RiverFest 2016
Another cracking final as Paul Bick crowned RiverFest 2016 Champion
After 24 hard fought qualifiers all over the country, 72 anglers converged on the city of Hereford for the fourth RiverFest final. With the river at a decent level and producing very big weights in the previous few weeks, hopes were high for good catches.
A big temperature drop of 5.5c over the week leading up to the final threatened to slow things down, especially for those anglers on the upstream sections and, as expected, it was a slow start for many on Day One.
Spectators were treated to some excellent displays of float and feeder fishing though and the man way out in front after the first day was Shakespeare Bait-Tech team man Paul Bick.
Paul drew Peg 101, the last but one swim on the Tennis Courts section and put in a solid performance of feeder and float fishing to take top spot with 46-4-0 of chub and barbel. This weight put him 18lb clear of the field.
Runner up on the first day was Paul Downes at Peg 61 with 28-8-0 of dace, small chub and roach, all taken on long whip and flat float tactics.
In third position was Deron Harper who switched between running line and pole approaches for a 25-1-0 total at Peg 65.
A slowly rising and very cold and coloured river greeted the competitors on Day Two and the big question was, could anyone catch Paul Bick? The big temperature drop affected things badly but there were still some very respectable weights taken.
Leading the field on the second day was Nick West who fished long pole tactics with a very light rig at Peg 97, the top upstream swim on the Tennis Courts section. This brought him a run of quality chub for a 37-12-0 total, a weight that put him more than 20lb in front of his nearest challenger and catapulted him up the leaderboard.
Upstream at Peg 46, Paul Downes produced another great runner up performance, this time with two barbel on maggot feeder tactics for a 16-7-0 total. Third place went to Lee Harries with 15-4-0 of roach and dace from Peg 87.
While all this was going on, Day One leader Paul Bick was working hard at Peg 74 in the Railings section to take an excellent 8-14-0 of mostly perch.
After the two-day totals were added up, it was Paul Bick who held on to his first day lead to finish with 55-2-0, a total which won him £12,000 and the RiverFest Champion coveted trophy.
Runner up position and a cheque for £6,000 went to Paul Downes with 44-15-0 and in third spot, picking up £3,000 was Nick West with 42-4-0.
A total of £34,000 was paid out in prize money, the biggest river fishing prize pot in the world.
The Angling Trust would like to say a big thank you to event sponsors Thames Water, Severn Trent Water and Bait-Tech as well as all the organisers, clubs and associations who hosted qualifiers during 2016. A big thank you also goes to the Hereford and District AA for the use of their water for the final.
Work will start on RiverFest 2017 very soon and qualifier dates will be published on the Angling Trust website and on the dedicated Angling Trust RiverFest Facebook page.
RESULTS
DAY ONE
1. Paul Bick 46-4-0
2. Paul Downes 28-8-0
3. Deron Harper 25-1-0
4. Simon Willsmore 24-4-0
5. Steve Hemingray 23-4-0
6. Sean Ashby 21-12-0
7. Ben Roberts 20-5-0
8. Tom Noton 18-2-0
9. Darren Frost 17-6-0
10. Steve Clark 16-15-0
DAY
TWO
1. Nick West 37-12-0
2. Paul Downes 16-7-0
3. Lee Harries 15-4-0
4. Tom Noton 15-0-0
5. Kevin Hall 13-3-0
6. Michael Nowicki 13-2-0
7. Sean Ashby 12-1-0
8. Anthony Avery 11-7-0
9. Will Raison 10-12-0
10. Ian Exley 10-8-0
10= Hadrian Whittle 10-8-0
10= Adrian Reynolds 10-8-0
OVERALL
1. Paul Bick 55-2-0
2. Paul Downes 44-15-0
3. Nick West 42-4-0
4. Sean Ashby 33-13-0
5. Tom Noton 33-2-0
6. Steve Clark 26-7-0
7. Deron Harper 25-1-0
8. Simon Willsmore 24-4-0
9. Steve Hemingray 23-4-0
10. Anthony Avery 22-13-0
2016 RiverFest qualifier venues
New Venues *
| Date | Venue | Pegs | Reports | ||
| 1 | Saturday 18th June 2016 | River Calder, Mirfield | 60 | Click Here | |
| 2 | Saturday 25th June 2016 | River Swale, Morton | 60 | Click Here | |
| 3 | Sunday 3rd July 2016 | Bristol Avon, Newbridge to Saltford | 60 | Click Here | |
| 4 | Sunday 10th July 2016 | River Tyne - Corbridge To Wylam | 60 | Click Here | |
| 5 | Saturday 16th July 2016 | River Tees - Bowesfield to Yarm | 60 | Click Here | |
| 6 | Sunday 24th July 2016 | River Trent - Laugherton, North Clifton and Dunham * | 60 | Click Here | |
| 7 | Saturday 30th July 2016 | River Weaver, Northwich | 60 | Click Here | |
| 8 | Saturday 6th August 2016 | River Soar - Loughborough | 60 | Click Here | |
| 9 | Saturday 13th August 2016 | River Trent - Newark Dyke, East Stoke and Rolleston | 60 | Click Here | |
| 10 | Sunday 14th August 2016 | River Yare, Langley | 60 | Click Here | |
| 11 | Saturday 27th August 2016 | River Don - Sprotborough | 60 | Click here | |
| 12 | Sunday 28th August 2016 | River Nene - Orton | 60 | Click here | |
| 13 | Saturday 3rd September 2016 | River Severn - Bewdley | 60 | Click Here | |
| 14 | Saturday 10th September 2016 | River Trent - Holme Marsh | 60 | Click Here | |
| 15 | Sunday 18th September 2016 | River Wye - Breinton To Eign | 60 | Click here | |
| 16 | Saturday 24th September 2016 | River Severn - Bridgnorth | 60 | Click Here | |
| 17 | Sunday 25th September 2016 | River Thames - Clanfield * | 60 | Click Here | |
| 18 | Sunday 2nd October 2016 | River Trent - Burton-On-Trent | 60 | Click Here | |
| 19 | Saturday 8th October 2016 | River Thames - Culham * | 60 | Click Here | |
| 20 | Sunday 9th October 2016 | River Medway - Barming | 60 | Click Here | |
| 21 | Sunday 16th October 2016 | Warwickshire Avon - Stratford | 60 | Click Here | |
| 22 | Sunday 23rd October 2016 | River Severn, Shrewsbury | 60 | Click here | |
| 23 | Saturday 29th October 2016 | Yorkshire Ouse - Hunters Lodge to Linton On Ouse | 60 | Click Here | |
| 24 | Sunday 30th October 2016 | Warwickshire Avon - Warwick * | 60 | Click Here |
Final
19th/20th November – River Wye, Hereford
More information:
www.facebook.com/anglingtrustriverfest
RiverFest Qualifiers
*The images against all the qualifier venues displayed on this page are copyright protected and must not be copied, or used.
1) River Calder, Mirfield - Saturday 18th June 2016
Match Organiser: Martin Highe - Tel: 07967 227218 (Email; terryo'hanlon@boulting.co.uk or lmarshall270@aol.com)
Website: http://mirfieldac.co.uk
Headquarters: Ship Inn, Stenard Lane, Mirfield. WF14 8HB
Draw: 9.00am
Fishing: 11.00am - 4.00pm (Duration 5 hours)
Venue Spotlight: The depth here varies from 3ft to 6ft and the main target species are roach and grayling. Winning weights up to 20lb are usually taken on either stick float or waggler tactics with maggot on the hook fished over loose fed caster.
One of the zones can also produce chub and odd barbel with a similar approach. If the river is high and coloured it’s worth trying lobworm or meat for chub.
Match Rules
General Angling Trust rules
Pike and zander do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
2) River Swale, Morton, Saturday 25th June 2016
Match Organiser: Kevin Weighell - Tel: 07950 966928
(Email; kevinweighell@googlemail.com)
Web: http://www.nadac.org.uk/
Headquarters: Old Royal George, Morton On Swale. DL7 9QS
Draw: 9.00am
Fishing: 11.00am - 4.00pm (Duration 5 hours)
Venue Spotlight: The qualifier will be pegged between Scruton and the copse. Depths here vary between 3ft and 10ft and you will be fishing for chub and barbel on all three zones.
Tactics will include float fishing with waggler or stick float and a feeder or straight lead approach will also be necessary on some pegs.
The bait list includes maggots, casters, bread and meat and match weights can vary with the record being 145lb on this stretch.
Match Rules
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
No wading over thigh depth
3) Bristol Avon, Newbridge to Saltford, Sunday 3rd July 2016
Match Organiser: Kevin Dicks - Tel; 07804 620083 (Email; kevin.dicks18@hotmail.co.uk)
Headquarters: Crown Inn, 500 Bath Road, Saltford, Bristol, BS31 3HJ
Draw: 10.00am
Fishing: 12.00pm - 5.00pm (Duration 5 hours)
Venue Spotlight: Depths range from 9ft to15ft with the upstream end above Newbridge Bridge, the shallower part.
Tackle should include pole, waggler, bolo and feeder rods for bream with the best fish last year weighing in at 10-9-0!
Bait requirements are maggots, casters, worms groundbait and hemp
Main species are roach, bream and perch with chub, bleak and dace sometimes making an appearance
Framing weights range from 15lb to the match record that stands at 189lb so two keepnets may be required.
Pegging will be every other peg and there is limited parking behind your peg opposite the Boathouse Pub on the A4 for the competitions.
Match Rules
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
4) River Tyne, Corbridge to Wylam, Sunday 10th July 2016
Match Organiser: Stephen Hoggins - Tel; 07881 631870
(Email; stephen.hoggins@btinternet.com)
Headquarters: Prudhoe Riverside Park, Prudhoe. NE42 6NP
Draw: 9.00am
Fishing: 11.00am - 4.00pm (Duration 5 hours)
Venue Spotlight: The Tyne is a wild river and catches will be dominated by dace. The current match record is 64-10-0, set in 2009 by Steve Hoggins. There are chub and roach in the river too and they can turn up anywhere. Stick, Avon and waggler approaches will all catch as will a long whip given the right conditions. Bait requirements are four pints of white maggots with a few reds. It’s also worth carrying a pint of casters, a few lobworms and 5kg of groundbait.
Match Rules
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
5) River Tees, Bowesfield To Yarm - Saturday 16th July 2016
Match Organiser: Chris Gowling - Tel; 07970 056451 (Email; chrisgowling@hotmail.co.uk)
Headquarters: Myton Farm Pub, Ingleby Way, Stockton on Tees. TS17 0WB
Draw: 9.00am
Fishing: 11.00am - 4.00pm (Duration 5 hours)
Venue Spotlight: There will be two 20-peg sections on the Bowsfield water and one section at Yarm.
The match length is predominantly deep and slow moving and if the river is coloured it will need 20lb to 30lb to win sections. If it’s low and clear weights can be halved.
The match will be mainly feeder fishing with worms and casters but the pole often plays a part. Best baits are worms, casters, maggots and groundbait will be required on all areas.
Match Rules
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
6.) River Trent, Laugherton, North Clifton and Dunham - Sunday 24th July 2016
Match Organiser: Alan Henry - Tel; 07712 620385 (Email: alan.henry4@hotmail.co.uk)
Headquarters: The Friendship Inn, Main Road, Laugherton, Lincoln, LN1 2JT.
Draw: 9am
Fishing: 11am - 4pm
Venue Spotlight: There are vast changes from peg to peg on the Tidal Trent with depths ranging from 4ft to 20ft. On some of the pegs your deepest water will be only 20 metres from your bank and others you may need to be fishing to the other bank for your deepest water.
The width of the venue is also varied with North Clifton and Dunham being 40m to 60m and Laughterton 60m to 90m. There are also several different species that make up the match weights so it is important to cover everything before the draw.
There are some very big fish here, fish including bream, barbel, carp and chub, which will often make up the framing weights for the early part of the season. Later in the season roach and dace can play a key role and weights in excess of 20lb can be possible. Tackle requirements will include 13ft to 14ft heavy feeder rods and an assortment of feeders from 1oz to 4oz. For float fishing you'll need 13ft waggler rods, a long rod for bolo fishing and possibly a pole with rigs for hemp fishing up to big flat floats on strong lines for big fish.
Match Rules
General Angling Trust Rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
7) River Weaver, Northwich, Saturday 30th July 2016
Organiser: Mike Scott
Tel: 07530 638502
Email: sales@valeroyalangling.co.uk
HQ: Goldrick’s Club, 80/88 Station road, Northwich CW9 5RB
Draw: 9am
Fish: 11am – 4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
Depths range from 6ft to13ft with the sections being on the Oaktree, Willowbeds and Boats with the Oaktree being located at the upstream end of the venue at Hartford Bridge.
The Oaktree is shallow from the near bank up (5ft) deepening out to 10ft at 16m onwards. The Willowbeds and boats are 10ft at 6m from the near bank to 13ft deep down the middle. The river is approximately 40 metres wide so there is scope for many lines.
Tackle should include pole, waggler, bolo, whip and feeder rods. Species to be targeted include bream and skimmers to feeder and straight lead when colour in the river. Skimmers and roach to pole and whip over groundbait and maggot or straight lead/small groundbait feeders when river is clear or a slight tinge of colour. Roach can also be caught on hemp and caster when the river is clear in the summer months.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
8) River Soar - Loughborough, Saturday 6th August 2016
Organiser: Tony Beech
Tel: 07506 935040
Email: tony.beech@yahoo.co.uk
HQ: The Waterside Inn, Sileby, Mountsorrel, LE12 7BB
Draw: 9am
Fish: 11am – 4pm.
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
The sections will be all on the natural river. Swims vary considerably from 4ft to 12ft. Pole likely to dominate but with water on and colour, bream will be caught on the feeder.
Roach, perch, bleak and hybrids on most pegs with feature pegs chub and odd barbel and carp. Zone winning weights could be anything from 15lb upwards.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
9) River Trent - Newark Dyke, East Stoke and Rolleston, Saturday 13th August 2016
Match organiser: Colin Walton
Tel: 01636 684223
Email: colin_walton@hotmail.co.uk
HQ: The Spring House, 2 Farndon Rd, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire NG24 4SA
Draw: 9am
Fish: 11pm – 4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
Depths on this stretch range from 7ft to 12ft with the main target species being bream, skimmers, roach and barbel. The best weight in recent years was 104lb of bream but its more likely that nearer 20lb will be the target weight on the day. Main methods are feeder, waggler and pole.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
10) River Yare, Langley, Sunday 14th August 2016
Organiser – Andy Sutter
Tel: 01502 531776/079905 72729
Email: AWilsonSutter@aol.com
Website: www.riveryare.co.uk
HQ: The White Horse, 5 Norwich Rd, Chedgrave, Norfolk NR14 6ND
Draw: 9am
Fish: 11am – 4pm.
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
The Yare is a powerful tidal river with two main approaches, namely the feeder and the pole.
Bream win most of the matches here with open-end feeder tactics and groundbait being the best method. You’ll need a good selection of leads too as the flow can be quite strong at times. Most of the time weights between 1.5oz and 3oz will be about right.
The pole line can produce some very big catches of roach at certain times and most anglers tend to fish this with poles from 11m to 14.5m in conjunction with groundbait and casters.
Target weights can vary but it’s not uncommon to see roach weights up to 30lb and bream weights much higher.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
BANNED BAITS:
Bloodworm & joker
11) River Don - Sprotborough, Saturday 27th August 2016
Organiser: Steve Lowther
Tel: 07825 342211
Email: stevelowther@fsmail.net
HQ: Lord Conyers Hotel, Old Road, Conisborough, Doncaster, South Yorks DN12 3LZ
Draw: 8am
Fish: 11am till 4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
This is a deep venue with a steady flow in normal conditions. It is tree lined on both banks and varies from 30 to 45 yards wide.
Depths range from 12ft to 19ft. The venue suffers minimal boat traffic at weekends but midweek there is the occasional large gravel barge, which can affect the fishing for a period until the water settles.
The primary methods are big stick/bolo, groundbait feeder, pole, whip and slider with maggot, caster, worm, pinkies, hemp and groundbait being the staple bait requirements.
Roach and skimmers are the mainstay of most catches but chub, perch and gudgeon also feature. The venue does change year on year both in volume and quality of the catches made but upper doubles for a zone win would be a reasonable expectation.
Access is limited to parking at either end of the match length so a barrow will be required but the venue does have a good level pathway along its length.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
12) River Nene, Orton, Sunday 28th August 2016
Organiser: Andy Jackson
Tel: 07747 412658
Email: jackson8745@btinternet.com
HQ: The Cherry Tree Pub, Oundle Road, Peterborough, Cambs. PE2 9PB
Draw: 8.30am
Fish: 11am -4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
The River Nene above and below Orton Lock is just upstream of Peterborough and one of the best stretches of natural river in the East of England.
In late August, roach and skimmers will be the main target, with pole and maggot and hempseed like to dominate, but competitors shouldn’t ignore bonus species such as tench and big eels, which are regularly caught on a chopped-worm approach from the section above the lock.
There are also bream shoals at the top end of the match length, and if there is colour and flow these might well dominate the individual placings.
Below Orton Lock, the water is pacier, with gravel runs and, again, plenty of roach. Chub may also show to a far-bank waggler and feeder approach here. The river then widens and becomes slower and deeper again, but there are lots of skimmers in this area and a balling-in approach with pole and maggot will see plenty of bites.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
13) River Severn, Bewdley, Saturday 3rd September 2016
Organiser: Dave Foxall
Tel: 07952 099896
Email: davidf_60@msn.com
HQ: Wribbenhall Social Club, Kidderminster Road/Spencer Avenue, (next to church) Bewdley, DY12 1DA
Draw: 9am
Fish: 11am – 4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
Typical Middle Severn fishing with a mix of fast glides along with wider and steadier parts. Access is good with multiple points of entry from peg 1 to peg 120.
The main species will be barbel, chub and roach and there has been a noticeable increase in numbers of dace and perch over the past few years.
Main methods are swimfeeder with halibut pellets, casters and hemp or maggots and float fished maggots and casters. Big baits like meat can play a part if the river is coloured.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike and zander do not count
Braid is not allowed
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
Organiser: Alan Henry
Tel: 07712 620385.
Email: alan.henry4@hotmail.co.uk
HQ: The Grey Horse, Low Street, Collingham, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 7NL
Draw: 8.30am
Fish: 11am – 4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
Target species are varied on this stretch but it is best known for its huge bream shoals with winning weights up to nearly 200lb being recorded over the last 12 months. This obviously leans towards open-ended feeder tactics being the first choice for most anglers.
There are also a lot of barbel, chub and the odd carp present in a number of pegs that respond well to pellet and meat hookbaits. Roach weights regularly come out in excess of 20lb to waggler and stick float fished maggot over a bed of hemp.
The depths vary from 4ft to 12ft in areas and widths range from 50m to over 100m.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
Strictly no casting out of feeders before the match has started.
15) River Wye, Breinton To Eign - Sunday 18th September 2016
Match Organiser: Deron Harper - Tel; 07450 486272(Email; deron@tiscali.co.uk)Website: http://hdaa.blogspot.co.uk
Headquarters: The Plough Inn, 86 Whitecrom Road, Hereford, HR4 0DH
Draw: 9.00am
Fishing: 11.00am - 4.00pm (Duration 5 hours)
Venue Spotlight: The three zones for this qualifier are all capable of throwing up some massive weights of barbel and chub if conditions are favourable. The Breinton section is where Lee Edwards broke the Wye record with 316lb of chub on the waggler.
Feeder and float tactics play a part on all three lengths and best baits will be maggots, casters and hemp or pellets.
Depths vary throughout the three stretches although in the main part the averages are between 4ft and 6ft. A platform trolley system is useful on all three zones for transporting kit and for positioning gear in the river.
Match Rules
General Angling Trust rules
16) River Severn, Bridgnorth - Saturday 24th September
Organiser: Brian Preece
Tel: 07984 859955
Email: brianpreecebas@talktalk.net
HQ: The Vine Inn, Mil Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV15 5AG
Draw: 9am
Fish: 11am – 4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
The match length is over four miles long as is a wild stretch of the Middle Severn. Access on match days is easy with plenty of parking points all along the river.
The river here runs over gravel beds and fords with gulleys, islands and slower meandering swims. There are plenty of far and near bank features such as bushes and fallen trees.
Depths very from 2ft to 14ft along the 204 permanent pegs and barbel are main target species along with chub and smaller silver fish.
The flow can be quite strong in areas so heavy leads are required for feeder fishing. Powerful float and feeder rods coupled with strong terminal tackle will be required. Float fishing requires thick speci wagglers, peacock wagglers, bolos and stick floats and it’s also possible to catch with pole gear and big flat floats in odd pegs. There are a lot of quality fish here and ten barbel could give you 60lb or more.
Platforms and waders are required for some pegs.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Braid not allowed
No Bloodworm and Joker
17) River Thames - Clanfield, Sunday 25th September 2016
Organiser: Colin Nicholson
Tel: 07779 256407
Email: clanfieldangling@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://www.clanfieldangling.co.uk
HQ: Clanfield FC, Main Street, Clanfield Oxfordshire OX18 2ST
Draw: 9am (club open at 7.30am for breakfasts)
Fish: 11am – 4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
The stretch is regularly match fished, and is one of the venues in the prestigious Thames Championships and Turner 400 matches held in September, as well as regular club and Open matches throughout the year.
The length holds 94pegs, and access is excellent as anglers can park behind all pegs. The venue reaches peak form in September and produces good bags of roach, perch, bleak, gudgeon, chub and occasional bream and barbel.
Zone winning weights are expected to be between 10lb and 15lb, with the fish well spread, so giving a large number of winning pegs. Methods are likely to be mainly float-based, with the pole and whip dominating and anglers can expect an active match.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Braid not allowed
No Bloodworm and Joker
18) River Trent, Burton On Trent - Sunday 2nd October 2016
Website: http://www.coors-angling-club.co.uk
Headquarters: Washlands Sports Club, Meadow Road, Burton on Trent. DE14 1TD
Draw: 9.00am
Fishing: 11.00am - 4.00pm (Duration 5 hours)
Venue Spotlight: This qualifier will be fished on the Coors AC waters around Burton. The river here is not too diverse and waggler with bronze maggot usually rules with a bit of stick float and pole fishing.
Roach, dace and perch are the main quarry and while odd bream, chub and barbel can show there are very few feeder pegs. The average depth is 4ft to 6ft, with one or two areas a bit deeper at 8ft to 10ft.
Match weights are usually made up of mostly roach and you usually need 10lb to 14lb to frame and 15lb to 20lb to win, especially in August and September which are the best two months to fish this venue.
Match Rules
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
19) River Thames - Culham, Saturday 8th October 2016
Organiser: Paul Glenfield
Tel: 07929 109572
Email: pgglenfield@gmail.com
HQ: The H Cafe, Oxford Road, Dorcester, Wallingford. OX10 7LY (Please note; this is a change of address for the headquarters from what was previously provided).
Draw: 8.30am
Fish: 11am – 4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
It’s possible to catch a big weight of roach on the pole by putting in several big balls of groundbait at the start and then topping up with smaller balls as the match progresses. Rigs from 0.50g to 2g will be needed, depending on flow. In very low and clear conditions expect some decent perch and odd tench on chopped worm under pole gear.
If the river has a bit of flow the target species for all the sections could be roach on either stick float or waggler tactics. Match weights under these conditions could be anything from low double figures up to 20lb, possibly more, just loose feeding with maggots.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
20) River Medway, Barming, Sunday 9th October 2016
Organiser: Mick Roberts
Tel: 07703 431930
Email: mickroberts59@gmail.com
Website: www.maidstonevictory.co.uk
HQ: The Bull Inn, 5 Tonbridge Road, Barming, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9HB
Draw: 8.00am
Fish: 11am – 4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
Slow paced river with an average depth of 8ft. The main species are roach, perch, bream, chub and eels and the main methods are pole and waggler.
Most anglers feed groundbait on the pole line and loose feed across for the waggler.
Target weight for a zone win will be around 8lb although it’s possible to catch much bigger weights, up to 50lb, if the bream feed.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike and zander do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
21) Warwickshire Avon, Stratford, Sunday 16th October 2016
Organiser: Tony Butler
Tel: 07768 608803
Email: baileysofwarwick@hotmail.com
HQ: New Inn, Clifford Chambers, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 8HR
Draw: 9am
Fish: 11am – 4pm
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
This match length will take in a variety of swims ranging from 4ft to 8ft deep on average. Running line and pole fished baits will be the main approach for species like roach, dace, perch, chub, bream and barbel. Zone winning weights could be anything from 15lb upwards, depending on river conditions. MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Braid not allowed
No Bloodworm and Joker
22) River Severn, Shrewsbury, Sunday 18th October *
Match Organiser: Phil Williams - Tel; 07989 182117 (Email; bigphilwilliams39@yahoo.co.uk)
Headquarters: The Wheatsheaf, 19 Frankwell, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. SY3 8JY
Draw: 8.30am
Fishing: 11.00am - 4.00pm (Duration 5 hours)
Venue Spotlight: The river here varies in depth from as little as 3ft to as much as 20ft but the average depth is around 10ft to 12ft.
If the river is low then pole and waggler will dominate results. With a little extra water on, stick float and bolo tactics come into play.
Main species are roach, dace, perch and chub and there is always a chance of big barbel on the float or feeder.
Match Rules
General Angling Trust rules
Pike and zander do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
23) Yorkshire Ouse, Hunters Lodge to Linton On Ouse, Saturday 24th October
Match Organiser: Dave Miles - Tel; 07867 680479/0113 3910570(Email; d.miles55@btinternet.com)
Headquarters: The Green Tree, Little Ouseburn, York. YO26 9TJ
Draw: 9.00am
Fishing: 11.00am - 4.00pm (Duration 5 hours)
Venue Spotlight: Hunters Lodge & Linton on Ouse all permanently pegged. Hunters numbered from 186 to 231. Linton numbered from 232 to 295. The match will be pegged to the river conditions, as it is a spate river.
Under normal river levels the depths vary from 12ft to 22ft. A wide range of methods work including long pole, whip to hand, bolo and double ring slider. Also required are light feeder rods for normal conditions and heavy feeder rods for high water conditions and bigger fish. Pole feeder can work well in flood conditions.
Bait requirement: maggots, pinkies, casters, hemp, lobworms and dendrabaenas. Big baits like bread and meat can also work on certain days.
Main target species are roach, dace, hybrid, silver bream and perch. Big bream and chub can also show.
Feeder fishing is mostly medium to small open-end 20g to 50g feeders and straight lead can work well on clear days.
Match Rules
General Angling Trust rules
Pike and zander do not count
Banned baits - bloodworm and joker
24) Warwickshire Avon - Warwick, Sunday 30th October 2016
Organiser: Tony Butler
Tel: 07768 608803
Email: baileysofwarwick@hotmail.com
HQ: The Nelson Club, 21 Charles Street, Warwick, Warwickshire CV34 5LE
Draw: 8am
Fish: 10.30am – 3.30am
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
Depth on the three zones varies from 4ft to 12ft with an average of 6ft. In normal conditions the target species are roach, dace, perch, chub and bream. Pole and running line float fishing approaches win most of the matches here with feeder and legered baits working when there is extra water and colour in the river.
MATCH RULES
General Angling Trust rules
Pike do not count
Braid not allowed
No Bloodworm and Joker
Grand Final - River Wye, Hereford, 14th/15th November
Headquarters: Hereford Rowing club, 37 Greyfriars Avenue, Hereford, HR4 0BR
Draw: 8.00am
Fishing: 10.30am - 3.30pm (Duration of 5 hours)
