items for 2016, with the increasingly popular Scope range taking centre stage. The Black Ops run of downsized products takes stealth and mobility to a new level as the Scope brand continues to grow three years after it was launched. Seeing the whole range in one place at the firm’s Essex HQ enables you to appreciate just how little space you need to accommodate enough gear for a full session. Also on show was a host of tweaked and completely new products, including lighter bedchairs, a new range of chairs and a very clever video display unit which will showcase Nash products in tackle shops. SCOPE BLACK OPS RDS SHORT for ‘rapid deployment shelter’, the RDS bivvy can be set up and dismantled in seconds…

LEWIS Russell turned despair into triumph with a first forty just hours after returning from a dispiriting session. Having lost a couple of fish at Yateley Pads Lake in Hampshire, the Norwich angler headed to Catch 22 in Norfolk to make amends. With just an overnighter at his disposal, Lewis targeted No2 Syndicate Lake and caught Tatty Fin at 40lb 13oz to set a new personal best. He told Angling Times: “It was one of the best moments in angling I’ve ever had. I had a pretty dark time down at Yateley, having two bites and losing both of them due to some serious jungle warfare. “But with a spare afternoon at my disposal I decided to waste no time and get straight back down to Catch 22 for an…

DES TAYLOR’S DIARY OF A COUNTRYMAN THIS WEEK’S CATCHES IN KINGFISHER CLUB QUIZ OF THIS WEEK’S NEWS AND CROSSWORD GREAT FISH IN OUR RIVERS – WE JUST CAN’T REACH THEM AFTER reading Eddie Morgan’s letter regarding poor access to rivers I have to agree with him. In Somerset the River Brue and King’s Sedgemoor Drain where I caught large bags of fish are now totally overgrown. The River Cripps, which has been taken off the Bridgwater AA ticket, is now full of weed and half the depth. I recently walked along a stretch of the Cripps and saw a dozen carp around 20lb feeding in the thick weed, and lots of fry and perch chasing them, so the fish are still there – we just can’t get at them. Rob…

THE chub on a stretch of my local River Nene live beneath moored boats, and it requires pinpoint casting to get a bait right under the hull within their reach. A bloke in our club loved himself a bit and prided himself on precision casting, so when he drew a peg on said boats, surely it was game over for those chub? He certainly reckoned so, but after five hours his net was chubless. However, he’d been getting bites towards the end of the match and as the scales arrived he invited the gathered crowd to watch and learn, as he was going to nail one of those chub. Chucking his bomb rig with a piece of luncheon meat on it, the lead hit the boat with a satisfying clunk…

UK Angling Championships Tuesday, October 13, 4pm Action from the second round of the UK Angling Champs. Big names in match fishing go head-to-head in the event staged at Somerset’s Viaduct Fisheries. Rod & Rucksack Wednesday, October 14, 6.20am Guy travels to Panama to learn how to fish like the locals as he attempts to land some yellowfin tuna. Deadliest Catch Thursday, October 15, 3pm An electrical fire breaks out in the engine room of one boat, and its crew must fix the problem before they can safely resume fishing. Fishing Gurus Friday, October 16, 4.40am Alex Bones is on Arran’s Lake in Essex, where Steve Ringer explains how to create a swim in commercial waters. Plus, what are the advantages of pellets when fishing the Method? Earth’s Wildest Waters:…

100 AC, Grand Union Canal, Catherine-de-Barnes: 1 P Hunt, 3-14-0, maggot, skimmers/perch/roach; 2 J Miller, 2-9-12; 3 J Pedley, 2-8-0. Active AC, Hartleylands Farm: Jt1 T Etty and L Attfield, both 116-0-0, bread/maggot/meat, carp/skimmers; 3 R Stevens, 79-0-0. AJAX, Bishop’s Bowl Fishery: 1 D Martin, 23-14-0, pellet, carp/bream; 2 W McCranor, 19-13-0; 3 S Carr, 19-5-0. Alliance & Leicester Liverpool, Chapel Pool: 1 G Green, 160-0-0, pellet, carp; 2 B Smith, 158-8-0; 3 I Pritchard, 138-8-0. Belvoir Old Gits, Lakeview Fishery, Marina Pool: 1 D Squires, 101-4-0, pellet, carp; 2 B Baines, 91-2-0; jt3 B Priestley and J Farrer, both 41-14-0. Birmingham Thursday Club, Packington Somers, Geary’s Level Pool: 1 G Young, 26-8-0, pellet, skimmers; 2 M Marshall, 25-14-0; 3 D Bird, 23-5-0. BTIRA AS, Tyler’s Common, Willow Lake: 1…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Bait-Tech Viaduct Fishery Campbell & Cary Lake (28 pegs) Mark Wynn is a hard man to beat at the fishery this season and this Saturday open saw him take another victory – this time from peg 112 on the Campbell Lake. He fished the long pole on the deck and later shallow with pellet for his 151-8-0 total. Result:1 M Wynn, Bait-Tech Viaduct, 151-8-0; 2 R Lucas, Wiltshire Angling, 127-0-0; 3 A Cranstone, Celtic Baits, 126-7-0; 4 N Ewers, Preston Innovations Thatcher’s, 124-15-0; 5 N Doughty, Wolverhampton, 124-9-0; 6 S Clayton, Celtic Baits, 116-14-0. Silvers:S Denmead, Bait-Tech Viaduct, 45-10-0. Bait-Tech Viaduct Fishery (Thurs) Campbell & Cary Lakes (22 pegs) Carp to 18lb figured in winner Paul Blake’s 144-12-0 top score, the Carps AC man drawing peg 77…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Dynamite Baits Oakfield Fishery (Weds) Red Kite Lake (13 pegs) Result: 1 M Talbot, Kamasan/GOT Baits, 63-11-0; 2 A Foulkes, Dynamite Oakfield, 58-15-0; 3 P Alland, Dynamite Oakfield, 52-13-0. Lake John Bottom Lake (11 pegs) Result: 1 P Hyde, Browning Wickford Angling, 68-8-0; 2 R Stanley, Lake John, 68-0-0; 3 P Grant, Redbridge Lakes, 66-8-0. Priors Carp Fisheries Rainham (10 pegs) Result: 1 E Feaver, Ockendon Bait & Tackle, 113-1-0; 2 M Wallis, Ockendon Bait & Tackle, 96-3-0; 3 J Collins, Preston Innovations Delcac, 93-14-0. Willow Park Over 50s (Weds) Middle Lake (13 pegs) Result: 1 D Winterbourne, Willow Park, 39-8-0; 2 M Marrison, Willow Park, 31-0-0; 3 D Carter, Guildford Angling Centre, 21-8-0. SUNDAY Bait-Tech Viaduct Fishery Lodge Lake (14 pegs) Result: 1 G O’Shea, Preston…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Cross Drove Fishery(Weds) Hockwold (12pegs) Result:1 R King, SPRO, 66-12-0; 2 G Burden, Lowestoft, 56-0-0; 3 T Watling Snr, St Neots, 47-4-0. Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery Vets (Mon) Bridge Pool (10 pegs) Result:1 D Whiting, Buttonhole AC, 191-14-0; 2 A Sellars, R&R Sports, 87-6-0; 3 J Hobson, Sheffield, 87-4-0. Lakeview Fishery Middy Xtreme Winter Series Canal Pool (12 pegs) Result:1 A Bailey, Daiwa Dons, 169-13-0; 2 S Kemp, Lakeview Select, 96-8-0; 3 B Greenbury, Lakeview Select, 92-10-0. Manor Farm Leisure(Thurs) Windmill Pool (11 pegs) Result:1 C Telling, Colmic, 91-8-0; 2 I Lewis, Arthur’s Angling Supplies, 56-12-0; 3 J Walker, Walker’s Floats, 52-8-0. MillRoad Lakes Horseshoe Lake (15 pegs) Result:1 R Clapham, Sheffield, 38-8-0; 2 G Wynn, Mill Road Lakes, 29-12-0; 3 K Twigg, Mill Road Lakes, 24-12-0. Preston…

Erewash Valley Winter League (round 1) Beeston Canal (48 pegs) THE league got off to a good start as the Beeston Canal produced a result resembling last year’s first round match. The winner, Pete Madeley, won from the same peg on the Norfolk reeds behind the Boots Factory taking two bream, the best weighing 4lb 15oz on worm together with perch and roach for 16-0-8. In second was Alasdair Chisholme who included a bream in his 8-9-0. Matchman Supplies took the team honours with 22 points, ahead of Shakespeare on 23. Result:1 P Madeley, Long Eaton Fed, 16-0-8; 2 A Chisholme, Shakespeare, 8-9-8; 3 M Hall, Shakespeare, 7-3-8; 4 L Morley, Matchman Supplies, 6-3-8; 5 T Barker, Shakespeare, 6-3-0; 6 K Perry, Shakespeare, 5-15-8. Teams:1 Matchman Supplies, 22pts; 2 Shakespeare,…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Climax Wold View Fishery Pole Only (Weds) Gold Lake (16 pegs) Result: 1 K Easton, Wold View, 140-0-0; 2 T Jackson, Wold View, 113-6-0; 3 C Braithwaite, Wold View, 99-4-0. Dynamite Baits/Scunthorpe DAA Thursday League (Thurs) River Trent, South Clifton (14 pegs) Result: 1 B Pearson, Brigg AC, 15-0-0; 2 T Moroz, Worksop AC, 4-8-0; 3 C Williams, Brigg AC, 3-10-0. Fleets Dam (Weds) Barnsley (12 pegs) Result: 1 B Soar, Barnsley, 45-5-0; 2 S Gelder, Barnsley, 30-2-0; 3 D Wright, Barnsley, 20-14-0. Fleets Dam Barnsley (14 pegs) Result: 1 S Gelder, Barnsley, 26-5-0; 2 B Soar, Barnsley, 16-6-0; 3 D Burley, Barnsley, 16-4-0. Highfield Fisheries Oak Lake (18 pegs) Result: 1 N Stretch, Gerry’s of Morecambe, 74-6-0; 2 G Simms, Highfield, 61-12-0; 3 N Lumb, Highfield,…

Carigallen Festival (Tues - Fri) Carigallen Lakes (48 pegs) WEIGHTS were lower than expected across the four lakes, something not helped by the changeable October. Arva rod Nicky Harrison got the best of it to win the £1,000 top prize with 23-370 across the four days, beating Tony Green by almost 2 kilos. Top weight of the week went to Tony with 8-650 of small skimmers and roach from Deresket Lake on the final day, the Warrington man also winning Day 2. He couldn’t match Nicky’s overall consistency to quite make the grade. Winners: Day 1: D Stewart, Warrington, 7-070. Day 2: T Green, Warrington, 6-150. Day 3:S Raper, Leeds, 8-060.Day 4:T Green, Warrington, 8-650. Overall 1 N Harrison, Arva, 23-370; 2 T Green, Warrington, 21-500; 3 T Kersley, Tubertini,…

ANDY Geldart won the 2015 Parkdean Masters crown – and the £25,000 cheque that goes with it – at White Acres to chalk up a unique matchfishing double that only a handful of anglers have ever managed. The Matrix/Dynamite Baits man from Leeds added the big title to the Fish O’Mania crown he won in 2014, seeing off the 23 other qualifiers on the Jenny’s Lake on the Cornish complex with an 84-2-0 net of carp off unfancied peg 3, second going to Callum Dicks on next door peg.…