Match Fishing - Death of one of the All-Time Match Greats

Angling is mourning the loss of Robin Harris, the only angler ever to win both the Individual World Championships and the All-England National, who has died at the age of 76.

Famous for his win in the World Championships in Bad Oldesloe, West Germany, in 1969 – only the second ever Englishman to have done so at the time he then went on to win the All-England Championship in 1971 beating over 1,000 anglers on the River Severn at Quatford with a net of barbel taken on an Avon float weighing 40lb 5oz - from a swim which is known as Harris’s Peg to this very day. He was later awarded the MBE for his services to angling.

Robin was widely regarded as the master of float fishing in days when the stick and waggler, rather than the pole, ruled the roost and many would say he was the greatest angler of his generation and there were few, except the likes of Ivan Marks, who could match him.

He worked his magic along his local Rivers Nene and Welland and around the country winning numerous open matches in the days when matches were not just the 30 or 40 peggers as today but in the era of really big opens that attracted hundreds of anglers from across the country.

Locals who met him on the circuit, and in and around his Peterborough home, were quick to point out his generosity and willingness to pass on information and he brought on some of the top anglers in the region. In addition to his mastery of fishing the float Robin was also a wonderful float maker and his handmade patterns became much sought after and, although he was a carpenter by trade, angling was his first love and he went into business with his friend Don Henderson running a fishing tackle shop in Peterborough appropriately named ‘Robin’s Peg’.

Robin, who died in Peterborough City Hospital, had been suffering from cancer and leaves a wife and two daughters.