Indholdsfortegnelse for 3251 i Angling Times

THERE are still places available to take part in one of the most highly anticipated events on the fishing calendar. ‘War of The Roses’ is a two-match event which sees teams from Yorkshire and Lancashire go head to head. The clashes take place on April 6 (Lindholme Lakes) and May 4 (Partridge Lakes). Last year the Lancastrians won at Partridge but the Yorkies bounced back to win at Lindholme. To take part contact Red Rose team manager Danny Sixsmith 07917 320244 or Yorkshire’s Dick Clegg on 07534 267512.…

ONE of the sport’s biggest and most popular tackle companies is to install high-tech video screens in tackle shops nationwide to help customers when purchasing their equipment. Essex carp tackle giant Nash Tackle has announced the funding of hundreds of video screen interfaces and is delivering the pre-programmed devices across the UK and Europe. They allow customers to scan bar codes on any item from the TT Terminal range and instantly view a video showing how and when to use it.…

A CLUB angler enjoyed a fishing match to remember when he netted no less than 100lb of bream from his local river. Danny Harding, from Northants, hauled in 16 slabs to over 7lb followed by a 3lb perch to weigh an eye-watering 103lb during an event on the Willowbrook Fisheries-run stretch of the river at Islip, Northants. The venue, which is available to day-ticket anglers, has been in fine form this winter. Pick up a copy of next week’s Angling Times for full details of how to fish it.…

THE HUT The hut is thought to have been built more than 100 years ago when it was used to store eel anglers’ equipment. In the past 30 years since the club took over the rights to the waterway it has been used as a shelter or meeting place for visiting game and coarse anglers as well as holding a book for anglers to record written information of their catches. THIS fishing hut on the banks of one of the UK’s most iconic rivers is guardian to one of the best-kept secrets of the season. Angling Times can reveal that hidden within its brick walls is a set of printed photographs of incredible once-in-a-lifetime catches that have been put on show by a secretive angler. The hut, located on the…

IT’S your chance to be part of an event designed to introduce new blood to fishing. Yorkshire’s Redwood Park Fishery has announced a Family Pairs Fishing Match to support and encourage family fishing, where young anglers will have a chance to fish with a more experienced relation. The event will take place on Sunday, April 10, when cash prizes and tackle giveaways will be up for grabs. For more information on how to enter, visit www.redwoodpark-york.co.uk/ family-pairs…

SUNDAY, MARCH 6 Hydneye Lake. Chris Tingley: 07876 185249 SUNDAY, MARCH 13 Bellwater, Midville, Boston, Lincs. Brian Hunn: 07769 9587775 Hydneye Lake. Chris Tingley: 07876 185249 Smeatons Lakes, Newark, Notts. WA Stevenson: 07505 792484 MONDAY, MARCH 14 Old Nene, B1040, Ramsey St. Mary’s, Cambs. Keith Rayment: 07551 840409 SUNDAY, MARCH 27 Beverley Beck, East Riding of Yorkshire. Dave Hancock: 07811 065835 or John Jenkinson: 07803 983635 Hydneye Lake. Chris Tingley: 07876 185249…

Recruit regional organisers who would be responsible for sourcing appropriate venues for use during the project. Fisheries with good access, pegging and a reputation for providing plenty of bites would be deemed ideal. Create tailor-made press releases for local newspapers and radio stations to gain maximum exposure of the events being staged. Recruit experienced anglers to act as mentors and coaches. Consult the Environment Agency to review the closed season in order to create an opening on the angling calendar for the month-long festival. Work with tackle shops and manufacturers to create opportunities for participants to receive goodie bags and discounts.…

WHEN ace fly angler Peter Cockwill invited me to join him on a feature for Trout Fisherman magazine, I leapt at the chance. The venue was Sutton Bingham Reservoir near Yeovil in Somerset, an interesting fishery which is divided by a road and dam with the smaller western end operated as a ‘big-fish’ water. Before we left the lodge, Ivan Tinsley – who, like his brother Kelvin, is a fishery ranger – showed us some recent catch return cards. The heaviest four-fish bag for the western end of the reservoir totalled 35lb-plus. Now that is serious big-trout sport for just £40 a day, and with a rod average of over 3.5 there aren’t many anglers who don’t bag up. As so often happens when I’m in the company of Pete,…

GODALMING Angling Society’s Junior Academy at Marsh Farm is intended to improve skills of youngsters already fishing. The first module – rig design and preparation, casting a feeder and some loosefeeding techniques – had to be conducted mainly in the classroom... where it was ice-free! The club has a whole host of events aimed at youngsters throughout the year, with details on its excellent website: www.godalmingangling society.co.uk Click the ‘Junior Information’ link.…

THIS WEEK’S 2 FOR 1 WATERS 1 Commonwood Fishery, Wrexham 2 Croft Fisheries, Lancs 3 Folly Wood Lakes, W Yorks 4 Mere Moor Fisheries, Cheshire 5 Poplar Farm Fishery, Manchester 6 Rising Fishery, Lancs 7 Winfield Lakes, E Yorks 8 Bishops Bowl, Warks 9 Cudmore Fisheries, Staffs 10 Little John Lakes, Notts 11 Packington Somers, Warks 12 Shearsby Valley Lakes, Leics 13 Suffolk Water Park, Suffolk 14 Watermeadows Fishery, Lincs 15 Alders Farm Fishery, Beds 16 Bitterwell Fishery, Bristol 17 Chestnut Pool, Beds 18 Gloucester Park, Essex 19 Little Cansiron Fishery, Kent 20 Wylands International AC, Sussex…

BISHOPS BOWL FISHERY, LEAMINGTON SPA, WARKS PRICES: £7 a day, £5 concessions, £10 a day on Greenhill and Mitre Lakes, £22 for a night CONTACT: 01926 612379 or visit www.bishopsbowlfishery.co.uk LOCATION: Bishops Bowl Fishery, Bishops Itchington, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV47 2SR RULES: Barbless hooks only, no braid, halibut pellets, floating baits, dogs or unattended rods. Fishing from designated swims only FACILITIES: Parking, tackle shop, café, toilets…

ATTACHMENT To attach the hooklength Stewart pushes a helicopter bead over a snap link, the bead buffers the feeder and he fits the hooklength inside the link itself. He prefers this to a Quick Change bead. HOOKBAIT  Corn is a great stand-out bait over a pile of pellets, and stays on well. Hook it on the hair rig with a Quick Stop. Stewart leaves just a 2mm gap between the corn and the hook. PVA BAG  To hold the PVA bag of 2mm and 4mm Dynamite XL coarse pellets in place, simply lift the knotted elastic sufficiently to slip the bag underneath it, then release the elastic so it grips the bag. HOOKLENGTH Hooklength is 4ins of 0.18mm or 0.20mm Shimano Aspire Silkshock to a size 14 PR38 hook. This…

Catch 20lb of roach! WHEN carp shut down in the cold Steve Ringer switches his attentions to silverfish – with impressive results! In this exclusive Angling Times video, our match ace reveals the tricks and tips you need to catch a big weight of roach as he hammers out 20lb of silverfish and a bonus tench in just two hours. Follow Steve’s advice as he reveals his simple rig, the baits he uses, essential tackle items and how to catch faster. Bag up on the bomb  STEVE shows us how to bag up on the bomb and pellet – a deadly winter match-winning tactic. In this exclusive video, Steve takes us to the famous Barston Lakes in the West Midlands where he reveals his tricks and tips for catching carp…

FIND SOME COVER  Dobbing works in as little as 2ft of water as long as the swim is up against features – six inches is pushing it! DOBBING involves fishing a large piece of breadpunch well off bottom on the long pole to features in your peg. You then constantly lift and drop the hookbait without feeding a thing, relying on the carp to take the bait by sight alone. In clear, freezing water it can bring bites when all else fails, but it requires self-belief and persistence to make it work properly. “Two things are needed for dobbing to work,” said top matchman Mark Pollard, an expert in the art of the dob. “That’s features and a shoal of carp. It’s instant so you’ll know soon enough whether it…

WITH many of the UK’s rivers now in fine fettle, you need to make the most of them before the end of the season. To help you through the last fortnight, we have asked three running-water experts to reveal the tips and tricks they use to ensure every remaining session is one to remember. So whether your target fish are chub, bream, barbel or even tench, there’s essential information here for you. But hurry up – time is running out on the rivers! RIVERFEST CHAMP TOM LANE ON CHUB AND BARBEL 1 Chub and barbel will be thinking about spawning now, so try to find shallower areas of the river that still hold pacey water with lots of natural food on offer. Typically, 4ft-6ft of water is what you’re looking…

1 My favourite maggot colour is red, and you will need at least five pints for a day’s fishing. Feeding little and often is key. 2 I use both a loafer and a loaded waggler – the latter is a great option for shallow, far-bank swims. 3 To make regular feeding of the swim easy and avoid constant bending down I have a bucket of maggots hanging off a long rod rest in front of me. 4 Team a long rod with a floating line for maximum tackle control. 5 If no bites ensue within an hour I’ll move, although I may return later in the day.…

WYCHWOOD AVX-S ALARMS SURE to prove a hit with the committed specimen angler, Wychwood’s super-compact AVX-S wireless bite alarms and receivers not only look the business, but they are easy to use and packed with bright ideas. The alarms feature built-in snag ears that can be extended when required, but pack away inside the casing when not needed. As well as this unique design, they boast volume, tone and sensitivity settings that can be changed at the touch of a button. The alarms are easily paired with the accompanying receiver, and a low battery warning is also included so that you never miss a take due to a lack of power. Price: Single alarm £59.99 Presentation pack (three alarms and receiver) £179.99 WYCHWOOD T BAR DUAL SCREEN SCALES WHAT a…

“I HAD waited seven years to land my first 50lb carp and here I was, about to hold my fourth in as many months.” Those were the words of in-form Ian Stott as he recounted the capture of this 59lb 2oz beast from Wellington Country Park. The St Neots rod has been on a stunning run at the Berkshire venue recently, but this fish is his biggest so far. He added: “As I peered into the net a load of expletives erupted from my mouth. I was looking down on a carp that was close on a foot across its back, and it dwarfed the size of a carp I had caught a few months previously.” Ian arrived at Welly at 6.30pm on a Friday but found anglers in the…

A SOCIAL session with a friend gave Simon Brockbank his first 40-pounder in the shape of this 44lb 11oz mirror. A four-year quest for a fish called Shoulders ended for Simon, when the 44lb 11oz mirror tripped up during a 48-hour visit to a Lincs syndicate venue with Phil Holmes. “I was ecstatic with my first forty, a new personal best and my target fish to boot,” said Simon. “It was the most memorable session and it was shared with a good friend.” Simon found three clear spots amid the weed and presented Key Baits All Season pop-ups over matching freebies and hemp. The second day brought a 22lb mirror before Shoulders arrived that night. Simon said: “At 4am the same rod was away with a slow take. As soon…

It’s time to move the closed season WHERE has the year gone? It seems as if it were only yesterday that I wrote my first column of the New Year, and now we’re in March! This month is a real mixed one, the first couple of weeks typically offering some of the very best river action in terms of both fish size and numbers. Then it all stops, and for the life of me I can’t find a single piece of credible evidence to justify why we should stop fishing the rivers at midnight on March 14. We seem to be beholden to the addled thoughts of a politician from way back in the late 1800s! The break was put in place to stop ‘anglers’ eating the fish they caught…

1 THE 90LB PIKE: At the top of all the mammoth pike lists compiled by the late Fred Buller is a 90lb 8oz pike claimed from Ireland’s Lough Derg in 1862. It was supposedly caught by John Naughton, but an even bigger 92lb fish apparently grounded itself in shallow water in a lough and was killed by two men with an oar in 1832. 2 UK GREAT WHITE SHARKS: It’s the ultimate ocean predator, but there’s still no concrete evidence that a great white has visited the waters of the UK and Ireland. However, there are plenty of eyewitness accounts. Chairman of the Shark Trust, Richard Peirce, has investigated more than 100 claimed sightings and he concludes that seven are credible – four in Cornwall, three in Scotland. 3 ‘THE…

Alliance & Leicester Liverpool, Chapel Pool: 1 C Pellow, 68-8-0, maggot, carp; 2 R Kennerley, 53-0-0; 3 D Pellow, 43-12-0. Alvis AC, Maynes Fishery: 1 R Chater, 6-0-0, maggot, carp; 2 P Flowers, 3-10-0; 3 N Edwards, 3-0-0. Andy’s Mob, Hartleylands Farm: 1 A Webb, 47-0-0, corn, carp; 2 G Hartigan, 35-12-0; 3 C Castle, 19-8-0. Beddington Winter League, Orchard Place Farm: 1 M Fitzpatrick, 97-13-0, pellet, F1s/carp; 2 J Hitchen, 86-4-0; 3 B Spiking, 81-4-0. Birmingham Thursday Club, Bonehill Mill Fishery: 1 S Birch, 1-15-0, pinkie, roach; 2 M Marshall, 1-14-0; 3 D Crozier, 1-6-0. Chard AC, Perry Street Pond: 1 M Smith, 59-4-0, maggot, carp; 2 H Watts, 43-4-0; 3 A Dunn, 35-4-0. Croydon Postal AC, Orchard Place Farm: 1 S Parker, 129-4-0, pellet/maggot, carp; 2 S Docker,…

Medway Tackle Silverfish Winter League (final round) Frant Lakes (20 pegs) THIS final round saw a reduction in numbers, but overall winner Pete Goodman claimed second on the day to take the title on weight aggregate after he tied with Ryan Watson and Richard Taylor on six points. Ryan won the final round with 39-8-0 of skimmers, roach and perch on double red maggot fished over groundbait and caster at 7m from his fancied peg next to the footbridge on the Car Park Lake. Pete was also on the Car Park Lake at the road bank and used long pole and pellet for 31-43-0 of skimmers. Result: 1 R Watson, Daiwa Dorking, 39-8-0; 2 P Goodman, Preston Innovations Delcac/ Bag’em Baits, 31-3-0; 3 F Brown, Sensas SE, 28-9-0; 4 N…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Alvechurch Fishery (Thurs) Horseshoe Pool (18 pegs) Les Eyres won this match to make it two in a row. Drawn on peg 6, the Alvechurch angler led the way fishing bomb and maggot into the open water just short of the rushes. Les caught carp to 7lb and stockies to end with 55-1-0. Result: 1 L Eyres, Alvechurch, 55-1-0; 2 R Street, Alvechurch, 38-7-0; 3 P Mortimer, Alvechurch, 36-2-0; 4 M Brown, Alvechurch, 23-10-0; 5 G Clarke, Alvechurch, 22-14-0; 6 R Taylor, Alvechurch, 21-6-0. Alvechurch Fishery Winter League (rnd 9) Horseshoe Pool (20 pegs) Warren Deach rotated a number of lines off peg 36 to catch carp to 10lb plus a number of F1s and barbel. Fishing pole and maggot at 14m, Warren secured the all-important zero…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Barford Lakes Railway and Willow Lakes (22 pegs) Result: 1 N Swallow, Barford Tackle, 67-1-0; 2 P Walpole, Costessey Crown, 58-13-0; 3 J Barrowman, PW Angling, 57-4-0. Climax Wold View Fishery Vets (Tues) Silver Lake (18 pegs) Result: 1 B Marsh, Wold View, 19-4-0; 2 C Withers, Wold View, 18-12-0; 3 S Southern, Wold View, 16-8-0. Climax Wold View Fishery (Weds) Gold Lake (15 pegs) Result: 1 T Booth, Wold View, 38-8-0; 2 K Easton, Wold View, 21-12-0; 3 G Garrod, Wold View, 21-0-0. Climax Wold View Fishery Gold Lake (16 pegs) Result: 1 I Marshall, Wold View, 45-0-0; 2 P Newsham, Wold View, 43-4-0; 3 T Booth, Wold View, 34-8-0. Janson’s Fishery (Tues) Match Pool (13 pegs) Result: 1 N Orton, Janson’s, 126-10-0; 2 B Blewitt,…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Firswood Fishery (Weds) Both lakes (16 pegs) A level 53-0-0 of F1s and carp secured the honours for Andy Kirk as the Lingmere man dobbed bread at 13m off peg 10 on the Big Lake. Malcolm Dixon followed with 50-14-0 of F1s and a few carp at Small Lake peg 25 as he caught on maggot at 10m. Result: 1 A Kirk, Lingmere, 53-0-0; 2 M Dixon, St Helens Angling, 50-14-0; 3 B Bush, Birkenhead, 50-6-0; 4 R Shaw, Wigan Angling Centre, 49-3-0. Fishing Republic Winter League (Final rnd) Messingham Sands, Swan Lake (26 pegs) There was a clear winner come the final whistle as Mark Bissel romped home with 87-11-0. The Angel AC rod picked peg 26 on the new bit out of the bag and…

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

“The rains had coloured up the pit and I didn’t have a take, then it kicked off big time.” A BUCKET of fish heads played its part in a prebaiting campaign that ended in one of the best hauls of gravel pit pike of all time. Huge predators of 33lb 4oz, 30lb 3oz, 28lb 4oz and a couple taking the scales round to 24lb were the highlights of what Angling Times columnist Steve Rowley described as ‘the session of my life’. Seven fish for a combined weight of over 150lb fell to the specialist from Gloucestershire when he legered his favoured sardine hookbaits at a gravel pit in the south of the UK. “The recent rains had really coloured up this pit and the first day I didn’t have a…

IS THIS the biggest perch ever to be caught on a Ned rig? That is the question being asked by Scunthorpe angler Elton Williams, after he slipped the net under the 4lb 1oz beauty. Trying the tactic for the first time, the 45-year-old snared the huge predator during a short roving session on an unknown stretch of canal. The Ned, a method adopted from US bass anglers, is becoming increasingly popular among UK lure anglers. Elton set his rig up using a 4g jig head and a California Claw plastic TRD lure.…

LAURENCE Hanger had the session of a lifetime when he beat his grayling personal best twice. Armed with simple float fishing tackle and a few pints of maggots, he set his sights on the River Frome. He only gets the chance to fish the waterway once a year and he made the most of it when he banked quality fish with the best at 3lb and 2lb 8oz. All his fish were beaten with 4.4lb Drennan mainline, a size 16 hook on to which he threaded a red maggot hookbait. “I started by walking a mile or so to get to the end of the stretch and then worked my way back, giving every likely-looking spot 15 or 20 minutes and it worked a treat,” said Laurence.…

THIS huge 5lb ide certainly provided a welcome surprise for Colin Hebb when he visited his local River Hull. A feederfished lobworm was the winning cocktail for the dedicated 32-year-old from Cottingham, East Yorkshire. A rig made from 12lb mainline and a size 4 hook helped Colin subdue the powerful lunges of the fish, which sets a new personal best for the species. “I lost two good fish early on, but this huge ide more than made up for my initial disappointment,” he said.…

A LURE angler has banked the biggest pike of 2016 at the famous Ravensthorpe Reservoir. Dawid Myszor was by the fishing lodge at the Northants venue when he worked a 19cm Savage Gear lure that fooled the new 35lb 5oz personal best. It was a specimen that had followed his lure several times during the day, but persistence paid off when the Leicester angler beat the fish with a braided mainline and a long wire trace. “The fish didn’t really fight that hard. It was in the net within a couple of minutes, but I couldn’t believe the size of what I’d caught,” Dawid said. “I was fishing so close to the lodge that two rangers came out to help me weigh the fish and confirmed it is the biggest…

I AM delighted that the Angling Trust has adopted a measure-and-release policy for bass to enter its popular Sea Specimen Awards Scheme. Currently the plans are that this will cease once the regulations change in July, when a single bass can be retained each day. I think that’s a mistake, and that the measure-and-release plans should be adopted for all species, even coarse and game fish. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has world records based on length, so why can’t we? It is a great conservation measure. While a rolling boat can impact on how scales register, a tape measure is exactly the same length whatever it’s doing and a couple of photos of the fish being measured are better evidence than the same fish dangling from a spring…

RIVERS & CANALS RIVER OUSE, LINTON-ON-OUSE, N YORKS THE well-known bungalows section at Hunters Lodge is still producing plenty of perch, with nets topping 30lb. Contact: Leeds DASA membership office, 01132 249721 Prices: £52 per calendar year, Leeds DASA BRIDGEWATER CANAL, WARRINGTON, CHESHIRE The Dead Length has seen double-figure nets of skimmers, roach and perch in club matches. Contact: Frank Lythgoe, 01928 716238 Prices: £40 a season, via Warrington AA GREENWOOD CANAL, MIRFIELD, W YORKS The short length that bypasses the weir opposite the Ship Inn on the River Calder holds shoals of roach when the main river is unfishable. Contact: Calder Angling Supplies, 01484 711063 Prices: £3 a day from local tackle shops, Mirfield AC LEVEN CANAL, SANDHOLME, E YORKS Small roach and perch to bread and pinkie, respectively.…

RIVERS AND CANALS RIVER SEVERN, SHREWSBURY, SHROPSHIRE A MATCH on the Quarry section last week saw competitors netting near-20lb nets of dace and roach, taken short on 6m whips or pole to hand. Contact: Total Angling, 01743 462699 Prices: £5 from Total Angling Shrewsbury, Shropshire Federation of Anglers ASHBY CANAL, MOIRA, LEICS From pegs near the footbridge small pellets have taken good nets of bream. Contact: Furnace Museum, 01283 224667 Prices: £4 a day from Moira Furnace Museum BEVILL’S LEAM DRAIN, WHITTLESEY, CAMBS At Pondersbridge bronze maggot on the whip is taking double-figure nets of small fish. Contact: 01733 203800 Prices: £3 on the bank, Whittlesey AA CUT OFF CHANNEL, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK Pike to 19lb 4oz and zander to 7lb 9oz between the bridges on deadbaits, plus lots of…

RIVERS AND CANALS GRAND UNION CANAL, TRING, HERTS THE Red Lion stretch has been consistent this winter. Plenty of bites from small fish can be had when fishing light float rigs with maggots. Contact: Tring Anglers, 077961 78313 Prices: £5 on the bank, Tring Anglers BASINGSTOKE CANAL, ASH VALE, HANTS Try the wharf area at Wood Street or the Napiers pub for roach on breadpunch. Contact: The Creel Aldershot, 01252 320871 Prices: £4 on the bank, £3 from local tackle shops, Basingstoke Canal AA RIVER AVON, BRITFORD, SALISBURY, WILTS The main carrier is still flowing too fast but roach, grayling, dace and chub are coming from the Navigation channel. Contact: Reids Tackle, 01722 711616 Prices: £10 on the bank, London AA RIVER GREAT OUSE, OLNEY, BUCKS A 6lb 4oz chub…

BELIEVE it or not, there are only two weekends left to wet a line in your local river before it closes until the middle of June. Before we know it, the enforced three-month break will be with us and it will be too late. So where should you head to make the most of what is always one of most productive spells of the river season? This week we have put together some of the top free or day-ticket river venues where anglers can target specific species. Whether you’re a big barbel angler or a matchman who prefers to trot a stick float or waggler down the current you’ll find somewhere here to put a bend in your rod. Remember, the season ends at midnight on Monday, March 14 and…

1 Cut off the prongs of the feeder and flatten any sharp edges with sandpaper to form a flat base. 2 Drill a couple of small holes through the base of the feeder at either side of it, like this. 3 Thread a small length of thick hollow elastic through the holes and back through the other side. 4 On the top side, tie an overhand loop in the elastic to form a thick knot. Wet it with saliva. 5 Hold the knot against the frame and pull upwards, so it tightens right down to the frame. 6 Trim off to leave small tag ends on the elastic and the feeder is ready to load with PVA.…

THE next few weeks are one of the best times to bag yourself some good perch. With water temperatures slowly creeping up and the worst of the floods over, perch can be ravenous and very catchable. Big perch can often go unnoticed for years, mostly because they are quite picky over what they eat. Fish and crustaceans are often their food of choice, although I suspect caddis fly larvae are also consumed in large numbers. Choosing the right bait can be essential for consistent success, but this is relatively easy to achieve if you follow a few simple guidelines. LURES Lure fishing, especially drop shotting, has really exploded in popularity over the last few years, but still I can think of only a handful of anglers who specifically target big…

THERE are only two weeks to go until the end of the river season, and we’re here to help you get the most from them! Over the next 12 pages, our experts tell you everything you’ll need to know to make sure you end your season in style. Britain’s top river angler Dave Harrell suggests taking a trip to the Severn, Martin Bowler enjoys a chub session with his mate Terry Theobald on the Dorset Stour, and we also reveal four great set-ups that will ensure you have all the bases covered. So whether you watch to put together a catch of pristine roach, bag a personal-best barbel or land a giant chub, there’s something here for you. It’s a going to be a great final fortnight. Don’t miss out!…

“A wealth of different tactics are at your disposal.” RIVERS offer so many fascinating and challenging habitats to anglers seeking to catch fish from them. From tiny streams that you can jump across to the majestic might of the Wye, Severn and Thames, such diversity means that a wealth of different tactics are there at your disposal. On one venue you may be casting a waggler tight to far-bank trees, on others lowering a delicate pole rig through the depths to pick off timid roach. Then there’s the strong arm tactic of feeder fishing on coloured rivers, or perhaps the manic windmill style that is bleak fishing on the whip. With so many methods to use, it can be tempting to set them all up but never do them justice…

FOR as long as I can remember the last two weeks of the river season have been good. Water level is nearly always perfect and the temperature high enough for all species to feed. Some of my best float weights and favourite match wins have come over this final fortnight, and I’ll be spending as much time as I can on running water between now and March 14. One river that’s really worth a visit is the Severn. If you’ve never fished there, try and fit in at least one trip before the shutdown. To help you plan your visit, here are a few pointers and tactical tips to speed up the process for you when you get there. SHREWSBURY This has been my favourite river venue ever since my…

HEAVY GEAR  There’s no place for light lines when using a flat float, so a rig should be made up of tackle more normally seen on a commercial carp water. The water will be coloured, so fish won’t be tackle-shy. Use 0.18mm mainlines to a hooklink of 0.16mm and a sensible size 16 or 14 hook to a solid No10 elastic. FLOAT SIZE  Flat floats can be anything from small 1g models up to 50g monsters, but as a general rule something around 5g or 6g should tackle most UK rivers. The idea is to slightly overshot the float so that when it’s held back, the float’s body will not rise out of the water. Shotting is simply an olivette set a foot off bottom with a couple of positive…

AS revealed exclusively in last week’s Angling Times, Leeda unveiled its new budget level Concept GT match/ pleasure brand at its very own Ice Tackle trade-only show. But it wasn’t just its own brand that the Milton Keynes-based company was keen to showcase. Established Leeda-owned favourites MAP, Wychwood and Mustad used the bright lights to reveal an equally impressive array of kit for the coming season. And, as ever, the Angling Times cameras were on hand to capture the excitement and introduce our pick of the show highlights.…

THE irrepressible Kris Ollington has been at it again on Wellington Country Park. The reigning Angling Times Carp Angler of the Year, whose 2015 tally featured six different fifties, caught two 48-pounders and two thirties in a weekend at the Berkshire super water. All four fish are new to the Surrey angler, who is rapidly working his way through the syndicate lake’s stock. The two smaller carp were commons weighing 33lb 8oz and 38lb 10oz, while the 48-pounders were a common and a ghostie. “This awesome venue never fails to surprise me,” said Kris. “It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of the place, not only for the fish but the syndicate as a whole – from the members to the bailiff team, it’s just perfect.” The electrician, who fished…

CARP Team Wales have announced their squad for this year’s World Carp Championship in France. England won the competition last year and had, until now, been the only British team at the event. The new Welsh team were been formed by 59-year-old businessman Tim Jones, who got his band of anglers together at Merrington Fishery in Shropshire last month for a social match. The team features brothers Ross and Spencer Partridge, from Cardiff; Christopher Buck, from Wrexham; Nick Davies, from Llansantffraid; Jason Massey, from Cardiff and Michael Morgan, from Mold. Jon Menage, Adam Johns and Olly Hughes are the reserve members. In tough conditions, team boss Tim Jones bagged a 21lb 2oz mirror.…

WHEN I first started fishing in the 1970s it was essential to use plenty of watercraft to enjoy much success. Working out where the fish were was done by scouring the water, looking for fish swirling or rooting around in the margins. If they couldn’t be seen, then you would take into consideration wind direction and temperature before picking your swim. But it seems fewer and fewer anglers want to use these skills nowadays. There is so much technology around that the fun of seeking out your quarry has been removed. Fish-finders and bait boats were first on the scene and now one fishery has even installed underwater cameras to make locating the shoals even easier. I do have to question what the next step will be to make catching…

IDON’T know which way to turn this week – I’m so busy doing all sorts of angling-related things. Still, it could be worse – I could have a proper job! TUESDAY First session out with Bill Finch, the chap I am helping with his bucket list of fish before he gets too ill to go for them. The night temperature was minus 7ºC and when we arrived at the water there was a cover of ice at least a quarter-of-an-inch thick. The weather had been so mild I didn’t think one extreme night would do that, but Mother Nature will always catch you out! I need to wait for the thaw, when I’ll try again for a big pike. WEDNESDAY Had a meeting with Wayne, main man at angling book…

We must eradicate these alien species! IT is five years ago today that the Check, Clean, Dry! campaign to stop the spread of invasive aquatic species in UK waters was launched. In that time, the Angling Trust and many other organisations have promoted the three-part message: CHECK fishing gear and clothing for live organisms CLEAN thoroughly, preferably in hot water DRY everything – some species can live for days in moist conditions We’ve also handed out leaflets and stickers at fishing shows and forums, put up posters and signs at clubs and fisheries, and represented the interests of anglers at biodiversity gatherings in Britain and Europe. Many anglers have witnessed for themselves the devastating effect that one invasive species – the North American signal crayfish – has had on fish…

THE good old British weather really can’t make up its mind. After a week of cold we enjoyed a ridiculously mild weekend, and that was certainly picked up on by the fish, with a string of springlike catches around the clubs. NDP 10 man Kim Coombs won their match with 164-8-0 of carp on pole and bread from the Reservoir on Hartleylands Farm, while another Kent water, Orchard Place Farm, gave victory to Wednesday Club’s Peter Hall with 124-8-0 and 129-4-0 for the runner-up, Croydon Postals man Steve Parker. Hero of the week, though, has to be White Hart Dagenham man Jimmy Ryan, who could only fish with one hand at Claygate Lakes, having the other strapped up following a fall earlier in the week. Using maggot at short range…

HAJAC League (Rnd 4) Cock Bank,Factory Bank, March Bypass & Raveley Drain (60 pegs) ALEX Bates was top rod on Sunday, and it was an unexpected species that made it possible. The Sensas Tackle & Baits angler fished the end peg at Raveley Drain and used both the whip and waggler for an all rudd netful that went 16-9-0 on the scales. Maver Image’s Pete Vasey was second overall having taken 15-15-0 of roach and a brace of bonus tench from the end peg at Cock Bank. Sensas Tackle & Bait are currently top of the league with 5 points, although Stanjay Gold are breathing down their necks and just one point behind. Result: 1 A Bates, Sensas Tackle & Baits, 16-9-0; 2 P Vasey, Maver Image, 15-15-0; jt3 M…

Heronbrook Fisheries Canal, Island, Match & Meadow Pools (51 pegs) THIS was one of the best matches in the land on the day, and it was Trevor Robinson who won the best pay packet on offer with 130-10-0. Dobbing bread and feeding nothing worked a treat for the Maver Midlands Sonubaits rod, with carp to 12lb and big F1s falling for the attack on a regular basis from peg 29 on Meadow Pool. Mick Roberts went down the long pole and pellet route from peg 49 on Canal Pool and weighed in 109-4-0 come the final whistle. It was the winner’s brother, Jake, who rounded off the frame, with the Maver Midlands Bag’em Matchbaits angler scoring 107-0-0. Result: 1 T Robinson, Maver Midlands Sonubaits, 130-10-0; 2 M Roberts, Eddie’s Bait,…

Tuesday, March 1 Acorn Fishery Tuesday Tenner, Kingston Seymour - Mike 01179 497310 Alders Farm, Affordable Open, Great Brickhill – Trevor 07860 235655 Aston Park Fisheries, Sheffield - Alex 07743 845737 Coleman’s Cottage Fishery, Witham – Gerry 01376 516383 Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery, Retford – Nick 01777 710448 Decoy, Eastrea – Di 01733 202230 Garbolino Lindholme Lakes, Epworth – Neil 01427 872905 Heronbrook Over 55s, – Neil 07879 441288 Janson’s, Elton - 07976 317864 Kobra, Dynamite Baits Makin’s Fishery, Wolvey – John 07749 284823 Little John Lakes, Ollerton - Steve 07715 096738 Meadow View Fisheries OAP & Dis, Warrington – Brian 01925 757985 New Moorlands Farm, Kidderminster - Dave 07772 297462 Oaks, Sessay - Chris 07885 553323 Old Hough Fishery, Middlewich – Doug 07976 381996 Partridge Lakes, Culceth - Mel/Nel 07950…

Mosella Quaker Silverfish Series (final round) Woodland Lakes, Skylark, Partridge, Kestrel & Dragonfly Lakes (50 pegs) THIS league couldn’t have been closer when it came to the final reckoning as anglers discarded their worst result of the six matches. Winning by just a single point, with 53, was Maver NW man Dave Smiddy, with Johnny Maddison the man to miss out by that narrow margin, although he was, in turn, a point ahead of Tony Watson. The final-round honours went to Cleveland Angling matchman Sammy Rambow with 39-11-0 of roach and skimmers on polefished pellet and maggot at Skylark Lake peg 15. Roach and skimmers also made up the 37-4-0 of runner-up Peter Close, who fished maggot and caster long from Kestrel Lake peg 23. Result: 1 S Rambow, Cleveland…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Blundell’s Fishery Rover (Weds) All lakes (13 pegs) Result: 1 M Rawlinson, Fishing Republic, 89-4-0; jt2 C Attenborough, Blundell’s and C Mullholland, JW Pole Repairs, both 75-12-0. Messingham Sands Silverfish Only Swan Pond (16 pegs) Result: 1 D Rawcliffe, Grimsby 24-1-0; 2 S Nurse, Grimsby 23-9-0; 3 K Hartley, Scunthorpe 20-0-0. Messingham Sands Islands Lake (14 pegs) Result: 1 T Latimer, Grimsby 24-15-0; 2 S Deans, Grimsby 10-6-0; 3 G Shephard, Huddersfield 7-15-0. Messingham Sands (Tues) Tripp Lake (15 pegs) Result: 1 P Hewitt, Messingham 42-15-0; 2 M Lidgard, Brigg 16-9-0; 3 T Holmes, Grimsby 12-1-0. Messingham Sands (Weds) Swan Pond (14 pegs) Result: 1 A Kean, Hull 31-12-0; 2 D Elm, Hull 27-9-0; 3 A Gregory, Scunthorpe 15-3-0. Messingham Sands (Thurs) Oak Tree Pond (17 pegs)…

A SCHEME instrumental in the crackdown on illegal fishing has just got stronger. Following a successful pilot project launched in the South East, the Angling Trust is proud to announce that the Voluntary Baliff Service (VBS) has now been rolled out into the Midlands. This is the third VBS region to go ‘live’ and it includes Shropshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, West Midlands, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. To find out more visit: www.anglingtrust.net or call: 01568 620447…

THERE are no doubt some anglers who have never won a match when they’ve been able to use both hands, but Jimmy Ryan managed it with the proverbial ‘arm tied behind his back’ last week, topping the White Hart Dagenham club match at Claygate Lakes fishing one-handed! Having suffered a fall earlier in the week, Essex man Jimmy had one hand strapped up by the doctors, leaving him free to fish with the other. FIshing maggot on the short pole, he made short work of the field to weigh in 84-9-0 of F1s and skimmers, ending up 12lb clear of second-placed Ray Golding.…

A MATCH angler had the customer service of a tackle shop to thank after he finished in the money despite breaking his pole while setting up. Bobby Boyce was just moments from the all-in at the final round of the Milton Keynes Angling Association winter league on the Grand Union Canal when a gust of wind upended his roller and broke two sections of his pole. A phone call later and a local tackle dealer was soon at his peg with the new sections allowing Bobby to fish the match and claim third.…

BIG catfish aren’t the only predators lurking in the depths of the River Ebro, as Jake Finnigan demonstrated when he bagged this 9lb 9oz zander. The toothy predator was just one of dozens of zeds boated by the North Yorkshire angler during his trip to the Spanish waterway with friend Robert Foster, who also boated a zed of 9lb 4oz as well as 130lb catfish. Jake was using 12lb fluoro leader with weedless jig heads baited with Gary Yamamoto lures.…

ON HIS first visit to a new stretch of the River Trent Chris Merritt banked this pb 15lb 7oz barbel. Newly backed by APG baits, the Nottinghamshire man had to battle gale-force winds and heavy rain to fish an overnight session on the bait firm’s own private stretch of the waterway. After a difficult few hours, Chris switched to a 6oz feeder filled with halibut groundbait and two 10mm APG hot liver pillow boilies on the hair. The change worked a treat as dawn brought the run he was after from a fish which beat his previous best by a mere three ounces.…

IT WOULD be good news if the Angling Trust Winter League Final lived up to hopes rather than expectations, with very cold weather leading up to the event (see pages 62-64). The split-venue format between the Fen drains and Decoy Lakes, Cambs, is interesting and I think it’s a brilliant concept as it will be a genuine test for every squad. What’s even more dramatic is that the conditions have changed so radically several times, from what felt like spring back to definite winter, that practice will have given few clues. Watercraft will now play a far greater role. Making the decision whether to target F1s and silvers or carp on the pools, roach or perch and tench on the drains, or keep all options open until the second half…

1 If there isn’t already a knot in one end of the PVA, tie a single overhand loop. 2 Add your chosen quantity of hard pellets into the other end of the hollow tube. 3 Use the plunger to push the pellets down tight to the knot at the other end. 4 Hold the pellets and tie a single overhand loop in the PVA above. Tighten right down. 5 Repeat – tie a second overhand loop just above for the next bag. Cut the PVA in between.…

MY first love, believe it or not, isn’t commercials fisheries – I prefer chasing big weights of roach on natural waters. On venues like Furzton Lake, near Milton Keynes, I love the challenge of trying to catch wild fish out of a big expanse of water. It isn’t always easy fishing, but that’s the exciting part, as in you never really know what’s going to happen. However, hit this type of fishery on the right day and with the right tactics, and you can enjoy a session that will live long in the memory! Here’s how to do it… GROUNDBAIT Catching a big weight of roach is all about groundbait. Roach love it and it makes catching them easier as I can keep them on the bottom as opposed to…

THE bait that I feed and the one that I use on the hook may be very different under some circumstances. Feeding red maggots will not only attract perch, but any small silverfish too. This can be a double-edged sword if you are fishing with small hookbaits, as the small silvers will be a constant pain, but combine maggots with a big hookbait and you will eliminate this problem. Silverfish will not only colour up the water as they feed, but their activity will attract and encourage the big perch to feed. Maggots are also a viable feed, and even a hookbait on venues where small fish are absent. This is especially true on large gravel pits, where it can be a case of ‘big fish or bust’. A blockend…

RIVERS come in many shapes and sizes, from tiny streams near their source, to deep and wide waterways as they approach the sea. The sheer variety to be found in a single river makes for an exciting challenge for adventurous anglers. The top end might offer the chance of grayling and chub, the middle reaches can provide roach, perch and barbel, while the slower downstream sections will hold bream with the potential for big pike and zander too. But the fact is that you never really know what the next fish will be when you cast into a river. In this week’s Tackle That Swim special, we’ve highlighted two areas of typical rivers, one out in the countryside which offers a wide variety of species to go at, and another…

MOST anglers have a favourite species. For my affable pal Terry ‘Theo’ Theobald it’s chub. Theo relishes cold, clear rivers and frosty mornings because these are ideal conditions for his favourite long trotting with maggots on the hook. The constant trickle of grubs is impossible for chub to resist, and whether it takes just a handful or a few pints, the fish are sure to feed at some point in the day. What Theo calls his ‘Eureka!’ moment occurred many moons ago, since when he has thought nothing of making the long journey from Wales to England’s southern rivers. One of his favourites is the Lea, and a couple of years ago the hundreds of miles of motorway driving and ever-mounting petrol bills were forgotten when Theo landed two fish…

DEPTHS FOR FLAT FLOATS Q I’ve been experimenting with flat floats recently, but I’m never sure how far overdepth I should be fishing. What do you recommend? Paul Ingram A There are no hard-and-fast rules but I generally tend to fish about a float length overdepth. Sometimes, in very fast water, I’ll go deeper and lay more line on the bottom and this works well for barbel and chub. Always ensure that the float you are using is big enough to hold in the current. If it’s leaning too far back upstream, you need a bigger one on. The key is to get the bristle upright or leaning slightly backwards. HOW DO I STOP PERCH COMING OFF THE HOOK? Q I’ve been targeting perch with pole gear and worms recently…

“Ultron Pro reels are perfect for all types of lure fishing.” THE Fox specialist predator brand Rage has some great new products aimed at UK light lure, jigging and drop shot enthusiasts – a growing band of anglers who like the freedom these tactics confer. Designer Ultron luggage is sure to attract admiring glances and, as you might expect from Rage, it’s as functional as it is smart. The six-piece array covers almost everything the modern lure angler needs, although the minimalist roving lure fan should find the Ultron Compact Belt particularly to their liking. To the baggage assortment you can add a very comprehensive new range of Ultron Pro 2 rods, along with three colour co-ordinated Ultron reels. LARGE ULTRON STACKER THE Large Stacker Bag gives you loads of…

SCOTT Hatton admitted “you just can’t better it” after a challenging winter campaign ended with a 50lb Lancashire common for him and a 40-pounder for his teenage son. The pair have fished in all weathers this winter at Pendle View, hoping to catch Butthead the big common before the imminent sale of the day-ticket venue is completed. In the end, Scott and 14-year-old Connor accomplished their mission with a flourish, banking nine fish including the two big commons and seven twenties in a session. “I had vowed I was having her, that she would be mine before it shut,” said 39-year-old Scott. “We had a winter campaign on there and I’d basically been telling everyone I would catch her. “As weekends go you just can’t better it. I think there…

WIGGIN IS A TOP SHELF WRITER TOO IN YOUR article on angling authors I was disappointed to see that you had neglected to mention the best – Maurice Wiggin. His The Passionate Angler is the best and funniest angling book I’ve ever read by quite some margin. His writing style is such that even his tutorial book Teach Yourself Fly Fishing can be read just for the beauty of its prose. He seems to have been forgotten, but if you’ve never had the pleasure of reading Maurice Wiggin’s works I urge you to seek them out. You can thank me later. David Bellairs, email COMMERCIALS COULD HELP WITH NATIONAL REVAMP EVENTS such as Fish O’Mania and Maver Match This have become much more popular than the Nationals, which have now…

I USED to love covering the World Championships for Angling Times when Dick Clegg was manager of Drennan Team England. Dick’s Yorkshire humour and occasionally brusque approach always had me on my toes, and I should have been suspicious when he was especially nice to me as I arrived at the hotel in Florence to cover the 1985 event. Not only did he instantly buy me a beer, he took me to one side, put a burly arm around my neck, and asked: “Kevin, would you like exclusive access to all our team meetings? You and your photographer can sit and take whatever photos you like and report on everything, warts and all!” This was heaven to an angling journalist and I accepted his kind invitation gleefully. “There’s only one…

Robson’s Extreme Fishing Challenge Tuesday, March 1, 8pm Robson Green competes against local fishing champions to catch mako sharks, elephant fish, bream and brown trout in the pristine waters off Tasmania. John Wilson’s Dream Fishing Wednesday, March 2, 6am In northernmost Norway, John explores the breathtaking fjords in pursuit of coalfish, haddock and cod. Fishing Gurus Wednesday, March 2, 6.10pm Dean Macey offers tips and advice to the modern-day coarse angler, discussing top tactics for a successful day’s fishing. The Taff: The River That Made Wales Tuesday, March 1, 8pm Will Millard tells the story of the River Taff, once polluted, now resurrected. River Monsters Friday, March 4, 1pm From New Zealand come reports of 8ft flesh-eating freshwater eels that are terrorising the locals. How aggressive are these predators and…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH  PAUL BRAND, FROM CLIFTON, ASKS: Q I usually catch by fishing hard banded pellets and catapulting 4mm pellets around my float. Although I still catch the odd carp, on my last outing I didn’t have a single skimmer, a species which is usually plentiful here. Am I doing anything wrong or was this just an off day? A It is possible that the fish have backed off due to the weather being colder, but it is just as likely that they may be backing off because of the way you are feeding your swim. When skimmers feed more aggressively in warmer weather, they love eating hard feed pellets, but in colder water I would feed them some groundbait. Clearly, they are used to eating pellets, so feed…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Bait-Tech Viaduct Fishery Silverfish Only (Weds) Spring & Middle Lake (21 pegs) England star Des Shipp saw off the field with ease as he returned 43-5-0 of big skimmers and perch at peg 10 in the Spring Lake, fishing a combination of cage feeder and maggot to the island and caster over groundbait on the waggler and long pole. Second came off peg 37 on the Middle Lake where Steve Kedge used caster and groundbait at 13m for 30-0-0 of skimmers and perch. Result: 1 D Shipp, Preston Innovations, 43-5-0; 2 S Kedge, Somerset Angling, 30-0-0; 3 M Parsons, Sensas, 22-11-0; 4 D White, Bait-Tech Viaduct, 22-8-0. Bait-Tech Viaduct Fishery (Thurs) Campbell & Lodge Lakes (18 pegs) The fourth frost in a row made for tough fishing,…

Burton Winter League (rnd 4) Trent & Mersey Canal, Burton (44 pegs) SUNDAY’S fishing was rock-hard for everyone, and it was one big perch that gave the win to Andy Beasley. Gambling with long pole and lobworm tactics from his peg at Princess Way, the Shakespeare Agility angler got the one bite he was looking for and added a few bits for a meagre 3-2-10 total. Second-placed Arran Wells also had just one perch that weighed in at 2-10-3. On the team front, Shakespeare Agility are currently out in front in the league with 10 points. Result: 1 A Beasley, Shakespeare Agility, 3-2-10; 2 A Wells, Preston Blue, 2-10-3; 3 A Chisham, Shakespeare Agility, 2-6-4; 4 L Morley, Leicester Grey, 1-14-0; 5 T Yearby, Sensas Burton Angling, 1-11-7; 6 A…