Northern and Southern venues set. Two of the four Angling Trust Winter League Semi Final venues have been confirmed. The Loughborough Canal will host a northern semi final – along with an unconfirmed commercial. Gold Valley Lakes will host the southern commercial round, but organisers are still on the hunt for a natural venue in the bottom half of the country.
Loads of match related news inside!It has been an eventful week in the angling world. For the first time in eighteen years, the former European Champion and World Champion, Will Raison has announced a change in sponsors - moving camps to join Old Ghost. We tell of exciting changes to Advanced Carp Fishing Magazine, with two new top name columnists, and a new consulting Editor. Then, there is the controversial story of the Warwickshire venue that has banned a bait - just because it is too effective, and anglers didn’t want to compete against it!There is good news for fly anglers, in the shape of a new chalkstream charter - and exciting plans for new lakes at Cheshire Partirdge Lakes complex.
World Champ wins two big matches on the bounce!Sean Ashby has proved just why he is World Champion, after winning the last two rounds of the Thorne Individual League in consecutive weeks. Fishing against a field of the UK’s finest bloodworm and joker anglers, including Alan Scotthorne and Lee Kerry, Sean made no mistake in commanding the win, from two different parts of the match length. “The canal has certainly changed a lot from the last two years – but the fishing is still very good. Both of these results saw me catch a steady procession of roach, fishing joker on the hook over a bed of groundbait, leam and joker.
England ace signs three year deal. Will Raison has signed a three year consultancy deal with Chinese bait giants, Old Ghost. The move represents the former World Champions first sponsorship change in over 18 years, though his long standing tackle deal with Daiwa will continue. Old Ghost officially launched their bait range in to the UK market earlier this year, and have already reported good sales.
International angler on verge of new signing. Angling News Week has this morning learnt that a top name English International angler is to sign for Chinese bait giant, Old Ghost. Although we are not yet allowed to release any more details about the signing, the move is set to send shock waves through the industry. Old Ghost are fast becoming a household name on the UK bait scene, after entering the UK market earlier this year.
Lessons now available from one of the best in the game. One of the UK’s leading bloodworm and joker experts, Sam Wildsmith has announced that he is to start holding lessons, designed to help anglers improve their skills with the bait. The move comes after a number of anglers have requested coaching days with Sam, but up until this point he has been unable to oblige due to lack of time. He commented: “The last few months have been extremely hectic for me, as I have moved premises and opened up a large new tackle shop in Heanor, Derbyshire.
Bumper canal bags, and commercial silver secrets inside this weeks issue!The weather may have taken a turn for the worse, but it has still been a hectic week in the angling world! The Garbolino Winter Festival has taken place at White Acres Fishery in Cornwall, we bring all the results from what was a very closely contested event. We have the story of the angling coach who has made the short list for the BBC's Sports Personality Of The Year, and news of an exciting new angling show that is set to take place in Manchester. On top of all this, we have the story of an exciting new predator fishing academy that is set to take place in the new year, and a shocking video, showing the devastating effect that hydroelectric powerstations have been having on our fish - plus lots, lots more. In addition to this, we have an exciting host of features, new tackle reviews, and catch reports for you to enjoy! Click here to pick up your copy today!.
Freak canal match sees top two anglers bank over 70lb. Anglers taking part in last weeks Upper Thames Winter League enjoyed a match to remember, with over 40lb needed to win on a very cold and clear Kennet & Avon Canal. Suprisingly, the practice match the week before the round fished totally differently, with extremely low weights being recorded. With the canal closed for navigation due to lock repairs, and the cold nights the canal was crystal clear.
Adam Wakelin wins White Acres Garbolino Winter Festival. Adam Wakelin has been crowned champion of the Garbolino Winter Festival at Cornwall’s White Acres Fishery, after recording a maximum 24 point score. The contest saw 60 of the country’s best anglers battle it out, in a five day event in which only silver fish counted. Adam commented: “It is a great feeling lifting the trophy, as the fishing is always really good on this festival.
Scotthorne Rules The Roost In First Silverfish Open! This Saturday saw the start of the silverfish open matches at Doncaster’s Hayfield Lakes. Despite the first major freeze of the year, a strong field of anglers turned out in a match that provided some fantastic sport. Pegged across both Big and Little Adams Lakes, any carp caught counted as just 1lb, so not to spoil the sport offered by the head of roach, perch, skimmers and crucians present!
Leading the pack was none other than five times World Champion, Alan Scotthorne. Pegged on the back bank of Little Adams, The Drennan/Sensas backed legend put together a fantastic 23-12-0 net of roach and skimmers to 1lb, as well as a welcome 4lb bream.
Angling survey proves importance of junior initiatives. More than 87% of today's anglers started fishing between the ages of four and 16. This is the interesting find of the latest National Angling survey, compiled by Dr Adam Brown on behalf of the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency. More than 29,000 anglers took part in the questionnaire, which was promoted online earlier on in the year.
Charity Moustache growers celebrate the end of November!
Just hours remain before the gallant Movember crew are allowed to wield there razors, and shave off the product of the last months growing. Between the team at parent company DHP, they have managed to raise a whopping £868 towards mens health causes – largely thanks to the generous support of friends, colleagues and families.
The global total for Movember stands at over £64,000,000 – money which will make a real difference to the lives of cancer sufferers everywhere.
What sets Movember apart from many other charity campaigns though is the ‘fun’ element- and staff at DHP have certainly had their fair share of that! Angling News Week Editor, Tom Scholey explained: “The banter always flows freely at DHP Towers, and with almost half of the male staff sporting some sort of facial hair, we have had lots more ammunition than normal!
We have even had to postpone our staff photo, because our HR manager feared we would look like a bunch of Mexican bandits from an old western if it went ahead this week!
Mo wearers have been compared to everything from Hulk Hogan to Super Mario, Freddie Mercury, and Carlos Valderrama.
Daiwa ace wins two matches on the bounce.
When it comes to consistency, there can’t be many anglers who are more in form than Daiwa and Guru ace Steve Ringer. After winning the individual aggrergate in last years popular teams of four league at Tunnel Barn Farm, Steve has enjoyed a steaming start to this years winter campaign – backed up by back to back wins at the venue this weekend.
He explained: “I have really enjoyed my last couple of winters at Tunnel – as in order to do any good, you have had to keep going and ensure that you are really in touch with what is happening.
December's Match Fishing On Sale Now!
This months edition of Match Fishing magazine is about to hit the shelves – and is packed with match winning tips! From Simon Willsmore’s must read guide to bagging up with pongo, to Steve Ringer’s advice on catching through the cold, Jonathan Watt on how liquids will catch you more carp, and Alan Scotthorne’s bloodworm fishing masterclass.
On top of this, we have the Drennan Knockout Cup Final, which sees Rob Wootton go head to head with Simon Willsmore in a battle to be crowned champion! Will Raison gets the Stan Piecha treatment, and Editor Alex Bones embarks on arguably his most controversial editorial yet! What are you waiting for? Pick up your copy today! Alternatively, click here to check out our subscriptions page! . . .
Dorking top first Midlands Sensas LeagueDespite terrible weather, ranging from a hard frost in the morning to driving rain, the venue fished extremely well for the first round of this league, with double figures needed to win every seven peg section!Guesting for Kamasan Starlets Nigel Bull led the way with from peg 112 at Barston with 33lb 6oz of skimmers and F1s, all taken on pole and bloodworm at 13m over groundbait. It was a Kamasan Starlets double top as Garbolino's Darren Cox was close behind with 16 F1s and skimmers for 31lb 7oz again on pole and bloodworm at 13m from peg 122 at Barston. Des Shipp produced the best weight from Packington off peg 27 Molands with 31lb 2 oz. Callum Dicks filled 4th with 30lb 6oz of skimmers from peg 12 from Barston.
