Found this on a website, thought it may be of some use to the budding young anglers that use the site.
"Advice to Young Anglers Interested in Match Fishing
by George Glen - Scotland Team Manager
Match fishing adds another dimension to coarse angling that can make it more exciting and rewarding. These are my tips for budding match anglers ..
1. Join a club
A good start is to join a club that offers club trips, coaching and matches catering for juniors. You will learn so much faster along with your friends in the company of experienced anglers.
2. Watch good match anglers fishing
Often, when you are starting out in match fishing, it is better to watch a match than to take part. Watching good anglers fish is a great way to learn. Even better if you talk to them and try to understand what they are doing and why they do it. Then go and try out what you learned. Please show respect though and don't make a nuisance of yourself.
3. Go fishing as much as possible
Get out fishing as often as you can. Keep up 'pleasure fishing' as much as possible and try out other 'non-match' methods. Match anglers can learn from all other aspects of fishing. It's great to have many different fishing experiences that will stand you in good stead in the future. It's best not to specialise in Match Fishing until you have tried many other kinds of fishing.
4. Read about fishing in books and magazines
Reading about match fishing methods and tactics in magazines and books is a good way of picking up ideas. Be careful not to take what you read too seriously though. It is no substitute for practice and experience. Usually what is written about reflects fishing in England. Fishing in Scotland is often very different !
5. Build up your tackle - but don't get obsessed
We all build up our collection of tackle over the years. When you are starting out it is easy to waste money though. Take advice from adults in your club and buy large items second-hand if possible brand new rods are not better than used ones but cost a lot more!. Please don't get obsessed by tackle. Tackle is the tool we use to help us catch fish, not a hobby in itself. I see many young anglers who spend all their time thinking about the latest gear instead of good bait presentation or how fish behave. Watercraft will help you catch many more fish than that shiny new rod.
6. Keep it simple
Fishing it a simple game really. A fish, a hook, a bait, some line ... that's all there is to it ! However the endless combinations of baits and methods that makes match fishing so fascinating can also make it seem very complicated. The best match anglers always look to make things easy and strait-forward. I can't tell you how to do that but try to remember K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid !
7. Keep your results in perspective
It's tempting to get carried away with your success if you get a few good results in matches. Scottish match fishing can often be very hit or miss, and luck of the draw often decides the winner. Don't think that you know it all. I promise you still have a lot to learn. The great thing about fishing, especially match fishing, is that there is so much variety and so much to find out. Though I know lots more than I did when I was young, I still learn a number of new things each time I go fishing. Keep an open mind. Learning new tricks and thinking up new ideas is what keeps match angling fresh and exciting for me.
8. Have fun
Remember that fishing is meant to be fun! If you take match fishing too seriously it's easy to become unhappy when you don't win. You can't win all the time. Try to enjoy simply playing the game.
Good luck and tight lines"
Lee Saville - Colmic Team Ossett
Individual 2002 World Club Champion, Zagreb - Croatia.
Individual 2002 Angling Times North East Region Winter League Champion.
2001 Embassy Division 1 National Team Champions.
www.colmic.com
"Advice to Young Anglers Interested in Match Fishing
by George Glen - Scotland Team Manager
Match fishing adds another dimension to coarse angling that can make it more exciting and rewarding. These are my tips for budding match anglers ..
1. Join a club
A good start is to join a club that offers club trips, coaching and matches catering for juniors. You will learn so much faster along with your friends in the company of experienced anglers.
2. Watch good match anglers fishing
Often, when you are starting out in match fishing, it is better to watch a match than to take part. Watching good anglers fish is a great way to learn. Even better if you talk to them and try to understand what they are doing and why they do it. Then go and try out what you learned. Please show respect though and don't make a nuisance of yourself.
3. Go fishing as much as possible
Get out fishing as often as you can. Keep up 'pleasure fishing' as much as possible and try out other 'non-match' methods. Match anglers can learn from all other aspects of fishing. It's great to have many different fishing experiences that will stand you in good stead in the future. It's best not to specialise in Match Fishing until you have tried many other kinds of fishing.
4. Read about fishing in books and magazines
Reading about match fishing methods and tactics in magazines and books is a good way of picking up ideas. Be careful not to take what you read too seriously though. It is no substitute for practice and experience. Usually what is written about reflects fishing in England. Fishing in Scotland is often very different !
5. Build up your tackle - but don't get obsessed
We all build up our collection of tackle over the years. When you are starting out it is easy to waste money though. Take advice from adults in your club and buy large items second-hand if possible brand new rods are not better than used ones but cost a lot more!. Please don't get obsessed by tackle. Tackle is the tool we use to help us catch fish, not a hobby in itself. I see many young anglers who spend all their time thinking about the latest gear instead of good bait presentation or how fish behave. Watercraft will help you catch many more fish than that shiny new rod.
6. Keep it simple
Fishing it a simple game really. A fish, a hook, a bait, some line ... that's all there is to it ! However the endless combinations of baits and methods that makes match fishing so fascinating can also make it seem very complicated. The best match anglers always look to make things easy and strait-forward. I can't tell you how to do that but try to remember K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid !
7. Keep your results in perspective
It's tempting to get carried away with your success if you get a few good results in matches. Scottish match fishing can often be very hit or miss, and luck of the draw often decides the winner. Don't think that you know it all. I promise you still have a lot to learn. The great thing about fishing, especially match fishing, is that there is so much variety and so much to find out. Though I know lots more than I did when I was young, I still learn a number of new things each time I go fishing. Keep an open mind. Learning new tricks and thinking up new ideas is what keeps match angling fresh and exciting for me.
8. Have fun
Remember that fishing is meant to be fun! If you take match fishing too seriously it's easy to become unhappy when you don't win. You can't win all the time. Try to enjoy simply playing the game.
Good luck and tight lines"
Lee Saville - Colmic Team Ossett
Individual 2002 World Club Champion, Zagreb - Croatia.
Individual 2002 Angling Times North East Region Winter League Champion.
2001 Embassy Division 1 National Team Champions.
www.colmic.com
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