Got a match at Landsend Sunday, so wanted to go and have a look at the work that’s been done since the new owner (Gary Anderson, Dart Player) took over. The fishery had declined a bit, stock levels dropped off and the foliage was rampant (the previous owner worked away a lot and was running another business, the fishery was a sideline/hobby).

Well, the arboreal incursion has been reversed, huge new platforms, paths around the fishery, new fish and some stock moved around, lots of work done, more planned, it’s looking good. I have a bit of a love hate relationship with the fishery, it’s setting is idyllic, right on the top of the levels of Avalon, it’s one of the most peaceful commercials you can visit, but it’s a venue that hasn’t been kind to me results wise. Still, no result to get today, just an idea of how it’s fishing.



A chat with Ade, who...

With the promise of slightly milder weather for the weekend, Zachary and I headed out to Rising Sun fishery in Alne, North Yorkshire. Comprising two small match lakes and a larger “specimen” lake, Rising Sun is a cracking little fishery with a very strong head of Ide and carp in the match lakes and some serious lumps in the specimen lake. We’ve fished the match lakes a few times, and as Zach wanted to catch Ide we plumped for the same again.

We set up with the wind off our backs and I got Zachary fishing at about eight metres (a depth of roughly five feet) with an AS3 and a strung out shotting pattern. I expected that if the Ide were up in the water we would get bites on the drop, and if not, we’d catch plenty on the bottom. Elastic was a size thirteen Preston Duraslip (the white one), as although he was after Ide there was a very strong possibility of a rogue carp (it’s great...

So I am now the proud owner of a matrix mtx3 ultra pole kit. What I do not have is an instruction manual for said item.
My pole fishing experience is limited to a cheap bog standard (horrible, heavy and bendy)pole with one spare top kit, so it was time to take the plunge and get myself something decent.
On opening up the excellent quality hold-all it was a different world. Each top kit (pre elasticated with my choice of elastics by the very helpful north notts angling) comes in its own tube, then the pole (with cupping kit inside) and 14.5 and 16 metre sections in three others. I also bought a short no 3 which also comes in its own tube.
All fine so far. Then comes the complicated bit. Two mini extensions, marked mini extension 1 and 2, which gives no clue as to how they attach to the pole. Much trial and error and I finally worked out that one fits onto section 7 or 8 and the other...

Was back out with my grandad today on our local commercial that’s been the scene of our recent sessions over the last few weekends. Was certainly a different prospect today as whilst the previous sessions had seen air temperatures of 11-12 degrees and water temperatures 7-8 degrees both only hovered around the 6 degree mark today. But it was sunny and calm again so worth a go we thought. Seemed others had been put off by the cold as the place was deserted so we picked the same sunny swim of last weekends sessions as with the cold you needed all the sun you could get! The cold certainly slowed things up in the morning but normal service was resumed in the afternoon so was another good session.

Started fishing about 9 and fished about 4 and in that time I had 10 fairly typical commercial carp, 8 decent skimmers, 6 small perch, 2 small rudd and I’d guess about 45 respectable roach...

‘A reel good design’ - new fishing rod licence images released​

Brand new licence images have been designed and created by artist David Miller.

From: Environment Agency Published: 5 March 2021



The 2-rod coarse and trout licence features David Miller's illustration of a golden rudd.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched new fishing rod licence designs ahead of another popular fishing season.
The new images, designed by artist David Miller, are now available to all anglers looking to renew their licences and to newcomers who are looking to join the sport for the first time. The images this year celebrate some of our most iconic species. The salmon...

Going back 20 years ago I was really into my match fishing. Out 2-3 times a week on evening matches and weekends fishing opens, winter leagues and club matches. Then a house project followed by marriage and 2 kids came along so my gear had not seen the light of day really for a good 10+ years. Decided to get my old Boss Box out the garage at the weekend as was invited out to a local club lake with a friend. To my surprise I located a float tube that’s dated 2009 full of old Mick Wilkinson floats that never made them onto winders! Having a quick look around it looks like these are now sold under the Guru brand ? Take it MW floats are still as popular as ever ? Not even sure some of these designs are still made but as the weather warms up I’m looking forward to getting some of these back on a winder to see if they still go under !