Angler’s Mail March 17 -23, 2015
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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Angler’s Mail
FISH OF THE WEEK £ 10 0
CHUB – 8 lb 1 oz 86.5% of record
TAC WIN KLE NER
n Highly successful chub catcher Mike Staines nabbed this superb chunk from the River Lea. Find out how in p. 7.
CARP – 52 lb 8 oz 77.7% of record
£ 50
How to
WIN>> THE only way you can win this exclusive T-shirt is to report your catch to us – and appear on this page!
INSIDE PIKE 38 lb 8 oz
82.2% of record
£10K0 LE
TAC ER WINN
TACKLEER WINN
this week's issue of your new-look Angler's Mail
News
4 Huge pike to in-form angler 5 TV show impresses analysts 6 Reactions to licence money bid 7 Lea produces giant chub and perch 8 Gallery of latest Great Catches 10 Warwickshire Avon ends on a high 12 Matchman of the Month revealed
Top columnists
13 Lee Kerry – England match ace has won another mega event 14 Andy Little – river sport explained in our Specimen Hunters series 15 Gary Newman – pit predators 34 Matt Hayes – Top Tips for canals 38 Colin Davidson – carp trap to try 42 John Bailey – big pike with pals
n Chris Hellyar nabbed the boilie-loving mirror carp from Fryerning Fisheries. He wins Fox Edges kit. Story in p.6.
Instruction
10 0
£ TACKLEER WINN
26 Rig of the Week – great on pools 28 How To – superb feeder rig 30 Know-How – with Dave Coster
n Brian Ingram struck gold again with another giant pike in a matter of weeks. Details in p.4.
BARBEL – 16 lb 9 oz
78.1% of record
£10K0 LE
TAC ER WINN
DACE – 1 lb 1 oz
46 Our massive guide now has over 200 venues. It's the No.1!
>> ON THE COVER
OUR new Venue Expert series visited a premium complex, and while we were there Chris Holmes caught the carp you see on the cover. You'll learn loads in p.50/1.
Angler’s Mail DIGITAL ››
79.1% of record
n Mark Everard has done it again, with another magic double, including this dace. Turn to p.10/11 for more.
MEGA Where To Fish section
n Peter Hollingsworth landed this giant on the River Thames. He's won Korum gear - see p.11.
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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News EDITOR’S LETTER
Opportunities I CAN hardly believe the rivers season is over. Three months wait, but also three months to look forward to, and so many emerging angling opportunities. I was watching a video the other night that mentioned a hardcore carp angler bivvied up over these three months. But not fishing… until June… on a lake! Fair play mate, but that’s not for me!
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Contact our news editor: Thomas Petch telephone: 0203 148 4161 email: anglersmail@timeinc.com
198 lb 6 oz
Pike star does it again! £ 10 0
l 2nd huge pike to Ingram l 1st fish in nine trips l Mackerel scores
H
OT on the heels of recording the best pike of the winter, Brian Ingram has matted an equally impressive 38 lb 8 oz monster from a DIFFERENT water. Brian hit the headlines a few weeks ago with a 42 lb 8 oz Chew Valley croc, and decided on a change of venue. Fishing a secret Midlands stillwater, the 53-year-old farmer has shown true piking pedigree as the predator season comes to a close. Brian, from Atherstone, Warwickshire, said: “I was fishing an area where there is a 25 ft drop-off. The big ‘un gave a proper account of itself, as it was a truly powerful fish.
LE TACKNER WIN
l THE Big Fish Off series on ITV4 came to the end of its run with Sunday’s repeat. I’m going to miss it, as will over 200,000 people. Well done to Ali Hamidi and Dean Macey on committing heart and soul, sweating and straining, oohing and aahing, to deliver fish and banter. I even had a few laugh-outloud moments. I monitored comments closely. Some anglers turned off during a sluggish opener, but most stuck with it and got totally hooked. The action, bar the guideassisted roulette to crank in a mega catfish, was real stuff we can enjoy in the UK. I think Big Fish Off did angling a world of good, and expect a new series will carry the message even further.
I was fishing an area where there is a 25 ft drop-off. Brian Ingram “It’s not been an easy fish to come by, as this was my first fish in nine visits – they are few and far between,” he added. Brian’s set up was a mackerel deadbait on size 4 semi-barbed hooks to a wire trace. Having accounted for a 43 lb 2 oz pike from South Wales pike mecca Llandegfedd, back in 1988, he’s quietly continued to target, and often catch, some awesome fish. But Brian is not just a pike angler and has some impressive fish of other species, including carp to over 40 lb, bream to 17 lb and perch over 4 lb.
l THANK you to all readers who have given us feedback over the past week on the allnew Angler’s Mail magazine. We’re delighted to hear so many comments about its amazing value and better, increased content. That is the aim, every week. If you’re at The Big One show in Farnborough, Hampshire, this weekend, we’ll be there. Let us know in person your suggestions for topics you’d like to see us cover soon. If you’re not at The Big One, hopefully you’ll be out fishing, so be lucky!
My TOP TIP
TIM KNIGHT EDITOR n Tench are one rising opportunity, and Tim’s latest one was golden! SPECIMEN CUP
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17 MARCH 2015
n WINNER – Brian Ingram displays his latest giant pike, 38 lb 8 oz, which wins him £100 of Korum tackle in our Korum Specimen Cup.
You don’t need all the best ‘fancy Dan’ gear, as I am often frowned upon with my set-up. Concentrate on the business end of your gear.
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Weight of new river record bream haul. See Venue Results in p.54.
I’ve been and caught another unusual object from the depths. Jon Arthur on ‘flagging up’ – see p.20.
TV angling ticks the boxes l Series 1 over for Big Fish Off l Shows peak at 221,000 viewers
T
HE Big Fish Off has proved a huge hit, with viewing figures way beyond those anticipated by TV executives. The five-episode series, aired on ITV4 on Wednesdays at 8pm, plus weekend repeats, came to the end of its run on Sunday. It could yet make a more mainstream channel for a second series. Hosted by Ali Hamidi and Dean Macey, the show pitted stars such as Dappy and David Seaman in keenly fought challenges for many species on a mix of venues. Ali told the Mail: “The show has been widely received and ITV have found all their expectations well and truly beaten. “It’s not a show for the purist angler, but I would like to think it has offered entertainment to the masses. “Fingers-crossed to there being a second series,” added Ali. TV analyst Andy Benningfield from media agency Maxus Global said: “The Big Fish Off maxed at 221,000 individuals, which is admirable at 45th in the top programme ranking so far (on ITV4). The repeat on Sundays draws in about an another 80,000. “Angling is never going to draw huge audiences when broadcast on the multi-channel platform. River Monsters (2
n One of the most popular episodes of The Big Fish Off was on the River Wye, where jovial England football legend David Seaman’s all-round angling skills shone through with catches like this hard-won grayling.
I’d like to think it has offered entertainment to the masses. Ali Hamidi million) benefits from a peak time slot on the country’s largest commercial terrestrial channel ITV1, so is always going to beat anything else on the telly. Audiences viewing multichannel shows rarely peak above 1.6 m-1.9 m, for live football on Sky for example. “I think The Big Fish Off splits the angling fraternity into two
camps from what I’ve been hearing. A lot of the ‘pull’ factor will be the presenters and the guests involved. “I quite like the chemistry between Dean and Ali, with their informative review of fishing techniques, bait and tackle, but that is for the less well educated.” n What’s on TV this week? We pick five to watch in p.21.
800 lb World record freshwater catch THIS is probably the largest freshwater catch on rod and line – Jeff Corwin landing the 800 lb-plus hulk from Thailand’s Maeklong River at Samut Songkram. The American’s incredible 8 ft wide and 14 ft long freshwater stingray was filmed for an episode of USA TV’s Ocean Mysteries. Jeff said: “It was a true highlight of the series to be a part of this moment, not only connect with a record-sized ray, but being a part of cutting edge science.” It was caught on a small Pla Boo (native livebait) and was landed after a two-hour battle. It is the same fish as Mail contributor Ian Welch caught in 2009. See the video at www.anglersmail.co.uk
n Back she goes – after scientific measuring, part of research projects, Jeff Corwin’s 800 lb freshwater stingray swims off safely.
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GOOD WEEK... l River catches – it was an epic until Sunday morning (March 15) when the season in England and Wales was over! Big perch galore fed. Bristol Angling Centre and Korum angler Shaun Hodges plundered the River Kennet on worms, best this 4 lb 4 oz PB. There are plenty more late river catches in this issue.
l Brits abroad – carpers are heading to France, reporting early spring whackers. The England match teams were announced (p.13). And here’s a World record – Nottingham’s Paul Warsop matted this 154 lb Siamese carp at Jurassic Mountain Resort, Thailand. He used a Method feeder to present maize.
BAD WEEK... l Development – it’s not looking good for anglers around Rickmansworth, in Hertfordshire, and they say it could be your water next! Flats are planned at the local aquadrom, home to specimens, and River Chess. Anglers and conservationists are fighting back at www. saverickmansworth.org.uk l Dace and charr – As Ron Cousins notes in p.70, Welsh dace stocks are vanishing. And Fish Legal has had to issue another judicial review against Natural Resources Wales (NRW) over pollution and other activities impacting on efforts to save endangered Arctic charr at Llyn Padarn, North Wales. 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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News Caught
ONLINE
We trawl social media so you don’t have to! l Big one BIGGER - 210 exhibitors and pre-show ticket sales at an all time high were revealed in online updates for The Big One weekend (March 21/22) at Farnborough Five, Hampshire GU14 6AZ. It could even beat last year’s record 18,000 visitors. We’ll be there! l Gamers hooked amongst Big One stands will be Dovetail, guys behind the computer fishing game of the moment. Tonight (Tuesday, 8pm) they promise an exclusive Phase 4 preview at www.twitch.tv/ dovetailgames Here’s one young gamer they retweeted with his catch – hopefully he gets as much rod-bending carp action on real venues!
l Guess the weight - this stripy tweeted by www. anglersmail.co.uk blogger Nick Marlow was, in his words: “45 cm… that’s 18 inches in the old money.” Nick was on the Great Ouse at Olney using an Ecogear Chartreuse BTS lure.
l Want to be a bailiff? - the Angling Trust are recruiting in the South East for their Voluntary Bailiff Service, to support the Environment Agency in delivering fisheries enforcement. If you’re interested, visit www.anglingtrust.net/vbs
• 6 anglersmail.com
17 MARCH 2015
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Contact our news editor: Thomas Petch telephone: 0203 148 4161 email: anglersmail@timeinc.com
17
The number of Matchman of the Year points scored in one month by our latest monthly winner. Awesome for a canals team man! Read about Andy Beesley in p.13.
Your licence money WILL be carefully spent
n Angling Trust men such as Martin Salter (right) have long taken a deep interest in Environment Agency work. They could be even more involved soon when funds are allocated.
EA not yet decided where £600k per year will go l Standard processes were adhered to l Jobs will be safe l
T
HE Environment Agency and the Angling Trust have both spoken up after our exclusive story last week about a huge contract being put out to tender. As we revealed last issue, the EA are putting a big chunk of their work up to tender, but didn’t widely advertise the fact, and it was thought the Angling Trust, who already had a contract in place, were the only ones bidding for it. EA head of fisheries Sarah Chare said: “These are challenging yet exciting times for Fisheries; protecting and recovering income to fund our fisheries service is one of our highest priorities. “So I was disappointed to read the article on the partnership contract the EA is seeking to deliver work for anglers. “The report is unhelpful because the proposed work is currently worth about £600k per year, with the potential for the value to increase through the lifetime of the contract, if there is sufficient income from licence sales and we are satisfied with the supplier. It could potentially be worth up to £10 million over a four-year period. “The Trust, who we do work well with, like all our partners, is currently undertaking the majority of the angling-related partnership work, but there is no guarantee that it will secure this contract. “In the same way that any new contractor would, the Trust will need to prove it is the best organisation for the job through a fair procurement process. “The article was also wrong to suggest we did not promote this contract widely. We followed the standard procurement process; the advert was placed on the official European tendering website and we also promoted on our website and social media.
This contract will not lead to redundancies within the EA. Sarah Chare “The award of this contract will not lead to redundancies within the EA, but will promote and increase the visibility, viability and value of our work. I look forward to announcing the successful partner once the full tendering process is complete,” she added. n We broke the news last week about how EA work is being put out to tender.
Trust defend their bid MARK LLOYD, chief executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal, also defended their involvement in the process that will allocate rod licence money. Mark said: “It is important to point out that the potential contract is not worth £10million a year. The Contract Notice is for a 21-month period (1 July 2015 to 31 March 2017) with a possibility of two extensions of one year each. “The contract notice is split
News IN BRIEF
£5K0LE
TAC NER WIN
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On the Linear complex there is enough to last me a lifetime with all the different lakes and the variety of fishing. Tom Maker – guest in our new Venue Expert series in p.50/51
Magic 8 again for Mike MIKE STAINES nabbed this stunning 8 lb 1 oz chub on the Lea at the Kings Weir fishery – and he believes it might be the same one that he caught three weeks ago at 8 lb 2 oz. The Chub Study Group member, 64, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, said: “I arrived mid afternoon with the intention of waiting until dark to cast out. “I fed eight pieces of squeezed bread flake over a
40-minute period.” Getting a feeling he should cast out earlier than planned, Mike’s bread flake went out on a size 2 hook and he soon got a steady pull, striking into the giant chub. “She dived into overhanging branches, but I plunged the rod tip under the water and played her in,” added Mike. It was his 100th chub over 6 lb, which includes two over 8 lb, 17 over 7 lb and 81 sixes.
£10K0 LE
SPECIMEN CUP
n Winner – Mike Staines wins £100 of top Korum tackle for his 8 lb 1 oz chub. Our Korum Specimen Cup is tops for big fish rewards!
TAC ER WINN
Fred flourishes during day into three lots: increasing participation and engagement with anglers (£1.4m - £1.9m), Fisheries Enforcement Support Service (£725K - £1.225m) and a Strategic Fisheries Improvement Programme to support clubs and fisheries of between (£1m to £6.875m). “This level of funding is a natural extension of the programmes that we have been successfully delivering in recent years to protect fish from poaching and predation and to get more people fishing more often, as part of the National Angling Strategy.
“The Trust has been successful in securing nearly £500,000 funding each year from Sport England to match the contribution from rod licence funds, which will add a great deal of value to the contract if we are successful, and we will be seeking further match funding from other sources to maximise the amount of money that we can spend on projects for the benefit of all anglers. “I think that this is something that should be celebrated, rather than criticised,” he added.
Great Gurm’s out
River poachers hit
ANGLER-FRIENDLY Gurm, at top Essex water Fryerning Fisheries, has hit the banks again, Chris Hellyar matting the mighty mirror carp (left) at 52 lb 8 oz. Basildon-based BT engineer Chris saw a single fish show by the snag tree in the box swim, cast to it and landed the giant 90 minutes later. The 27-year-old carper offered a Nash TG Tandoori Garlic pop-up boilie.
RIVER SEVERN anglers had some cheer when two Eastern European poachers had to pay over £700 and had their tackle confiscated after being found guilty by Cheltenham Magistrates Court. Northampton pair Krzysztof Mozdzen and Grzegorz Wojciechowski were each fined £105, ordered to pay costs of £256.94 with a victim surcharge of £20. Environment Agency fisheries officers were patrolling the River Severn at Deerhurst, Gloucestershire, overnight in July 2014 as part of Operation Stone when the pair were seen removing coarse fish and concealing them in a container on the way back to their car.
n Chris Hellyar’s capture of this 52 lb 8 oz carp wins £50 of Fox Edges tackle in our Fox Carp Cup.
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TWICE Angler’s Mail Specimen Cup champ Fred Healey also ended TACK LE the river season with a WINN ER bang with this 4 lb 7 oz 8 dr River Lea perch. Fred, from Uckfield, East Sussex, added others of 3 lb 3 oz and 2 lb 10 oz during a session in Hertfordshire. Fred said: “I was aiming for a few perch Winner – Fred Healey, in the day and then SPECIMEN CUP with this 4 lb 7 oz 8 dr concentrated on chub at perch, is also a winner in our Korum Specimen night, which has proved Cup, netting £100 of tackle. fruitful in the past. “I was chuffed with what “All my fish fell to float fished happened during the day, but had live roach. I added a bonus 15 lb no joy at night at all. 14 oz pike as well.”
£ 10 0
CATCH & WIN!
Report your catches to us SPECIMEN CUP l Weekly coarse catch winners get
£100 of Korum tackle l £350 of kit is up for grabs in monthly judging l £3,000 PLUS other big cash payouts at the end of the year
n Tackle in prizes may include the Korum Grub Feeder – perfect for early season bream that can’t resist a pile of maggots!
Email pictures with catch details, including weight, venue and tactics used, and a daytime phone number, to: anglersmail@timeinc.com Or, if using the post, send pictures and details to: Angler’s Mail, Time Inc, Blue Fin Buiding, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU. 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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News This week’s GREAT Chef’s hot brace NORTH WEST barbel ace Jerry Gleeson planned some late-season sessions down south, but ended up with a brace of 14 lb 3 oz (pictured) and 10 lb 5 oz close to home on the River Goyt. The 40-year-old head chef booked ten days off work with the aim of fishing King’s Weir on Hertfordshire’s River Lea, but conditions meant he didn’t travel. Jerry, from Stockport, Cheshire, said: “With high daytime temperatures and reasonable overnight ones and rising water, I was certain I’d be in for a fish or two. “On arriving at the
river, on a new private syndicate, someone was in my first choice swim and had informed me they’d already lost two barbel and had four to 12 lb 4 oz. “I pre-baited a swim with four droppers of hemp and lowered my rig in, the ever faithful Flakey from The Hook Bait Company being my bait, in Spicy Meat Pro flavour.” n Jerry’s annual Barbel Society charity fundraiser this year is going to be a North versus South challenge on August 15. Donations can be made using www.justgiving. com/jerry-gleeson2
n THIS 6 lb 2 oz eel only just made it into Adrian Paul’s net as it was so long. Adrian was legering prawns for perch at Kent’s Tricklebrook Fishery when the super snake took a liking to his bait. Retired, Adrian, 60, from Wainscott, Kent, said: “It was a real surprise catch that took a lot of landing in the net I had set up, as it was so long, and I only got it into the net when it folded itself up to fit in!” Venue latest: 07743 955812. n RETIRED Geoff Bowen used good oldfashioned rolled bread crust to fool this 7 lb 9 oz chub from the hard-fished River Lea at Fishers Green. The 67-year-old from Chingford, East London, used a size 6 barbless hook to a 10 lb fluorocarbon trace.
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n MARK JONES ended the river season in style with this 28 lb pike from his local River Wensum. Cromer, Norfolkbased Mark offered a pasternostered smelt on size 6 treble hooks to a 28 lb wire trace and 15 lb main line. 17 MARCH 2015
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CATCHES
NEW
n SPESSY ace Stuart Court had this well-marked 4 lb perch in a brilliant four-fish catch from the River Lea. Watford, Hertfordshirebased Stuart, who recently joined the Guru stable, added another of the same weight and also a 3 lb 13 oz and a 3 lb 10 oz, using a lobworm over feedered chopped worm and maggot.
exclusive to Angler’s Mail
n PROLIFIC White Springs had suffered a rare bad spell on their Specimen Lake, but that ended in style with a flurry of good fish topped by this 32 lb 8 oz mirror to John Cooper. John fished an evening session at peg 3 to land Graeme’s Cut Tail using Nash 4G squid frozen boilies. Venue latest: 01792 885699.
n UNDERWATER filming expert Jack Perks was on the other side of the lens after netting this personal best 1 lb 12 oz grayling from the Derbyshire Derwent. The 23-year-old Nottingham angler float fished maggots under a 4 gr Loafer float.
n THIS 36 lb 12 oz ghost carp was caught by Steve Aldous two hours into the new season at Norfolk’s Taswood Lakes, which has a winter Close Season. Local Norwich rod Steve legered an 18 mm Mainline Cell boilie, and the lake produced a dozen 20s and two 30s in the first 48 hours. The venue ghostie record stands at 41 lb 3 oz. Venue latest: 01508 470919.
n PROCESS operator Arran King tackled a low-stocked Lincolnshire pit for this pristine 26 lb 13 oz mirror. The 35-year-old Grimsby carper used a Sticky Baits 16 mm White Signature pop-up over some Spombed boilie crumb and corn.
n VAUGHAN WITTON was shocked to get a very rare brace from the River Severn just below Worcester – an 11 lb barbel and this 11 lb sturgeon! Wordsley, West Midlandsbased Vaughan used a pellet feeder with a
14 mm hook bait and added a 5 lb barbel. He said: “Whilst the big barbel was resting in the landing net, the other rod went off and this sturgeon jumped clear of the water twice before I could net it.”
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n BARRY RATCLIFF was absolutely chuffed to finish his River Thames carp campaign by boating a brace of mirrors, topped by this 20 lb 4 oz beauty from an undisclosed stretch. Barry caught both of his fish on bolt-rigged bread.
For details of how to enter and what you can win in Angler’s Mail’s exclusive FOX CARP CUP turn to this week’s Colin Davidson’s Carp World in p.38-41. 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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News
1994
DO YOU HAVE A STORY?
Contact our news editor: Thomas Petch telephone: 0203 148 4161 email: anglersmail@timeinc.com
My TOP TIP
n The Warwickshire Avon, seen behind Dave Brice (holding his 6 lb 12 oz chub) was a standout river in a splendid end of season.
“I like to legered paste for chub, with crumbled boilies and liquidised bread through a feeder.”
Avon ends season as star river
l
Big barbel and chub feed l Five-hour match won with 198 lb 6 oz l Many more species to specimen sizes
T
HE Warwickshire Avon has been the form river in the whole country as the running water season came to a close with three great catches topped by a 16 lb barbel. The lucky angler to nab the brute of a beard was Frank Setterfield on the Anchor Meadows stretch near Harvington. He legered luncheon meat on a size 4 hook to a 12 lb fluorocarbon hook link. Telford, Shropshire-based Frank said: “I didn’t sleep much that night and couldn’t wait to tell my dad the great news.” And Dave Brice showed the Avon’s chub potential with a 6 lb 12 oz specimen on paste dipped in 3Foot Twitch Dubby glug. Dave said: “It took me over 30 years to catch a five-pounder from the Warwickshire Avon and then to catch a fish this big just a month later is mind blowing!” Bag-up anglers should also
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17 MARCH 2015
look to the Warwickshire Avon for next season as it produced one of the biggest match bags of the entire year on any river on the penultimate weekend with a huge 198 lb 6 oz bream bag. Ray Ravenall, chairman of the Worcester DUAA, had the bream
haul at their Pensham stretch – see page 54 for the full match report in our brilliant new Where to Fish section. Warwickshire Avon specimen hunter Ashley Burton commented: “It has to be one of the best rivers for its diverse
amount of specimen fish of many species, plus does some great bags to match and pleasure anglers. “It is also a great carping river with the potential to catch 20s and the very odd 30 lb-plus fish. “The lower river has been producing some very big barbel - that Anchor Meadow fish is a known one. “A mate of mine had a 26 lb pike recently which is massive for the Avon, there’s also big zander present. I’ve witnessed them to 15 lb, but you have to put the hours in!”
One of the best rivers for its diverse amount of specimen fish n Frank Setterfield admires his impressive 16 lb barbel.
Ashley Burton
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The year of this week’s Greatest Ever Catch. The superstar angler concerned won yet another gold medal, and has an MBE. Find out more by turning to p.21.
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Yet another roach-dace double
IN-FORM angler Mark Everard signed-off his river fishing campaign in style with yet another ‘magic double’ – his third of the season after not ever doing one until a few months ago. Mark has been slaying huge river roach and dace with his latest samples going 2 lb 3 oz and 1 lb 1 oz (seen in p.3) respectively. Fishing his beloved Bristol Avon, Mark has had to jet away for work commitments and despite losing a big fish at last knockings, he has shown why he is known as Dr Redfin for sure. The Great Somerford, Wiltshire-based fishery scientist said: “This is a fab brace with several back-up fish too.” Mark, now a professor, once again employed float fished bread flake tactics to great effect. His other two magic doubles - rated the hardest feat in angling by Dick Walker - came from the Hampshire Avon. Silver fish fans do have a number of others venues to try to achieve the brace, with the Wear, Kennet, Dorset Stour and Wye all giving a slim chance.
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anglersmailsubs.co.uk/15V Thames ends in form too
THIS 16 lb 9 oz barbel was just rewards for what has been a tough campaign for Peter Hollingsworth from another of the best rivers of the 2014-15 season – the mighty Thames. The 44-year-old gardener has been fishing an undisclosed stretch that produced another whisker of 12 lb 1 oz a couple of days later. It’s been tough going but Pete also managed a Thames carp of 38 lb 10 oz - a fish that had won him a monthly award in the Angler’s Mail Carp Cup a few seasons back when it weighed in at 37 lb 4 oz. Pete, who wins £100 of tackle this time for the big barbel, offered a 15 mm nut boilie in the margins over a handful of particles and pellets. Pete said: “I’ve not caught loads and loads of fish but the ones I’ve caught are the right ones size wise.” S P E C I M E N C U P SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
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If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. asks you to. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us. 10 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com 7
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Match News
England squads unveiled
16th ■ Former World Youth champ Mark Godfrey gets a call-up for the Euros. He won in the recent Sensas Challenge with this net (result in p.65).
Downes and Addy retain same World side ● Young guns to the fore for other events ● Proper Home International returns ●
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HE Drennan Team England 2015 international squads have been unveiled with an unchanged line-up for the blue riband event – the 62nd annual FIPS World Championship in Slovenia from September 6 to 13. Despite a 16th place finish in Croatia last year - England’s lowest finish for more than two decades - co-managers Mark Downes and Mark Addy have kept faith with a six-man squad of Alan Scotthorne, Sean Ashby, Des Shipp, Will Raison, Steve Hemingray and Callum Dicks,
with Lee Kerry and Matt Godfrey travelling as part of the back-up unit. “2015 looks a good but difficult year. We travel to Slovenia in September’s World Championships on a notoriously peggy venue but one full of fish. Despite last year’s poor result we are retaining the same team. Young Callum Dicks, after a good showing last year, deservedly retains his place,” said Mark Downes. However, changes are afoot for the European Championships on
MATCHMAN OF THE YEAR - FEBRUARY
Beesley’s bonus
17 Matchman of the Year points in month ● Team angler makes good pegs pay ● Worms key bait for Andy Beesley ●
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a rowing course venue in Belarus from June 21-28 where triple junior World Champion Matt Godfrey looks set to make his long-awaited senior debut. “Matt is an outstanding young
angler whose progress we’ve been monitoring for some time. Mark Downes and I both feel we must get him involved at senior level as quickly as possible,” noted Mark Addy, whose Euro squad is
A
I’ve already said you still have to make them count on the day.” Andy’s 17-point monthly haul was five clear of nearest rival Chris Gorrell. A freelance matchman who has fished with several squads including Shakespeare plus Dams and Locks this term, Andy started his match career with the Derby-based Brilo Travellers team in Angler’s Mail Drennan Super League campaigns of the 1990s. “I’ve always loved canals and team fishing, and I still get invited to fish such events these days,” said Andy, who credits part of his recent success to a happy knack of catching bonus perch on lobworms. “I’ll always keep the worm line going right to the end of a match, regardless of response. In one of my wins I caught a couple of 2 lb 12 oz perch in the last 40 minutes on the worm despite no signs of a bite in the earlier stages. The worm is an important part of my match plan, but you need to catch roach too and I’ve managed to do both this year,” he added.
STUNNING set of results on Midlands canals including two victories plus a second place in 50-plus peggers have seen Andy Beesley crowned Angler’s Mail Preston Innovations Matchman of the Month for February 2015. Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire plumber Andy dazzled on Leicestershire’s Loughborough Canal with back-to-back victories in Sensas Canal Masters events, preceded by victory and a frame place in Burton Winter League contests on his local Trent and Mersey cut. Tom Pickering selected Andy to win the great prize (right) and an exclusive cap, and said: “Although they’re not my favourite venues, I’ve got big respect for the Midlands canals circuit. To win there consistently takes great commitment and skills so Andy Beesley’s score of 17 points in a single month is a brilliant return. He’s a worthy Matchman of the Month.” Andy said: “It’s great to get recognition with this award. I’ve drawn some good pegs but like
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Drennan Team England’s World Championships finishing position last year out of 37 nations who tackled a raging Dubrava Channel in Croatia.
It’s great to get recognition with this award. Our Matchman of the Month, Andy Beesley
LEE KERRY
■ England anchor man Des Shipp is in three of the four international sides. He’s seen here with a carp – not from a pool but from the River Soar during the Sensas Challenge.
LEADERBOARD WITH the champion already crowned, in Andy Bennett, who won £5k, the final day of the season saw a late scramble for points affecting the money places. Read the Mail for exclusive coverage of what happened, as we ratify all positions that count in the next couple of issues. CHAMPION 120 ANDY BENNETT (Daiwa Guru Bait-Tech).
completed by Sean Ashby, Steve Hemingray, Will Raison, Des Shipp and Alan Scotthorne. Meanwhile, after a long absence from the match calendar, the Home International Championships returns and a Drennan England squad combining youth and experience in the shape of Matt Derry, James Dent, Cameron Hughes,
Lee Kerry, Will Raison, Alan Scotthorne and Simon Willsmore, will travel to Innescarra in Ireland to do battle with the host nation plus Wales and Scotland. Finally, reigning champions Will Raison and Des Shipp are confirmed as Drennan England’s pair for the 2015 Fish‘O’Mania International Challenge at Cudmore Fishery.
My TOP TIP
72 LEE THORNTON (Bag ‘Em/Middy). 63 LEE RICHARDS (Packington). 60 MAL WATSON (Daiwa Gordon League). 59 CHRIS HILL (Mosella). 57 STEVE OPENSHAW (Lingmere). 55 JON JOWETT (Maver NW). 52 LEE HARRISON (Drennan Barnsley). 48 BARRY BUSH (Lingmere). 45 DAZ SHAW (Maver NW). 44 JAMES HOWARTH (Tri-Cast Highfield). 41 JASON COLLINS (Ockendon); DAVE ARMITAGE (Cleckheaton). 40 MIKE ROGERSON (Preston Innovations)
WHAT HE’S WON
There’s a superb trio of reels heading our winner Andy Beesley’s way. He gets three PXR PRO reels worth £79.99 each. With a black aluminium and graphite construction and striking red graphics these Preston Innovations reels boast many of the features associated with reels twice as expensive.
■ Andy Beesley - a worthy Matchman of the Month for February.
NEW
In every canal match I always feed a worm line and have regular looks there on two rigs – a heavy one with half-lob hook baits and a lighter one for dendrobaenas.
LOADS MORE MATCH RESULTS
- latest results from venues are now in our massive Where To Fish This Week section, starting in page 46. SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
England match ace
Confidence... it’s no trick!
IS confidence the key to match success? That was the question me and my Drennan Barnsley team-mates were asking when we tackled a very poor River Soar for the two-day Sensas Challenge UK Final (result in p.65). The Soar is absolutely stuffed with fish, but running cold and murky it was unlikely to show its true colours as two days of rock-hard practice sessions confirmed. Our thoughts were simple; it was no good going in with a negative attitude, we simply had to catch a fish! Self-confidence alone is not enough. But confidence in your feeding and presentation could make the difference in catching that elusive fish. My team showed confidence in me to go into the drawbag, and then even more as we proceeded to team victory with nine out of ten catchers over the two days. From a personal perspective, third overall was a pleasing result but the team outcome is far more important. Of course luck plays a large part in hard fishing matches, but when you are sitting and potentially waiting for just one bite I think confidence brings a little bit of extra concentration, patience and timing that might just make the difference. Take individual winner and team-mate Matt Godfrey, who caught a skimmer on his first cast. I know he’d fed, baited up then lowered his rig in perfectly, full of confidence. So was it any surprise it kept going down and secured him a section-winning fish first chuck? Confidence or luck... they are probably more closely linked than we truly realise!
17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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NEW
The SPECIMEN n Andy Little ended his river season in style with several 5 lb chub topped by a 6 lb 2 oz, caught using plenty of maggots, a big float and a small hook.
Chub finale on a float ANDY LITTLE’S Angling week VENUE FISHED: the Hampshire Avon’s Somerley Estate. SPECIES: chub.
METHOD AND BAIT: a big float and plenty of maggots – but light line and small hooks!
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better than average sized fish, with a big six or even a sevenpounder on the cards. I decided to use one of my favourite methods – float fishing maggots. A constant stream of maggots will generally wind up the wariest of chub, bringing them out from under cover and getting them
PICKED a stunning stretch of the middle Avon for my last session of the season. This is one of my favourite waters, and I was so glad to find the river in perfect condition, unlike this time last year, when it was in the fields! This stretch of the Avon has a great track record of producing
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competing for every last grub. This doesn’t mean that they are a pushover, though, and you need to fine-tune your end rigs to ensure that you get at least a few bites. My set-up consisted of a 12 ft lightweight float rod and a small fixed-spool reel loaded with 3.2 lb main line. The first job is to ensure that it stays floating all day, as I planned to be fishing a top-and-bottom float rig. A quick squirt with some floatant onto a dry line is usually enough for several hours fishing.
Huge float, small hooks
The end rig belies finesse in some respects, as my choice of float was a large Dave Harrell
Alloy Avon, usually in 6, 8 or even 10 gr. These can look absolutely huge, but stability is the name of the game, as well as combating the seemingly ever-present downstream wind.
n Rather than using bulk shot, which can damage your line, an inline olivette is a far better choice and is far less likely to spin on the retrieve.
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HUNTERS n To ensure that the line stays floating all day, Andy applies a quick squirt of Leeda Fly Float to a dry spool of line.
I find the choice of hook link material is critical, and a low diameter monofilament is definitely the way forward. This will usually be Power Micron from 0.11 mm to 0.13 mm, depending on the swim and conditions. The clearer the river is running, the finer the hook link needs to be. I also like a very long hook link of about 50 cm. This is attached to the main line via a microswivel, which also acts as a stop for an appropriate-sized olivette. There is really only one hook strong enough for the job, and that’s a size 20 Super Specialist.
GARY NEWMAN’S
Angling week
These floats look absolutely huge, but stability is the name of the game…
Pitting my wits against pike VENUE FISHED: Hertfordshire gravel pit. SPECIES: pike. METHOD AND BAIT: legered half herring and mackerel deadbaits.
Feed a pint of maggots per hour
I introduced a steady stream of maggots for about 20 minutes or so, before the first trot through. I have timed my feed rate and it works out just short of a pint of maggots per hour. I normally get into a routine of feeding for a quarter of an hour and fishing for five minutes. When you are trying to build up a shoal of chub, it’s better to let the swim calm down regularly to get them to feed constantly. Fishing tight against the far marginal cover, the float buried on the first run through. Whoever said chub don’t fight needs to have a go at this style of fishing – they are real bruisers! On this relatively light gear, against a powerful current, you really need to keep control of the situation without over-egging it. I had already placed my landing net 50 yards downstream, and after a strong fight of nearly ten minutes I guided the first fish of the day safely into the mesh. At 5 lb 10 oz, it was a great start. A couple more smaller fives followed, and then the fish of the day, a belting 6 lb 2 oz specimen. This certainly brought a smile to my face, finishing the season in style, and left me reflecting on what a fabulous winter I have had on the rivers.
Andy Little and Gary Newman, share knowledge from their weekly sessions, with top tips.
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Andy’s TOP TIP
EARN where pike usually spawn on larger waters, and they’re likely to be there at a similar time every year. This has been the case on a large, local pit, where I’ve targeted a big bay. I’d scored there in the past at night, as on many other pits, and the majority of my 20s have been in the dark! For my first session back it was bitingly cold and clear. And despite seeing some roach topping at dusk – a good sign, as pike often follow them – I awoke the next morning without a bleep. Thankfully, a couple to 12 lb fish then a few others to 15 lb
KRILL MEAL I think that Antarctic Krill Meal sprinkled on my maggots gives me an edge. They are sieved and cleaned the night before and dusted with a liberal dose, ready for use the next day.
n I reduce resistance by pointing my rod directly at my bait and fishing either an open bail arm and drop-off indicator, or a very lightly set Baitrunner.
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gave me some action before I packed up 24 hours later. I was surprised that I hadn’t caught more, but they weren’t all grouped up here, which was confirmed when a friend had a good catch at the other end. I returned for three more nights, and at around 10pm I had a steady take from a bait cast 40 yards to the back of a gravel bar. As I hit solid resistance, I knew I was into a better fish, and as it surfaced just out of netting range I could see in the torchlight that it was over 20 lb… well over. Then it shook its head and threw the hooks!
Finicky feeders
I managed a couple of low doubles, but nothing made up for that loss. Then, midmorning, half a herring close in was picked up by something decent, and after a very hard fight I had it safely in the net. A long fish, it was nowhere near as fat as the one that I’d lost, but at 19 lb 9 oz it was my best pike this winter. The action was fairly steady from then on, with fish of 8-15 lb. The pike were finicky, yet they don’t get fished for very often. I think this was partly down to the water still being cold, and the fish not being overly active. Those pike still haven’t spawned yet, so I’ll be back and hopefully will bump into that biggie again, and this time I hope the hooks will stay in! 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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STEVE COLLETT
UK’s No. 1 all-rounder In his own unique style, Steve Collett now delivers a weekly session report with great pictures, advice and views. He loves fishing for anything – anywhere! Pictures by Ian Chapman.
THIS WEEK’S MISSION
To try to winkle out a perch or two, on a new format lure fishing match, on a commercial fishery, and have fun! I’ve been doing well and loving these contests, so cannot wait. VENUE: Woodland View Fishery, Hay Lane, Hadley, Worcestershire, WR9 0AU. Tel: 01905 620 872. A famous and well-established Midlands complex that hosts huge match fishing events such as Fish’O’Mania qualifiers and the Mail’s Matchman of the Year British Open. Stocked primarily with carp, bags of 100 lb-plus are commonplace. Average carp 4-6 lb, but pools here also contain specimen-sized perch, roach, and eels. This venue also has a
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NLESS you have an attention span like me… err, sorry, I’ve forgotten what I was on about already! Oh, that’s right… I doubt it would have escaped anyone’s attention that lure fishing is enjoying a bit of a boom at the moment. I, for one, am all for that. It’s a relatively cheap way of getting into angling, it’s mobile, and people (gender) friendly, and most of all it’s a rather spiffing wheeze!
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small pool for beginners, a great café and superb facilities. It’s sponsored by match fishing giants Preston Innovations, and these recently started lure contests have backing from Quantum Specialist tackle. CONDITIONS: after a cold spell, the forecast predicts a whopping 14 Celsius and wall-to-wall sunshine; not ideal for perch fishing, but it may get the carp grubbing around. The breeze is a 2 mph westerly. High pressure reads 1019 mb (and rising).
So this week I decided to go and support a little event my old mukka Mike ‘The Jetsetting Gypsy’ Mason was hosting, along with his son Adrian ‘Do You Want Onions On That?’ Mason at Woodland View. Now, Woodland View is a famous commercial fishery set in the wonderful Worcestershire countryside, and is full to the brim with carp, yes carp. So why have a lure match on there? Well, as you all know, these
My ‘forty pound’ perch did me proud! SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
n A wasp, a micro billy, a sprat perch – call it what you will. It’s a forty pound perch for me! I was still well beaten by Gunsmoke’s net.
It’s full to the brim with carp, yes carp. So why have a lure match on there?
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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STEVE COLLETT UK’s No. 1 all-rounder well-established commercials hold a few surprises, and every now and then some humongous perch crop up at the weigh-in. Add in the need these days for safe, comfortable venues to try lure fishing, and hopefully a winning combo is right here! Mike and Adey have been running a little series to hopefully develop this branch of angling and, most importantly, get ‘bums on the bank’ at quiet times of the year, with an added bit of competition. I was keen to fish, as I might get amongst my favourite little critters, the perch. By the way, I’m just writing a book on perch… but on reflection, paper would have been better! (It’s okay, I’m here all week…)
n As bent as a bendy thing can bend, my ‘ghetto pigeon’ lure rod was near breaking point!
Drop shot or jig head?
n I tried to paint stripes on this beast, but it still didn’t pass for a perch.
Steve’s HOW TO...
Tweak a drop shot rig
n Studying perch, I’ve noticed that they
n Even this small dot/eye with a
seem to attack the head first, so sometimes adding an ‘eye’ can make all the difference.
black marker pen gives your lure an added hit point.
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Arriving at the café, it was great to catch up with Mike and his wonderful wife Denise, and after a cuppa and a brekkie, the rules for the competition were explained. We would fish an allotted peg for 40 minutes, then a hooter would sound and we would move round three pegs, retaining our fish in a keepnet. Possibly a bit controversial, but, hey, it’s Mike’s fishery, and I am not arguing with mild-mannered Mick’s rules (those of you who know him will get that joke!). This was also going to be a drop shotting match, a term I am not that comfortable with, to be honest, as with all pigeonholed terminology, I like to do something called ‘fishing’… for fish! With the method restricted to drop shotting, I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do for the best. The real drop shotting I’m used to is more or less a vertical rod, peeking and poking through holes and crevices looking for small perch. It’s not a long cast and a jig back. This would have been more suited to jig-head tactics, but, hey, I’m perhaps getting too technical now? This day was about a bit of support for a mate, and a chance
n Nail varnish on a bright tungsten
drop shot weight keeps it subtle.
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to press flesh with like-minded lure fanatics. I couldn’t wait to get started, but as soon as the hooter went, I felt like a fish out of water, to be honest! It was very alien to me, casting a drop shot rig, and I couldn’t stop the niggle in my head telling me I could catch a hell of a lot more with a jig head. I persevered, and placed my lure in the usual haunts of a perch – the margins, the reeds and any ‘perchy’ looking spots. That was until ‘Do You Want Onions?’ told me to cast into open water and retrieve slowly. I had to listen, as his iPhone came out and he proceeded to show me some ‘right ol perchy lumps’ he has had from this complex. With a bit more enthusiasm, I started to cast my drop shot, and almost immediately I had a very slight knock, followed by what can only be described as a ‘whack’ and my reel’s drag screamed almost as if in pain, as yards and yards of line streamed from it. I knowingly looked back at Chappy and said: “That’s certainly no perch, pal!” With an alarmingly bent ‘ghetto pigeon’ rod straining to the max, a carp of nearly 10 lb was eventually netted, hooked fair and square in the gob! Now this could raise hackles amongst the holier-than-thou carpers out there, but I’m positive that these creatures are more predatory than we think. And it’s bloody good fun fighting one on light gear, I can tell you. Unfortunately, they didn’t count. However… watch this space…!
in between 400 phone calls from his ‘husband’ Les Thompson! A Blankety Blank cheque book was awaiting me, though, until the very, and I mean very, last minute, when I managed to wangle out a magnificent ‘forty pound perch’. The best perch of my life, as I was sure it would put me second and fill my wallet with forty crisp greenbacks. Luckily, my perch was enough, and a great, but very, very tough,
day was enjoyed by all. And although today didn’t show the true potential of the fishery, this was live – all my own stunts. No sneaky-sneaky roped-off swims. I can see this way of fishing developing across other commercial fisheries where perch thrive, and why not? There was a lady angler present, and a couple of young kids, so it could really catch on across the board. I hope so!
n My latest scarecrow dance move seemed to attract bemused locals.
n No doubt about it, this carp (perch with no stripes) wanted my lure.
Avoiding a blank
After the commotion, I moved a peg to my left (within the rules) and lo and behold I caught another. I don’t know what you carp fishermen get up to; it’s child’s play (joke!). I needed a perch desperately, as Craig ‘Gunsmoke’ Evans, ex-match fishing supremo, had managed to catch three tiny ones,
n Tough fishing all round, but seeing youngsters catch fish put a huge smile on everyone’s face!
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Steve’s POINT OF VIEW What’s caught my attention this week!
The Close Season
AS EVER, the last week of the season meant two things – sock-on rivers stuffed full of 15 lb barbel and countless 30 lb pike just waiting to jump into our nets. And, of course, they’d happily feed on easily; a doddle to catch after the 14th! Well, this isn’t the case. They’ll remain as tricky and mysterious as ever. And I’ll be chomping at the bit for the next 11-and-a-bit weeks to get back on them. And this leads me to the second thing: Close Season moaners and their same old moan to abolish it. I personally like the Close Season, and I don’t like the Close Season – if that makes sense? It renews my enthusiasm and passion for these amazing waterways when I’m not allowed on them. I’m not so keen on the fact that it allows predators a free ‘all-youcan-eat’ buffet. One thing is sure: could we ever replicate that June 15th evening feeling? The excitement of getting Angler’s Mail in ‘opening week’, looking at pictures of barbel, chub and other great fish? I don’t think we could replace that.
To measure or to weigh?
A common practise over in other European nations is the habit of measuring fish, and it’s becoming popular in Blighty, especially with lure contests. I like it, but I don’t think it’s that accurate. I’ve had a 52 cm perch at 5 lb 2 oz and I have had a 52 cm perch at 4 lb 1 oz. What about us? I’m 6 ft 2 in. and weigh 15 st. My mate Greg is 6 ft 2 in. and weights 23 st! Measuring is a lot easier and gets fish back quickly, which is good. What do you think?
17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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YOUR VIEWS this week Struggle to support my sport Angler’s Mail LETTER
OF THE WEEK
n Keith Thompson and his partner are trying to get more people around Bolton out there fishing.
EA should be independent I HAVE been a member of the Angling Trust from day one, and I applaud the work that they have done, even though they don’t take criticism well. That’s something for another day. The Environment Agency are there to protect the whole environment and not just angling. If the Angling Trust were to control a quarter of their overall income then the EA would have, I feel, constrictions on their activities imposed by angling. That would be wrong! The EA should be a totally independent body with a remit to protect the environment, no question about that. Anglers and anglers alone should support the Trust, and until they do we cannot expect any change. I have been an angler for 58 years, and it saddens me talking to other anglers who aren’t members of the Trust. If every angler were to join the Trust, think of the power we and
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it could wield. Dave Banks, via email. n TO JOIN the Angling Trust, visit ww.anglingtrust.net It costs as little as £2.50 a month or £25 a year. Various Trust guys will also be at The Big One show in Farnborough, Hampshire, this weekend (March 21/22). Ed.
Real ‘no-go’ area
IN THE 1950s my best mate and I fished a monastery stock pond overnight. Suddenly, a strange feeling got stronger, making me turn around just in time to see a boy dressed in what looked like Victorian clothing, without socks or shoes on his feet. I said to him “Hello” and at this he faded away before my eyes. I looked over to ask my mate if he saw what I saw. No need, he was back at the car under a blanket with all the doors locked. If my dear friend were alive today, I bet he would say: “Now that’s what you call a no-go area!” Ron Brooke, via email.
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HANKS to my parents, I’ve been fishing since I was five (now 30 years young) and have loved the sport ever since. When I turned 15, in the year 2000, at the time my parents were remand foster carers and one day me and my dad came up with an idea. We take children that live with us fishing, so why don’t I start fishing classes for other foster children that don’t get to live with us? It was a lightbulb moment. Our local social services loved the idea. Soon I was choosing a load of fishing stuff with someone else’s money. Buying all the brands I love was amazing – it was like a dream! As far as I know we were the first to do this kind of thing. The lessons went great, lots of kids got to feel the excitement of this great sport we all share. Anyway, 15 years later I had that lightbulb moment again. Me and my partner had always wanted to foster, but couldn’t because our kids are too young. So why don’t we support the youth in other ways – using our great sport? So that was it, every night after work I would work on our business plan. Two months, my savings and a small business loan later and we have a fishing
Cheers to flag-fishing
AFTER writing my Strange Captures blog for the www.anglersmail.co.uk website I’ve been and caught another unusual object from the depths. It was during the Sensas Challenge Final on the River Soar, which was pretty grim fishing for most of us involved, with scores of blanks. I was in the middle of ten anglers who dry netted, and what you see here was the one and only thing that I hooked. I played it for a while
tackle and bait shop (which is where we will launch the fishing courses from). The idea was: launch the shop, have affordable tackle to support local youth, and branded tackle to also support local advanced anglers. We managed to get affordable brands and our baits are affordable (maggots only £2 a pint and bags of pellet for £1). We are on track. Unfortunately, out of around 20 brands, we were only supported and accepted by two, so far. I am quickly running out of funds (many brands have minimum spends). I hate to say it, but where is the support – not for me, but for the youth of today and for the local angler? My intentions are not at all negative towards any brands, but I had money sitting there waiting to give. I will push on with the idea I had, I will support the youth and I will keep my idea alive. Keith Thompson, Angling Masters, Bolton, Lancashire. n ARE you doing something special to help angling grow? Maybe you’re doing it as an angler at entirely your own expense, or are in the trade. Drop us a line. Ed. and thought it was an umbrella, then it turned out to be a flag! It was the only highlight after four hours of watching a motionless float bristle. I caught it on a single bloodworm on a size 20 Kamasan B511 hook and a 0.075 mm Supplex Fluorocarbon hook length. It put up a great fight, as Rob Perkins had to help me land it. It says on it: ‘The Time Flies When You’re Having Rum’. Food (or drink!) for thought, perhaps? Jon Arthur, Drennan International, Oxford. n When match star Jon Arthur’s not bagging up he’s flagging up.
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Q
WEEKLY QUESTION Mail readers and our 96,500 Facebook fans have millions of years of experience, and now answer a weekly question.
GREATEST EVER CATCHES
THIS WEEK: is April 1 the right time to renew rod licences, or should you get a full year’s fishing whenever you renew?
A
Daryl Cross: full year from date of purchase. Also it’s about time they let us fish with 3 rods on one licence.
A Mikey Connolly: it is currently
unfair making people who might only need to get a licence half-way through the year have to pay the same amount as someone who has a new licence every April.
A Dan Love: a nice idea could be to
have a traditional season concession that runs from June to March, giving anglers who only fish rivers or don’t
wish to fish outside of the traditional fishing season a small saving.
A
Gavin Goldthorp: it’s not that hard – buy it on April 1 (or just before) and you get a year out of it every time! If you want it real easy, get it by Direct Debit and you don’t even have to think about it.
A
Carl Hughes: it should be whenever you renew. We are not in the dark ages any more. If I can purchase from my phone at any time, then they can issue one any time.
NEXT WEEK: which guests should be in the next series of TV’s The Big Fish Off? Post on facebook.com/AnglersMailMagazine or email us.
YOUR ANGLING WEEK AHEAD
Lunar predictions
Exclusive forecasts for March 17-23 by leading astrologer Marion Williamson. Tues: lots of signals make for an exciting session. Wed: they’re in there! Go deeper or try a different technique before chucking it in. Thurs: swans, badgers, cows and sheep – just not many fish! Fri: techno meltdown – gear goes
missing or your sat nav packs up. Sat: enjoyable conditions, even better if you have company. Sun: just when you think you’ve drawn a blank, you’ll net a belter! Mon: frustrating losses… you’ll be lucky if you just catch the sun!
FIVE TO SEE ON TV John Wilson’s Fishing World QUEST, DAILY 6AM
River Monsters ITV4 FRIDAY 5.40PM.
Total Fishing With Matt Hayes QUEST, DAILY 6.20AM
Tight Lines SKY SPORTS 3, FRIDAY 6PM.
Angler’s Mail PICK ROBSON GREEN DAY
Freeview’s Quest devotes the bulk of its Sunday (March 22) schedule to Extreme Fisherman and Ultimate Catch – the enthusiastic Geordie’s capers in stunning locations. QUEST, SUNDAY 10AM-7PM.
UK weather Temperatures will be just into double-figures across most of the country during the day and dropping down to a few degrees above freezing at night. Mix of cloud and sun. SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
BOB NUDD’S HOME VICTORY
WORLD HAT-TRICK
l CAPTOR: Bob Nudd. l VENUE: National Rowing Course, Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire. l DATE: 1994. AFTER back-to-back World Individual Gold in 1990 and ’91, Bob Nudd netted a historic hat-trick over two rock-hard days at Holme Pierrepont in 1994. Although the genial Essex ace went on to win a fourth title in 1999, victory on home soil was extra-special. Here’s Bob’s recollections now, looking back at the momentous occasion. Hard World Championships were nothing new. My first individual gold, on the River Drava at Maribor in 1990, was a real grueller. We knew it would be a slider job around 30 metres out, and had the method sorted. Alan Scotthorne sussed out the need to use the reel’s line clip, which was vital for accuracy In 10-11 ft depth, many would have opted for fixed wagglers, but we went for sliders, as we
“
knew we needed weight down to ensure true bait presentation. On the hook we used two or three of the biggest bloodworms we could find in our packs. Day 1 I drew D, the hardest section. I caught four perch for 560 gr, but there were only seven fish caught in the section. Day 2 was better. I drew C and caught five perch and a roach for 880 gr. That was enough to win, and the icing on the cake of the team win. I’ve fished big events all over Europe, but never seen a crowd that big before or since. It was incredible fishing and winning in front of a crowd like that. My biggest memory is the oohs and aahs whenever I twitched my float by turning the reel handle to impart some movement to the bait. They must have thought ‘Why doesn’t he strike? What a Noddy!’
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
21 •
N O I T AC PL AY RE
Bagging F1s
s was s e c c su ly how y anglers. t c a x ualit veal e We re hieved by q ac
THIS WEEK:
Former England International and the only three times winner of the Angler’s Mail Matchman of the Year in a row, Dave Vincent shows you how to bag-up with F1s.
T
HROUGHOUT the winter and into spring, former England International Dave Vincent concentrates his efforts on fishing for F1s. And who can blame him, with match bags to a mightily-impressive 160 lb under his belt. His favourite venue is Orchard Place Farm Fishery at Paddock Wood in Kent, where he can often be found fishing both matches and pleasure sessions. With these common carp-crucian hybrids known for feeding in the worst conditions, Dave has notched up a lot of 100 lb-plus hauls of fish averaging 2 lb, with 60 lb often being a minimum bag. We’ve joined him on Lake Five, which has a very good stock of F1s, and where 100 lb hauls top the match weights.
GETTING STARTED
09:00
Although this lake contains a variety of species, it’s the F1s which Dave will be targeting. It’s a windy day, with stronger gusts, plus it is drizzling with rain with some heavier showers forecast, so peg choice is important. Dave explains: “Often in matches on this venue the difference between winning and not comes down to how well you are able to present your bait, and that is dictated by the wind and undertow. If you’re on the back of the wind, you have a much better chance. “One of the things I love about F1 fishing is that it’s so fair as they don’t tend to shoal up in one area, so you can’t tell which peg will win a match beforehand, unlike carp matches at this time of year,” he adds.
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when it’s tough FISHING ON THE DECK
09:15
Dave has chosen a peg that gives him enough shelter from the wind. He’s only fishing at five metres, as there’s no need to go any further out. He starts fishing hard on the bottom, and selects a rig from a number that he has pre-tied on winders. “It’s essential to have plenty of spare rigs, as these fish have hard mouths and a tendency to come off at the net, often leaving your rig in a big tangle,” he reveals. He’s fishing a 0.5 gr float with a long bristle and the bulk of the shot down near the hook link, tied from 0.10 mm line to a 0.13 mm main line. Dave makes his own plummets from pieces of lead and soft sponge, so that if it becomes snagged, a good tug will cause the hook to pull through the foam so that he doesn’t lose a rig. “For all my F1 rigs I use very short hook links, as they often have sharp dorsal fins that can cut lighter line, so if any line comes into contact I want it to be my stronger main line.”
Dave’s
TOP TIPS
durable ‘jelly pellet’ that can be hooked on. “I can’t understand why people spend money on these jelly pellets when they are so easy and cheap to make yourself by using some gelatin and a pellet pump. “This way I can get them exactly how I want them as well,” he adds.
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Use a short hook link, so that it can’t get caught around the fish’s dorsal fin and cut off, as that is often sharp.
QUICK ACTION
09:40
Dave’s float hasn’t been in the water long before it slowly goes under and he lifts into his first F1 of the day. He’s only on fairly light gear, with a number 6- 10 elastic, which is needed so that he doesn’t pull the hook. But once the fish is closer in, he needs to exert more pressure, and this is where a puller kit comes into its own, as it allows him to gradually put more tension on the elastic until the fish is ready for the net. At around a 1 lb 8 oz, it’s fairly typical of the size of F1 in this lake, although they do run to twice that size.
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An adapted tool rack keeps all of Dave’s spare top kits in place and stops them sliding around.
3
A cover to keep your bait dry is essential in the rain, even if you get wet yourself.
FEEDING TECHNIQUE
LINE BITES
09:25
10:40
Rather than using any sort of groundbait, Dave opts for Skretting micro pellets that have been soaked so that they have gone soft. He then uses a groundbait punch to form these into a small cylinder that he introduces to the swim via a pole cup. This ensures that the bait gets down to the bottom before it starts to break up. Dave will top up his swim every put-in when the bites are coming quickly, but will ease off if the action slows and he starts having to wait longer between fish. Over the top of this he will be fishing a 4 mm pellet, which he has modified to form a more
Dave has been catching steadily and is already starting to put together a good bag of fish. But he knows that he will have to adapt his method if he’s to keep catching at this rate, or faster, explaining: “F1s love to come up in the water and once they do you can really get them going and catch shallow. “I’m watching the float carefully for signs of them bumping into my line, and as soon as I see that, I’ll switch to a different method. This is part of the reason why the wind plays such a big part, as when you are fishing up in the water a lot of undertow ruins your presentation, and you get far fewer bites.”
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Dave then catches a couple of skimmer bream in quick succession, and takes this as another sign that the F1s have moved off the bottom, revealing: “Normally they will push everything else out of the swim.”
continued over >> 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
23 •
ACTION REPLAY CHANGE OF TACTICS
10:50
Even when fishing shallow, bites can come on the drop, so Dave is using a special self-weighted float, which will cock without the weight of any shot on it. He fishes one shot directly below the stem and another four or five inches below that, explaining: “The way that this float cocks and then the two shot act as they sink means that any bite on the drop is easily detected. It acts in a similar way to using a very long wire stem, but without the fish being able to feel the resistance that you get from that. “Often the bites on the drop will be quite finicky and you will miss some of them, but once the bait has settled at the depth that you’ve set the float at, the bites tend to be a lot more positive and easy to hit,” adds Dave, whose float is sitting almost sub-surface, just held up by the surface tension – another reason why wind and a chop on the water is no good.
so he has opted for a hard pellet banded onto a size 16 hook. To save fiddling around on the bank, especially on cold days like this, he has a lot of pellets already banded in advance, so that he can simply hook them on.
HECTIC ACTION
12:45
The action has been fast and furious, with a succession of fish coming to Dave’s net. He is now getting a fish nearly every time he re-feeds the
swim, but at times it’s going quiet and he is changing back to his bottom rig to keep the fish coming steadily. “It’s a horrible day, and after recent frosts if we had been fishing for carp I wouldn’t have been that confident, but with F1s you know they are always going to feed whatever the weather is doing.” By around 2pm, and with a match to prepare for the next day, Dave has had enough of the wind, rain and mud. When he lifts his keepnet out it’s a struggle, and there must be around 70-80 lb of F1s in it.
11:00
He now wants his bait to break up on the way down, forming a cloud and attracting any fish in the upper layers. Dave is still using the same dampened pellets to feed with, but now he is just putting them loose into a pole cup, made from a Kinder Egg, and tipping them in and then fishing his rig over the top – the pole cup stays on whilst he is fishing. He is also flicking a few loose pellets in by hand as well, basically just to keep the fish interested and used to seeing pellets falling through the upper layers. He has also changed hook bait, as although the jelly pellets are fairly durable, he wants something that he knows will stay on even if it gets taken and dropped a few times,
Session ROUND-UP “I love this type of fishing, and it’s great fun, and also very fair, as when I’m fishing in a match I know that I’m still in with a chance without having to draw a certain peg to be in with a shout,” Dave comments. “This is a brilliant venue, and I fish here a lot these days because I enjoy it so much, and hopefully other fisheries will realise how good F1s could be for them as well. “Even on a day like today, when the weather has been terrible, I’ve still managed to catch a nice bag of fish. “For me it is all about going and being able to get a lot of bites and also to be able to make subtle adjustments to what
DAVE VINCENT ANGLING CV: the 59-year-old fished for England for ten years, during which time he won three team golds, a silver and a bronze. He then turned his attention to coaching the ladies team, and helped them to four gold medals. Individually, he won the Mail’s Matchman of the Year three times, as well as the Division One National on the River Cam in 2002, when he set a record. He fished for
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you are doing in order to catch more fish,” he adds.
TICKET INFORMATION Kent’ s Orchard Place Farm has ten lakes, seven aimed at specimen anglers and the other three for matchmen. The fishery holds a wide variety of species, including carp and catfish to over 50 lb, barbel and chub, along with F1s. Fishing on the match lakes costs £8 for two rods; £12.50 per day for two rods on the specimen lakes; £25 for 24 hours.
For more information call: 01892 838576 or visit: www. orchardplacefarmfishing.co.uk
FACT FILE
Browning for more than 20 years, as well as for match outfit Trev’s. TACKLE USED: both rigs were tied on Browning 0.13 mm main line to 0.10 mm hook links with size 16 Kamasan B911 hooks for his banded pellet rig, and a size 18 in the same pattern for the jelly pellets. Both of the floats he was using were home-made. He was fishing with a Browning 995 pole with a Middy hollow 6-10 elastic.
FAVOURITE VENUES: “Anywhere that I can go to and get plenty of bites, as I don’t like to sit it out all day for just one or two fish. That’s why I fish Orchard Place a lot, as well as Moorhouse Farm, in Sussex.” FAVOURITE METHOD: “Anything that catches fish and whatever will work on the day. I don’t really have a favourite method, I use whatever I think will work.”
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mini rods...
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prestoninnovations.com 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com 25 •
ANGLING AN Great float rig for commercial pools
RIG of the week RIG BITS 1 0.14 mm or
1
0.16 mm main line 2 Hollow medium tip
2
carbon stem pole
you show me a good rig for use on commercial fisheries, now that Q Can the river season has closed?
float Garbolino DC1
3
3 Three float rubbers
Sam Morley, Baldock, Hertfordshire.
4 Spread bulk No.10 Stotz
Dave Coster says…
5 Loop-to-loop
This rig(left) is perfect for a variety of species when fishing in shallow-to-medium depths. It’s ideal when using baits such as pellets, maggots, casters, sweetcorn or small cubes of luncheon meat.
A
6 0.12 mm or 0.14 mm hook length 7 Single No.11 Stotz
Dave Coster’s
8 Size 16 pellet hook
TOP TIPS FOR COMMERCIALS
4
5 6 7 8
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SWERS WORKING THE SWIM
Even commercials can switch off or fish hard. One great tactic when this happens is to work your rigs around the swim looking for bites, while not actually feeding anything. The best methods for doing this are pole, carp waggler or bomb. The theory behind this is quite simple. There are so many fish in these venues, so a baited hook is never going to be far from fish, and if they are not really feeding, your best chance is relying on your hook bait alone. In effect, teasing the fish to have a go at it, and the only way to do this is to keep your tackle on the move. This entails not leaving your tackle out too long and casting around the swim regularly until bites develop. Keep twitching the hook bait, and with the pole try lifting it up and dropping it down to encourage takes.
A FINE BED
Groundbait used in its usual form can be the kiss of death on many hard fished waters, but if you cup it in as a fine dust, the opposite can be the case. Try mixing a fishmeal or pellet-based groundbait on the dry side, then riddle it and cup it in as a powder, spreading it around the area you intend to fish over. This will form a very fine carpet on the bottom, over which you can loose feed baits such as pellets, maggots or casters. The fine groundbait will attract and hold fish for ages, making them root around to hoover it up, very often sucking in your baited hook at the same time! Normally the powdered groundbait keeps the swim ticking over for an hour.
A PROPER MOUTHFUL
they will usually suck it in very confidently. In similar fashion, you can try using different change baits over micro pellets, such as maggots, casters, diced meat or pieces of worm. Micro pellets can be dribbled in with a tiny pole pot or used with small pellet or Method feeders.
Ask &
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WIN
PICTURES BY
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BACKING OFF
When using any type of feeder in a commercial, if bites dry up at any stage, try unclipping the feeder and switch to a bomb, also adding a couple of turns of line to your cast. You’ll be amazed how many times this tactic brings bites back instantly. This is often due to fish backing off your main feed line after you have caught a few. Once you get amongst the shoal again and catch a few, you can then return to the original feeder spot and will often discover, after the short rest, that fish come back to this area.
MARGIN MAYHEM
Many think that after fish have been hammered they move as far away as possible from pegs being fished, but in reality a lot of fish end up in the margins, really close in. That’s why towards the end of a session it’s a good idea to start feeding the margins to your left and right. These areas don’t get disturbed very much while you are fishing and can come to life in a big way for the last hour of the day. Also, these spots tend to produce bigger fish as the light fades. This is because the bigger, wiser members of a shoal get to know that anglers throw their excess bait in the margins when they pack up.
Another great trick when the fish are not feeding well is to feed micro pellets very sparingly and to fish a larger 4 or 6 mm pellet on the hook. The micros interest the fish but don’t feed them up, making them really grub about to find them, so if they stumble across your bigger hook offering
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PRIZE WINNERS NOW WIN... DYNAMIC TRAVEL CARBON ALL ROUND TRAVEL ROD
A cheap way to colour your hooks to match the bait or bottom is to use a coloured marker pen – use yellow for sweetcorn, black for silt, green for weed, brown for pellets. Try Tipp-Ex for bread and use clear nail polish to varnish them.
A stunning four-piece, 9 ft rod that is easily stored in the boot of a car. It is perfect for targeting a variety of coarse and sea species from specimen carp to mackerel. It has a casting weight of 20 to 50 gr and comes complete with a cloth bag.
Bonus tip
Toast with strawberry jam makes an excellent surface bait. Carp suck pieces down for fun! Stephen Willis, Oldham, Lancashire.
Legality of drop shot weights to the Q According Environment Agency, lead
READER'S TOP TIP WINS... NGT KLONE BAITS
weights above 0.06 gr and below 28.35 gr cannot be used, but many places are selling lead drop shot weights/sinkers between these weights. Is this illegal? Adam Humphries, via email.
A complete artificial bait system in a tackle bit box, containing 155 different artificial floating and sinking baits including bread flake, corn, maize, tiger nuts and maggots.
Andy Black says…
This is not a grey area. Any lead weight that is not integral (i.e. a weighted jig hook or a spinner) that is between 0.06 gr and 28.35 gr is banned in England and Wales, and if you get caught using one you risk a fine from the Environment Agency. However, most drop shot weights that are available from tackle shops are not lead, even if they look as if they are. Most are made out of tungsten, which is perfectly legal to use.
A
NEXT GENERATION TACKLE
is available from reputable tackle dealers. To find your nearest stockist call
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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ANGLING ANSWERS
THIS WEEK’S PANEL>>
DAVE COSTER Top tactician on all waters
Andy Browne's HOW TO...
Construct a feeder bomb rig Spring is here, but the lakes are still quite cold, especially the deeper ones – they will take an extra month or so to warm up. So while they do, a maggot approach is a good ploy for a wide variety of species, and one way to present the bait is with one of my favourite rigs…
1
A helicopter rig in conjunction with a feeder is one method that I would recommend, and for this set-up the feeder that I would select is a Drennan Feederbomb – the reason being that they come in various sizes and weights to suit the job. The weight is in the nose of the feeder, making it very accurate for casting.
2
3
4
5
To start to construct the rig, the first thing that you need to put on the 4 to 6 lb main line is a Grippa Stop. This is to stop your hook length from moving freely up the line and out of position.
Then place a Drennan Swivel Bead on the main line and tie your hook length material to the swivel. Thread the hook length material through a cut-down anti-tangle sleeve (thick end first) and tie on a size 16 or 18 hook to end up with a hook length of approximately four inches. This sleeve kicks the hook length away from the main line.
Add another Grippa Stop to the line and push it up to ‘sandwich’ Next, thread a full length anti-tangle sleeve (thin end first) on to the the swivel bead between the two stops. One word of caution, main line and attach a small Kwik Link to the end. Attach the feeder however, always wet the line before moving these stops, otherwise the to this link and slide the sleeve down over the clip. friction produced from moving them about may damage the line.
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IAN WELCH Fishery scientist
MATT SPARKES Historian of tackle
ANDY BLACK Predator expert
ANDY BROWNE Experienced all-rounder
DUNCAN CHARMAN Big fish all-rounder
C M Y K
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This shows the completed rig. The distance from the hook length to the feeder can easily be adjusted by moving the Grippa Stops up or down the line – but again, don’t forget to wet the line first.
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Use light indicators/bobbins for sensitivity, and set them half way, so that they will show either a drop-back bite (bobbin moves downwards) when the fish moves towards you, or a take (upwards) when they move away.
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It is common to get plagued with small roach such as this to start with! Eventually you will be able to ‘feed them off’ and you will start getting some of the better fish. You could always try changing over to a grain of sweetcorn as a hook bait for bigger fish.
Getting started
Cast out to your chosen area and put your line in the line clip on the spool. Make half a dozen casts with the larger feeder to put down a small bed of feed, and then change to a medium one. You could also mark the line with some marker gum so that you can remove the line from the clip after the cast and have a mark to come back to.
Spombing extra feed
On a separate rod, with the line clipped up on the spool (to keep to the same distance every cast) you could use a small Spomb
to put out some extra feed of maggot and hemp to help ‘feed off the bits’ and lay a bed of bait.
Add a fake maggot
If the lake that you fish stipulates barbless hooks, you could tip yours with a buoyant artificial maggot to will stop the real ones wriggling off and also to counterbalance the weight of the hook.
Change colours
It always pays to change the colour of your maggot on the hook from time to time, to see what the fish prefer on the day.
NEXT WEEK: more top tips from tackle dealer and ace angler Andy. SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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ANGLING ANSWERS
Classic TACKLE Every week Matt Sparkes selects some of the nation's all-time favourite products. This week…
Newark Needle floats
THE Newark Needle and pinweight system were devised and manufactured by the late inventor Walter Bower, who lived on the banks of the River Trent at North Muskham. Engineer Walter also pioneered the Bower wheel, fitted to tractors over heavy ground, and apart from being a keen angler, he was also a champion bodybuilder! His innovative Newark Needle and pinweight fishing float system were launched through Angler’s Mail in the late 1970s – more than 200,000 sets were distributed as a free cover gift. It was one of the first non-toxic systems in the sport – many years before the lead split shot ban arrived in the '80s. So apart from being lead free, what set Walter’s invention apart from the myriad of other floats available at the time? Well, Walter claimed his floats were the most sensitive on the planet.
Cheap pellets you recommend some Q Can effective, cheap pellets? Craig Ellis, Watton, Norfolk.
Ian Welch says…
My first recommendation if you are looking to achieve a high quality, attractive bed of feed at a good price would be to explore the particle route, and you can get some great bulk deals on particles such as maize and pigeon conditioner at animal feed suppliers and larger pet stores. The same outlets also supply a range of pelleted animal feed at
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TRAVEL ROD WINNER
Boilies – how imperative are they?
His party trick was to place shotted stick floats in a measuring cylinder alongside a Newark Needle, then tap the tips simultaneously with a gate mechanism. The Needle float reacted quickest and most dramatically – it was still plunging towards the base of the cylinder while the standard sticks were bobbing back on top! Like all inventors, Walter was coy about the materials, but the very dense body of his float looked like a rosewood pencil with the graphite removed. The stem was stainless steel, but might have been a coated tungsten alloy. The line was secured by a plastic latch mechanism at the top and silicon tubing on the metal system. Dedicated metal pinweights were sold with every float, and longer, heavier versions were marketed as highly sensitive leger pins.
reasonable prices, although I have found the attractiveness of many to be variable. The best I have used are Ewe Nuts, which are very similar in nature to the CSL pellets sold by many bait companies, although to my nose they lack a little ‘punch’ by comparison. The exact composition of Ewe Nuts is variable depending upon the manufacturer, but basically they contain a blend of cereals with vitamins, salt and a sugar beet molasses sweetener. They break down reasonably rapidly in water and I’ve used them successfully in PVA bags for carp, tench and barbel.
Perfect depths for flatbeds an ideal depth to Q Isfishthere with a flatbed Method feeder? Do enough micro pellets stay on in deep water? Michael Wain, via email.
Dave Coster says…
I’m sure many anglers have mixed opinions about how deep you can fish with a flatbed Method feeder. I use these down to 6 ft, and then switch to a conventional, full-vaned Method feeder for anything deeper. Flatbeds are designed for fishing
A
on shallow ledges and close to features such as islands, because they don’t roll out of position. They are also very good without any vanes, when you want their loading to break down fast, particularly when targeting big weights. However, in deep water I worry that flatbeds will aquaplane out of position and lose much of their feed on the way down. I feel a lot more confident that a full ball of micro pellets (or groundbait) is likely to hit the required spot in deeper water, as opposed to half a ball, which is far more likely to break up during a long fall in deep water.
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Duncan Charman says… If I were asked what boilie, colour, size and flavour has served me best over my fishing career, it would have to be 10 mm frozen orange Tutti Frutti bottom baits, though shelf-life ones are far easier to store.
A
Fish for one carp at a time and attach a small PVA bag loaded with some small pellets as well as a couple of hook bait samples. These are very basic answers to the questions and will catch you carp. However, just because you are new to carp fishing doesn’t mean that you need to use boilies at all. Yes, most other anglers are using them, because they are convenient and very angler friendly in the sense that they can be mounted easily, cast out and left for hours. However, think about this: it doesn’t matter whether you are using the best rig and bait in the world, if you cast this into a swim that has no fish in it, you are not going to catch anything, so there are far more important factors to look for when starting to carp fish. For me, the most important one is location, looking at the water and finding where the carp are. If you locate them, you are half way to catching them, you just need to find out how. Fishing for these at key feeding periods, such as dawn and dusk, will also produce a big increase in your catch rate. You can go down the boilie route, but it’s not necessary, and many very good carp anglers secretly use baits such as sweetcorn, bread and prawns to take waters apart, whilst the boilie anglers sit on and watch.
0 43 95 0
www.dynamitebaits.com
I am fairly new to carp fishing and I am finding boilies completely mindblowing! Which brand/flavour should I start out with? What is the best baiting method to use and what quantity should I use. How long should a kilo bag last? Adam Wright, via email.
Q
C M Y K
n Don’t become fixated about having to use boilies to catch carp. Yes, they do catch fish, but so do a variety of other hook baits. Location and timing are far more important factors in the search for success.
MONSTER TIGER NUT & RED-AMO
it just works from
£8 per 1kg
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Available in the range: Boilies, Dumbells, Freezer Baits, Bulk Sacks, Pop-Ups, Liquids, Dips, NEW Hookbaits. 17 MARCH 2015Hardened anglersmail.com 31 •
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• 32 anglersmail.com 17 MARCH 2015
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SECRET LIVES of Fish
Feeding adaptations of tench TRAVEL ROD WINNER
Ask & WIN
Q
with IAN WELCH
Ian Welch says… This question really relates to the concept of an ecological niche, which at its most simple is best defined as the space and role that an organism fits and fulfils within its environment. Species have tended to evolve to exploit all of the available niches within a particular habitat so that, for example, all of the diverse food types and sources, spawning sites and the like are exploited to best advantage. Some coarse fish species, rudd for example, have adaptations that make them particularly suited for surface feeding, so that they can exploit fly life landing on the surface. Others, such as barbel, are perfectly adapted to life in a fast-flowing riverine environment; pike spawn very early to exploit the eggs and fry of later spawning species. This adaptation to a particular niche is a feature of all ecosystems, not just aquatic ones, and evolution has tended to ensure that species that are particularly suited to a niche thrive in it and develop – and pass on to their progeny – those traits that make it successful in that niche.
Send your questions to amanswers@timeinc.com
Why do tench only feed on the bottom of the lake? Mark Lambourne, Catford, South East London.
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A
Bottom feeders
In respect of tench, a native British species, it has evolved to exploit the substrate of stillwaters and
Quick to adapt
On many waters tench not only feed on the bottom, they will come up in the water to intercept feed items falling through the water column. sluggish rivers and has a rubbery, downward pointing mouth with a single, small barbel at each corner and a large upper lip that forms a protrusible tube. These features aid feeding over, and indeed in, silty or gravel bottoms where its primary natural food items are molluscs, larvae and crustaceans. Other traits, such as its ability to survive in very low oxygen concentrations, bring it additional environmental advantages to exploit its primary habitat. However, as with most aspects of biology, it is not quite as simple as it might at first appear because
niches overlap, causing species to compete with one another for what may be limited resources. In the case of introduced species, this can be particularly catastrophic when an ‘alien’ introduction is better able to compete in a particular niche than the native species that occupies it. In this respect the tench is, of course, not the only stillwater species well-adapted to bottom feeding and, although the carp is now a naturalised species, the tench has found itself out-competed by it in some waters.
DAVE COSTER’S KNOW-HOW Micro weights MANY anglers struggle to fix tiny micro shot on the line and there is only one satisfactory answer in my book: to use pincers. I recommend styl pincers for this job. Once you have poured the split shot size you require onto a flat surface, you can select and pick up the weights that have their split side facing down, using the jaws of the pincers. It’s then easy to position and clamp the shot on to your line. Another option
is to position the tiny weights on the line with your fingers and then to bring the pincers into play to nip them in place. The next best solution is to switch to elongated Stotz weights. These are of similar sizes to micro shot, but their elongated shape makes them a lot easier to apply, again using pincers. The same principle applies here, making sure that the split is facing down on a flat surface before picking the weights up and clamping them on to the line. Stotz are very popular because they hang centrally and are more streamlined,
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Adaptation is not just a long-term evolutionary trend, though, and most fish species are able to adapt to a changing environment very quickly; to exploit a new food source for example. As such, on many waters tench not only feed on the bottom, they will come up in the water to intercept feed items falling through the water column. This behaviour is particularly noticeable on heavily stocked commercial pools, where they are often in competition with species better adapted to feed up in the water, and on such venues it is not uncommon to catch tench on the drop, indeed I have heard of them being caught on the surface on occasions. But, and it’s a big but, as anyone who has ever watched underwater video footage of tench feeding – and the early Korda underwater DVDs show perfect examples of this – tench are not always comfortable, or successful, at feeding on baits presented off bottom, and they can really struggle to pick up a pop-up!
Each week Dave looks at tackle and tactics that will catch you more fish.
also being kind on fine lines with little risk of damaging them. These weights move
NEW
more easily, too, should adjustments to your rig be required at some stage. 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
33 •
C M Y K
0 4 9 0
Matt Hayes’
NEW
TOP TIPS
A big new signing for your new-look Angler’s Mail – TV star Matt Hayes shares his knowledge every week!
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CANALS
n Canal bridges are usually home to perch, where they take advantage of the dark shadows to ambush prey.
1 Little and often
Feeding little and often is a great rule on canals, especially as passing boats can disrupt what you have introduced, leaving your peg void of grub. If you keep topping up the bait and introducing tasty food samples, rather than dumping the kitchen sink, you should keep the fish active and interested.
2 Plenty of perch
Predator fishing is often forgotten on canals, but zander and pike fishing can be productive, depending where you live. One species that’s nationwide is the perch, and they grow to specimen sizes. As you’d imagine, perch love to hang around locks, bridges and under boats that have been moored for a long time. You can catch them on soft plastic lures, but perhaps the most reliable is still a lobworm, presented over a drip feed of red maggots and casters.
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17 MARCH 2015
3 Feeder hotspots
Marinas and turning bays, where the water opens out, are often great hotspots for species such as carp or bream. The ‘wides’, as they call them, open up more options, and feeder fishing can score, with chopped worm and dead maggots added to the groundbait mix a favoured tactic. Early sessions are the most productive, before the boat traffic becomes too heavy.
5 On the move
Once the temperature rises, get mobile and cover lots of water, regularly flicking bread crust across to far bank features such as trees and bushes. Some of these spots will be home to big carp and chub that will feed off the surface. Present a surface
bait either by casting across or dapping the bread with a powerful elasticated pole.
6 Target features
Features such as overhanging trees and bushes normally act like a fish magnet – when choosing a swim, look
4 Thrill of the night
It is rare that you’ll see many people night fishing on canals, but they are worth trying a few extra hours into dark, when the boats are moored up. Canals are traditionally home to big eels, which can be caught on worms or small deadbaits, but you can also try float fishing a pinch of bread flake – this tactic can produce huge roach that you didn’t know even lived in the water.
n Moorings and wides are hotspots for species such as carp and bream.
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n Matt with some clonking canal roach.
for hotspots such as these. Underwater features are also crucial – remember that canals have a deeper boat channel down the middle and shelves either side. All of these lines will produce, but it is often in the shallows, and out of the boat channel, where action is.
7
Fish with finesse
In general, unless targeting specific big fish, finesse will win the day when tackling a canal. The thick gauge hooks that you use with luncheon meat and corn for carp won’t cut it, and neither will the fat-topped pellet wagglers. Use small hooks such as 20s and 22s, fine line around 0.08-0.10 mm diameter, and try baits such as pinkies or single maggot. Use a plummet to shot your float at full depth, and keep the float as a merest pimple on the surface – if a fish breathes on it, it should go under!
but you’ll need to angle your rods at a diagonal, so that only the tips are over the water – boats can easily smash your favourite sticks of carbon. Also, use back leads to pin the line straight to the bottom and out of the way of passing boat traffic.
9 Coloured water
Canals have muddy bottoms, and if the water isn’t too disturbed by boats, you can use this to your advantage, as bottom feeding fish such as bream, skimmers and tench will make the water become dirty. Coloured areas are obviously great places to try, as the fish are resident!
8 Manage boat traffic You can fish for carp on canals with a double rod attack,
Sponsored by Matt Hayes Adventure – fishing tackle for all the family.
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
35 •
IMPROVED
NEW GEAR ANGLER’S MAIL now bring you more new tackle. Here are the latest hot releases coming your way. We'll be reporting more long-term tests, too.
Penn Affinity 8000 Ltd Reel Price: £149.99.
Description: big pit reel for carpers. Features: coming with that black ‘stealthy’ custom-look finish, this big pit will take 485 yards of 0.35 mm line. It comes with a spare forged aluminium spool, a quick-drag adjustment system, slow oscillation for perfect line lay and an oversized black anodized aluminium bail wire. Recovering around 38 in. of line per handle turn, it boasts a 4.3:1 gear ratio, relying on 8+1 ball bearings. www.penn-fishing.co.uk
Edited by Richard Howard richard.howard@timeinc.com
Korum Tabletop Bait and Bits Bag Price: £39.99.
Description: versatile tackle and bait bag. Features: a useful short session or extra bag, the square central compartment is able to swallow lots of kit, including rig cases, float boxes and all manner of other product. The mesh pouches on either side of the bag make accessing frequently used items, such as scissors, hooks and disgorgers, a doddle, and the hard top is great for making rigs and resting a cup of tea on! The main pocket handily opens, so that the table can stay in use, too. It comes with a shoulder strap and carry handles. www.korum.co.uk
Dynamite Baits Swim Stim Re-loaded Groundbait Price: £4.25 a bag.
Description: carp bagging groundbait. Features: the big plus with this new Swim Stim groundbait is that it has been reloaded with added particles of crushed koi pellets. It’s a more coarse mix, designed to bring more activity in your swim, but without overfeeding them. Ideal on a Method feeder, but you can ball it in, or cup it in, too. www.dynamitebaits.com
Korda Ready Tied Zig Rigs Price: £4.99.
Description: ready to go zig rigs. Features: carefully tied to their own specifications on Korda’s 8 lb zig line, to ultra sharp size 10 Mixa hooks, these rigs are available in barbed and barbless hook formats and 6 ft, 8 ft, 10 ft and 12 ft lengths. Supplied on a protective, durable, EVA foam spool, Korda have included a black, pink and yellow hook bait to get you off the mark. www.korda. co.uk
Angler’s Mail
HOT BUY
Tackle Box Long Top Bivvy Price: £349.99. Description: versatile bivvy system. Features: you can use it as a full-blown bivvy and very spacious shelter as it comes, without the infill panel, to give a nice panoramic view of the water, but still plenty of protection, or with an optional winter skin. It comes with a 10,000 hydrostatic head, versatile threequarter and quarter size groundsheets, high tensile aircraft grade aluminium poles, and wide door opening for better vision and getting your bedchair in and out. And at the front there’s an easy roll-up door and privacy screen, mozzy mesh door, Velcro-in seethrough window and a 'letter box' door option. It weighs 8.1 kg, including the zip-in front panel, see-through panel, front and rear groundsheets, support tubes and pegs.
A History of Pike Fishing by Graham Booth
Dream Pike and Extreme Pike by Stephen Harper Price: £495 per copy plus £12 p&p.
Description: limited edition collectable pike fishing books. Features: both of these are highly collectable vellum editions. The first is a compilation in one large volume of both volumes of A History of Pike Fishing by Graham Booth. The second is a compilation in one large volume of the successful Dream Pike and Extreme Pike books by Stephen Harper. Only ten numbered and signed vellum copies will be available. Expect chamfer-edged covers, a spine embossed in gold and coloured foils, full gilt edges to the pages, golden silk marker ribbons and a specially designed slip-case amongst the many features. There are ten copies of each volume available. www.harperanglingbooks.co.uk
Savage Gear Pro Grub Lures Price: £3.99 for eight.
Description: grub lure for predators. Features: a reintroduction of the Savage LB Grub with enhanced details and a better slow speed eely action. They come in scented, non-painted colours, scent holding ribs and offer multiple rigging options. You need to add your own hooks. www.savage-gear.com
• 36 anglersmail.com
17 MARCH 2015
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Long-term
TESTS
How tackle items fare when given a more lengthy trial. ■ 8 ft Garbolino Rocket Carp Picker Rod Price: £24.99.
IDEAL for straight bomb or small-to-medium feeder fishing, the rod has enough backbone to make easy work of carp into doubles without hook-pulls. Whilst the shorter length aids casting accuracy, it also helps to be able to tuck it away in windy conditions, making bite detection easier. Supplied with three fibreglass tips that are much more sensitive than the carbon tips often found on this type of rod, it has a short Duplon and cork handle with a screw winch reel fittings and a hook keeper ring. www.garbolinouk. co.uk KEN ROLFE
Currently part of a great offer – the first 50 retail sales of the Long Top Bivvy will come with a free TB Guesti Seat (£19.99) – great for sitting sideways on, on a bedchair, and a 90 x 60 cm TB Bivvy Mat (£14.99) offering thermal protection from a cold floor, so you might have to move fast to take advantage. www.tacklebox.co.uk
Matrix Match Master Rod Sleeves Price: £64.99.
Description: rod holdalls for ready-rigged match rod set-ups. Features: this holdall, designed to carry two made-up rods and extra unmade rods, also comes with a Smart Mark Distance Strap on the side of the sleeve, and two distance measuring sticks. Well made, with plenty of padding and dividers to protect your setups. The 1.65-metre model is for three-piece rods, and the 1.95-metre model for two-piece rods. Expect a fully padded shoulder strap and carry handle. www. fishmatrix. co.uk
Old Ghost Bloodworm Hookbait Sausage Price: £4.50 for five, or £1 each.
Gardner Glo Pro Line Marker Price: Single Bottles £4.99. Twin Packs with UV Torch £10.
Description: luminous, liquid line-marker for specimen fishing. Features: designed to be painted on your main line to mark the distance when you need to clip-up at a specific range. It will glow for ten minutes after being charged with a UV Torch or powerful LED Head Torch. It forms a tiny tapered, rubbery and flexible coloured marker that should pass through rod rings cleanly. It’s also removable with your fingernail. Four hi-viz luminous colours are available – orange, green, yellow and pink. www.gardnertackle.co.uk SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
IT WAS Will Raison who put me onto this soft textured sausage bait. Available in Bloodworm, Snail, Squid and Corn flavours, it was the Bloodworm one that took my fancy and transformed my catches. My first thoughts were that this squidgy, firm paste in sausage form would be great for barbel. And I caught fish from day one, with barbel to 14 lb 14 oz from a very difficult stretch of river. Although this sausage can be cut to size to fit the length of hairs, I found that mounting three or four slivers on the hair worked better. However, it was when I tried a punched 8 mm piece on a scaled-down carp rig that things really took off. When others around the lake were struggling, I was simply hauling. Carp, crucians and silver bream seem to love it. www.oldghostbait.co.uk DUNCAN CHARMAN
17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
37 •
COLIN DAVIDSON
A brilliant carp trap
Carp World
THIS WEEK:
Col reveals a great carp catcher at this time of year.
W
HAT would you choose to really stimulate a carp to feed if you were scratching for a bite? High attract always seems to be the buzz expression when we’re trying to catch carp in colder water – but high attract doesn’t always mean heavily flavoured fluoro pop-ups. I’ve been shown many times over the years that what a carp chooses to eat and what accepted wisdom says we should be using are often two different things. I’d rate a worm as more effective than any man-made bait, and maggots continually outfish other baits at tough times. I find myself preferring some of the natural baits even when everyone else is on the bright ‘sweeties’ and high flavour vibe – and bread and maggots together can make a brilliant trap at this time of year. Bright, visible from a long way away, and offering lasting appeal, a big PVA bag of liquidised bread can go down a storm on venues where carp have pop-ups and pellets thrown at them all of the time. It’s also a belting combination where boilies are banned.
I’d rate a worm as more effective than any manmade bait, and maggots can outfish other baits. • 38 anglersmail.com 17 MARCH 2015
n Winter carp action can be great on natural baits.
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1
With a big PVA bag in the mix on the finished rig, it’s a presentation for a braided hook length, allowing you to keep a link short at five to six inches for effective hooking, but with enough movement to allow a carp to get it in its mouth. Here I’m using 15 lb Nash Armourlink, which sinks like a brick. First job is to tie a 2 mm metal rig ring to the end of the link material.
2
Using a fine baiting needle, pierce a rubber maggot lengthways. I like Drennan Buoyant Fluoro Maggots because they are so realistic. I trim the very pointed end off with rig scissors, to make it easier to locate the needle down the centre. Push the grub up to the ring, then slide a 2 mm sleeve of either silicone or 0.75 mm Diffusion Camo tubing down the link.
3
The bunch of grubs we’ll be using is a large offering, so I use a size 8 Twister hook, which is a sticky sharp, fast turning pattern even without shrink tube. Pass the point through the rig tubing towards the rubber grub, setting the hair exit point along the ‘square’ of the bend with around half an inch between hook and grub. A good old knotless knot keeps the hook secure.
4
5
6
Carefully pierce 12-15 maggots with the fine needle and slide them a few grubs at a time down over the needle and on to the light mono. You’ll always have a few pop off the line, but if you stick to the tough skin at the blunt end, they tend to stay on reliably. Once you’ve got at least a dozen on there, pierce a second rubber maggot and slide it on to the line, so that the real maggots are sandwiched. SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AND ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
You’ll need a fine sewing needle, nicked from your wife’s kit or bought as a multi pack from a pound shop. Don’t just have one – have several, as they are easy to lose. Tie some 8 lb mono to the needle, then pierce a rubber maggot just short of the blunt end and thread it on to the line. There’s no advantage in using silly fine line or braid for the hair; I use zig or floater hook length material.
To create the bunch of grubs you need to centralise the maggots with a couple of inches of line each side for knotting. Pass one tag end of mono through the rig ring on the end of the rig, and then use it to create a loop and tie a grinner knot in the mono. As you pull the grinner knot tight, you will draw the line through the grubs and pull them tight continued over >> to the rig ring. 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
39 •
COLIN DAVIDSON Carp World
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PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
7
Bedding the knotted light line down to the rig ring needs some care. The rubber grubs at either end of the real maggots are there deliberately
8
to allow you to tighten the knot down and bring two fake maggots together at the rig ring, rather than popping real maggots off the line. Make sure
I think maggots are most productive with the Mag-Aligner and a tiny hook, or as a big bunch without any choice of any others. For that reason my PVA bag filling is liquidised bread – lots of small particles, fantastic smell and highly visual. Even when it’s dispersed or been eaten, it leaves a strong food smell behind. I pulse process cheap white loaves and add a sprinkle of Sensas grilled hemp – which I believe is much better than crushed hemp.
that both rubber grubs are sitting tight together, trim the tag ends leaving a bit to spare, and if it makes you happier, blob the ends with a lighter.
FOX EDGES Braid Blades
FEATURING a serrated blade for the clean cutting of the finest braids and hook link materials. A must-have in your tackle box.
9
I fill the larger diameter, four-season PVA mesh with the liquidised bread and hemp mix. Don’t compress the bread too much or you’ll stop it being able to break down readily into small particles in colder water. The hook length is finished with a figure-of-eight loop knot, and a long latch-key stringer or stick needle is used to pull the link through the stick with the hook secured into the end of the bread stick away from the knot in the PVA.
RRP:
£4.99
Bread bomb TOP TIPS n Liquidise your bread very finely. Large particles remain buoyant and will float up from the bag, giving you problems with birdlife. n You can use any size of PVA stick or bag to suit how far you need to cast or the weather conditions on the day.
• 40 anglersmail.com 17 MARCH 2015
n Regular recasting using a line clip for accuracy adds a tremendous smell and taste in a swim from the tiny bread particles, with very little food other than the maggot bunch. n Bread bags float briefly at the extent of the hook length before water permeates the
crumbs. Use this to your advantage to settle bags over silt or weed. n Count the maggots that you thread on, and check your hook bait for balance. I find that three rubber maggots, 12-15 real ones and a size 8 hook tends to give me a slow-
sinking hook bait every time. n If the bread brings a feeding response, but you find that the maggot bunch gets hammered by nuisance small fish, persist with the bread but switch the hook bait to something more durable such as plastic corn.
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
41 •
Downs and u THIS WEEK: in his latest new-look column, John
JOHN BAILEY’S
focusses mainly on a long weekend with pals. He’s sharing more tips than ever, now!
Angling week
n A WEEKEND with my pals often means dogs. They’re admiring a pike for Ian ‘Ping Pong’ Miller.
I
WAS completely gutted when I got to the pub to meet the lads. I walked in and they could see I was in a bad state. I’d just come off the river and I was shaking. I’d gone to one of my most serious chub swims, hooked a fish and had been completely and utterly beaten up by it. I’d been using my beloved IM8 Bomb rod allied with 8 lb line and I thought on this kit I could land a tanker. But this chub got to the far bank, doubled back to the near bank and then ploughed off downstream without me being able to turn its head an inch. Honest, I was just destroyed. They were all in there, including Neill Stephen. I told him my tale and he wasn’t surprised. He said that his 9 lb chub of a couple of years back fought like a carp double or treble the size. He told me he wouldn’t consider going for super chub with anything much less than real tough barbel gear. In my book, this is like super tenching. Over the years I’ve found you can land tench to
• 42 anglersmail.com
17 MARCH 2015
He’d worked out distances and depths and was plotting the whole thing like a military campaign. 8 or 9 lb fairly confidently on what you’d call proper tench gear. Once over 10 lb, though, you’re looking at something that fights like a demented 20 lb carp. I’ve been completely mullered by big tench. It makes no sense to spend half your life trying to hook a monster on gear that isn’t up to the job. Anyhow, ‘lost fish story’ over, it was my time to buy a round.
Piking preparation
It’s getting to the last dregs of the piking season and the boys were all up for a last trip or two, this time all together on a completely new pike water, a full weekend. Neill and Dave Lambert had been giving it hours on Google, tracking every bar, plateau and drop-off. Neill had got printouts,
he’d worked out distances and depths and was plotting the whole thing like a military campaign. Lambo was a bit more laid-back, and that’s the reason why they make such a good team. Neill is always spot-on in his approach and his preparation, whereas Lambo tends to fish on his wits and go with the flow. As a result, put them together and they’ve got all the big angling bases covered. On Friday, all of us looked at the maps, studied them and decided where we’d start the next morning. The lake is massively under-fished and, as you can guess, our spirits rose as the rounds flooded in.
A veritable armada Come the morning, Lambo and Neill arrived with bait boats, and
so did Bond. At one stage, on the biggest bay, it looked like Cowes Week. There were boats chugging and criss-crossing everywhere, until Bond’s left turbine seized up and he was out of the game. Then Lambo’s steering gear went awry, so in the end it was left to Neill to really explore at distance. On carp waters, I’m wary of bait boats and not at all sure that they best serve the welfare of the fish. However, on a 50-acre, deserted pike water I do tend to think they give an edge, and that’s certainly what Neill discovered. On the first day he hit into a really serious fish at 180 yards. The fact that it came off 100 yards in and after about a 15-minute fight didn’t minimise the achievement, for me. It’s got to be said that the rest of us just notched up jacks.
In-depth knowledge Neill had kitted his bait boat with a depth finder, and that gave him the edge. It’s one thing being able to put out a bait at a big distance, but it’s vital to know the contours of
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ps with the lads the lake and the depth that you are fishing over. Neill’s handset also showed up fish mid-surface, as well as the make-up of the bottom, showing whether it was weed-free or not. Such pointers play a part. If there are lots of prey fish around, for example, then it’s likely that the predators will be in the area, too.
What’s caught my attention this week!
Work - rest - play!
FISHING is great, but it’s even better when you make it fun. For example, we decided on our new pike lakes to draw for numbered pegs. This led to lots of oohs and aahs in the pub, and it also meant in the morning that we could get cracking straight off rather than debating who was going where. You can also make the hours speed by with plentiful steaming Kelly kettles, and even taking along a couple of fishing dogs. Personally, now that the days are drawing out, I think it’s a good idea to call a halt for lunch, and a catch-up, for just 15 or 20 minutes. It’s often during these exchanges of opinion that a good idea emerges. Your bait doesn’t have to be in the water all of the time, and sometimes it pays to give a swim a bit of a rest.
Into a drop-off
On the second day, Neill targeted shallower water where there was weed, simply because spawning isn’t that far off. He’d found a small drop-off where the bottom shelved from 5 to 7 ft, and that’s where he put his baits. And that’s where he picked up two 20s. Again, these fish were picked up at extreme range, and I’m convinced that he wouldn’t have made contact with them if it hadn’t been for the technology. I know bait boats aren’t new, but it’s the intensity with which you use them that counts in the end.
n The lads were happily playing battleships – but the winner, not for the first time, was recently announced Korum-Angler’s Mail Specimen Cup champion, Neill Stephen (below with a 23-pounder).
Rod tip stuff for me
It won’t surprise you that old JB stuck with his love of the first drop-off. In part, I fish this close-in because, unlike Neill, I don’t own 180 yards of line. But the first drop-off on any gravel pit has always worked well for me, ever since the 1980s on Kingfisher Lakes. And, anyway, what Neill is doing with his bait boat and depth finder is locating drop-offs at long range. Because I’m never going to get as technical as Neill, I’m happy with simple gear fished in close, and I reckon I do nearly as well, most of the time. So there’s hope for all the old guys out there!
John’s HOW TO...
I like to use three rods with three sizes of stinky baits under small floats. Ideally, a big mackerel, a small herring or big sardine and perhaps a chunk of lamprey on the third rod. I’ll vary it; you never know what the fish want on the day.
John’s POINT OF VIEW
Predator action
Get an edge for HUGE PIKE
If you carry your deadbait out on a boat, rather than cast it, like some of my fishing pals do, why not put some fishy bits around it to help pull the fish in? That extra oil, scent and sight of some free offerings has got to be a bonus.
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Andy Field tells me that some Fenland pikers are using big feeders rather than their normal leads. They’re filling these with mash, corn and maggots to pull in silver fish, which in turn attract the big boys. Top idea.
A COUPLE of weeks ago a great Angler’s Mail letter by reader Brian Hazard talked about the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ extensive predator control. He pointed out that they are happy to massacre foxes, crows and any other ground eating predator, but tend to shy away from any mention of cormorants. I took a RSPB local bigwig to a local lake. The cormorants had eaten all of the silver fish. The otters had eaten all of the carp, tench and pike, and then gone on to eat the coots, the water voles, the waterhens and all the ducks. No fish, no herons, grebes and kingfishers. All that was left swimming on this once fertile water was a pair of swans. My RSPB friend didn’t know what to say. Sometimes the truth is uncomfortable to observe.
17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
43 •
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£29.99 WYCHWOOD SOLACE HD BASECAMP 2 MAN BIVVY WITH FREE OVERWRAP The HD Basecamp is constructed using Extremis HD 10,000 mm hydrostatic head material for complete waterproofing and durability and comes with their 5 Year Extended Manufacturer’s Warranty. Supplied with FREE Overwrap.
A complete ready-to-fish outfit containing a Ron Thompson Zensorflex 7ft 30-50gm telescopic spinning rod (packed length 21 inches) an Okuma Revenger 30 front drag reel ready loaded with line and a lure box with 2 plugs, 2 spinners and 2 wire traces.
OUTFIT PRICE £29.99
LEEDA 10 FT BOMB ROD AND REEL COMBO A bargain ready to fish combo suitable for commercial carp and general coarse fishing with FREE 6lb line. The rod has a matt finish, screw lock reel seat, lined guides and a Duplon handle. It has 2 push-in tips. It is teamed with a Leeda Match Carp RD30 reel ready-loaded with 6lb line. The reel has 3 BB’s,a spare spool, a soft feel, one touch interchangeable folding handle and instant anti-reverse. Line capacity 270 yds x 6lb.
RRP £39.98
SPECIAL PRICE £29.99
ROCKET RODS This best-selling range of rods is perfect for fishing commercial fisheries, canals and club waters for carp and other species.
ROCKET CARP PELLET WAGGLERS • Takes 2 full size bedchairs with ease • Removable front • 2 way door with 3 configurations • Includes heavy duty groundsheet and heavy duty pegs • Dimensions: 2800mm (D) x 1550mm (H) x 3400mm (W) • Weight: 16kg
RRP: £469.99
BLITZ PRICE £259.99
TROLLEY RRP £39.99
FREESPIN 5500
GB
LEEDA PIKE ROD TFG SUPER A great quality reasonably priced pike rod. Two piece Slim & powerful Secure screw reel fitting EVA handle Super slick double leg rings.
• A cased set of three alarms + wireless receiver. • Stylish carbon finish design and powerful wireless transmission. • Volume, tone and sensitivity controls. • Totally waterproof. Silent mode. • Vibration mode on the receiver.
Lifetime Guarantee
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Mail Order Hotline
10ft RRP £34.99 11ft RRP £39.99
BLITZ PRICE £24.99
PROLOGIC PRO-SLEEP SLEEPING BAG A warm cosy sleeping bag with ultra lightweight padding, good waterproofing and breathability. An extrapadded pillow and heavy duty zippers. Bedchair fixing point. Carry bag included. Weight: 2.2kg Dimensions: 215 cm (7ft) x 100 cm (3ft 3in)
RRP £59.99
BLITZ PRICE
LEEDA LUGGAGE SET “A nice quality matching rod holdall and keepnet bag set made from sturdy tear-resistant material” Holdall is 5 ft 6 in long (168 cm) and holds up to 5 rods in tubes (not supplied) through zip in top and quarter way down. Outer umbrella and bank stick pockets. Secure quick release buckles and rust proof zip fasteners The keepnet bag is made from the same materials and is an ideal ‘stink bag’ for commercial carp fishery keepnets. Dimensions 21 “ (54cm) x 19” (49cm) x 2.75” (7cm) Two-way, rust-proof zip. Twin webbing handles
PACKAGE PRICE £12.99
Will adjust to fit most seatboxes Base width 13 inches Rear to front length extends to 20 inches Easy grip handle extends from 98cm to 106cm All terrain super traction wheels Easily taken apart for transportation
RRP £59.99
OUR PRICE £39.99
PROLOGIC THERMOCOMFORT SUIT Extremely lightweight 2 piece thermal suit 100% waterproof and windproof with taped seams. Warm comfortable fleece lining. Hood with wired peak Fleece-lined hand warmer pockets Front zips with storm flaps Sizes available: M, L, XL, XXL.
RRP £89.99 OUR PRICE £69.99
MITCHELL 300 FRONT DRAG REEL WITH FREE 330 YDS BERKLEY TRILENE MAXX LINE The new updated replacement for the classic Mitchell 300 reel. Extremely strong lightweight polymeric body with aluminium handle. Six bb’s. Anodised aluminium spool and graphite spare spool. Multi-disc drag system. Super strong bail arm. Capacity 320m x 0.25mm line.
RRP £49.99 BLITZ
PRICE £39.99
SHIMANO CATANA 13M POLE PACKAGE
BLITZ PRICE £27.99 BLITZ PRICE £32.99
ROCKET CARP PICKERS Supplied with 3 push-in tips Reel lines 2-5lbs Hook links 12oz-4lb 8ft RRP £24.99 10ft RRP £29.99
BLITZ PRICE £19.99 BLITZ PRICE £22.99
FOR 100ʼs OF OTHER DISCOUNT PRICES VISIT US ONLINE AT:
www.cheshirefishingtackle.co.uk
This pole is built from XT40 carbon and Biofibre with the silky finish of the Ultrasound Sanding System. The joints are reinforced for strength and durability. Supplied with a spare power top two rated 20 elastic and a short butt extension. All packed in a cloth bag, 3 tubes and a holdall.
RRP £349.99
BLITZ PRICE £229.99 TERMS AND CONDITIONS
We aim to despatch all items ordered before 2 pm same day or Monday if weekends. Our courier service is next working day, but we cannot be held responsible for the occasional late delivery. Please ensure that somebody is in to sign for your parcel. Returns – you may return items to us within 10 working days for a full refund of purchase price if unused, undamaged and in original packaging. We do not refund delivery costs or return postage. Parcels must be checked on delivery and signed for as damaged if the packaging is crushed or torn. Any damage must be reported within 3 working days.
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• 44 anglersmail.com 17 MARCH 2015
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DAIWA SWEEPFIRE 3000X REEL Contains many features of the more expensive Daiwa reels Suitable for general coarse fishing and light spinning •Digigear •Twistbuster •ABS System •Front drag •1 BB •Ratio 5.3.1 •Capacity 240 yds x 8lb line
SHIMANO ST6000RB/ST10000RB 30 PLUS LEEDA XGT ‘THE FULL MONTY’ ADVANCED POLE BAITRUNNER REELS Shimano’s entry level ROBO CHAIR PACKAGE Baitrunner with Fantastic value-for-money pole package ideal for carp and silvers on commercial fisheries, canals and club waters. The package contains an 11m pole with a match top kit + a spare power top two. We have elasticated both top kits (#8-10 & #16-18) and added 5 ready made pole rigs so the outfit is ready to fish.
RRP £24.99 BLITZ PRICE £14.99
GARBOLINO MARGIN CARP DESTRUCTOR 4.85 M POLE A quality 4 piece pole from Garbolino especially developed to control large powerful carp in the margins. Elastic Rating 20+.
OUR PRICE £62.99 ST10000RA line capacity 350 m x 0.35
OUR PRICE £64.99
A comfortable accessory chair with adjustable legs and back rest. It has the Middy StarGrip fittings on each leg to attach support and umbrella arms and side trays. Package includes front feeder arm and fitting, back support and fitting, 2 rod rests, a side tray and two bait boxes. Seat height when legs are fully extended is 17 inches. Max weight capacity 20 stone Chair weighs 4.9 kg (10.8lbs)
PACKAGE VALUE £150.00
RRP £119.99 BLITZ
BLITZ PRICE £94.99
PRICE £84.99
many of the features of the more expensive models. Powerful, smooth and precise rear drag. ST6000RB line capacity 240 m x 0.35
MAP PARABOLIX LAY FLAT CARRYALL
THE BLACK MAGIC IS BACK!! BROWNING BLACK MAGIC SLIMSTAR 11M POLE
•Top kit ready bushed with fitted side-puller slot •Top 2 sections in HR carbon •Compatible with other Garbolino Margin Carp poles. •Supplied in a holdall •Transport length: 1.53m Weight: 495g
The Black Magic name is known for incredibly strong poles with a slim diameter which makes them much easier to handle. We are now supplying this pole with all three top kits pre-elasticated and ready to fish. Integral match top two # 8-10 and the 2 power top two kits #14-16 and #18-20. The pole and top kits are in protective tubes and packed in a Black Magic pole holdall Package includes Titan reversible ½ extension. Weight 876 gms
INTRODUCTORY PRICE £54.99
PACKAGE PRICE £279.99
MATCHBOX 3 DRAWER SEAT BOX WITH FREE FOOTPLATE & SIDE TRAY Stylish blue and silver design 15cm deep base box - detachable for lightweight canal box use Three pull-out front drawers (2x 25mm, 1x 50mm) Handy lift-out tray (18x18cm) in deep drawer Spacious two-section winder tray under pole seat Box weight: 8.8kg Square legs 17 mm Seatbox cover
BLITZ PRICE £149.99
DE LUXE CARP COMBO
BROWNING BACKFIRE FREESPIN REEL Snap up these fantastic reels at an amazing price “The Backfire BF640 is perfect for heavy feeder, method and big waggler fishing. The big spool adds |meters to casting distances with thick lines. The freespin function adds to its versatility •Deep aluminium spool and spare shallow aluminium spool •Powerful multi-disc front drag system •Finely adjustable run control system •Line capacity: 180M x 0.30mm
RRP £55.50
CRASH PRICE £29.99
CARP ACCESSORY PACK A boxed selection of tools, rigs, boilie stops and rig accessories
ALL FOR £9.99 LEEDA CARP UNHOOKING MAT Great value fold up carp mat. Wipe clean waterproof nylon. Foam padding. Complete with 2 ‘D’ rings Measures 95 cm (37.5 in) x 45 cm (17.5 in)
A fantastic carp outÛt containing top branded tackle 2 x JRC CONTACT 12 ft 2.75lbs carp rods 2 x Mitchell 5500 Freespool reels 2 x Leeda Giant bite alarms in case Grandeslam adjustable rod pod with 3 swingers and rests Bulk spool of specimen line
RON THOMPSON CENTREPIN REEL An amazing quality centrepin reel with a smooth-running spool action. One way ratchet drag can be switched off for silent drag-free use. 100 cm diameter. With FREE 100m of Ultima Power Plus line
£29.99
SHIMANO FORCEMASTER COMMERCIAL MINIS A new range of 2 piece mini float and feeder rods designed for commercial fisheries. You won’t believe the quality of these rods at the price. XT40 carbon blank with parabolic action. Shimano Hardlite guides. Cork/Eva handles. The float rods will take line up to 8lbs and the feeders up to 10lbs. ForceMaster Mini Float 10ft RRP £54.99 OUR PRICE £34.99 ForceMaster Mini Float 11ft RRP £59.99 OUR PRICE £39.99 ForceMaster Mini Feeder 10ft RRP £54.99 OUR PRICE £34.99 ForceMaster Mini Feeder 11ft RRP £59.99 OUR PRICE £39.99 Two push in tips ( 2oz and 3oz) supplied with feeder rods.
H-GUN CHAIR
OUR PRICE £9.99
LEEDA 36 INCH SPECIMEN NET AND TELESCOPIC METAL HANDLE
• Large unique design carryall made from 1680D material. • Open front rubberised net pocket. • Zipped expanding compartment for side trays or extra keepnet. • Large lay mat section for pole rollers and accessories. • Middle section for reels, pellet pumps etc. • Top unit is insulated to keep bait cool. • Padded carry handles and shoulder strap. • Width 620mm Height 450mm Depth 420mm • CODE H0441 RRP £79.99 BLITZ PRICE £44.99
A lightweight comfortable and strong chair which folds flat for easy transportation. Adjustable legs and mud feet.
BLITZ PRICE £99.99 BLITZ PRICE £19.99 OUR PRICE £39.99 SPEND £100 OR OVER AND RECEIVE FREE DELIVERY (UK MAINLAND ONLY)
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RRP £43.99
17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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45 •
Where To R OVE
Our regional experts select venues that have been producing good catches. If you have a venue to recommend, send us your catch picture, basic details and phone number to: toprods@timeinc.com You could win Daiwa line!
0 0 2 NUES
P TO D O R
VE form in
Kennet and Avon Canal,
South East
CANALS
! W O N
Newbury, Berkshire. A couple of spare hours on his local canal led to the capture of a PB 3 lb 12 oz perch and another of 3 lb 5 oz on the next cast for 14-year-old Theo Thomas, fishing a white and yellow Savage Gear lure near an overhanging tree. Venue latest: 01635 871450.
Chichester Canal
Bill and Virginia Rushmer
email: Billrushmer@hotmail.co.uk
Where? Hunston, West Sussex, PO19 8QH (nearby). Day tickets £6. Club membership £55. Tel: 01243 531669. www.chichestercanal. org.uk What’s being caught? Fish migrate from Chichester Basin and carp to upper doubles are showing. Tactics? It pays to prebait or bait up before setting up. Legered, hairrigged boilies over a bed of small pellets with some hemp is best.
Grand Union Canal
Where? Cassionbury Park, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 7LB. Day tickets £4.50, on the bank. Tel: Oxhey AC 01933 441110. What’s being caught? Bream, skimmers, roach to 1 lb, chub to over 4 lb and perch to over 2 lb. Tactics? Most of the better quality fish are showing to chopped worm and caster. Light legering cheese paste works in well-featured swims for chub. n There is fine roach fishing to be had at Surrey’s Twynersh Fishery.
Time to make the switch IT’S time to switch to lakes and canals, and I started off by fishing Pit 1 on the Twynersh Fishery complex, at Chertsey, in Surrey, KT16 9EJ, where I caught lots of roach, this one pictured being a typical sample. The fishery
number is 01932 570156. Hope to see you all at The Big One this weekend in Farnborough. I will be on the Copdock Mill/ Crafty Catcher stand, or in the theatre giving an informative presentation.
/daiwauk TOPD RO
Daiwa generously offer a bulk spool of their superb Sensor line in 6 lb or 12 lb breaking strains to all Top Rod catches pictured in this new and improved Where To Fish This Weekend section. This award-winning Daiwa line is super reliable and just the job for landing quality fish. Top Rod winners MUST name the water where they bagged their fish. Email your pictures with full details, including your address (in case you win) to: toprods@timeinc.com Keep following our guide, and read about all the latest Daiwa gear on their top notch website www.daiwasports.co.uk
• 46 anglersmail.com
17 MARCH 2015
Kennet and Avon Canal
Where? Hungerford Berkshire. Day tickets £5, in advance. Hungerford Canal AA membership £27. Tel: 07881 926797. www.fishinghungerford.co.uk What’s being caught? Skimmers, roach, perch and bream with occasional carp to well over 20 lb. Tactics? Poled pinkies or maggots for roach and skimmers, but chopped worm and casters gives a better stamp of fish, including big perch. Legered, hair-rigged boilies to far-bank features for carp.
STILLWATERS A12 Cuton Lakes, Specimen Lake 2
Where? Chelmer Village, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6NX. Day tickets £12 for up to two rods; £15
for three rods. Tel: 07946 847703. www.a12lakes.co.uk What’s being caught? Pike to over 20 lb. Pike season closes March 30. Tactics? Legered or float fished sea deadbaits with half mackerel or sardine works well. Some of the better fish are caught fairly close in.
Elphicks Fisheries, Sandwich Lake
Where? Spelmonden, Horsmonden, Kent, TN12 8EL. Day tickets £9 for one rod; £13.50 for two. Tel: 01580 212512. www.elphicks-fisheries.co.uk What’s being caught? Perch to over 4 lb, roach to 2 lb, bream, some crucians and tench of all colours. Tactics? Pole or waggler and maggots, casters or corn with a change to lobworm for big perch.
Field Farm Fisheries
Where? Field Farm, Launton, near Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 5EL. Day tickets £8 for two rods, from the machine in the hut. Tel: 01869 277279 What’s being caught? Carp, bream, roach, orfe and goldfish. Tactics? Float fish close in for mixed bags on small pieces of meat, maggots or sweetcorn. Bigger carp to hair-rigged meat.
Field Lake
Where? Wylands International Angling Centre, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 0SU. Day tickets £12. Tel: 01424 893394 or 07774 383026. www.wylands.co.uk What’s being caught? Good bags of carp, mostly single-figure fish, but with a few doubles and the possibility of a 20. Tactics? Keep it simple by float fishing maggots or corn.
Framfield Park Fishery, Spring Lake
Where? Brook House Lane, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 5QJ. Day tickets £8. Tel: 01825 890948. What’s being caught? Good
Angler’s Mail Support your local
FISHING CLUB MAIDSTONE VICTORY AS Maidstone Victory AS, of Kent, has an impressive eight lakes and six miles of fishing on the Rivers Medway and Beult. There are carp to 40 lb, bream to over 15 lb, tench to 13 lb, roach topping 3 lb, perch to 4 lb, big river pike with chub to over 6 lb 8 oz and barbel. Subscriptions for half a year starting on January 1 are adults £40; OAPs and registered disabled £25. www. maidstonevictoryanglingsociety. webs.com Tel: 07920 113201.
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weights of mainly single-figure carp in bags often topping 100 lb. Tactics? Most baits work, but maggots are doing very well. Pole and waggler is good, particularly at eight metres for perch to 2 lb 8 oz.
where the long pole, waggler or bomb can reach. Most baits are working well, with corn and maggots producing good bags.
Henfold Lakes
Where? Winkfield, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 4TE. Day tickets £8 one rod; £10 two rods. Tel: 07780 666008. www.rbf.co.uk What’s being caught? Quality roach over 1 lb and perch over 3 lb. Tactics? Pole or light waggler with maggots or casters for roach to over 1 lb. A change to prawn or worm can sort out the big perch.
Where? Beare Green, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 4RW. Day tickets £10. Tel: 01306 883346. www.henfoldlakesleisure.co.uk What’s being caught? Mainly roach, rudd, skimmers, perch and carp, including ghost carp. Tench of all colours are starting to wake up. Tactics? Float fished maggots, corn and bits of meat are working, with chopped worm and casters giving bonus perch. Legered meat or pellets produces the biggest carp including ghost carp.
Lizard Fishery, Lizard 1
Where? West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7RT. Day tickets £10 for two rods. Tel: 07881 470731 or 0793 255907. What’s being caught? Roach, rudd, skimmers, bream and carp. Tactics? Pole or waggler and caster for better redfins, with bream, whilst chopped worm and caster give perch. Legered, hair-rigged meat for carp to upper doubles. Try prawn for big perch.
Monk Lakes, Puma Lake
Where? Marden, Kent, TN12 9BS. Day tickets £10 for one rod; £14.50 for two. Tel: 01622 833332. www.monklakes.co.uk What’s being caught? Skimmers, bream, tench and carp. Tactics? Feeder, pole and waggler are all working, with meat, maggots and corn. Fish close in for tench. Carp are showing well to hair-rigged 8 mm and 10 mm boilies.
Passies Ponds, Main Lake
Where? Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 0RS. Day tickets £10 for two rods.Tel: 07824 429236. www.coombes.co.uk What’s being caught? Bigger carp to over 26 lb with lots of silver fish, a few chub, tench and perch. Tactics? Pole, waggler and feeder are all working, with the biggest carp falling for maggots. Pellet over micro pellet is also working well for skimmers, bream and tench.
Puddledock Farm Fishery, Road Lake
Where? Upminister, Essex, RM14 3NX. Day tickets £9 one rod; £12 two rods. Tel: 07788 716837. www.puddledockfarmfishery.com What’s being caught? Brown goldfish, roach, skimmers and carp. Tactics? A lot of fish are coming from swims near to the island,
SOUTH EAST
Fish This Week TACTICAL Briefing
Royal Berkshire Fishery, Lake 1
Swanborough Lakes, Tench Lake
Where? Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 3PF. Day tickets £10. Tel: 01273 474614. www. swanboroughfarm.co.uk What’s being caught? Bream to 6 lb, some roach, with better fish topping 1 lb, and some tench. Tactics? Waggler with corn or maggots on the hook over a small bed of micro pellet is producing bream, roach and an increasing number of tench to 5 lb. A small Method feeder is a good alternative.
Timberlands Fishery, Horse Shoe Lake
Where? Flex Meadow, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5UA. Day tickets £8 one rod; £10 two rods. Call fishery office on 01279 454528 or the bailiffs mobile 07800 532318. www.timberlandfishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Reg Archer tells me he has caught carp to 17 lb with bream to 6 lb, roach and perch. Tactics? Float fish or leger corn, maggots and worms. Reg tells me two maggots tipped with a redworm is good. Most of the better carp are coming to meat.
P TO D O R
GRAND UNION CANAL, WENDOVER ARM, LITTLE TRING, HERTFORDSHIRE DESCRIPTION: the Tring Anglers, based in north west Hertfordshire, have the fishing on miles of canals, rivers, lakes and ponds including this interesting length of the Wendover Arm. Fish can shoal heavily on this stretch and super catches of bream to 5 lb are possible if you find a shoal. Top roach sport, with samples to over 1 lb, perch to 3 lb are on the cards too. There are good-sized chub and carp represent a decent challenge - they can go to 25 lb. TACTICS: bream to float fished chopped worm and caster; along with carp pellet can also score. Roach catches generally to punched bread in the winter or hemp, caster or even corn, tares and elderberries at the right time of year. A floating piece of bread crust is well worth trying in the summer for carp. Perch to chopped worm; drop shotting can also score. TICKETS: day tickets are adults £5, concessions £2.50. Tickets on the bank and they apply from dawn until dusk. New ‘The Tring Anglers’ memberships start on April 1. Costs are: adult £53 plus a one-off joining fee of £7 (only applicable to new members), OAP or registered disabled £33/£7, under-18s and full-
Grand Union Canal, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. This is Paige Tyrrell’s first 2 lb perch, caught while jigging with a two-inch rubber shad on a trip to the canal with her proud father, Mark. Venue latest: 01908 374400.
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time students under-21 £13 with no joining fee, under-12s free. Memberships from local tackle shops, check out the website. Food outlets nearby. No night fishing. Enquiries: 07796 178313. Anglian byelaws. Open all year. Website: www.tringanglers.org.uk GOOD SWIMS: try opposite the boats for roach. LOCAL TACKLE SHOP: Gosford Pets, Plants and Fishing Tackle, 90 High Street, Tring, HP23 4AF. Tel: 01442 823434. LOCATION: from the M25, J20 take the A41 to Tring. Just before Tring, pick up the B488 Icknield Way, then turn left into Little Tring Road, leading you to the canal bridge. SAT NAV: HP23 4NR. VIDEO: www.anglersmail.co.uk
TOP TIP Try the deeper water at the turning bay - really close-in for bream and to the far bank for carp. Tringford Road
Flour Mill
To Tring
Towpath
Little Tring Road
To Tring
Grand Union Canal
Wendover Arm
17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail .com 47 •• 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail .com 47
• 48 anglersmail.com 17 MARCH 2015
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VENUE RESULTS South East in association with
Andy Ashdown Tel: 01797 280180 email: fisheryidenwood@btconnect.com
Andy Love Tel: 01932 341210
Consistent silver fish sport at Passies N
n Passies expert James Granger shows half of the net that won him the final round at the West Sussex venue.
Canals Basingstoke Canal, Ash Vale, Hants. Sun, 36, BCAA Winter League. Dave Pool (Homestores Tackle) 25 lb 14 oz, skimmers and roach, poled bread punch, peg 28; John Light (Sensas Oakwood) 9 lb 14 oz 8 dr; Lawrence Glynn (Homestores Young Boys) 9 lb 13 oz. Teams: Homestores Tackle 10; Homestores Old Boys 11; Sensas Oakwood 14. Final League: Sensas Oakwood 68; Daiwa Gold 87; Homestores Young Boys 87; Homestores Old Boys 105; Daiwa Old Gold 110.
Stillwaters Alders Farm, Great Brickhill, Bucks. Sun, 25. Matt Grant (Bag’em) 181 lb 6 oz, carp to 3 lb, maggot long poled down edge, Ash peg 1; Ricky Quick (GOT Baits) 139 lb 8 oz. Chequertree Fishery, Bethersden, Kent. Sun, 48, Rye DAS Club League. Nigel Greenwood (Sensas South East Gold) 111 lb, all carp, 6mm pellet at 6 m, peg 11 Lake One; Craig Palmer (Matrix Invicta) 62 lb 8 oz; Ian Germaney (Maver Cardinals Blue) 57 lb 8 oz; Steve Arno (Maver
ESTLED at the foot of the South Downs near Lancing, West Sussex, Passies Ponds is one of the UK’s longest established commercial stillwater complexes and its annual Silvers series attracts some of the region’s top rods. After five hard fought rounds, it was Arun Angling teamster who Jason Kirk fended off the challenge from Preston Innovations Delcac ace James Granger to lift the Sonubaitsbacked Silverfish League title on section points countback. With their worst result dropped, the duo tied on four points with Jason’s sheer consistency proving decisive, while James was left rueing an opening round disaster despite finishing the series with individual victory – his fourth on the trot! “All credit to Jason on his win - the drawbag was not as kind to
him as it was for me and all of his results were grafted from very average pegs,” said local Brightonbased runner-up James, whose final round win came with 48 lb 12 oz of bream to poled pellet over Sonubaits groundbait and 2 mm pellets at peg 3. Evergreen Terry
Cardinals Green) 55 lb 8 oz. Teams: Sensas South East Marine 37; Maver Cardinals Green 34; Matrix Invicta 33. Colemans Cottage, Witham, Essex. Sun, 45. Peter Binks (DH Floats) 139 lb, mainly F1s on pellet, Stepfield peg 17; Terry Edwards (Browning Wickford ) 127 lb 4 oz; Peter Steward (Browning Wickford) 97 lb 12 oz; Trevo r Hayden (Goat and Boot) 83 lb. Tues, 22. Jeff Church (Maver Colemans Matchpack) 84 lb, Wood peg 28. Thurs, 8. Jeff Church (Maver Colemans Matchpack) 89 lb, Pathfield peg 16. Sat, 10. Alan Lee (Bills Tackle) 111 lb, Wood peg 7. Dynamite Oakfield Fishery, Aylesbury, Bucks. Sat, 27. John Emerson (Panshill Wood) 60 lb 11 oz, 14 carp to 7 lb, long poled corn, Woodpecker peg 4; Barry Eddy (Dynamite Oakfield) 47-5-0. Lake John, Waltham Abbey, Essex. Wed, 15. Darren Bates (Lake John) 44 lb, silvers, poled pellets, Top peg 11. Sat, 16. Martin Amos (Angling Direct) 45 lb 8 oz, carp and silvers, poled corn, Bottom peg 1. Sun, 23, Angling Direct WL practise Open. Chris Vandervleit (Drennan/Bowlers/ Bait Tech) 43 lb 12 oz, carp and
silvers, feedered pellets, peg 36; Geoff Lockwood (Matt’s Tackle) 43 lb 8 oz. Sun, 16, Paul Dunn (Lake John) 63 lb, carp and silvers, poled pellets, Bottom peg 3. Monk Lakes, Staplehurst, Kent. Wed, 16. Paul Hamlyn (Preston Innovations Delcac) 56 lb 8 oz, F1s and barbel, feeder, Lake 2 peg 47. Sat, 12, silvers. Sean Clifford (Preston Innovations Delcac) 45 lb, tench, skimmers, chub, perch and roach, poled pellet, Puma peg 29. Sun, 24. Mike Beale (Preston Innovations) 78 lb 4 oz, barbel and F1s, maggot feeder, Lake 2 peg 45; Paul Sene (Maver Cardinals) 68 lb 12 oz. Northpoint Lake, Camber, East Sussex. Wed, 16, Rye DAS Open. John Larraman (Preston Innovations Delcac) 47 lb, rudd, maggot at 13 m, peg 23. Oakford Farm, Chelmsford, Essex. Wed, 13, Essex Veterans. David Jones (Great Dunmow) 41 lb 8 oz, seven carp, wagglered caster and maggot, Middle Lake peg 21. Puddledock Farm, Upminster, Essex. Sun, 50. Ian Hutchinson (Ockendon B & T) 124 lb 8 oz, carp to 7 lb, long poled bread shallow, Snake Lake peg 5; Tony Smith (Ockendon B & T) 89 lb 8 oz; Barry Ryley (Ockendon B & T) 87 lb 2 oz;
SOUTH EAST
We reveal the hottest pegs in your region
Harrison (Daiwa Dorking) took second in the 24-pegger with 34 lb 4 oz, while much-honoured former England International Steve Gardener (Milo) filled third overall with six points following a 33 lb mixed bag of skimmers, roach, perch, two big hybrids plus a 3 lb chub. n The top three overall: James Granger, champ Jason Kirk and Steve Gardener.
Kevin Attreed (Bowlers) 78 lb 12 oz; Alan Tuck (Daiwa Angling Direct Suffolk) 74 lb 6 oz. Wed, 18. Dave Harold (Ockendon B & T) 73 lb 14 oz, carp, maggot and pellet, Snake peg 11. Tillingbourne, Gomshall, Surrey. Tues, 9, over-55s. Dave Beard (Kingston Rodbenders) 54 lb, carp, poled corn, peg 8. Tylers Common, Brentwood, Essex. Sat, 22. Alec Roberts (Gorilla Angling Products) 153 lb, Ash peg 20; Steve James (Ockendon Bait and Tackle) 135 lb. Willow Park, Ash, Hants. Sat, 18, Winter Pairs. Ian Dixon (Drennan Bordon) 39 lb 6 oz, carp, poled corn. Teams: Drennan Bordon 2; Willow Black 5. League: Drennan Bordon A 66; Browning 82. Willows Lakes, London Colney, Herts. Thurs, 18, Match Lake .Barry Penny (Willows) 119 lb 14 oz, carp, Method feedered maggots. Sun, 17. Pete Upperton (Meatbashers) 128 lb, carp, Method feedered maggots. Wylands, Battle, East Sussex. Tues, 7. Lewis Nightingale (Wylands) 42 lb 12 oz, carp, corn on pole and feeder, Field peg 3. Sun, 10. Carlton Easter (Iden Wood Fishery) 48 lb 12 oz, carp, corn over pellet, Old Snake peg 9.
Weekend 30-plus entry matches noted by
are points qualifiers in our Matchman of the Year.
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
49 •
E LINEAR F U EN T
V PE R EX
rite favou r i e h t hem eal rs rev ow to fish t e l g n Top a ues and h ven
ANGLER PROFILE
TOM MAKER SPONSORS: Fox and Sticky Baits
SOMERSET-based Tom Maker, 23, knows Oxfordshire’s Linear Fisheries complex as well as anyone – he’s coaches a lot at the venue and has caught a number of the fishery’s most soughtafter carp to over 40 lb. He regularly fishes Brasenose Two, and has caught a lot of 20 lb-plus carp from there, along with four fish of over 30 lb. It is the largest lake on the complex, at well over 30 acres, and is home to more than 1,800 carp to 40 lb. With the way that the fish are growing, Tom believes that in the next few years it’s going to be THE water that a lot of carpers are going to want to get on.
1
What is it that makes you fish this lake? It is the best lake on the Linear complex in terms of features. The bottom is very up and down, and it is gin clear and can get weedy, which makes it interesting. There is also a variety of different looking carp in here, with quite a few scaley ones, as it has been stocked with Elstow strain carp, along with others from VS Fisheries. These fish move together in numbers, so when you are on them you get lots of action. It’s also often nice and quiet in the cooler months, so you aren’t competing for space.
2
What is the best day’s fishing you’ve had here? It can be hectic at times – my best session was 86 fish in 48 hours. On one of my tutorials, one lad landed 48 fish in 24 hours! The fish seem to average between 15 and 19 lb, and out of every ten fish you catch, often two or three will be in the 20s. There’s also a 40-pounder, which holds the lake record. And here are some smaller fish from more recent stockings, but they are growing on well.
balanced wafter hook baits with a piece of rubber corn – I try three different colours, but usually it makes no difference as long as it is something bright. I also use pop-ups. This is definitely a better daytime water, and sometimes I’ll be catching well all day and then it will go dead once it gets dark. My rig consists of 8-10 in. of Camo-Tex coated braid hook link to a size 4 SSBP hook and a lead clip. The weight of the hook is used as a counterbalance with my wafter hook bait.
3
What is your favourite method? I like to fish over beds of bait, and will go in heavy with things such as hemp, corn, pellets and partiblend, which are cheap, along wth some boilies. I fish the harder, clay or gravel areas, where I can pull the lead back 10 ft and it’s smooth. I then use the bait to create an area that they’ll drop down onto and feed. I often start with eight or ten spods of bait and then top up with a few more after each bite. The fish in here like bright, visual baits, so I tip my critically
Boilie fishing TOP TIPS
n Give your hook baits an extra boost with a bait spray, to help fish home-in on them.
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17 MARCH 2015
n Keep topping your swim up regularly with more bait, to keep the bites coming.
4
What is your favourite bait? Sticky Baits Krill boilies, because they have a strong smell. I use chopped and crumbled boilies in my spod mix. I also use their 2.3 mm Bloodworm Pellets, as these break down to a mush and release a trail of scent, as well as giving off a red glow in the water. I bulk the mix out with partiblend, which I can prepare on the bank with boiling water if I need more of it, along with corn that I buy in catering tins.
n Fish something visual, either a bright pop-up or tip your hook bait with a piece of rubber corn. SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
ISHERIES
Hardwick, Oxfordshire Tel: 01908 588043
NEW
Tom’s VENUE BREAKDOWN River Windrush NO FISHING
Load unload only Holes to 20 ft 4
3
16 ft
2 4-6 ft gravel area
1
Tom’s Peg
10 ft
BRASENOSE TWO, Linear Fisheries, Hardwick, Oxfordshire
5
Which is your favourite peg? Anywhere down at the wider bowl end of the lake. This gives a nice big area of open water out in front and is the widest part of the lake. The carp on here come under plenty of pressure and can move quickly when they do, but in this part of the lake all they tend to do is back off into the middle for a bit and then come back onto the baited area, rather than moving off you completely. This means that you can keep catching consistently throughout the session as long as you fish the swim properly.
6
What would be the most common mistakes that you see newcomers make at the venue? Some will try to fish three rods on three different spots, but you really want them all on the same area, as the action can be frantic at times. I also see a lot of people trying
to fish too far out. You don’t need to do that on here. I generally fish about 75-90 yards. There is no need to overcomplicate things, and you need to remember that you’re fishing for bites, not monsters. Just mimic what is in your spod mix, and recast regularly – I recast every couple of hours, as I think sometimes they suss out your rig. Some people also seem happy to spend three hours putting their bivvy up and getting everything set up, and then only five minutes getting their rods out!
7
Where else do you fish? I like fishing on day ticket waters where I can get a bit of action and have to work for bites. I enjoy fishing Walthamstow Reservoirs, in North London, which is days only, and Thorney Weir, at West Drayton, Middlesex. But on the Linear complex there is enough to last me a lifetime, with all of the different lakes and the variety of fishing that they offer.
n AREA 1: a longer cast is necessary to hit the areas that you need to be fishing, which are a minimum of 80 yards out. This is known as the bowl end, and is known for producing big hits of fish. n AREA 2: contains a lot of old snags out in the middle, although many have been removed. It also has some of the shallowest water. The fish like it here in the middle of summer. n AREA 3: you tend to catch moving fish here, rather than them settling in front of you. And often it’s an occasional fish rather than big hits, but the average size tends to be bigger, and this is where the 40-pounder came from. n AREA 4: there are only three swims in this bay and the fish can push in here when they’re under a lot of pressure or in a
TICKETS
A 12-hour day ticket costs £7 for one rod, up to £21 for three rods. For a 24-hour ticket it costs £28 for three rods or £22 for two rods. All major credit/debit cards are accepted on the bank. The rules are fairly simple and common sense, with no fish to
big easterly wind. It’s a long walk, so it doesn’t get fished that often. It also has some deep holes and it can hold fish in winter.
SPECIES VENUE BEST
CARP 40 lb
PIKE 24 lb
(common 27 lb)
EEL 3 lb 8 oz
TENCH 7 lb 9 oz
PERCH 2 lb 2 oz
RUDD 2 lb 4 oz
be retained, unhooking mats to be used at all times, no baitboats allowed. Rig checks are carried out by the bailiffs, looking for unsafe fixed rigs. Any bait is allowed as long as it is properly prepared. For full details check out: www.linear-fisheries.co.uk
SUMMARY Fishing at 80 yards range, from peg 34, over a few spods of bait, Tom is soon into some fish, with both his wafter hook baits and pop-up rigs producing. He starts off by topping up with two or three spods after every bite, but soon increases that to five or six, and the bites keep on coming; if anything, they’re now coming sooner after baiting up again.
By mid-afternoon he has had eight fish to around 20 lb, the majority being mid-doubles.
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If plan A fails, what is your Plan B? If you and other anglers around you aren’t catching on the bottom, it means that the fish are mid-water. In this situation I will switch to zigs, but usually only fish them 3 to 4 ft off bottom and over the top of my baited area, as at times the fish will be sitting above it and not dropping down onto it. On Brasenose Two I don’t like to spod over the top of my zigs, but if I’m on one of the deeper waters
Tom’s
PLAN
B
on the venue, such as Brasenose One, I will do and I find that it works well. Often it is just about trying to be different from everyone else and working that bit harder, otherwise you’ll only ever catch as much as everyone else does. 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
51 •
Where To Fish This Week
Midlands Steve Martin Tel: 07875 713412 email: stevemartin.angling@icloud.com
Bivvied-up on commercials I WAS amazed to see the vast numbers of carp anglers bivvied-up on some of the bigger commercial venues that I visited in the past week, and it made me wonder whether this is the future of specimen carp fishing, as a cheap alternative to syndicates.
CANALS Coventry Canal
Where? Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Day tickets £2, from Attleborough Angling Centre. Tel: 024 76343718. What’s being caught? Roach and, depending on the colour, skimmers. There are also big chub in this stretch, being caught mostly down the middle of the canal or over, under far bank brambles. Tactics? Pole for roach and skimmers on chopped worm and casters down the middle. Casters on the hook for chub and a few better perch. Look for 3 ft of water, where pinkies over groundbait will also tempt silver fish.
Grand Union Canal
Where? Heyford Bridge Section, Northamptonshire. Day tickets £5. Northampton Nene AC membership £38. Tel: 01604 761173. www.northamptonneneac.org What’s being caught? Some small roach, perch and skimmers from pegs opposite the marina. A lot of zander in the area, with a few better perch from the deeper water and close to boats. Tactics? The fish switch on for short periods during the day, with bread punch for the roach, and pieces of worm over chopped worm and casters for skimmers and bigger perch. The zander also like big bits of worm.
Grand Union Canal
Where? Kilby Bridge, Wigston, Leicestershire. Day tickets £3. Club membership £20. Tel: 07860 112000. www. wigstonanglingsociety.co.uk What’s being caught? Plenty of small silver fish down the track and over to far-side features. Bigger baits are best for skimmers, as rudd will take smaller baits. Bigger bream from the Winding Hole and occasional carp.
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17 MARCH 2015
It’s almost impossible to get a ticket for a syndicate water, many having a long waiting list, but former bagging venues such as Drayton Reservoir and Pool 1 at Makins Fishery are producing fish in the high 20s for the price of a day ticket. Tactics? On pole, try bread punch for gudgeon and roach down the track. Better roach on casters over hemp, and small expanders over micros for skimmers close to features. Groundbait feeder and worm for bream in the wides.
Trent & Mersey Canal
Where? Willington, Derbyshire. Day tickets £2, from Burton Angling Supplies. Club membership £65. Tel: 01283 548540. www.burtonmutual.co.uk What’s being caught? Roach are feeding in milder condition, and sport is improving as the temperatures rise. Tactics? Bloodworm and joker are best while it’s cold, with bread punch giving slightly better roach. Warmer weather will mean squatts, with pinkies and casters for stamp roach.
STILLWATERS Blythe Waters
Where? Knowle, Warwickshire. Day tickets £6. Tel: 01675 443306. www.fisheries.co.uk/blythe What’s being caught? Plenty of roach, perch and bream, with a bonus of a small carp or two. Bigger carp in the midteens up to 20 lb possible, but low temperatures have been hampering catches. Tactics? Maggots and worms for silver fish and small carp, and pole, waggler and feeder will all catch well throughout the day. Try single baits on straight lead for better carp, or a boilie with a PVA bag of particles for specimens.
Dog Lane Fishery
Where? Napton on the Hill, Warwickshire, CV47 8LT. Day tickets £8. Tel: 07957 861733. www.doglanefishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Willow Lake has been fishing well for perch to 3 lb, with double-figure bags of roach and skimmers. The carp are active, but you need to
n Makin hay while the price is right. Carp anglers bivvied up at Makins. fish to the island for best results. Widgeon and Grebe pools are now open. Tactics? The big perch are being taken on prawn or lobworms on pole of waggler. The same tactics are also working for silver fish, with maggots or pinkies over groundbait. Pellet or corn on a bomb or Method feeder tight to the island for carp.
Drayton Reservoir
Where? Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 0SG. Day tickets £8. Tel: 07889 532563. www.fisheries.co.uk/drayton What’s being caught? Carp to doubles from the deep water swims, with the point, the sailing club bank and the middle on the dam all producing lots of action and some catches of 20-30 fish in 24 hours. Tactics? Bright bottom baits with small sticks are catching well, with pink boilies best. Zigs also working well, fished mid-water with regular helpings of particle spod mix.
Elmbridge Fishery
Where? Droitwich, Worcestershire, WR9 0ND. Day tickets £7. Tel: 07927 406094.
TOP ROD
Silverdale Country Park, Silverdale, Staffordshire, ST5 6SS. This impressive common carp was caught by 14-year-old Morgan Fox from Furnace Pool at the two-lake park (tickets from Pet Parade shop in Silverdale) on sweetcorn with a Method feeder. Venue latest: 07759 822061.
Angler’s Mail Support your local
FISHING CLUB ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA AA
Royal Leamington Spa AA was founded in 1890, and for an annual membership fee of £36 you can fish the Warwickshire Avon at Stratford upon Avon, the recreation ground and the Lido. There’s also the Warwickshire Avon at Wasperton, the River Leam at Leamington, the town waters (east and west), and Offchurch Bury. They also have Jubilee Pools, at Ryton; Snitterfield Reservoir; Ryton Park Pool; and College Pool, at Wasperton. www.leamington-angling.co.uk Tel: 01926 312319. www.elmbridgefishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Carp starting to feed more regularly, and 15 lb bags of silver fish are commonplace, when you find the shoals, which are tightly packed. Tactics? Pole and waggler are best for silver fish, but you have to fish long. Maggots are best on a float. Cast around with single or double corn on straight lead for carp.
Makins Phase 1
Where? Bramcote, Warwickshire, CV11 6QJ. Day tickets £5.50 Tel: 01455 220877. www. makinsfishery.co.uk What’s being caught? The carp are still shoaled up, but fish to 23 lb are showing close to the islands. Chance of bags to 10 lb of silver fish from all of the lakes, but location is key. Tactics? Big baits over beds of particles close to features are best for the big carp. Smaller carp on pellet Method feeder, with maggots and casters over groundbait and pellets for silver fish. A few perch falling to drop shot tactics.
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/daiwauk
Where? Gilmorton, Leicestershire. Day tickets £7. Tel: 01455 552392. www.mill-farm-fishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Fishing well, with 20 lb pleasure bags of roach a regular occurrence, plus some specimen perch showing. The deep water of the specimen lake has produced carp in the high teens. Tactics? Maggots are the top for silver fish, with waggler and maggot feeder both producing plenty of bites. Legered corn or meat is tempting big carp, along with boilies over particles.
Onny Vale Fishery
Where? Minsterley, Shropshire, SY5 0JL. Day tickets £8. Tel: 07792 609153. www.onnyvalefishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Fishing really well for carp in multiple bags of fish to 16 lb. Roach and perch to 2 lb from the margins and the bottom of the shelf, with bags of chub from open water. Tactics? Legered Robin Red or Squid & Plum boilies, meat or corn for the carp. Pole and waggler with maggots for the roach and chub, or a worm for the bigger perch. Corn or meat for the smaller carp.
Peatling Pools
Where? Peating Parva, Leicestershire. Day tickets £7. Tel: 07860 644023. www.fisheries.co.uk/peatlingpools What’s being caught? The pleasure lakes are producing mixed bags of silver fish with bream and F1s. Barbel have started to show with temperatures rising. Tactics? Pole and waggler, with all species falling to maggots, corn and bread punch. Banded 4 mm hard pellets over micros are working well for F1s, and try pellet waggler as the water starts to warm up.
Sion Farm Fisheries
Where? Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 4PF. Day tickets £5. Tel: 01562 730386. www.spotfish.co.uk/fishery/sionfarm-fishery What’s being caught? Skimmers and roach with some proper specimens in pleasure bags of over 20 lb. Carp also on the feed, the best action on baits fished close to the islands on both pools. Tactics? Skimmers and quality roach to casters and maggots on pole or waggler. Better bream on red maggots over a bed of micro pellets. Carp are taking big pellets on a lead in open water, or corn when fished on a Method feeder with micros in the feed.
YOU could win Daiwa Sensor line for your latest catch photo from a named venue. Email your pic & details to: toprods@timeinc.com
TOPD RO
Mill Farm
MIDLANDS
TOPD RO
TACTICAL Briefing
Wards Pool, Cotheridge, Worcestershire. Xan Langley’s first ever fishing session was meant to be catching small rudd on a whip and red maggots, but this fine 2 lb 1 oz perch took a liking to six-year-old Xan’s bait at the Wards 84 AC stream-fed farm pool on a visit with Barry Fisher. Venue latest: 07788 590699.
The Riddings Fishery
Where? Grendon, Warwickshire, CV9 2PE. Day tickets £8. Tel: 01827 713244. www.fisheries.co.uk/riddings What’s being caught? Carp need to be located for a good day’s sport. Roach and skimmers in 25 lb nets from many swims. Tactics? Corn on straight lead is best for the carp, but cast around to find the fish. Pole and maggots is spot-on for silver fish. Keep loose feed trickling in. Meat is also good as conditions improve.
Weston Lawns Fishery
Where? Bulkington, Warwickshire, CV12 9JA. Day tickets £6. Tel: 02476 991 887. www.westonlawns.co/Weston_ Lawns_fisheries What’s being caught? Pool 1 is the specimen carp pool and is fishing well, with Cell or Coconut Crème boilies accounting for fish to 28 lb. Pools 2 and 3 are producing 40 lb-plus bags of silver fish and perch to 1 lb. Tactics? Single baits close to the islands for bigger fish on Pool 1. Bread punch or maggots on a pole will get the silver fish feeding on Pools 2 and 3. Try roving tactics with worm on a float for the perch.
Wold Farm Fishery
Where? Podington, Northamptonshire, NN29 7XA. Day tickets £8 (by appointment). Tel: 07974 000230. www.woldfarmfisheries.co.uk What’s being caught? Wold Lake is producing carp to 28 lb-plus. Oaks, Islands and Moat for 50 lb-plus nets of silver fish, with barbel to 8 lb, tench and chub. Moat is the pool to head for if you love crucian fishing. Tactics? Boilies are working on Wold Lake, but the best fish are falling to hair-rigged maggots. Chopped worm and casters on a pole is scoring on all lakes, as is bread punch and banded 4 mm hard pellets over micros, and dead maggots on the Method.
BISHOP’S BOWL FISHERY,
BISHOP’S ITCHINGTON, WARWICKSHIRE rod, an extra rod is an extra DESCRIPTION: after five years £2. Nights (24 hours) on the of ownership by Shaun and larger waters, £22 for up to Sarah Smart the improvements three rods. All permits to be are there to see at this popular purchased before fishing from multi-fishery site. Specimen the tackle shop, on the way in. anglers are really clicking onto Day fishing times are: March the obscure shaped 24-acre 7am to 6pm. April to August Greenhill Lake which boasts (inclusive) 7am to 8.30pm; carp to 32 lb, pike to 27 lb, September 7am to 7pm; bream and tench to 10 lb plus October to February (inclusive) roach and rudd topping 2 lb. 7am to 5pm. All under-16s Mitre, 5.6 acres, well-suited to must be adult accompanied specimen and pleasure anglers, at all times. Disabled access. has carp to 30 lb, winter pike to Barbless hooks only. Toilets. 25 lb, bream and tench to Café on-site. No keepnets. No 8 lb plus perch, roach and halibut based baits. Check rudd. Walworth for carp to out: www.bishopsbowlfishery. 18 lb, bream to 5 lb, tench to co.uk Enquiries: 07970 196044, 4 lb, crucian carp to 2 lb 8 oz, 07599 934382 or 01926 roach and rudd. White Bishop 612379. Midlands byelaws. offers loads of tench to 6 lb, Open all year. carp to 23 lb, bream and perch GOOD SWIMS: the lakes here to 4 lb, skimmers, roach and are full of features, above and rudd. Marshes One and Two are below the water line. densely stocked with carp to LOCAL TACKLE SHOP: on-site, 12 lb, tench to 6 lb, crucians to CV47 2SR. Tel: 07970 196044 or 2 lb, fast growing chub and 01926 612379. barbel plus roach and rudd. LOCATION: from A423 TACTICS: on specimen lakes, Southam bypass take A425 Greenhill and Mitre, leger Leamington Road at Shell boilies for bigger carp; and for roundabout. At next roundabout tench and bream on Greenhill. take the first exit (B4451) and Multiple carp catches are keep on this road, through possible on Mitre; on both Deppers Bridge, over the rail lakes corn is a good alternative. bridge, then turn sharp left, still Surface fishing with bread crust on the B4451. After 0.25 miles and dog biscuits score on warm the fishery entrance is on your summer evenings. On other right as you start to go downhill. lakes try small pellet or caster. Follow track, pass Greenhill and TICKETS: adults £7, OAPs, Walworth Lakes to registered disabled or the tackle shop. under-16s £5 SAT NAV: costs are for one CV47 2SR. The tench should start To Southam showing soon; use To Harbury quality casters and feed Greenhill Lake them reasonably heavily to get them going.
TOP TIP
Track
6 ft
Mitre Pool
Walworth Lake Cliffs
Marshes 1 Cafe White Bishop Lake
To Bishop’s Ickington
Marshes 2
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail .com 53 •• 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail .com 53
MIDLANDS
We reveal the hottest pegs in your region
VENUE RESULTS Midlands in association with
Steve Cope Tel: 01922 640247 email: steve.cope@hotmail.com
Bream go crazy for late Avon record W
n Worcester stalwart Ray Ravenall with part of his 198 lb 6 oz bream haul. We are assured great care was taken to return the fish swiftly to the Warwickshire Avon at Pensham after this photo.
Canals Birmingham-Fazeley Canal, Curdworth, Warks. Sun, 6, Stirrup Cup AC. Ian Haddon (Weddington) 1 lb 10 oz, 60 roach, poled squatt and caster, peg 44. Shropshire Union Canal, Brewood, Staffs. Sat, 28, Staffs Ind. WL. Dave McCall (Shakespeare Superteam) 16 lb 12 dr, three chub plus skimmers, poled pinkie and caster, peg 5; George Davis (Bilston Angling) 12 lb 14 oz. League: Paul Turner (Wolverhampton AA VDE) 11; Dean Williams and Stef Johansson (both Team Eclipse) both 13. Staffs-Worcs Canal, Acton Trussell, Staffs. Wed, 8, Wolverhampton AA. Steve Lovell (Mosella UK) 4 lb 8 oz, gudgeon and perch, pinkie at 3 m, peg 8. Staffs-Worcs Canal, Green Sheds, Penkridge, Staffs. Sun, 19, Rough Hay AC. Alan Coley (Rough Hay AC) 5 lb 10 oz 13 dr, mainly perch, poled caster, peg 17. Staffs-Worcs Canal, Hinksford. Sun, 21, Cradley Heath Labour AC. Richie Owen (CHL) 9 lb 4 oz, four chub, poled maggot, peg 8. Staffs and Worcs Canal, Wombourne. Sun, 28, Bilston Angling Ind WL. Martin Spruce (Bilston Angling) 10 lb 12 oz 6 dr, skimmers and small chub, poled squatt/pinkie, peg 21; Steve Lovell (Mosella) 9 lb 11 oz. Final League: Steve Lovell (Mosella) 22; Martin
ORCESTER DUAA chairman Ray Ravenall set a new five-hour Warwickshire Avon match record and came within a whisker of smashing the double-ton barrier as the river’s bream went on a late season feeding spree. Fishing a Carrs AS club match on the association’s Pensham stretch, Ray bagged 49 slabs plus two roach on groundbait feeder tactics with maggot and worm hook baits for 198 lb 6 oz! Check out Worcester DUAA’s club details (below, right). Further upriver at Evesham, two big entry weekend events found the Avon in more moody
Spruce (Bilston Angling) 23. Walsall Canal, Moors Mill Lane, Tipton, W. Mids, Sat, 14, Sportsman AC Tipton. John Bottfield (Sportsman AC) 4 lb 14 oz 5 dr, roach and perch, poled bread punch and squatt, peg 16.
Stillwaters Calf Heath Reservoir, Staffs. Sat, 38, Blackfords Progressives Open. Ian Davies (Blackfords) 33 lb 6 oz, bream to 4 lb, Method feeder with groundbait, pellet, corn and maggot, peg 54; Chris Brown (JCB) 30 lb 1 oz; Simon Farmer (Dams & Lock) 29 lb 11 oz.
n Gaz Wood won at the giant Makins complex, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire with this 73 lb 8 oz net.
Weekend 30-plus entry matches noted by • 54 anglersmail.com
17 MARCH 2015
form with Surrey Clarke) 8 lb 8 oz and raider Mark Robert Demo Goddard Lindsey topping (Evesham) 8 lb 2 oz. Saturday’s The following day’s 53-entry Evesham Evesham DAA John DAA Ray Woods Sherwood Memorial Open with 10 lb Open attracted 62 4 oz comprising a anglers led by Chris bream plus bits to Smith (Sensas waggler and Nomads) with a maggot from town bream-based 11 lb 4 oz peg 48. to waggler and maggot n Chris Smith is Mark’s from peg 35 to earn a into August’s final win secured berth in August’s with this Avon catch. qualification for Evesham Individual the 2015 Wychavon Champs Champs final. on August Bank Holiday Others: Clive Roberts Monday, ahead of Tony (Sensas Nomads) 10 lb 12 Marshall (Shakespeare) on oz; Sean Reidy (Sensas WB 9 lb 10 oz, Brian Pollard (Daiwa Clarke) 10 lb 5 oz; Dave Kirk Gordon League) 8 lb 14 oz, (Ferrymen AC) 9 lb 4 oz; Steve Steve Pallett (Sensas WB Townsend (Drennan) 8 lb.
Dynamite Makins Fishery, Wolvey, Warks. Nisa Opens. Wed, 21. Paul Cooke (Lutterworth) 22 lb 12 oz, 3 carp, bomb and corn, Phase 1 Lake 4 peg 6. Thu, 22. Gaz Wood (Swann Bait) 73 lb 8 oz, 20 carp and a barbel, corn/pellet in margins, Crater peg 14. Earlswood Lakes, Earlswood, B’ham. Sun, 16. Terry Gilbert (B’ham) 13 lb 13 oz, bream, feedered worm, Yacht Pool peg 30. Elmbridge Fishery, Droitwich, Worcs. Sat, 26. Rob Whitehouse (Allen’s) 62 lb 8 oz, carp, pellet, Heron peg 20; Steve Harris (Harris MG) 51 lb 4 oz. Sun, 19. Mark Newitt (Red Lion) 61 lb 10 oz, carp, soft pellet, pole and waggler, Heron peg 11. Hawkesbury Hall Farm, Bedworth, Warks. Thurs, 12. Ian Shirley (Hawkesbury) 31 lb 15 oz, bream, pellet, peg 43. Sat, 16. Dominic Lanni (Ratby) 34 lb 12 oz, carp to 6 lb, bream, roach and skimmers, peg 8. Sun, 19. Craig Kidd (Hawkesbury) 39 lb 12 oz, carp to 7 lb, meat and corn, peg 11. King’s Pools, Shareshill, W. Mids. Wed, 16. Dave Doughty (Woodend) 35 lb 3 oz, F1s to 12 oz, pellet, New Match peg 1. Sat, 20. Gary Gollins (Swan Elite) 52 lb 14 oz, carp to 4 lb, maggot down edge, Big Match peg 37. Sun, 34. Adam Rumble (Foster’s) 98 lb 4 oz, 62 F1s, pellet, Big Match peg 41; Matty Stockton (Maver Midlands)
Angler’s Mail Support your local
FISHING CLUB WORCESTER DUAA
AFTER this huge bream haul, a few more Mail readers will be interested in WDUAA, which Ray Ravenall is chairman of. River stretches (not fishable now until June 16) include the Severn at Pitchcroft (behind Worcester racecourse), Diglis, Boreley and Hallow Tip, plus the Avon at Pensham, where Ray hauled just before the river season ended. There are specimen fish in all those stretches. They have waters on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, which fished well in 2014, Barbourne Pool and Witley Court, their silver fish lake. Prices: Annual ticket (aged 16-65) is £30, concessionary £18. Day tickets for many waters are £6. Web: www.wduaa.co.uk Tel: 01527 541298, 07769263761 or email ray.ravenall@sky.com 64 lb 5 oz; Jordan Hall (Maver Midlands/Bag’em) 57 lb 4 oz. Monkhall Fisheries, Monkhopton, Shrops. Sat, 15. Mark Taylor (Shakespeare) 63 lb 4 oz, F1s, carp to 3 lb, pellet at 7 to 14 m, Hawk peg 15. Sun, 20. John Jones (Gornal Five Ways) 118 lb 2 oz, F1s to 12 oz, carp to 5 lb, corn and pellet, pole at
are points qualifiers in our Matchman of the Year. SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
FRESH ::: THINKING
(Packington) 48 lb 4 oz; Mike Wilson (Miracle Baits) 41 lb 5 oz. Wed, 16. Dave James (Mosella) 56 lb 3 oz, F1s, short poled maggot through slop, Club peg 9. Thurs, 58, TBF Vets. Alan Higgs 58 lb 3 oz, pellet shallow at 9m, High peg 21; Ron Notley 55 lb 4 oz; Alan Hemmings 47 lb 8 oz; Dave Chapman 41 lb 11 oz. Fri, 21. Pete Hughes (Arden Lakes) 55 lb 13 oz, pellet on top two plus one, Extension peg 17; Alex Harper (TBF Colts) 51 lb. Sat, 28, New Pool. Pete Caton (Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths) 93 lb 5 oz, F1s to 2 lb, pellet, peg 35; Stu Palsar (Middy) 81 lb. Sun, 30. Sam Brown (Maver) 117 lb 9 oz, F1s to 2 lb, 8 oz maggot at 6m on deck and edges, Canal peg 1; Dave James 107 lb 8 oz; Pete Rice (Bag’em) 103 lb 6 oz; Barry Neath (TBF) 89 lb 7 oz. Weston Pools, Oswestry, Shrops. Wed, 23, Over 55’s. Phil Conde (Weston) 54 lb 10 oz, carp, pellet, Stretton peg 6. Fri, 20, Over 55s. Chris Diamond (Eddie’s B & T) 67 lb 9 oz, carp and F1s, pellet and maggot, Stretton peg 14. Sat, 19. Mel Kitson (Rod and Gun) 65 lb 4 oz, carp and F1s, pellet and maggot, Belvedere peg 22. Sun, 31. Matt Dawes (Tri-Cast Weston/Drennan NW) 62 lb 10 oz, carp and F1s, pellet and maggot, Stretton peg 24; Ian Fellows (Weston) 56 lb 8 oz; Mike Rough (Tri-Cast Weston/Drennan NW) 47 lb. Sun, 15, Clay Pit WL. Richie Parry (Tri-Cast Weston) 43 lb 6 oz, carp and F1s, Method with corn and dead maggot, peg 2. Final League: Richie Parry.
Rivers River Severn, Bewdley, Worcs. Sat, 22, KDAA. Gary Weaver (Halesowen RBL) 30 lb 5 oz, barbel, maggot feeder, peg 94. River Severn, Linley Bank, Bridgnorth. Sun, 24, Bridgnorth AS Teams of Three WL. Justin Checketts (Middle Severn Blue) 34 lb 13 oz, seven chub and two barbel, float fished maggot, peg 141 at top golf course; Phil Stacey (LSE Clothing Wolves) 26 lb 10 oz. Teams: Middle Severn Blue 24; BAS 18. Final League: BAS 98; Middle Severn Blue 91; Middle Severn White 84; Dream Team 80. River Severn, Stourport, Worcs. Sat, 20, Mark’s Tackle Open. Nick Pound (Ludlow) 20 lb 2 oz, roach and perch, stick float and maggot. Warwickshire Avon, Barford, Warks. Sat, 30, Barford AA . Paul Caswell (Sensas WB Clarke) 29 lb 4 oz, chub, waggler, maggot, stone bridge; Steve Jackson (Barford AA) 25 lb 15 oz; Pete Millard (Barford AA) 19 lb 14 oz.
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14.5 m, Hawk peg 10. Moorlands Farm, Hartlebury, Worcs. Tues, 16. Lawrence Connelly (PB Construction) 76 lb, carp to 10 lb, waggler and corn, Meadow peg 4. Wed, 19, Over 50s. Ian Giddins (Garbolino Bag’em) 51 lb 14 oz, F1s to 3 lb. pellet, Middle peg 9. Thurs, 20. Mal Watson (DGL) 91 lb, carp to 8 lb, waggler and corn, Island peg 12. Sat, 36, Winter Pairs. Mal Watson (DGL) 93 lb, F1s to 2 lb, maggot down edge, Silver peg 31; Lee Richards (Packington) 75 lb 4 oz; Dave Parry (Deccas AC) 70 lb. Pairs: Neville Groves (Foster’s) and Lee Richards 2; Colin Pace (CPA) and Mal Watson 3. League: Neville Groves and Lee Richards 25; Colin Pace (CPA) and Mal Watson 28. Sun, 34. Lee Richards 82 lb 10 oz, carp to 8 lb, F1s to 3 lb, pellet down edge, Moors peg 9; Ian Giddins (Garbolino Bag’em) 77 lb 5 oz; Craig Newton (Moorlands) 70 lb 2 oz. Packington Somers, Meriden, W. Mids. Wed, 15. Pete Heaven (Greyhound) 39 lb 8 oz, a 22 lb 6 oz mirror plus small carp and skimmers, pellet, Molands peg 6. Sat, 18. Pete Heaven (King’s Heath) 53 lb 5 oz, F1s to 4 lb, pellet, peg 46. Sun, 26. Danny Tresigne (Colmic) 72 lb 6 oz, carp to 5 lb, pellet, Molands peg 46; Paul Hunter (Packington) 57 lb 13 oz. Preston Innovations Boldings Pools, Bridgnorth, Shrops. Mon, 15. Dave Doughty (Woodend) 48 lb 1 oz, carp, pellet, Hawthorn peg 3. Wed, 17. Mick Jameson (PI Boldings) 75 lb 8 oz, carp to 6 lb, maggot and pellet at 5m, Ash peg 16. Thu, 30. Mick Keene (ABC Baits) 98 lb 5 oz, carp to 7 lb, maggot at 14m, Beech peg 18; Clive Wynn (Tri-Cast Weston) 72 lb 11 oz; Graham Roberts (PI Boldings) 57 lb 3 oz. Sat, 19. Colin Reynolds (Bilston Angling) 75 lb 1 oz, carp to 6 lb, maggot and pellet at 6m and sides, Willows peg 16. Sun, 32. Andy Williams (Colmic Vespe) 112 lb 7 oz, carp to 7 lb, corn and maggot at 6m and sides, Oak peg 8; Dave Hailey (PI Boldings) 88 lb 11 oz; Eric Bancroft (Rod and Gun) 65 lb 10 oz. Preston Innovations Woodland View, Hadley, Worcs. Sat, 14. Phil Bishop (Peg One Angling) 92 lb, carp to 10 lb, corn and pellet, Ghost peg 14. Sun, 12. Rob Camden (Peg One Angling) 43 lb, 5 carp, corn, Front Dean peg 23. Tunnel Barn Farm, Shrewley, Warks. Mon, 15. Alex Harper (TBF Colts) 61 lb 11 oz, F1s, pellet down edge, Top peg 23. Tues, 30, Over 50s. Gary Makin (Miracle Baits) 53 lb 13 oz, F1s, pellet at 11m, Extension peg 19; Dave Atkins
NORTH EAST
Where To Fish This Week
North East Alain Urruty
Tel: 07808 367519 email: preston-a@sky.com
Catch yourself a PB perch THE river gear has been packed away for three months, but before the end I had a couple of days roving, landing chub to 4 lb 12 oz and bream to 5 lb-plus on flake with a liquidised bread feeder. But it was a chuck with a lobworm that produced the best fish, an
equal PB perch of 2 lb 12 oz, a truly spectacular looking fish that will linger in my memory until June comes around. Fish like that are also possible on stillwaters and canals, and this week I’ll point you in the direction of the most on-form fisheries. n Alain’s 2 lb 12 oz perch, caught on lobworm with a chopped worm feeder.
TOPD RO
carp, bream, roach and some big ide to over 3 lb. Tactics? Waggler or pole and maggots at around ten metres has been producing best, with regular loosefeeding. Groundbait feeder with maggots will give mixed bags if it’s too windy for float fishing, or bomb and pellet for carp.
Aston Park Fisheries
Where? Aston, Sheffield, S26 5EP. Day tickets £6. Tel: 07743 845737. www.astonparkfisheries.co.uk What’s being caught? Lily and Split for carp to 8 lb, with ide, skimmers and roach making up the bulk of the catches in match weights over 100 lb. Tactics? Pole with maggots or worm and casters is giving the bulk of silver fish nets as well as a few carp. Start at full depth at 8-10 metres loose feeding little and often but come up in the water as the session progresses, especially for ide. Straight lead for carp with hair-rigged meat or sweetcorn.
Elm Tree Farm Fishery
CANALS Fossdyke Canal
Where? A57 Roadside stretch, LN12TX, and West Common, Lincoln, LN11TE. Day tickets £4. Lincoln DAA membership £25. Tel: 07712 620385. ldaa.webs.com What’s being caught? The West Common length is fishing brilliantly for chunky roach to 1 lb with a few tench, while the A57 roadside stretch is providing bite-a-chuck sport with smaller roach and some perch to over 3 lb showing, as well as skimmers and a few tench. Plenty of pike around, too. Tactics? Pole and bread punch at 6-11 metres for roach at West Common, with casters and worms for the tench. Pole and pinkies over groundbait on the near and far shelf on the roadside stretch for the smaller fish, with lobworms to the far bank or down the track on heavy tackle for the big perch.
Stainforth and Keadby
Where? Between Thorne and Stainforth, South Yorkshire. Day tickets £4, on the bank.
• 56 anglersmail.com
17 MARCH 2015
Tel: 01302 846623. What’s being caught? This area of the canal is renowned for its roach and skimmer fishing as well as some cracking pike sport, including a fish of 26 lb 7 oz from the Blue Water Marina area. Tactics? Chopped worm and casters fished three quarters of the way across the canal for skimmers, on pole at 13-16 metres for the bream shoals. A small groundbait feeder fished clipped up for accuracy works if it’s windy. Pegs 295 to 305 at Stanilands or 160 to 170 at Wykewell are the areas to aim for to catch skimmers. For pike try lure fishing and search for fish and deadbait for the bigger ones once you’ve them.
STILLWATERS Angel Of The North Fishing Lakes
Where? Birtley, County Durham, DH3 1RF. Day tickets £12. Tel: 0191 4100449. www.angelnorthlakes.com What’s being caught? Bowes Lake is fishing best, with chunky
Where? Kilnhurst Road, Hooton Roberts, S65 4TE. Day tickets: £5. Tel: 01709 855219. www.facebook.com/ elmtreefarmfishery What’s being caught? New owners have brought this fishery back to life after the floods of 2007. Anglers are catching F1s, roach, skimmers, rudd and perch all round the largest coarse lake. It is not match fished often, but there have been match weights to over 70 lb this winter. The carp lake has fish to well over 20 lb for the warmer weather. Tactics? Maggots or chopped worms on a short pole for the silver fish, or bomb or feeder cast tight to the unpegged front of the island for F1s. The narrow pegs – 17, 18 and 19 – are very popular, allowing pole fishing up to the island, while pegs 1 and 3 allow pole along the island margins and produce plenty of fish.
/daiwauk Angler’s Mail Support your local
TACKLE SHOP STAINFORTH ANGLING CENTRE
24 Silver Street, Stainforth, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN7 5AH. Established over 20 years ago this is a traditional tackle shop catering for the vibrant match and general coarse scene as well as stocking some specimen and pike gear. Top quality maggots and casters as well as a wide range of groundbaits and pellets. The staff are knowledgeable local anglers who will put you right. Opening times: Monday to Saturday 8am to 4pm. Tel: 01302 846623.
feed. Maggots or chopped worms and caster on pole with a Kinder pot is the way to go.
Hallcroft Coarse Fishery
Where? Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7RA. Day tickets £6 on rod; £2 two rods. Tel: 01777 719911. www.hallcroftfishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Plenty of silver fish on all lakes, with Croft and Reed top for mixed bags of skimmers, roach and small carp. Bigger carp on Moat and Bridge when located. Tactics? Pole or feeder with groundbait and maggots best for mixed bags, at six to ten metres on pole with little and often feeding. The bigger carp, up to double-figures, are on bomb with meat or corn, but it’s a waiting game. The aerators are always a good bet. As the weather warms, watch out for carp feeding in the margins, where huge bags can be caught.
P TO D O R
Garbolino Lindholme Lakes
Where? Epworth, Doncaster, DN9 1LF. Day tickets: £6.50. Tel: 01427 875555. www.lindholmelakes.co.uk What’s being caught? Bonsai is fishing very well, with carp, F1s and bream making up most of the catches. Even in the cold weather match weights to over 80 lb have been recorded. Tactics? Bomb and pellet or corn cast to the islands is a good bet for the carp and F1s. Long pole and pellet is producing on pegs where you can reach the start of the far shelf – look for 2-3 ft of depths and be sparing with the
Bank End Fisheries,
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. This 15 lb mirror carp is a new PB for Dennis Watson, who put out a quarter of a kilo of Mainline Cell boilies and fished one on a standard hair-rig with a size 6 hook. Venue latest: 01302 770224.
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
57 •
NORTH EAST
We reveal the hottest pegs in your region
VENUE RESULTS North East in association with
Darren Starkey Tel: 07795 818387 email: d.starkey1966@btinternet.com
Leeds bream save best for last A
NYONE wanting action next season on the Yorkshire Ouse would be wise to note the winning pegs in Leeds DASA’s final Sunday Open. The heavily match-fished river saved its best match weight until late, the resident bream shoal on the bungalows at Hunters Lodge putting in a surprise appearance for the 60-pegger. Taking full advantage was Andy Hampson (Mirfield Willy Worms) who pulled peg 219 from the bag. Casting a small groundbait feeder packed with chopped worm and caster into 16 ft of water, 51-year-old Leeds firefighter Andy was soon into small perch and roach before the first of 13 slabs turned up. Offering three red maggots on a size 16
Kamasan B560 hook, a mid-match flurry saw him bank four fish in as many casts and despite losing three fish off the hook he still finished the day with a level 62 lb in the net. “It’s my best river match weight in a 35-year career which began with a win in the NFA Intermediate National on the same river back in 1981,” Andy told Angler’s Mail. Bream also helped Dave Armitage (Cleckheaton) add to his Matchman of the Year points haul. Drawn peg 226, he snared five smaller slabs for 16 lb on feeder and worm. The day’s best roach weight fell to Phil Austin (Barlby Village Stores) who netted 10 lb 8 oz from peg 260 on poled maggot. Others: Tony Peel (Drennan Barnsley Blacks) 10 lb 3 oz; Steve Smith (Leeds) 9 lb.
Stillwaters Angel of the North, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, Sun, 12, Lookout Lake. Alan McGuire (Angel) 42 lb 13 oz, carp and ide, poled maggot, peg 12. Bank End Fishery, Finningley, S. Yorks. Sun, 21. Phil Gullitt (Clay Lane) 92 lb 5 oz, carp, waggler and pellet, peg 14; Graham Housley (Bank End) 33 lb 14 oz. Barnburgh, Doncaster, S. Yorks. Fri, 15, Top Pond. Ray Charlton (Barnburgh) 98 lb, F1s on poled maggot, peg 18. Sun, 17, Bottom Pond. Mick Owen (Barnburgh) 132 lb, F1s on poled maggot, peg 4. Daiwa Hallcroft, Retford, Notts. Sun, 35. Arthur Berisford (Leegem) 66 lb 2 oz, 12 carp to 8 lb, small feeder with hair rigged corn, peg 94 Moat outer; Gordon Gibson (Max Tackle) 54 lb 12 oz; Daz Oldham (Maltby) 51 lb 10 oz;
Robin Walker (Rotherham) 46 lb 5 oz. Mon, 12. Andy Sellars (R & R) 11 lb 10 oz, one carp plus skimmers and roach, wagglered maggot, peg 12 Bridge outer. Thurs, 28, veterans. Pete Topham (Retford) 35 lb 10 oz, six carp, groundbait feeder with double hair rigged corn, peg 55 Moat island; Lee Hewison (Leegem) 25 lb 12 oz; Mal Edgecombe (Doncaster) 22 lb 14 oz. Sat, 25. Mark Thorpe (Leegem) 83 lb 12 oz, carp to 8 lb, legered PVA bag with pellet, peg 64 Moat island; Arthur Berisford (Leegem) 73 lb 12 oz. Ferryboat Farm, Conisborough, S. Yorks. Sun, 18. Mark Jackson (Rotherham) 31 lb 6 oz, carp and skimmers, pellet feeder. None Go Bye Farm, Leeds, W. Yorks. Sun, 19. Tim Peters (Tri-Cast Calder) 23 lb 11 oz, roach to 1 lb, poled caster up in water, peg 3. Oaks, Sessay, N. Yorks. Wed, 11. Ian Bayley (Woodlands Tackle) 79 lb 3 oz, carp to 3 lb, poled pellet, Ash peg 2. Thurs, 15. Chris Hall (Oaks) 56 lb 10 oz, F1s to 4 lb, pellet,
Weekend 30-plus entry matches noted by • 58 anglersmail.com
17 MARCH 2015
n Andy Hampson bagged Ouse bream. The very final river match results will be noted in next week’s Mail, as our focus moves firmly to lakes and canals until June 16.
n LEEDS lass Kayleigh Smith, the 2014 Ladies National Champ, came within a whisker of topping the prestigious Sensas Challenge Final on the River Soar down in Leicestershire – only losing out on weight countback to Matt Godfrey of the victorious Drennan Barnsley Blacks team. This brace of perch helped Kayleigh top her section on day 1. Full result on p.65 – also check out Lee Kerry’s new Mail column in p.13 after the Barnsley ace’s third overall place.
Canals Beverley Canal, Beverley, East Yorks. Sun, 16, Beverley AC Open. Paul Caygill (Beverley) 4 kg 600 gr, roach and perch, poled worm and caster, peg 41. Calder and Hebble Canal, Dewsbury, West Yorks. Sat, 15, Thornhill AC Open. Neal Pickett (Thornhill) 2 lb 3 oz, roach and perch, poled bloodworm at 6 and 10m, peg 1. Mirfield Canal, Mirfield, West Yorks. Wed, 14, Old Bank AC. Neil Burland (Tri-Cast Calder) 15 lb 12 oz, quality roach, poled caster at 11 m, pegged below road bridge.
Woodlands Lakes, Carlton Minniot, N. Yorks. Sun, 25, Mosella Silvers Open. Peter Close (Mosella Quaker) 41 lb 4 oz, skimmers, poled maggot, Kestrel 22; Chris Gowling (Mosella Quaker) 26 lb 8 oz.
Cedar peg 71. Sat, 17. Mal Bailey (Garbolino Elton) 66 lb 6 oz, F1s, pellet, Cedar 65. Sun, 27. Chris Hall (Oaks) 77 lb 1 oz, carp, poled pellet plus bomb and maggot, Beech peg 21; Mark Britain (Woodlands Tackle) 75 lb 6 oz. Oaktree Leisure, Huby, N. Yorks. Sun, 12, Pond 3. Mal Fryer (Leeds) 19 lb 4 oz, carp and perch, poled maggot, peg 5. Ravenfield Ponds, Rotherham, S. Yorks. Sat, 13, Phoenix and Parkgate AC. Owen Brown 19 lb 12 oz, bream and skimmers, pellet feeder, peg 78. Southfield Reservoir, S. Yorks. Sun, 20, Doncaster AA Open. G. Lambert (Doncaster) 12 lb 11 oz, skimmers, groundbait feeder and maggot, peg 45. Woodhouse Grange, Doncaster, S. Yorks. Wed, 10. Dave Richardson (Thorne) 56 lb 6 oz, F1s, poled pellet, Dog Kennel peg 16. Sat, 19. Dog Kennel. Dean Morritt (WG) 72 lb 9 oz, F1s, poled pellet, Dog Kennel peg 19. Sun, 19. Ian Taylor (Medusa Feeders) 72 lb 9 oz, F1s, poled pellet, Dog Kennel 19.
Rivers River Ancholme, Brigg, Lincs. Sun, 47, Ancholme Ind. WL. Graham Bontoft (Scunthorpe Tackle) 24 lb 10 oz, roach, perch and hybrids, poled bread and worm, peg F on Springs section; Neil Smithson (Lincs County) 23 lb 4 oz; Tim Goldby (Hull) 21 lb 4 oz; Dave Brooks junior (Drennan Barnsley Blacks) 21 lb 2 oz; Jeff Edwards (Grimsby) and Graham Batchelor (Brigg) both 18 lb 14 oz. Final League: Graham Bontoft (Scunthorpe Tackle) 59; Wayne Easter (Scunthorpe Tackle) 53. River Nidd, Cowthorpe, N. Yorks. Sun, 40, Bradford No.1 AA Open. Howard Foster (Bradford No.1) 27 lb 1 oz, seven chub and a barbel, stick float and maggot, peg 16; Gavin Mitchell (Bradford No.1) 21 lb 2 oz; Bob Newby (Bradford No.1) 19 lb 9 oz; Eric Wright (Bradford No.1) 14 lb 3 oz; Chris Smith (Bradford No.1) 11 lb 6 oz. River Ouse, Hunters Lodge to Linton, N. Yorks. Sat, 42, Valmaar Sideloaders Open. Mark Calvert (Garbolino Elton) 15 lb 8 oz, three chub and ten roach, maggot feeder, peg 254; Paul Bennett (Tackle 2U) 8 lb 6 oz; Dean Grace (Pontefract) 8 lb 3 oz; John Smiles (Middlesbrough) 7 lb 14 oz. Sun, 40, York Tackle WL, Fulford. John Cyrowski (Barlby Village Stores) 14 lb 1 oz, two bream plus skimmers, feedered maggot, end peg on Palace Ings; Rob Morris (Angler’s World Holidays) 6 lb 12 oz; Mark Leslie (Selby) 5 lb 4 oz; Graham Flesher (Barlby Village Stores) 4 lb 3 oz. Final League: Angler’s World Holidays 12; Barlby Village Stores and X-Men both 13. River Swale, Scruton, N. Yorks. Sat, 27, Northallerton AC Open. Dave Robson (Selby) 21 lb 8 oz, five chub, bomb and bread, peg B1 at Tweddles Farm; Simon Roberts (Middlesboro) 14 lb 12 oz. River Tees, Yarm, Cleveland. Sun, 32, Yarm AA Open. Jimmy Messor (Maver Newman Scotts) 25 lb 15 oz, perch, feeder and chopped worm, peg 190; Mick Hope (Yarm) 23 lb 9 oz; Dave Harris (Yarm) 15 lb 4 oz.
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17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
• 60 anglersmail.com 17 MARCH 2015
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North West Ian Chapman Tel: 07974 642921 email: ianchappy@yahoo.co.uk
Careful feeding for spring sport “You’ll catch nowt sat in front o’ telly, lad!” That’s the sage northern advice my late father used to offer me, and although early spring can be a very tricky time to entice fish, I am sure you will find some reliable action by choosing one of this week’s recommended venues. The key advice is to ‘feel’ your way through a session, by that I mean don’t blast too much bait at your swim from the start, just go steady. Also, be willing to move to find fish, and always ask the advice of the local expert or bailiffs before you settle into a swim. Fish are still tightly shoaled, but once located, they will feed well now that the days are getting longer and slightly warmer.
CANALS Bridgewater Canal
Where? Altrincham, Cheshire. Club membership £20. Tel: 01928 716238. www.warrington-anglers.org.uk What’s being caught? Bream to 4 lb, with roach and perch. Tactics? Use caster or pellet on a pole and fish the basin behind Halfords for nice bags of bream.
Lancaster Canal
Where? Water Witch, Lancaster, Lancashire. Club membership £25 per year. Tel: 01132 298789. www.pikeanglersclub.co.uk What’s being caught? Try for skimmers, perch and roach. Tactics? Poled casters or worms, or bread for bream.
Angler’s Mail Support your local
FISHING CLUB PENDLE BURNLEY DAA
Pendle Burnley DAA are based in east Lancashire. They offer: Lowerhouse Lodge, Rowley Lake, Walverden Reservoir, Foulridge Reservoir, parts of the River Calder, and recently acquired Ball Grove Lake. Membership £35. www.pendleburnleydistrictanglingassociation.co.uk Tel: 07779 821467.
Tactics? Poled pellets is key, with maggots also doing okay. Try to fish close to the far margin for the best response. If you can’t handle a long pole, use a light feeder.
Cheshire Fishing
Where? Tattenhall, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 9NT. Day tickets from £5. Tel: 01829 770041. www.cheshirefishingtackle.co.uk What’s being caught? Lots of roach to 1 lb, from all pools, with skimmer bream, a few larger bream and perch. The carp are showing later in the day. Tactics? Pole fishing or waggler with a light rig and size 18 barbless hook will yield a bite a chuck with gentle loose feeding over a pot of micro pellets. Try bread for carp.
Church Gardens Coarse Fishery
n A cold-water commercial catch for Chappy after a measured approach with free offerings.
Leeds-Liverpool Canal
Where? Appley Bridge, Wigan, Manchester. Day tickets £4. Club membership £30. Tel: 01942 226427. www.wigandaa.org.uk What’s being caught? Bream, skimmers, roach and perch in catches to 10 lb. Tactics? Long pole or waggler with bread punch and caster work best, while worms will always tempt some perch.
STILLWATERS Bradshaw Hall Fisheries
Where? Bolton, Manchester, BL2 4JW. Day tickets from £8. Tel: 01204 307197. www. bradshawhallfisheries.co.uk What’s being caught? Stacks of silver fish, with carp also stirring from their winter slumbers. Catches to 20 lb possible for any angler. Tactics? Pole or feeder on all the lodges, with pellets, maggots and corn reaping rewards.
Brookside Fisheries
Where? Stretton, Warrington, Cheshire. WA4 4DP. Day tickets £7. Tel: 01925 730893. www. brooksidefisheries.co.uk What’s being caught? Catches to over 80 lb, made up of mainly F1s to 3 lb. Try Willow and the Snake if there are no matches on them. Afternoon sessions are usually productive if the temperature rises a little.
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TOPD RO
Where? Bradshaw, Bolton, Manchester, BL2 3ET. Day tickets £6.Tel: 0161 339 8584. What’s being caught? Roach and skimmers in up to 30 lb bags from the deeper swims past the centre of the lake from the gate end. Carp are now starting to feed, too, with some out to low doubles. Tactics? Slider and pole are effective, with depths down to 12 ft. Fish the last third lightly to intercept fish and put in small balls of bread feed to create a cloud. For carp, try pellets on a pole or a feeder.
Coole Acres Fishery
Where? Newhall, Cheshire, CW5 8AY. Day tickets from £8.50. Tel: 07747 007669. www.cooleacresfishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Carp on all three lakes. Crucians and silvers also waking up. Tactics? Big baits such as boilies for carp, with corn also working well. Use a pole for the smaller fish with red maggots best.
Fir Tree Fishery
Where? The Nook, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9JB. Day tickets £7. Tel: 01257 252607. www.firtreefishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Lots of bream, roach, perch and increasing numbers of carp are showing across all the pools at this secluded set of small waters. Tactics? Use red maggots fed via a pole pot with micro pellets, and double red on the hook, or a single 4 mm soft hooker pellets for the carp. Target the islands.
Gawsworth Fisheries
Where? Gawsworth, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9RQ. Day tickets £8.Tel: 01260 223442. www.gawsworth-fisheries.co.uk What’s being caught? Well worth a look on Wall Pool for a brilliant mixed bag featuring ide,
NORTH WEST
Where To Fish This Week
Lloyds Meadow,
Mouldsworth, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 8BD. This fine 2 lb 12 oz perch was one of four landed by Dean Leech at the four-lake fishery on float fished worm while feeding the swim with red maggots to attract small fish, which brought the big perch around. Venue latest: 019287 40710. chub and carp. Try Wood Pool for large carp to 20 lb. Park Pool is coming together well for all sorts of species. Venue of the week! Tactics? Pole or waggler with maggots on the drop on all pools. For bigger fish, try corn or meat.
Highfield Fisheries
Where? Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lancashire, FY6 9DG. Day tickets £8. Tel: 01253 701929. What’s being caught? Carp to 8 lb and ide to 3 lb. Try Oak on pegs in the 20s and 30s for hauls up to 40 lb. Tactics? Pole or a light feeder. Use a pole if it isn’t windy for superior presentation, and pellets or maggots on a size 18 hook.
Pendle View Fisheries
Where? Barrow, Lancashire, BB7 9DH. Day tickets £7 to £12. Tel: 01254 822208. www.pendleview.co.uk What’s being caught? On smaller day tickets pools, expect chub, roach, bream, skimmers and carp. The Main Lake is improving for specimen carp, but it takes a long while for a bite. Skimmers and perch can be had in abundance on the main lake. Tactics? Pole and maggots on the small lakes, while use feeder on the Main Lake for silver fish. Carp on boilies or bread.
Rosemary Wood Fishery
Where? Riding Lane, Haskayne, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 7JD. Day tickets £6 Tel: 07957 434325. www.rosemarywood.co.uk What’s being caught? Roach, skimmers, chub and perch, out of the larger Moss Lake, with carp starting to respond on Moss and Island Pool. Tactics? Method feeder, or a groundbait feeder if it’s windy. Calm weather will lend itself to a pole for silver fish on Moss, or carp on Island. Use red maggots or hair-rigged corn. 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
61 •
March 21st - 22nd 2015, March 21st - 22nd 2015, Farnborough, Hants Farnborough, Hants
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A Holiday Haven by 7 Beautiful Lakes Seven fully stocked coarse lakes (carp, tench and mixed lakes). Located in 40 acres of Devon’s beautiful unspoilt countryside. Relax in the comfort of stunning lakeside lodges or cottages sleeping from one to eight people. Suitable for tents and caravans. Easy access to the lakes and accommodation suitable for wheelchairs. Pet friendly accommodation available. An ideal base to explore from.
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‘DOGS WELCOME’ Tinney Waters, Devon Peaceful setting, lots of Carp, Bream, Tench, Rudd, Roach and Perch. Self Catering B&B. NO DAY TICKETS Tel: 01409 271362
EMERALD POOL FISHERY
in Somerset, s/c luxury cottages overlooking the lakes. Breaks available all year round. Tel: 01278 794 707 or 07974 862 503 www.emeraldpool.co.uk SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com 10 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com 63 • SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
VENUE RESULTS North West in association with
Bill Delves Tel: 01744 602037 or 07759 358474 email: match.results@virginmedia.
Sluice success for Heronbrook F1 King R
n Antony King plundered all F1s to win at Heronbook.
OUND four of the 96-entry Heronbrook Teams of Four Spring League held across all pools of the Slindon, Staffordshire complex saw Antony King (Ted Carter Southport) continue his recent run of form with a 78 lb victory. At fancied peg 1 on Match Pool, Macclesfield-based Antony grasped the glory by just 8 oz with a rack of F1s averaging 1 lb on poled pellet presented
Canals Leeds-Liverpool Canal, Burscough, Lancs. Sun, 60, Wigan Teams of Four. Alan Whalley (Gidlow Angling/ Sensas NW) 10 lb 4 oz, a 2 lb bream, three skimmers, two perch plus small roach, bread punch and caster, 14.5 m, peg 676; Kenny Sharples (Hindley MG) 10 lb 3 oz; Dean Turner (Tri-Cast Rochdale) 6 lb 5 oz; Les Ryding (Chorley Socials) 5 lb 13 oz 6 dr; Mike Davies (Wigan MG) 5 lb 11 oz 8 dr. Teams: Tri-Cast Rochdale 18 Chorley Socials 23 Wigan MG 24. Leeds-Liverpool Canal, Saracens Head, Merseyside. Sun, 16. Paul Charnock (Liverpool Dockers) 3 lb 9 oz, roach, punch at 12 m, peg 14. Leeds-Liverpool Canal, Apply Bridge, Lancashire. Sat, 31, Danny Martin (Wigan MG) 7 lb 4 dr, bream and roach, bread punch, peg 323; Lenny Stringfellow (Chorley) 6 lb 4 oz 4 dr; Graham Ford (Hindley MG) 5 lb 12 oz. Sankey St. Helens Canal, Merseyside. Sun, 29. Billy Kelly (Tri- Cast) 4 lb 3 oz 8 dr, carp and roach, maggot, 12m, peg 44. Shropshire Union Canal, Nantwich, Cheshire. Sun, 40, Stapeley Teams of Four WL. Eric Gardner (Eclipse) 10 lb 8 oz 2 dr; Fred ‘the bread’ Cheetham (Eclipse) 8 lb; Maurice German (Betley’s) 8 lb; Chris Morris (Cheshire MG) 7 lb 13 oz 3 dr. Teams: Eclipse 26; Tri-Cast Highfield 24; Browning Red 22. League: Guinness 121; Browning Red 119; Team Les ‘O’ 112.
Stillwaters Bannister House, Preston, Lancs. Sun, 16. Keith Wilson (North West Angling) 27 lb 8 oz, carp to 3 lb, pellet, 14m, peg 51. Blundell’s, Rixton, Cheshire.
towards the sluice. “I offered to carry John Chapman’s tackle to his peg because of his bad back and he repaid the favour by drawing me the best winter peg on the complex,” chuckled Ant. “It didn’t fish as well as I expected but I just managed to sneak the win.” Richard O’Connor (Drennan NW) was second from Meadow peg 2 with 77 lb 8 oz of pellet-tempted carp to 6 lb
Sat, 40. John Carroll (Leigh T & B) 70 lb 2 oz, carp to 7 lb, pellet, 13m, peg 67 Pine; Liam Wainwright (Leigh T & B) 62 lb 1 oz; Stuart Carroll (Matrix) 61 lb 5 oz; Jim Rodgers (Leigh T & B) 51 lb 14 oz; Kieron Rich (SF Logistics) 47 lb 2 oz. Sun, 34. Mark Hassall (Stalybridge Angling) 79 lb 4 oz, carp to 6 lb, pellet in 8 ft of water, 14m, peg 61 Pine; Mick Rudd (Rochdale Angling) 69 lb 2 oz; Paul Duffy (Leigh T & B) 68 lb. Bradshaw Hall, Bolton, Lancs. Wed, 27. Paul Barmforth (Maver NW) 35 lb 4 oz, F1s, maggot and pellet, 13m, peg 3 lake 8. Sun, 55. Dave Brierley (Fisherman’s Way) 90 lb 14 oz, F1s, pellet, 16m, peg 22 lake 3; Simon Aston (Bradshaw) 61 lb 11 oz; Chris Pickering (Eight Bells) 53 lb 13 oz; Josh Turnbull (Fisherman’s Way) 49 lb; Steve Brooks (Fisherman’s Way) 48 lb 4 oz. Sun, 16, Silvers. Carl Cantello (Gilders) 23 lb 12 oz, roach shallow, maggot, 13m, Lake 4 peg 8. Brookside, Warrington, Cheshire. Thurs, 20. Tom Barlow (Maver NW) 58 lb 10 oz, F1s to 3 lb, pellet at 14m, Snake peg 25. Sat, 25. Tom Barlow (Maver NW) 121 lb, F1s and common carp, pellet, 13m and down edge, peg 25 Snake; Joe Cartwright (Tameside Matrix) 86 lb 8 oz. Sun, 53. Ross Whiteman (Challinor Sport) 103 lb 4 oz, carp to 3 lb, silvers, corn, Kingfisher 16; Dave Williams Jnr (Fisherman’s Way) 53 lb 8 oz; Chris Ruscoe (Rod’n’Reel) 53 lb 6 oz; Dave Moran (Matrix Tri-Cast) 53 lb; Dave Almond (Olly Motors) 47 lb 14 oz. Carr Mill Dam, St. Helens, Merseyside. Sun, 20. Derek Bennett (Preston Innovations) 11 lb 6 oz, skimmers to 2 lb, red maggot, bread feeder, peg 78. Cudmore Fisheries, Whitmore, Staffs. Sat, 12. Dean Lockett
Weekend 30-plus entry matches noted by SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
and F1s to 2 lb, helping his team win. Others: Matt Barwell (Maver Gold/ Bag’em Oak) 74 lb 2 oz; Paul Sheehan (Maver Garbolino) 69 lb 5 oz; Andy Lees (Gilder’s) 64 lb 1 oz. Teams: Drennan NW 9; Ted Carter Southport 14; Dave’s of Middlewich 15; Maver Garbolino and Maver Gold/Bag’em Oak 17. League: Drennan NW 58; Matrix Dynamite Stapeley 75; Maver Gold/Bag’em Yew 78; Dave’s of Middlewich 80.
(Stoke) 86 lb 6 oz, carp, corn, Mark Lucas 60 lb 13 oz; Peter Panama peg 24. Sun, 12. Andy Tickle (St. Helens T & B) 60 lb 8 oz. Rogers (Cudmore) 99 lb 12 oz, Sun, 52, Covey 1-4. Andy Greaves carp, poled corn plus Method (Garbolino Elton) 64 lb 13 oz, F1s, feeder, Pool 1 peg 8. maggot and pellet, 10m towards Hampton Springs, Malpas, bridge, peg 73; Paul Coyle (Preston Cheshire. Sun, 15. Silvers. Stuart Innovations) 63 lb 13 oz; Keith Holmes (Chester Tackle Locker) Owen (Firswood Fisheries) 61 lb 29 lb 8 oz, skimmers, pellet, 12m, 14 oz; Frank Cooke (Ray’s Tackle) peg 16 Alice Springs pool. 57 lb 6 oz; Jeff Holland (St. Helens) Heronbrook Fisheries, Slindon, 53 lb 11 oz. Sun, 46, Ind WL Final. Staffs. Sat. 23. John Ashwell Steve Openshaw (Lingmere) 69 lb (Maver Gold) 118 lb 2 5 oz, F1s and carp, oz, 119 F1s, pellet to the maggot, 10m and sluice, Match peg 1; Sean margins, peg 4 Spey; Williamson (Reddish AC) Micky Barlow (Mosella 69 lb 5 oz. Garbolino) 55 lb 6 oz; High Heyes Farm, Eddie Bibby (Wigan Eccleston, Lancs. Sat, Angling) 55 lb 2 oz; Andy 27. John McNicholas Bennett 50 lb 12 oz. (Mabbs Cross) 32 lb Final League: Tony 4 oz, carp and ide, corn, Worrall (St. Helens T& B) 11m, peg 23 lake 2; Gavin n Andy Bennett, our 7, 192 lb 12 oz. Platt (Matrix Wayne’s Vulcan Reservoir, recently crowned Tackle) 30 lb. Merseyside. Thurs, Matchman of the Lingmere, Moreton, Year, scored another 18. Dennis Bate Cheshire. Sat, 17. Jamie win at Partridge. (Warrington) 12 lb Hughes (MAP) 82 lb 13 8 oz, F1s, pellet, bread oz, F1s, pellet, 4 m pole, peg 17. feeder, peg 24. Meadow View, Lymm, Cheshire. Whitmore Lakes, Kirkham, Sun, 20. Dave Hancox (Team Lancs. Sun, 21. John Brogden Dallam) 67 lb 10 oz, carp to 8 lb and (Ted Carter Southport) 55 lb 6 oz, bream to 3 lb, corn at 15m, peg 2. carp, pellet/corn at 16m, peg 18 Mill House, Mescar Lakes, Doughnut Lake. Merseyside. Sun, 20. Steve Parry (Fazakerley) 52 lb 12 oz, carp to 4 lb, pellet, 14m, peg 38. Partridge Lakes, Culcheth, River Weaver, Northwich, Cheshire. Wed, 33, OAPs. Steve Cheshire. Sat, 42, Northwich Kelly (Ray’s Tackle) 39 lb 7 oz, F1s, Mini League. John Brogden (Ted maggot and bread 3 ft deep at Carter Black) 26 lb 15 oz, 13m, peg 121 Covey 5. Thurs, 35. skimmers, maggot, bread feeder, Andy Bennett (Daiwa Guru Baitpeg 10 in town; Reg Evans (Atomic Tech) 62 lb 2 oz, F1s, maggot at Baits) 14 lb 9 oz; Rod Frazer 13m and 6m, peg 24 Covey 2; Paul (Ballyforce) 8 lb 10 oz; Peter Coyle (Preston Innovations) 52 lb. Leighton (Cheadle) 8 lb 7 oz. Sat, 64, Covey 1-5. Garry Eccles Teams: Ted Carter Black 29 lb; (Rochdale Angling) 106 lb 3 oz, Atomic Baits 17 lb 2 oz; Ballyforce commons and F1s, pellet shallow, 11 lb 9 oz. 6m, peg 75; John Jones (Garbolino Final League: Ted Carter Black Elton) 72 lb 1 oz; James Howarth 34; Vale Royal jnr 57; Vale Royal (Tri-Cast Highfield) 64 lb 3 oz; Red 60; Ballyforce 63.
Rivers
are points qualifiers in our Matchman of the Year. 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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We reveal the hottest pegs in your region
March 21st - 22nd 2015, March 21st - 22nd 2015, Farnborough, Hants Farnborough, Hants
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Check us out on facebook or visit us at www.whitespringsfishery.co.uk For brochure call: 01792 885699
Riverside Holidays Norfolk Broads 40 riverside bungalows and boats. Fish from your own lawn. Riverside Holidays, Potter Heigham. Free brochure 01692 580496 www.riverside-holidays.co.uk
Bywater Lake Book now Valentines y and 2015 Partfor sweekend now for XmaSummer BookSpring lures or weekend
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Guide price £295,000 Please contact Martin Freeman or Tom Good 01206 216 555
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Lake Side Lodges
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DREAMWORLD FISHING BREAKS LINCOLNSHIRE WOLDS 3 acre mixed coarse fishing lakes, S.C Lakeside Cabin, Static Caravan, Tourers, Camping, Dogs Welcome. Phone for brochure 01507 578 330
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THE COMPANY GO Outdoors is the UK’s number 1 specialist outdoor retail chain, offering everything our customers need to have fun and adventure in the outdoors. You’ll find our huge superstores all over the UK, and we will shortly be opening a brand new considerably enlarged fishing department in our Stoke-on-Trent store. This new department will carry all the main brands, and will sell a large range match and carp product which will include poles, seat boxes, live bait, freezer bait and all the associated accessories. THE ROLE As GO’s ‘Fishing Expert’ you’ll be face to face with customers throughout your working day, both the experienced angler and those that are just starting out in the exciting world of fishing. You will need to be very knowledgeable on match and commercial carp fishing, with the ability to run matches and help market the department locally in order to drive sales. You will be part of the GO Outdoors team, and the will be responsible for co-supervising a small team of people in the fishing department, who you will need to lead, support and develop. THE REWARDS We’ll make sure you receive all the training and support you need to help you develop your skills, a competitive rate of pay and a generous staff discount. TO APPLY Go to: jobs.GOoutdoors.co.uk/site/viewvacancies.cfm?ID=425851 and complete your details.
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Where To Fish This Week
East
n Tom made the most of the end of the river season with chub sport on the Cam.
Tom Legge Tel: 07801 627465 email: tomlegge@yahoo.com
Chub still a spring-time target I MAXIMISED my river fishing in the season’s final week, sharing an 11-fish haul on the River Cam with fellow chub fanatic Euan Simpson, topped by a 4 lb 11 oz ‘fatty’ (pictured). Most enjoyable! But now, until the rivers re-open on June 16, it’s all eyes on lakes. The following day ticket waters are all bang in form… and you can even catch chub from some of them!
STILLWATERS Chestnut Pool
Where? Langford, near Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9QT. Day tickets £12 for two rods. Tel: 01462 701865. www.chestnutpool.co.uk What’s being caught? Plenty of skimmers in the 12 oz to 2 lb 8 oz class, alongside increasing numbers of carp to doubles as the water warms up. Specimen perch are a viable target, with several topping 2 lb recently, but nothing to touch a 4 lb 7 oz whopper caught back in January! Tactics? Long pole and sweetcorn, expander pellet or double and triple dead red maggots are good for the skimmers. Hair-rigged corn or pellet on a Method feeder for carp and bream. Worm or prawns for big perch. Peg 17 by the fallen tree is a perch magnet.
Pegs facing the island channel are carp hotspots.
Lawn Farm Fisheries, Crabtree Lake
Where? Elsworth, Cambridgeshire, CB23 4JX. Day tickets £7 for one rod; £9.50 two (£5 and £7 Mondays except Bank Holidays). Tel: 01954 718269. www.lawnfishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Lots of chub in the 12 oz to 2 lb class, quality roach, increasing numbers of carp to doubles and… gudgeon galore! Tactics? Regular loose feeding with maggots will draw chub on pole, waggler or feeder lines with corn, meat or pellet hook baits to avoid the ravenous gudgeon. Single and double maggot with a light, shallow rig on a 4-5 metre pole line will line up roach to over 1 lb, but you must stay busy and regular with feeding and casting, whatever your target species.
TO RODP
Pentney Lakes, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE32 1LE. Betsy Dennis says she’s “still with her ‘fella’, Colin Pennington, buzzing” after landing this 22 lb 4 oz making him jealous, as it beats “gorgeous” pike on a legered smelt his PB, too. on only her second pike fishing outing Venue latest: 01760 444213. SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
Decoy Lakes, Beastie Lake
Tel: 01205 724162. www.westwoodlakes. co.uk or Facebook.com/ WestwoodLakesLincs What’s being caught? Everything with fins! Carp to 6 lb, bream and tench to 3 lb, quality roach, rudd, chub, perch, crucians and occasional barbel are all on the cards at this 42-peg Moat-style lake, one of eight lakes, along with holiday lodges, cafe and tackle and bait shop. Tactics? Long pole to the bottom of the island shelf or a shorter mid-track 7-8 metre line with pellet, corn or maggot hook baits will score. Go easy with the loose feed on colder days.
Where? near Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, PE7 2AD. Day tickets £7. Tel: 01733 202230. www.decoylakes.co.uk What’s being caught? The best known water at this 263-peg 11-lake day ticket complex is 31peg Beastie, which is producing plenty of F1s to 2 lb and some larger carp of the 4-7 lb stamp. Tactics? Short to mid-range pole with maggot or 4 mm pellet on the seven-metre line back to the margins is good for bites from F1s in bags to 60 lb-plus. A chopped worm feeder to the island is well worth a go for carp.
Suffolk Water Park, Match Lakes 1 and 2
Where? Bramford, near Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 4JS. Day tickets £7. Tel: 01473 832327. www.suffolkwaterpark.co.uk What’s being caught? Bream, roach, quality roach, occasional tench and increasing numbers of carp in bags to 30 lb-plus. Tactics? A bomb rig or a small pellet feeder cast around 25 metres is the current top tactic. As the water warms, expect carp to take over, with baggin’ waggler tactics and 8 mm pellet hook baits, feeding 6 mm and 8 mm freebies at 25-30 metres range. A 10-11 metre pole line with maggots, casters and chopped worm and a bit of groundbait can produce decent mixed bags.
Westwood Lakes, Skylark Lake
Where? Wyberton, near Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 7JA. Day tickets £6.
Angler’s Mail Support your local
FISHING CLUB KING’S LYNN AA
Kings Lynn AA offer an extensive portfolio of lakes, rivers and drains across the West Norfolk and North Cambridgeshire region, with a range of membership tariffs. Stillwater venues currently open include Tottenhill Lake and most lakes at the Shepherds Port complex, with Springside re-opening on April 1. Rivers and drains include sections of the Great Ouse, Little Ouse, Middle Level, Relief Channel and Cut-Off Channel. Basic, bronze and silver membership categories are available across four permit sectors. Basic adult (rivers only) annual permits are £40; bronze (rivers plus Tottenhill Lake) £46; and silver (all waters) £62. www.klaa.co.uk Tel: 07801 028085
17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
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March 21st - 22nd 2015, March 21st - 22nd 2015, Farnborough, Hants Farnborough, Hants
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FISHERIES
Welcome to Stafford Moor the ultimate angling experience
Paul and Jo and girls would like to invite you to experience the unique atmosphere of Stafford Moor. A mature sixty seven acre estate surrounded with huge pine trees hides thirty five acres of heavily stocked lakes, luxurious Canadian lodges and some of the most amazing coarse and specimen fishing in the south west of England.
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7 SPECIMEN LAKES 1 MATCH/ PLEASURE LAKES BOOKING MATCHES/DAY/24HRS/ 48HRS + SESSIONS HAVE FOR SALE, FARM GROWN QUALITY MIRROR/COMMON CARP 2” - 4” 40P each 5” - 7” £1.00 EACH 1/2LB - 2LB £3.50 PER LB CEFAS REGD, HEALTH CHECKED NETTING, ELECTRO FISHING BY EXPERIENCED STAFF BCAC OFFICIAL VENUE 01892 838576 info@orchardplacefarmfishing.co.uk www.orchardplacefarmfishing.co.uk
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VENUE RESULTS East in association with
EAST
We reveal the hottest pegs in your region Ken Rolfe Tel: 01371 619855 or 07706 298906 email: easternangler@talktalk.net
Multi-line attack wins on Grand Union P
RESTON Innovations Black Horse produced a superb final round performance to overhaul a four-point deficit and take the George Barker Teams of Four Winter League title on Leicestershire’s Grand Union Canal from Foxton to Theddingworth. Skipper Graham West drew peg A1 at Foxton, which won the last round of the 52-entry series, and made no mistakes to do likewise with a 7 lb 1 oz 8 dr net of bread punch-tempted roach plus seven skimmers to 10 oz on chopped worm. Graham told Angler’s Mail: “Lady Luck shone very brightly and I pulled out peg 1. I was so proud of my team, their attitude was so positive
Canals Trent and Mersey Canal, Willington, Derbyshire. Sun, 48, Burton Angling Supplies WL. Tony Barker (Shakespeare Agility) 6 lb 4 oz 10 dr, roach to 8 oz, poled bloodworm, woodyard pegB2 at Burton; Kevin Hibbert (Matrix Dynamite Trentmen) 5 lb 9 oz; Ted Yearby (Burton Angling Supplies) 5 lb 2 oz; Pete Allwood (Measham Red) 4 lb 10 oz. Teams: Shakespeare Agility 12; Shakespeare Superteam 15; Burton Angling Supplies 15. Final League: Shakespeare Agility 65; Shakespeare Superteam 79; Matrix Dynamite Trentmen 85; Burton Angling Supplies 111.
Stillwaters Aldercar Lane, Langley Mill, Notts. Sun, 18. Lee Payling (Peg One) 83 lb 1 oz, carp to 6 lb, caster and red maggot, Railway peg 10. Barford Fisheries, nr. Norwich, Norfolk. Sat, 15. Dave Jarvis (Daiwa Angling Direct Suffolk) 72 lb 3 oz, carp to 7 lb, pellet waggler 6 ft deep, Pleasure Lake peg 23. Cobbleacre Lakes, Hevingham, Norfolk. Sat, 11. Dennis Goodwin 63 lb 14 oz, feeder with popped up bread. Cross Drove, Hockwold, Norfolk. Sat, 34. Ricky Ashwell (Mad Baits) 86 lb, carp to 23 lb and F1s to 4 lb, bread at 13m, peg 68;Tony Watling (Cross Drove) 44 lb; Reg Bryanton (Deben) 32 lb 14 oz. Sun, 21. Mark Pollard (Shimano Stanjays) 51 lb 3 oz, carp to 14 lb and F1s to 4 lbs, feedered maggot and bread, peg 64. Decoy Lakes, Whittlesey, Cambs. Sun, 19. Tom Edwards (Sensas A4)
going into the final and that showed in their brilliant performance on the day.” Kicking off with punch crumb at 5 m, Graham caught roach before switching to a 10 m line fed with a 50-50 mix of Sonubaits Supercrumb Black and Supercrumb Lake groundbait with a few squatts and fluoro pinkies. A further line at 13 m down the track fed with chopped worm, groundbait and red maggot helped him to win. Others: Paul Cowern (Browning Black) 6 lb 3 oz; Matt Hodgetts (Central A) 4 lb 14 oz; Ian Drage (Raunds Individual) 3 lb 11 oz; Martin Colver (Browning Gold) 3 lb 9 oz 8 dr. Teams: Preston Innovations Black Horse 48;
109 lb 10 oz, carp to 5 lb, F1s to 2 lb, maggot feeder plus poled maggot down edge, Willows peg 16. Head Fen, Little Downham, Cambs. Sun, 15, Trevs Lake League. Steve Jackson (HF) 89 lb 14 oz, carp to 7 lb, chub and tench, poled caster and maggot over hemp. Final League: Matt Ayers (Dents) 171 lb. Hinderclay Lakes, Rickinghall, Suffolk. Sun, 19. Tony Anderson (Daiwa Angling Direct Suffolk) 31 lb 14 oz, roach, perch and skimmers, poled caster, Spring peg 18. Lake View Fishery, Holwell, Leics. Sun, 38. Mick Beckhurst (LV Select) 111 lb 9 oz, carp and F1s, pellet, Canal 15; Ken Daws (Sensas) 106 lb 4 oz; Scott Robinson (LV Select) 87 lb 8 oz. Rookery Waters, Pidley, Cambs. Sat, 15. Jack Chenel (Kettering Wayfarers) 52 lb 6 oz, mixed bag, pellet and maggot, 12 m and down edge, Magpie peg 13. Rycroft Fisheries, Derbyshire. Sat, 30, Nathan’s of Derby Silvers League. Rob Wootton (Shimano Dynamite) 37 lb 12 oz, skimmers on pellet at 11m plus perch, roach and skimmers to pellet over caster at 6m, Carp Lake peg 16; Alistair Chisholm (Shakespeare) 31 lb 2 oz; Andy Taft (Nathan’s) 28 lb 13 oz. League: Rob Wootton 143 lb 7 oz; Andy Taft (Nathan’s) 129 lb 6 oz. Sherwood Forest Farm Park Fishery, Edwinstowe, Notts. Sun, 19. Phil Shaw (Leegem Tackle) 90 lb 2 oz, carp to 6 lb, small pellet feedee, Holredale 36. Townsend Lakes, nr. Wisbech, Cambs. Sat, 22, Pairs Open. Dave Priestley (Townsend) 43 lb, 20 lb of carp on pellet feeder, plus 23 lb of silvers on poled pellet, Woodpecker peg 13. Pairs: Geoff Arnold/Bob Coulson (Hooked Newmarket)
Weekend 30-plus entry matches noted by SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £1 AN ISSUE! visit: www.magazinesdirect.com
n The Preston Innovations Black Horse team. A brilliant last round helped them to overall victory. Sensas Tackle Hub 37; Browning Gold 36. Final League: Preston Innovations Black Horse 10 (on weight); Browning Central ‘A’ 10; Browning Black 12. Individual: Karl Smith (Browning Central ‘A’) 48.
4 (55 lb 4 oz) Tues, 12. Steve Lane (Marukyu/ Westwood) 59 lb 1 oz, carp, pellet down track, Osprey peg 20. Thurs, 32. Paul Oglesbee (Westwood) 44 lb 13 oz, carp, pellet across, Skylark peg 9. Willow Lakes, Foston, Lincs. Sun, 18. Paul n New Mail columnist Lee Kerry (second from Kimberley (Team right) celebrated with Barnsley after winning on Zimba) 63 lb 4 oz, 15 carp to 10 lb, bomb with the River Soar. Read Lee’s column in p.13. sweetcorn and bread, A 33.5; Kamasan Sensas Starlets Hawthorn peg 17. 35; Sensas 28 41; Matrix Trentmen B 46.5; Sensas North 53; Kamasan Starlets C 64. (all qualify for October’s grand final in France). Old Nene, March, Cambs. Sun, River Trent, Burton, Staffs. 65, March DAA Open. Steve Slater Sun, 37, Coors AC Trevor (Bait-Tech) 31 lb 5 oz, eight tench Beckett Memorial Open. Simon to 4 lb plus quality rudd, poled Heaton (Sensas) 7 lb 11 oz, two worm and caster, end peg 70 above chub, feedered steak, Municipal bypass bridge; Paul Constable length peg 6; John Harper (Burton (March AC) 18 lb 4 oz; Mick Burrell Mutual) 7 lb 6 oz; Steve Allen (Maver Coleman’s Matchpack) (Tornadoes) 6 lb 14 oz. 16 lb 7 oz; Bob Fitzjohn (March AC) River Wensum, Lenwade, Norfolk. 14 lb 8 oz; Tony Watling (Stanjays) Sat, 16, Wensum Valley Champs. 13 lb 10 oz. Wed, 15, Garbolino RAF Lee Bennett (Derby) 5 lb 10 oz, E. Anglia WL. Roy Whincup (DSRA/ including 5 lb 6 oz chub. Pairs: Stanjays) 13 lb 12 oz, skimmers and Barry Hickford/Jed Spurgeon both roach, poled bread punch, end peg 5 points. Sun, 16. Kevin Humphries on Wigstones Bridge culvert. Final (Norwich) 3 lb 10 oz 8 dr. Overall: League: RAF Wittering 5. Lee Bennett (Derby) 8 lb 13 oz. River Soar, Sutton Bonnington, River Wensum, Norwich, Norfolk. Notts. Sat, 130. Sensas Sun, 17, Angling Direct Ind. WL. Challenge. Matt Godfrey (Drennan Steve Borrett (Norwich) 16 lb 1 oz, Barnsley A) 2 pts, 5 kg 460 gr; roach and perch,whip and maggot. Kayleigh Smith (Matrix Trentmen) Final League: Colin Urry (Dukes) 9. 2 pts, 4 kg 990 gr; Lee Kerry River Witham, Long Bennington, (Drennan Barnsley A) 3 pts, 3 kg Lincs.Sun, 27, Bottesford & 140 gr; Kouzima (Drennan Barnsley Grantham AA. Colin Walton B) 3 pts, 2 kg 830 gr; Hadrian (Newark) 25 lb 8 oz, chub, stick Whittle (Kamasan Starlets) 3 pts, float, bomb and caster, peg 15. 2 kg 730 gr; Sean Ashby (Kamasan River Yare, Langley, Norfolk. Sat, Sensas Starlets) 4 pts, 3 Kg 18. Richard Watson (Nisa Waveney) 620 gr. Teams: Drennan Barnsley 2 lb 4 oz, roach, feeder, peg 61.
Rivers/Drains
are points qualifiers in our Matchman of the Year. 17 MARCH 2015 anglersmail.com
67 •
Where To Fish This Week
Brian Gay Tel: 07768 612872 email: Brian62@mac.com
CANALS
TOPD RO
Exeter Canal Lime Kilns
Gloucester Canal, Hempstead
Where? Sims Lane, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 3NJ. Day tickets £4. Season ticket £24. Tel: Kev Fortey 07970 903797. What’s being caught? Pegs 1-50 giving good mixed bags of roach, skimmers and occasional bream. Opposite the concrete works for bags of bream to 7 lb in nets around 30 lb. Tactics? Pole and maggot over crumb for mixed bags, crumb feeder with red maggot or worm for bream bags.
Kennett & Avon Canal, Dundas Basin to Winsley Hill
Where? Limpley Stoke, near Bath, BA2 7BN. Day tickets £3. Club membership £35. Tel: 01179715003. www.bathampton.org What’s being caught? At the moment this is a great stretch to target perch, with plenty of 1-2 lb-plus fish.
Angler’s Mail Support your local
FISHING CLUB MALBOROUGH & DISTRICT ANGLING ASSOCIATION
Malborough DAA is based in the Wiltshire town and controls much of the Kennet and Avon Canal in the area. New members are welcome. Their venues offer some excellent roach, bream and carp sport, with the chance of some cracking tench, perch and pike, too. Adult membership is £40 a year, while juniors and concession memberships cost £20. You can add a night permit for an additional £20 a year. www.mdaa.co.uk Tel: 01672 516587 or 07717 803663.
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/daiwauk
Tench are the talk of the Town
South West
Where? Lime Kilns Basin, Exeter, Devon, EX6 8AA. Day tickets £6. Club membership £46. Tel: 01392 668935. www. exeteranglingassociation.co.uk What’s being caught? Not lots of fish, but when you get a bite it’s usually a big tench or bream. Tactics? Feeder with a big worm, corn, caster or bread. Boilies bring the chance of a sizeable carp.
TOPD RO
Foxcotte Lake, Charlton, Hampshire, SP10 4AJ. This 24 lb 8 oz specimen is Eddie Warwick’s second 20 lb-plus pike in three weeks, and came from this Andover Angling Club 45-peg 2.5-acre lake. Venue latest: 01264 361103.
Tactics? Pole and chopped worm and lobworms works, and roving lure fishing or drop shotting is also effective.
STILLWATERS Anglers Nirvana’s Kracking Carp Lake
Where? Halwill Junction, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5XT. Day tickets £10; £20 a night. Tel: 01409 221559. www.anglers-paradise.co.uk What’s being caught? Kracking Carp Lake is about big carp, and a new Devon and venue record 50 lb fish has been landed, and other carp over 40 lb. Tactics? Not easy, but rewarding when you succeed, as the fish are fantastic. Specimen style, with boilies.
Bristol Docks
Where? Various locations in the City of Bristol, BS1 4SB. Free fishing. Tel: 0117 903 1484. What’s being caught? The main species are roach and bream, some perch and potentially a doublefigure carp. Tactics? Crumb feeder or pole, baiting with maggots, casters or worm over crumb or loosefeed.
Burton Springs, Specimen Carp Lake
Where? Lawson Farm, Burton, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 1QB. Day tickets £10 (Mon-Thurs); £20 for 24 hours. Season tickets £115. Tel: 01278 732135. www.burtonspringsfishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Quality upper doubles and 20 lb carp are the big draw, resulting in multiple
TOWN PARKS COARSE FISHING CENTRE regular Rod Metcalfe had a surprise whilst fishing for bream from Specimen peg 12 at the Paignton, Devon, venue (TQ4 7PY. Tel: 01803 523133. www.townparks.net) Having bagged 35 lb of bream, Rod landed this hard fighting tench, which tipped the scales at 8 lb 2 oz. Light feeding is best for all species at the moment, with carp, small cats, bream and roach showing.
n Tincas out on the town. Rod Metcalfe with his early spring tench.
fish days and 24-hour sessions. Also a chance of a 30 and a good head of big grassies. Tactics? Bottom fished wafters work well at the moment, over modest, tight baiting.
Coking Farm, Woodland Lake
Where? Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 5SF. Weekend tickets £25 for 24 hours. Tel: 07789 003044. www.cokingfarmfishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Woodland is good for multiple carp catches in 24-hour sessions. Mostly good doubles and 20 lb carp. Tactics? Get tight to the island, with boilies working well – CC Moore Live System is favoured by many regulars.
Newton Park Lake
Where? Newton Park, Newton St. Loe, Bath, BA2 9BN. Day tickets £4 plus £35 annual membership. Tel: 01179715003. www.bathampton.org What’s being caught? Some pike, and the carp are waking up, with good doubles giving multi-run action. Tactics? Single pieces of corn, small boilies or paste wraps working well. The dam end is reliable, but on a warm wind the fish can move quickly.
Simpson Valley Fishery
Where? Holwell Park, Devon, EX22 6JW. Day tickets £5 one rod; £7 two rods. Tel: 07881 764655. www.simpsonvalleyfishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Lower Fuzzy is producing perch to 3 lb 10 oz, with good numbers of 2 lb-plus stripys. Tactics? Legered prawn or livebaits for the bigger perch.
Stafford Moor
Where? Toad Hall, Winkleigh,
Devon, EX19 8PP. Day tickets £10. Tel: 01805 804360. www.staffordmoor.co.uk What’s being caught? Pines, tanners and Woodpecker are in great silver fish form, with skimmers to 2 lb 8 oz, perch, roach, crucians and tench. Tactics? Long pole and expanders over fishmeal and micros or chopped worm and caster at six meters.
Upper Tamar Lake
Where? Bude, Cornwall, EX23 9SB. Day tickets £7. Trust membership £125. Tel: 01237 471291. www.swlakestrust.org.uk What’s being caught? Plenty of small silver fish, quality bream, decent perch and specimen carp. Tactics? Whip to-hand with maggots over crumb for double-figure nets. Feeder with worm or dead maggots for bream and skimmers. Boilies for carp. Prawns or LRF lures for perch.
TOPD RO
Apex Lake, Burnham-onSea, Somerset, TA8 1LU. Gregg Rees was pleased when he caught this 15 lb 7 oz pike from the Highbridge AA-controlled water (tickets from Thyers Tackle, in Highbridge) on mackerel, and then the Bridgwater angler was surprised to catch the same fish again an hour later, on trotted livebait. Venue latest: 01278 786934.
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69 •
WALES
Where To Fish This Week pike Close Season from March 31. Tactics? Pole-fished bread punch in 4 ft middle channel is good.
Wales Ron Cousins
Tel: 07831 242820 email: cousins.news@gmail.com
Wye have dace gone? AS the season ended, the clubs that fish the upper River Wye downstream of Builth Wells are all asking where have the dace gone? Rhymney AS secretary Jess Pugh told me that their full match calendar around Boughrood produced just a handful on the scales, where a few years ago doublefigure nets were the norm. At the same time, barbel numbers are up, with double-figure fish in matches, so maybe we are seeing the same as has down river in Monmouthshire, where dace have all but disappeared as barbel have n Ron ended the river season with a grayling caught trotting maggots under a stick float. thrived.
CANALS Neath Canal
Where? Briton Ferry, Neath, West Glamorgan. Day tickets £5. Skewen AC membership £25.
Tel: 01639 639657. www. homepage.ntlworld.co/doyle58 What’s being caught? Mainly roach with rudd, chance of a bream or tench. Some pike to spinners, but the club imposes a
STILLWATERS Cyfartha Park Lake
Where? Cyfartha Park, Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan, CF47 8RE. Day tickets £6. Merthyr Tydfil AA membership £65 (locals). Tel: 01685 377848. www.mtaa.co.uk What’s being caught? Carp to 12 lb and bream to 3 lb. Tactics? Feeder and 8 mm or 10 mm sweet flavoured boilies well out in the lake from the road bank.
/daiwauk White Springs, Pontardulais, Swansea, SA4 8QG. Green keeper Ethan Thomas from Blaenavon, Gwent, tackled peg 7 on the Specimen Lake to tempt this new mirror carp of 30 lb 12 oz and called it Scar Face. He legered boilies. Venue latest: 01792 885699.
TOP ROD
Glasdir Farm Fishery
Where? Pentre Halkyn, Holywell, Flintshire, CH8 8DB. Day tickets £6. Tel:01352 781303. What’s being caught? Roach, chub, bream and carp from the 30-peg Match Lake. Tactics? Pole fish pellets or maggots for plenty of bites from silver fish, or try meat with pole or feeder for the carp.
Pembrokeshire Coarse Fishery
Where? Llyn Carfan, Whitland, Dyfed, SA34 0NP. Day ticket £8.50. Tel: 01994 240819. www. pembrokeshirecoarsefishing.co.uk What’s being caught? Good roach and rudd to over 1 lb and carp to 8 lb from the bottom pond. Tactics? Pole fish close in where there’s 12 ft of water, or out with a small groundbait feeder. Maggots,
corn, pellets and bread work, with small, hard balls of groundbait.
Trefaldu Fishery
Where? Dingestow, Monmouthshire, NP25 4BQ. Day tickets £6. Tel: 01600 740236. www.trefaldufishery.co.uk What’s being caught? Carp on Willow Lake to doubles, with roach, rudd and skimmers. Tactics? Pellet feeder fished midlake, switching to corn to find carp, or small groundbait feeder and maggots for big silver fish catches.
VENUE RESULTS Wales in association with Careful feeding sinks Holgan carp
F
ORMER World Champion and Pembrokeshire’s Holgan Farm Fishery owner Ian Heaps clocked up his third victory in the Gadgers Two-Day Festival’s 11-year history. Ian’s timeless expertise brought him a 113 lb two-day total in the 34-peg sellout. He topped Day 1 from peg 20 on Holgan’s Match Lake where he caught carp to 5 lb in bursts of two or three, alternating waggler and bomb cast across to the island with banded 8 mm pellets. The next day saw him on Carp Lake peg 5 where he used the same approach for a repeat performance. “Most pegs here can be winners,” Ian told Angler’s Mail. “My winning secret was careful
feeding. If I put in too many pellets the bites faded away, so by the second day I knew exactly how little I needed to hold the fish.” Others: Jim Hutton (Swansea) 74 lb 2 oz; Lucie Bailey (Royal Wootton Bassett) 61 lb 10 oz.
n Ian Heaps (centre) collects the cup at Holgan after feeding carefully.
Stillwaters Cefn Mably, Cardiff. Wed, 18, over-50s. Robert Michael (Cardiff) 41 lb 1 oz, carp, poled pellets, Match Lake. Drummonds Dub Lake, Bromash, near Ross on Wye. Sun, 20, Iffers AC. Bob Williams (Iffers) 18 lb 8 oz, skimmers, Method feeder and maggots, peg on roadside. Mathern Mill, Chepstow, Monmouthshire. Sun, 20, Aberglais AC. Philip Jones (Fochriw) 105 lb 12 oz, carp to 11 lb, poled and bomb with maggots, peg 13 Waterfall Lake. Port Talbot Docks, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan. Sun, 14. Mal Entwhistle (Glamorgan Rebels) 26 lb 10 oz, bream, groundbait feeder and corn, peg 16.
Redhill Fishery, Monmouth. Wed, 12. Andrew Williams (Tredegar) 108 lb 4 oz, carp, long poled pellets, peg 10 on Sophie’s Pond. School Pool, Newport, Gwent. Sun, 20, Newport Spring Series. Nicky Belcher (Cwmbran Angling Nobblers) 40 lb 12 oz, F1s, poled pellets, peg 41 near lily pads. White Springs Fishery, Pontarddulais, West Glamorgan. Sun, 18. Ryan Dummer (White Springs) 74 lb 6 oz, carp, poled pellets, pegged on Match Lake.
Rivers River Wye, Bronwydd, Powys. Sun, 18. Ray McDonald (Cefn Fforest) 34 lb 6 oz, barbel to 9 lb 12 oz plus chub and grayling, maggot feeder, peg 2.
Angler’s Mail contacts For general enquiries call: 020 314 84159. Email to: anglersmail@timeinc.com For advertising call: 0203 14 82639. EDITORIAL >> Editor Tim Knight • Assistant Editor Production Richard Holroyd • News Editor Thomas Petch • Features Editor Richard Howard • Art Editor Keith Chambers • Deputy Art Editor Mike Wood • Senior Designer Jason Craig • Mag Assistant Jacqueline Grant SALES AND MARKETING >> Advertising Director Lee Morris • Commercial Brand Manager James Cassidy GROUP MANAGEMENT >> Managing Director Paul Williams • Publisher Hazel Eccles • Group Magazine Editor Garry Coward-Williams One-year’s full subscription rates: UK £103.20. Eire/Europe ¤177.99. North America $231.99. Subscribe at: www.magazinesdirect.com Published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, The Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0SU and printed by Polestar Colchester. Distributed by Marketforce UK Ltd, The Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0SU. Condition of sale: This periodical shall not, without consent of the publishers, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended selling price shown on the cover (selling price in Eire subject to VAT), and that it shall not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or annexed to or part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever. All contributions to Angler’s Mail must be original, not copies or duplicated to other publications. The Editor reserves the right to shorten or modify any letter or material submitted. Time Inc. (UK) Ltd or its associated companies reserves the right to re-use any submission sent to the letters column of Angler’s Mail magazine, in any format or medium.
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17 MARCH 2015
Additional photgraphy: courtesy of Sea Life London Aquarium
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The INFORMANT
In a new weekly series, our secret angler takes you into previously untold stories.
NEW SERIES
Hook, line and sinker A
FRIEND of mine used to work part time at a fishery, standing in for the owner when he couldn’t be around, and a couple of other regular anglers used to help out, too, in return for free fishing. One in particular saw the job as more than just a fishing perk; he wasn’t above pocketing some of the day ticket money when he was serving behind the counter, and he thought that no one was any the wiser. So this friend of mine (we’ll call him Ted) decided to teach this light-fingered chap a lesson, knowing how easily tempted he was to help himself to a bit of unearned cash. One of Ted’s hidden talents was his ability to disguise his voice with an accent so convincing, anyone speaking to him on the phone would be unaware it was him. He waited until a day when he knew that the light-fingered one was on duty at the fishery on his own, and then he gave him a call. Putting on his best plummy accent, he told his colleague that he worked for a large advertising agency in London who were looking for a lake that they could use for a couple of hours. What they had planned was a photo shoot with a group of glamour models posing in swimwear, but they would need a quiet and secluded corner of the lake because some of the
They needed a quiet corner of the lake because the models would be topless. photos involved the models being topless. Ted told him that the agency would be happy to pay in cash for the use of the lake and were willing to spend £400 on the day, if that would be agreeable. Then came Ted’s ‘ace up his sleeve’. Knowing how his victim had something of a vain streak and prided himself on keeping in shape and posing in front of the mirror, he explained that the agency was also looking for a man who would be prepared to join in the shoot, posing in Speedos with the girls for the pictures. There was an additional £200 allocated for this role, if he could find someone suitable, and once again it would all be cash in hand. To say that the light-fingered one was keen, is like saying kids like Christmas. He was practically drooling. A day was arranged when he knew he would be there on his own, and soon he was telling all his mates in the pub how he was going to be in a
photo shoot with topless glamour models and get paid £600 for his trouble. He didn’t get much sleep the night before, and it was with a real spring in his step that he opened the gates to the fishery that morning, anticipating the pleasures to come, having spent
Be sure to get your next copy of
extra time in front of the mirror getting ready. He roped off a bay at the far end of the lake to keep away any anglers, then sat and waited… and waited… all day… until slowly it dawned on him, that when something seems too good to be true, that probably means it is.
on sale Tuesday, March 24.
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• 72 anglersmail.com 17 MARCH 2015
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