I'd Like to try match fishing

I would like to try match fishing but dont know where to start. I'm not a begginer but I am still learning, arent we all. So i'd like to know where I could contact maybe a club etc and anything you know about match fishing any tips on what to expect and any tactics etc. I'm based in Netherton West mids. Any help would be Great Thanks Jason.

Jason,
Concerning starting match fishing, give yourself some practice in this branch of our sport.
Get out there and practice, even if it is only once a week, no matter what the weather is doing, and focus on a specified amount of fishing time per session. Matches are usually 3 or 5 hours in length.
Don?t just sit there shivering if it is cold, work at it, as 1 oz could put you in the frame. What I am saying is put yourself in a state of mind that each session you have, is the most important one in your life, in other words compete against yourself.

Try to find a club that runs open matches that will only cost you no more than a fiver to enter. There is no point in becoming pools fodder for the better anglers. In all probability, you will not be drawing the better pegs for some time.
Find a club, ask which waters they fish, and do your homework on them, and on the anglers that fish them.
This is just basic information, and I am sure that some of the match type anglers on this site will advise you on the finer points of match fishing.

1. Go into your back garden and set up everything so you can reach it. Once you have done this, take it apart and put it away. Now do it again and time yourself. This may sound a bit silly but you have limited time from the draw to the all in. If you are still trying to get yourself sorted, it is time lost while others are fishing. Add about five minutes to the time you achieve, to give you a little extra.

2. Make sure you have all of the bait you need before you set off and it is in good condition. This will depend on the fish the venue holds, which you will have found out about. Either pre-mix your groundbait or make that the first job you do when you arrive at your peg.

3. Make up a pole with top kits and rigs ready. Depending on the water maybe a rod and line with a cage feeder. You may want to switch to this later.

4. Look at the likely areas that will produce fish. At the first opportunity check the depth of these swims. If you are on a river, check the depth of the far bank, mid stream and close in so you can build up a picture of the bottom.

5. Once you have started feed all of the swims you are going to fish. Keep doing this, not just the one you are currently fishing. That way if the fish move out of one swim you can move to the next. Get into a routine on constant feeding of bait to keep the fish interested, but don't over do this, you want the fish to compete for the free offerings not to feed them. The bites will then become positive.

6. Find yourself a water and have a couple of three hour practice sessions on it. Build up a routine, of feeding and so on so that it becomes second nature to you. Once you start, keep your head down and concentrate, you can look at angler on either side of you, but don't be too impressed with how they are doing.

7. Once you have got this down and you feel comfortable with it, fish some open club matches. A word here, you may be the best anngler in the world, but even people like Bob Nudd, Darren Cox or Gareth Parnell rely on the draw. If you get a duff swim you won't catch, if you can find a way of drawing the flyers all of the time, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

Have Fun!

Good advice from both guys above mate. You could look up a book or two on Match Fishing. A good one was written by Alan Haines some years back its a great read even if you decide not to take the plunge. A small local club with a friendly group of fellow members is a great way to learn and a great way to socialise. Good Luck.

Thanks Baz I try and get out there as much as possible the weather dont bother me mate.

Ergo thankyou 4 the great tips sounds like your a good match angler goodluck in your future matchs

And thanks to Nottmdom I'll have a look 4 that book cheers.

Jason,

If I were you then I'd start off by going along and watching a few matches first. After the match talk to those who have won sections and you will be amazed at how much advice they will readily give you.

When you start then try to limit yourself to say 2 venues for the first year or two. It is nigh on impossible to learn all of the vagaries of many different venues when you start out, so try to specialise in just two. It would also be a good idea to pick on still water and one river if that is possible.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

what you thanking me for in the first post? i aint said owt till now.

Thank You I'll Do That Peter.

Jason,

Most match anglers start their career by joining a local fishing club that have "coach outings" although many clubs nowadays seem to have given up the coach trips,and everyone drives to the venue. Win a few club trophies first, then graduate onto the open match circuit. If you're any good, you'll soon be noticed and will probably be approached to join a team for league matches.

Your local tackle shop will probably be able to direct you to a local fishing club and both the weekly angling publications have a page or so of "Open Match" dates.

It seems that most "Opens" are relatively small affairs now, rarely more than 50 peggers, and often only half that. Winter/Summer league matches can involve 6 or more teams of 12, so they tend to be quite a bit larger than most modern opens.

The Thames Championship used to involve up to a thousand or more match anglers but I think it's shrunk a bit lately, with the advent of commercial fisheries. If you caught 100lb of fish on the Thames, that would have been an outstanding achievement, but its not at all uncommon on some commercials.

Good luck.

Jason, the best local club for you is Halesowen RBL, they have regular river, canal and stillwater matches.
I've sent you an email with the secretaries number.
TC

Thank you Colin.

Thanks Terry I'll give them a call P.s Are you a member?

No, I wouldn't recommend any club that would have me as a member. ;-)

Oh right Cheers mate

Don't mention it.

Where Do you fish Normally Then TC?

Very old joke Terry

Are you feeling twitchy yet Jason? There is only one possible cure. Just go for it and good luck.

Been Doing what you said Ergo think the next door think I'm Mad
Yes I am getting twitchy going fishing satday and sunday and going to give my self the first three hours and see how I do Was going 2 go tommorrow afternoon insted of sunday hoping there would be less people about but I got to go Oxford Working insted. How was your last outing Ergo?

Pretty crap really, I won my section but that was by virtue of the fact, I was the only one who caught anything.

The match was won with just 2?lbs of fish, second place was just one fish of 1?lb.

I love days like that. With just one fish you can come second. But it just shows that if you don't give up, you have a chance.

Too right Ergo, many a match won in the last minute or so.

Colin, I can't tell you how many time I have really stuffed a section just to be done over in the last few minutes.

That is my own fault mainly, as I have sort of sat there gloating and taken my eye off the ball as it were.