partypoker Fish ‘O’ Mania will debut a revised format of its International event this year with the launch of the International Masters to run simultaneously alongside the Grand Final during a mammoth day of angling at Cudmore Fisheries on Saturday, July 9.

partypoker Fish ‘O’ Mania International Masters will comprise six anglers representing Holland, Italy, Belgium, Germany and France, with one other nation to be confirmed shortly and will take place on the Arena Lake alongside the partypoker Fish ‘O’ Mania Grand Final.

The prize fund for the International sees the winner receive £3,000 while the second placed angler takes home £1,000.
The revised format for the International event follows in a major shake up to the format of the Grand Final, which for the first time sees 32 anglers take part, offering more opportunities to qualify.

With the field for the final expanded to 32 anglers, the main event starts on Friday, July 8, with the draw for pegs at 8am at the event hotel. The five-hour match then gets underway at 10.30am on two lakes, with 12 pegs located on Moors Canal and 20 pegs on Suez Canal.  This is a five-hour match with a single weigh-in at the conclusion and is not open to the general public.
The 32 finalists will be divided into sections of four and the top two weights in each section after the five-hour match will move forward to the 16-man televised section of the final on Saturday 9th July. The draw for the Saturday will take place at Cudmore around 5.00pm.

The second part of the final will commence at around 12.05pm on Saturday, July 9 and there will be the traditional weigh-ins every half an hour with the match concluding at approximately 5.05pm. There is a whopping £50,000 on offer to the champion with the runner-up receiving a tidy £10,000.

As well as the partypoker Fish ‘O’ Mania Grand Final and International Masters taking place on the Arena Lake, Saturday, July 9 will also the Ladies and Juniors competitions on the same day.

partypoker Fish ‘O’ Mania Ladies and Fish ‘O’ Mania Juniors will consist of six anglers competing in each match and will take place on the Suez Canal at Cudmore Fisheries. Each match will last four hours with a single weigh-in at the conclusion. The winners of the Ladies and the Juniors will receive £1,000 each.

partypoker Fish ‘O’ Mania International Masters will commence at midday, concluding at 4pm. The Ladies and Junior matches will each last four hours with the Junior competition starting at 11am and Ladies match beginning at 11:30am.

Tickets for the big day are now available from www.fishomania.net as well as the venue, and Get Hooked on Fishing.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

A low and clear River Swale proved to be a tough nut to crack for many of the competitors in the second Angling Trust RiverFest qualifier held on Saturday 25th June. Big chub accounted for all the top weights and leading the way was Goole angler Mark Turner, on his first visit to the venue with 43-0-0 from peg 30 in B Zone.

Mark started off by landing two decent chub on legered breadflake before switching to a 6No4 stick float rig with a size 18 hook to 0.13mm hooklength. Feeding casters and hemp, with two casters on the hook, he tempted more decent fish, ending with ten chub and two trout.

Upstream at peg A2, Birmingham river expert Paul Downes float fished his way in similar fashion to the winner to record a zone win with 37-11-0 of chub.

Competition creator Dave Harrell booked the third qualifying place with 21-2-0 of chub, caught on waggler and caster from peg 4 in C Zone.

TOP SIX RESULTS:

1. Mark Turner (peg B30) 43-0-0
2. David Wray (peg B43) 38-1-0
3. Paul Downes (peg A2) 37-11-0
4. Pat Adams (peg B42) 29-12-0
5. Dave Smiddy (peg B44) 26-4-0
6. Norman Thewlis (peg A3) 25-12-0

The next qualifier takes place on the Bristol Avon on Sunday July 3rd.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

This year the fabulous Partridge Lakes complex in Cheshire played host to the Angling Trust Cadets and Junior Angling Championships on Saturday 25th June 2016. Sadly the numbers of teams taking part was very disappointing. Whilst the Cadets event again saw 4 teams fishing, the Junior Championship had only 9 teams, which was 5 teams down on 2015, and eventually the Intermediates event, which had only 2 teams registered was ultimately cancelled when both opted not to fish.

Cadets

The Cadet National Championship was split evenly between Spey and Marsh Pools. Both are canal-type pools holding loads of carp, F1’s and plenty of silvers. They were in reasonable form following the stormy weather in the previous 24 hours and provided most anglers with a nice day’s fishing.

Individually the top weight of 25 kilos 630 gms was taken by Match Aid  angler Jake Pope from peg C1 on Spey. His catch comprised some good carp, F1’s and smaller fish. Runner-up was Ryan Kennison fishing for Sensas A4 at peg F1 on Marsh. Ryan put 18 kilos 510 gms on the scales. Worksop DAA’s Jay Gill, the 2015 Champion, secured third spot with 17 kilos 010 gms at peg E3 on Marsh. Fourth place went to Tom Pearson of Worksop with 15 kilos 710 gms.  Match Aid anglers filled the next two spots. Sonny Lynn was fifth with 13 kilos 980 gms and Billy Pitman sixth with 12 kilos 420 gms just ahead of Billy Kirk of Match Aid with 12 kilos 180 gms. 

Team honours went to Worksop DAA with 21 out of a possible 24 points.  Match Aid totalled 19 points and Sensas A4 had 13 points leaving Dawley Angling Society 4th with 6 points.

Juniors

The Junior Championship saw the six sections spread across the famous Covey pools. These tremendously consistent pools are used for all the big events at Partridge Lakes and again did not fail to deliver an exciting match for the anglers.

Top rod, fishing at peg A6, was the 2015 Junior Champion Tom Edwards of Sensas A4. Tom caught mainly F1’s to 2 kilos plus some proper carp to put a magnificent 53 kilos 690 gms on the scales. Yestyn Sephton fishing for Tameside Matrix Bait Tech clinched second spot with 45 kilos 280 gms at peg B4. Third place went to Sarah Taylor of Tameside Matrix Bait Tech Gold with 44 kilos 500 gms from A9. Sensas A4 anglers filled the next three places. Adam Swain took fourth with 42 kilos 350 gms.  Fifth place went to Sam Collett with 40 kilos 320 gms and Jack Damant sixth with 40 kilos 190 gms.

Sensas A4 were again crowned Junior Team Champions with a total of 50 points nine clear of Tameside Matrix Bait Tech with 41 points.

Other team results as follows;
3rd  Match Aid Juniors - 39 points
4th Sensas A4 Academy - 34 points
5th Tameside Matrix Bait Tech Gold - 26points (127 kilos 690 gms)
6th Worksop DAA - 26 points (114 kilos 68 gms)
7th Dawley A S Juniors - 22 points
8th Nisa Waveney Bait Tech - 15 points (74 kilos 730 gms)
9th Wakefield AS - 15 points (67 kilos 970 gms)

The top 6 section winners from the Junior category going to the Fish 'O' Mania grand final on 9th July at Cudmore Fisheries fishing Suez are; Tom Edwards, Yestyn Sephton, Jack Damant, William McCranor, Adam Swain and Sam Collett.

Once again a great day was had by all despite the intermittent heavy showers.  Thanks in no small way to the wonderful team at Partridge Lakes.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

FISHING AND FANCY FREE by Dave Rees follows the fate of three firm friends on their annual fishing trip to Scotland. Unknown to them. and in a log cabin just yards from their own, are three very attractive women who there for the fishing as well.

The following is a short snippet from Fishing and Fancy Free.

And that wasn't all that they caught. Brian had his usual last cast which went on for at least twenty minutes after he'd tied on a weighted nymph. A short while later he let out a cry of 'Gotcha, you beautiful boy'. As it slipped into the net they huddled round to see the monster he'd caught, but it looked like a woman's handbag and really quite new at that. It also looked very expensive. They though it was crocodile skin.

'Blimey," breathed Brian, "who would have thought a trout lake like this would have crocodiles in it as well?'

Available to buy from Amazon - click here

GET HOOKED! is the most recent book by Dave Rees and is presented as a Collection of short stories previously published by a respected monthly fishing magazine and now brought together as a collection of short stories that even the curious layman will understand and enjoy. It is truly a thought provoking dip in and out bedtime storybook on which you are bound to get hooked! A treasure of fishing tales to choose from.

The following is a short snippet from Get Hooked.

If only I hadn't stopped fishing

When the skies turned stormy and red
And I went back home to the missus
Who was dozing and still in bed
I slipped quietly in beside her
And whispered the weather was bad
And to think my husband's gone fishing, she said
He must be stark raving mad

If only I hadn't been so naive
When we danced at the Fly Fishers Ball
She was gorgeous and French with a lakeside chateau
Oh, yeah! She had it all!
I only wiish she'd made it quite clear
When I accepted her invite to France
That she only wanted to learn how to fish
As for anything else - not a chance!

He had a decision to make. He could reach out a hand and receive in return unconditional love, or try to avoid those deep brown eyes that were anxiously searching his face. Which was it going to be?

Available to buy from Amazon - click here

The Angling Trust Ladies National Championship was contested by 43 anglers fishing Front and Back Deans lakes at Woodlands View Fishery near Worcester on Saturday 4th June 2016. The fishing proved difficult on a hot, bright windless day, and most of the better weights came from the Back Deans section.

For the winner Kayleigh Smith (Matrix, Bag em baits) this proved a very poignant occasion.  Last year Kayleigh’s mum tragically died whilst this match was being fished at Lakeview.  So Kayleigh was determined to try and win the event in her mums memory. Happy she achieved her dream although it was a very close result and her joy was shared by lots of the competitors, including all her international team colleagues.

Kayleigh, who was a previous winner of this event fished peg 48 on Back Deans where she fished banded pellet at 13 metres along the margin to record a fine weight of 35.650 kg. The majority of her catch comprised of carp to a weight of 4 kg plus a few skimmers.

In second place just a few grams in arrears fishing Back Deans peg 34 was Wendy Locker (Tackle Locker/Drennan) with a weight of 35.000 kg. Wendy also caught the majority of her fish on 6 mm banded pellets at 13 metres down the edge plus a few fish on meat fished short.

Third place went to Sophie Hill (Garbolino) fishing Back Deans peg 36 who had a nice net of carp fishing hard pellets at depth both short and long with a few fish on maggots in the margin late in the match to weigh 27.350kg.

Top Ten Individual results

1) Peg 48 Back Deans - Kayleigh Smith 35.650 kg
2) Peg 34 Back Deans - Wendy Locker 35.00kg
3) Peg 36 Back Deans - Sophie Hill 27.350kg
4) Peg 8 Front Deans  -Deana Wood  20.950kg
5) Peg 63 Back Deans - Helen Dagnall 17.800kg
6) Peg 3 Front Deans  - Heather Dewey 17.750kg
7) Peg 33 Front Deans - Sue Arkell 17.650kg
8) Peg 40 Back Deans- Sandra Scotthorne 16.660kg
9) Peg 6 Front Deans  - Pam Mason 14.600kg
10) Peg 54 Back Deans - Zoe Buckley 14.400kg

Section Winners

Peg 8 Front Deans - Deana Wood 20.950kg
Peg 33 Front Deans -Sue Arkell 17.650kg
Peg 48 Back Deans - Kayleigh Smith 35.650kg
Peg 63 Back Deans - Helen Dagnall  17.800kg

Teams of 4 Final results

1) Starlets 71.500kg
2) Lindholme Lakes 61.950kg
3) Warrington Team Gold 56.550kg
4) Sonubaits Passies Pink 45.000kg
5) 4 Amigos 39.100kg
6) Billy No Mates 37.850kg
7) Marukyu Maidens 24.150kg

Winner of the Claire Dagnall Trophy donated in memory of Claire Dagnall and awarded to the highest placed under 21 angler Amy Marcroft on Back Deans 60 with a weight of 14.400 kg.  The trophy for Young Up and Coming Angler on the day was awarded to Sarah Taylor from the Wirral with 10.300 kg

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Water primrose, quagga mussels and so-called ‘killer shrimp’ are just a few invasive non-native species that can be devastating to British plants, fish and ecosystems.

IInvasive non-native species can have a damaging impact on British plants, animals and ecosystems - by spreading disease, competing for habitat and food and direct predation.

Plants that grow profusely can block waterways while some animals can damage riverbanks - so they also affect economic uses of our environment and add significant management costs.

As a water user, you may unknowingly be helping to spread invasive species from one water body to another in equipment, shoes and clothing.

Last year we spent £180,000 trying to remove topmouth gudgeon from our fisheries - a particularly nasty invader which damages fisheries and outcompetes many of our native species. As a result, we’re hoping the species will be wiped out in Britain by 2017.

So what can you do to help?

Protect your fishery: check, clean and dry your kit.

Check your equipment, boots and clothing for living organisms.

Clean and wash all equipment, boots and clothes thoroughly.

Dry all equipment and clothing.

Source: NNSS

The Yavington stretch of the Upper Itchen is a superb example of a classic chalkstream, offering about a mile of mainly double bank fishing for wild brown trout in totally unspoilt and glorious surroundings. 

One of the members of this privately owned stretch has generously offered Salmon and Trout Conservation UK four days this summer, with the money raised going to the S&TA auction fund.  

Two rods will have exclusive use of the beat.  There is some wading, it is dry fly only, and catch and release for the brownies. The price is £450.00 per day for two rods.  

The S&TA UK are delighted to offer, on a strictly first-come, first-served basis, the following dates:

22 June 2016
28 June 2016
3 July  2016
16 Sept 2016

Payment must be made at the time of booking.   Please contact Veronica Kruger at auction@salmon-trout.org / telephone 01722 415553 to avail yourself of this fantastic opportunity.

Source: Salmon and Trout Conservation UK

Angling Trust Thames Fisheries Forum (Reading) May 24th 2016 in association with the Environment Agency

The Green Park Conference Centre 100 Longwater Avenue, Green Park Reading, Berkshire RG2 6GP

Tea and coffee served from 6.45pm, meeting will start at 7.15pm

The draft agenda will include:

• Angling Trust Key Campaigns Update - Martin Salter, Angling Trust National Campaigns Manager guides you through how the Trust is working for you to promote and protect angling
• The work of the River Thames Alliance - RTA Chair John Edmonds gives an overview of the work of the group
• Fisheries Update - Your local Environment Agency Fisheries team give an update of the work in your area
• Open Forum Session - Ask questions and raise issues with the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust

This meeting is free to attend and open to all. It is aimed at ALL freshwater anglers, Coarse and Game. It is a key opportunity to hear about the work of the Environment Agency and is a chance to tell the Angling Trust what YOU think their priorities should be. Plus updates from key organisations in your area.

It looks like being a fascinating meeting, so if you love angling and live within reach of the venue, make sure you attend.

If there is a specific question you would like to ask at the meeting please let us know in advance by emailing ian.shepherd@anglingtrust.net

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The Angling Trust has launched an exciting new social media competition to encourage anglers to get back on the banks and inspire newcomers to take up the sport.

The Angling Trust Video Battle (ATVB) – run in conjunction with Fishinginfo.co.uk – is calling for anglers to get creative by shooting and editing their own short fishing video to compete with other battlers to win fabulous tackle prizes worth hundreds of pounds.

All that competitors have to do is shoot a video about anything related to angling. It can be funny, artistic, educational, theatrical, the nature of fishing, a prize catch, a favourite venue, a chat about fishing with a bunch of mates … anything!

Videos should be no longer than three minutes long and there will be two categories for entrants – 16 years and under, and 17 years and over.

Completed videos must be received no later than Sunday, July 31st. Entries will be showcased on the Fishinginfo YouTube channel from Tuesday, August 16th – and then the battle is on!

Each battler can then share and publicise their video on their own social media accounts and platforms and the four most-viewed videos by Sunday, September 18th will compete in the Video Battle final along with one lucky wildcard battler chosen by Angling Trust Ambassadors Carl & Alex.

The winning videos will be chosen by a judging panel in early October.

Commenting on the challenges in encouraging younger participants to angling, fish artist and project manager Adam O Connor (aka Dusto) said: "The power of social media can often be a hindrance in getting kids involved in sports and angling has seen a decline in younger participants in recent years.

“With Video Battle we aim to claim back some ground and inspire newcomers to the sport by using what we have in abundance – talented and creative people with a passion for fishing.

“These traits are sure to shine through during this exciting competition. With many great prizes up for grabs in the Angling Trust Video Battle who wouldn’t want to have a go!"

Throughout the competition, Dusto and fellow host Ant Glascoe Jr will be getting out and about meeting some of the battlers and getting the low-down on their video entries.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News