Summary:
I absolutely loved the venue for the 2013 Match Fishing Championships. Many is the time we have to target species we know little or nothing about – boga and mullet spring to mind – but this time it was an English style venue with English species in English weather and Drennan England had the venue taped from Day One.
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I absolutely loved the venue for the 2013 Match Fishing Championships. Many is the time we have to target species we know little or nothing about – boga and mullet spring to mind – but this time it was an English style venue with English species in English weather and Drennan England had the venue taped from Day One. Some anglers wonder how a team can hide a winning trick over five days of practice, but it must be remembered that most of the teams are not resourced in the same way England and Italy are – it’s hard enough to afford to get there and compete yourself let alone pay for travel, accommodation, food etc for over a week for bank runners, who have to be top anglers themselves to pick things up. This year England managed to keep a joker up their sleeve in the shape of fishing a bunch of jokers on the hook. It may seem strange but when they fished bloodworm they struggled. In truth it was a great venue that changed as the week progressed. Early in the week we were catching skimmers and it was hard to get through the bleak. As the fish filled up as more and more bait went in, the skimmers became more and more scarce, the bleak almost disappeared and it became a roach match in the main. That played into England’s hands. If the bleak had kept feeding Poland and Italy in particular would have been real dangers. The roach were also full up by the end of the week and not giving themselves up either, they had to be teased into taking. They were no doubt just taking mouthfuls of the feed joker when they fancied it; hence (in hindsight) joker hook bait was the answer. I had a good week of practice and caught plenty of fish in the match as well, without pulling up any trees. I was second in the team (Bob Wessells was the top USA angler) and it was great to be involved again after five years. It was my 14th world championships fishing for Team USA believe it or not. I wonder where those years have gone. But this, unlike some venues, is one I really enjoyed and would love to fish again. Roll on Croatia next year. I walked back into a bit of a whirlwind at work – we are in the middle of launching a new Fishing TV app on Samsung Smart TV and it’s an exciting time. It should be live before Christmas and will give viewers far more content to choose from. However, I have started my reflection on the 2013 World Championships and will publish it on Total-Fishing.com when I get a window.
2013 WORLD MATCH FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT AND PICTURES
The Team USA Match Fishing team 2013, from the left, Gareth Purnell, Mark Green, Bob Wessells, Val and 'Zola;.
Shakespeare Deliver In The Division One National
Shakespeare Superteam justified their confidence in the Division One National on a trick and peggy Trent & Mersey Canal between Rugeley and Burton-upon-Trent, producing an impressive team effort in which they averaged 12th in the 56-peg sections, and in which none of their anglers finished in the bottom half of their sections. Team stalwart Dave McCall had told the press before the match that his West Midlands based Shakespeare Superteam would win the blue riband 56-team National, and he was not made to eat his words as they ran out 13 points clear of Maver Image, with Daiwa Dorking in third. The team based its approach on three lines, catching as many fish on chopped worm down the track as they could before trying their groundbait line at the bottom of the far shelf, where they’d cupped in six balls looking for roach, skimmers and small perch on light squatt rigs. They also had a further chopped worm line up the far shelf. Superteam skipper Darren Massey said: “Rotating these three lines worked well on a hard-fished water to catch us those precious few extra grams in every section.” The team had six anglers in the top ten of their 56-peg sections with the top performer Jason Cunningham, who weighed in a level four kilos, just ten grams behind the overall winner, for the joint individual silver medal. Birmingham based Starlets suffered a poor draw and finished down the field in 39th, although they did have the sweetener of a section win and joint second overall for Matt Derry. Of the other Midlands outfits competing in the top team event in the calendar, Daiwa Gordon League finished 25th and Bridgnorth AS 35th. Shakespeare now go forward to compete in the World Clubs Classic fish-off with the chance of representing the UK on the European stage.
Arrow Valley Lake Striking A Rare Balance
A venue in the region that keeps raising my eyebrows is Arrow Valley Lake near Redditch. The 80-peg water has been producing good pleasure and match sport all year and seems to be able to strike that rare balance between being able to produce good bream and carp sport, with the chance of a big weight of either species. The latest match there, the Jim Hemmings Memorial, attracted a sell-out field of 50 anglers who as well as enjoying the fishing were raising money for the Macmillan Cancer Appeal. Local matchman Dave Schofield made no mistake with a flawless demonstration of long-range Method feeder fishing from fancied peg 54, where, casting tight to the island, he tempted ten carp for about 65lb, topping up with 30lb of bream. The fish fell mainly to white boilie hook baits and he ended up with a top class winning weight of over 96lb. Joe Roberts (Starlets) won this event last year and he continued his strong form on the lake, taking an excellent catch of skimmers with a few good bream and one or two quality roach for a bag of over 57lb from peg 7 for second spot. There were three more weights over 34lb and no section winning weight was under 18lb. Top fishing! The next open match on the lake is on Saturday October 26th. Contact John Bushell on 07879 624248.
Midland Matchman Of The Year Continues To Thrive
I’m really pleased to see that the Midland Match Angler of the Year competition, an event I set up, is still going and in the same format as my original idea of two three-hour matches in the same day. Forty anglers qualified to fish this year at a Barston Lakes chilled by heavy rain the day before, with anglers asked to fish feeder-only in the morning session, and pole-only in the afternoon. For once no angler scored a section win in both heats and with two anglers finishing on three points, Steve Wilson and Graham Beckwith, it went down to weight. In the end it was Beckwith who took the title and the trophy thanks to an overall total of 66-4-0. Graham finished second in his section in the morning match from peg 28 on the riverside bank with a 19-10-0 bag of F1s and skimmers taken on the pellet Method feeder with boilie hook bait. But he stepped things up in the afternoon, fishing paste down the edge and bagging five big carp to 15lb for 46-10-0 and a section win. Andy Edgington finished third in the event.
Partridge Buys Sprite Sporting Hooks
Fly fishing tackle manufacturer Partridge has acquired Sprite Sporting Hooks of Redditch, a move which will enable it to continue the tradition of hook making in the UK. Partridge worked closely with the late Vince Green, founder of Sprite Hooks, in recent years to produce classic blind-eye patterns and will now be able to continue this and introduce other classics such as the historic Allcock patterns using traditional methods. “Bringing Sprite into the fold is a significant commitment for us, enabling us to continue the manufacture of Partridge patterns that have long since been un-realistic in an industrialized company,” said Partridge CEO Mark Hamnett. “It also makes us guardians of the traditions that have sadly faded in Redditch over the years!”
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Barford AA Winter League, Warks Avon, Barford, Sat (50 fished)
Paul King (Sensas Portway) 18-15-0, two barbel plus chub, roach and dace, peg 93; Stu Palser (Attleborough) 16-3-0; John Stockton (Barford) 16-0-0; Dave Hollands (Sensas Portway) 13-3-0; John Walkden (Matchbox) 12-11-0; Tom Hitchman (Lanes Bait) 10-0-0. Teams: Attleborough 23; Shakespeare 24; Sensas Portway and Barford both 27. League: Shakespeare and Sensas Portway both 45; Attleborough 49; Lanes Bait 54.
Bridgnorth AS, River Severn, Linley Bank, Shropshire, Sun (35 fished)
Graham Wade (Bridgnorth AS) 30-10-0, six barbel, pellet feeder, peg 192, Golf Course; Dave George (Wolverhampton) 22-0-0; Chris Holmes (Mid Severn Angling) 18-13-0; Richard Duke (Mid Severn Angling) 17-15-0; Richard Payne (Birmingham) 12-12-0; Dave Beecroft (Cambridge) 10-12-0.
Dams & Lock Summer League, Birmingham-Fazeley Canal, Castle Vale, Sun (70 fished)
Paul Turner (Wolverhampton AA VDE) 10-11-8, two bream, quality roach, pole and caster peg 157; Jason Cunningham (Shakespeare) 9-8-5; Simon Mottram (Browning Lifestyle Red) 9-2-8; Simon Nickless (Dams & Lock) 8-11-10; Kevin Perry (Browning Lifestyle Blue) 8-9-4; Richard Guest (Dams & Lock) 7-12-4.
Teams: Browning Lifestyle Red 17; Shakespeare 21; Team Eclipse 25.
Final League: Browning Lifestyle Red 89; Shakespeare 124; Shakespeare Blue 130; Dams & Lock A 140; Wolverhampton AA VDE 148; Browning Lifestyle Blue 153.
Jim Hemmings Memorial, Arrow Valley Lake, Redditch, Worcs, Sat (50 fished)
Dave Schofield (Lodge Park) 96-14-0, carp and bream, long range Method feeder to island, white boilies, peg 54; Joe Roberts (Sensas/Kamasan Starlets) 57-15-0; Ian Barrow (Sensas/Kamasan Starlets) 44-13-0; Tom Price (Gloucester) 42-11-0; John Newton (Smithys) 34-5-0. Over £300 raised for Macmillan Cancer Appeal.
John Cooper Memorial, Moorlands Farm, Hartlebury, Worcs, Sat (38 fished)
Chris Hill (Mosella) 159-12-0, carp, pellet at 13m, peg 11 Meadow Pool; Lawrence Connolly (Colin Pace Angling Academy) 125-12-0; Howard Kelly (Trafford Angling) 122-4-0; Des Ravenall (Colin Pace Angling Academy) 107-0-0; Dean Sheldon (Fosters) 97-5-0; Daz Randall (Mosella Black Country) 89-2-0.
Mosella Manor Farm Leisure, Harvington, Worcs, Sun (42 fished)
Mark Parsons (Alcester Sports) 119-12-0, pole, pellet and groundbait feeder, peg 6 Island Pool; Rob McKenzie (Gloucester Angling Centre) 112-0-0; Tony Shields (Highfield Anglers) 107-4-0; Paul Adler (Solihull Angling Centre) 87-8-0; Paul Casson (Highfield Anglers) 85-0-0; Keith Clarkson (Highfield Anglers) 78-12-0.
Pete Nimmo Memorial, Bishop’s Bowl, Bishops Itchington, Warks, White Bishop, Marshes and Mitre pools
Sat (53 fished): Derek Cullip (Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths) 73-8-0, carp, pole and paste, WBL peg 1; Mark Griffiths (Guru) 61-2-0; Shaun Smart (Bishop’s Bowl) 48-12-0.
Sat/ Sun (48 hour carp match): Andy Souter (Brackley) 165-0-0, carp, pole and paste, Mitre peg 1.
Tunnel Barn Farm, Shrewley, Warks
Sat, New Pool: Pete Rice (Bag’em Matchbaits) 115-13-0, F1s, roach and skimmers, pole and maggot through slop at 2m, peg 10; Pete Caton (Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths) 86-13-0; Richard Knowles (Shakespeare) 75-10-0; Ronnie Biggs (OHMS) 73-1-0.
Sun, House Pool 1 and New Pool: Stu Palser (Middy/Banbury Gunsmiths) 107-1-0, F1s, roach and skimmers, pellet at 4m and down edge, peg 7, New Pool; Mark Malin (Colmic/Bait-Tech) 104-1-0; Paul Bick (Shakespeare) 103-9-0; David James (Mosella UK) 93-9-0.
Blackfords Progressive, Cannock, Staffs, Sat, Kingswood Lake
Kevin Tipton (Sensas) 16-9-0, bream to 2lb, feeder with worm, peg 46; Paul Bucknell (Little Dawley) 13-12-0; Mark Greening (Streetly) 10-14-0; Norman Carpenter (Walsall) 9-5-0.
Halesowen RBL, River Severn, Arley, Shrops, Sun
Sean Waite (Halesowen RBL) 26-7-0, five barbel, a chub and a perch, feeder, caster and hemp, peg 6; Garry Mason (Halesowen RBL) 9-11-0; Mick Whitmore (Halesowen RBL) 9-1-0.
Moorlands Farm, Hartlebury, Worcs
Tues, Meadow Pool: Owen Boswell (Colin Pace Angling Academy) 121-6-0, carp, corn at 4m, peg 59; Steve Wright (Miracle Baits) 120-6-0; Pete Hodge (Moorlands) 115-6-0; Lee Boden (Stonehenge) 110-14-0.
Wed, 30 Over-50s: Dave Williams (Halesowen RBL) 100-1-0, carp, pole and pellet down edge, peg 25 Bank Pool; Lawrence Connolly (Colin Pace Angling Academy) 88-5-0; George Reynolds (Colin Pace Angling Academy) 86-11-0; Sam Parker (Mosella Black Country) 82-2-0.
Thurs, Silver Pool: Lawrence Connolly (Colin Pace Angling Academy) 48-15-0, F1s, pellet at 2m, peg 2; Geoff Thomas (Fatties Tackle) 42-10-0; Kevin Rodderick (Colin Pace Angling Academy) 36-2-0.
Fri pm, Meadow Pool: Pete Mace (Autism Birmingham) 186-11-0, carp, pole and maggot down edge, peg 12; Lee Boden (Stonehenge) 162-12-0; Pete Hodge (Moorlands) 151-15-0.
Sun, Silver and Meadow Pools: Dave Parry (Moorlands) 112-6-0, carp, pole and pellet at 13m, peg 59 Meadow; Dave Jordan (Fosters) 79-1-0; Daz Randall (Mosella Black Country) 78-0-0; Dan Bache (Mal Storey’s Angling) 74-12-0.
Packington Somers, Meriden, Warks
Sat, Gearys Level: Ian Keywood (Solihull Angling Centre) 77-1-0, carp, bomb and pellet, peg 11; Steve White (Kobra Feeders) 61-10-0; Suzi Smith (Kobra Feeders) 43-4-0.
Sun, Little Gearys: Gary Booth (Smithy’s) 59-14-0, F1s, pole and pellet, peg 5; Suzi Smith (Kobra Feeders) 46-2-0; Chris Newton (Smithy’s) 46-2-0.
Solihull Angling Centre, Packington Somers, Meriden, Warks. Wed, Molands Mere
John Burchell (Packington) 77-0-0, F1s, pole and pellet, peg 60; John Adamson (Packington) 62-7-0; Ian Keywood (Solihull Angling Centre) 58-6-0.
Wassell Grove Summer League, Brook Pool, Hagley, Sat
Dave Johnson (Club 2000) 101-12-0, carp to 8lb, pole and meat in the margins, peg 6; Sam Parker (Club 2000) 95-8-0; Terry Homer (Club 2000) 80-8-0; Neil Davies (Club 2000) 60-8-0.
Overall: Dave Johnson (Club 2000) 6pts, 501-8-0; Sam Parker (Club 2000) 7, 483-4-0; Terry Homer (Club 2000) 8, 398-6-0; Trevor Hodges (Weathertech Roofing) 12, 329-12-0.
West Midlands Fencing League, Aston Eyre, Bridgnorth, Sun, Quarry Pool
Jordon Hall (Maver Midlands/Bag ‘em) 148-11-0, carp to 9lb, pellet waggler at 30m, peg 23; Will Young (WMF) 108-1-0; Gary Hall (Allen’s Tackle Leamore) 102-8-0.
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