I was an avid teen fisherman who when reading the fishing rags decided to give match fishing a go. Well I had read lots of articles on matches, results and tactics so where was the harm.
I looked in the locals for a match and there was an open on Raveley drain in Cambs. I booked my place, and on Sunday turned up at some pub to draw.
I put my arm in the bag and pulled out a low number, left the pub and followed the train of cars to the venue.
I trudged up to the drain with gear in tow and stopped, did I go left or right?
A voice behind said 'need any help?' and asked what peg I was in. Number 11 was my reply, and he said I was on the best bit to the right of the bridge.
His face dropped slightly whilst telling me he was at the wrong end. oops.
Anyway I set up with the intention of fishing pinkie loose feeding odd bit of hemp, hoping to fish hemp later to get better stamp roach.
I wasnt paying attention, but the peg to my right was empty! Could I be that lucky? My luck was to run out when I saw a figure coming towards me with gear in hand...
When this figure got closer I could see he was wearing an all too familiar white cap!!...no it couldnt be....yes, it bloody was...it was only Bob Nudd!!
He set up next to me and in no time was ready for the match.
The whistle went and everyone started...
The fishing was hard and the levels were up and down. Roach were coming out everywhere and I was doing as well as any. Last 3 hours and I was keeping up with Bob in the next peg! well that was all to change when it was like the second whistle as everyone fished with hemp on the hook!
My inexperience soon told as my fish stamp stayed the same and everyone caught better stamp fish. After an hour my swim had nearly died and decided to stop and watch the master to my right.
All I can say is I would have paid to watch Bob all day. He was very polite and answered some questions.
I didnt weigh in but got some great tips, and for a 1st match it certainly was a winner for me.

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POOLS FODDER !!

1967 stourport river severn, cadbury,s vs frys. drew a flyer fished like a prat. still do. never been back to fish the severn since.( hint woodhouse take note.)

My first open was a similar experience to neilio it was on the river witham around tatts bridge about 1990, i was very nervous at the draw not wanting to make an ar*e of myself. So put my hand in the bag and drew one above the bain mouth (noyed bream and roach area) i started to set up and the peg below me seemed to be free, starting to feel confident with this obvious advantage i set up the feeder rod and then a stick float rod with a john allerton lignum stick (remember those). I was ready with 20 mins to go and a car drew up and you guest it this 6ft plus bloke got out and because i'd seen is photo in the mags new it was john. Not only was he opposite the bain mouth it put my plan of using the stick float out of the window i wasn't going to have him laughing at my incompetance. Any way it turned out to be a feeder match with bream on the cards and i came 2nd in section to john which wasn't to bad.

I did get my own back though i havn't drawn next to him again untill this year at lindholme when we were on luarals he came late to his peg again and my heart dropped again, he was on a point (flyer) and i was down the side. At the end he weighed 68lb odd and i had 69lb odd, we had a good chat after and its nice after all these years and practise to be told you fished a good match by someone of his calibre.

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Steve Davies

Yes I remember it like it was yesterday, and it was only some 40 years ago, on reaching the grand old age of 18 I joined the local pub club, that first match was due to be fished on the river Leam at Leamington, but on the morning of the match there was around six inches of snow and it was still falling , but never the less a mile or so walk to the pub to meet the coach and off we go. O
On route a decision was made to transfer to a stretch of the cut at Lapworth as bankside conditions would be better, Lapworth was a venue I had fished plenty of times so at least I knew what to expect, the draw was made on the coach and I drew the end peg, which had the remenants of a reed bed to my left, but a waggler rod was set up to fish in the deeper water down the track, well it was a bottom end attached quill float, dont know that wagglers were around in those days, after a biteless hour saw me adjust the depth of the float, I had put the hook between my teeth to allow me to move the float when I suddeny realised that the single maggot was still on the hook, and quicky spat out, a quick flick of the rod saw it the float along side the nearside reed bed, pouring a coffee to wash the mouth out the float slid away, and a perch of some 3 to 4 ounces was attached and netted, no more bites ensued for the next couple of hours and only two other anglers had a fish, with the snow starting to fall again it was decided to end the match early, a quick look at the three fish caught saw my sole perch considerably bigger than the other two I was declared the winner.
First match first win a pint or two in the nearest pub a turkey to come plus a few pounds meant I was well happy.

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My first effort was organised by my school I was fourteen It was 1966, It was fished on the tidal Trent at Sutton upon Trent I was exited to say the leased when I saw the river for the first time, Caught a few bleak & gudgeon thought I was doing quite well and was pleased with my self until there was a mad dash by all the anglers to my left wash from a barge ripped up the bank every one got their tackle safe me included but when the was had gone disaster my keep net had gone. I was the only blank.

First club match was about 1979 I was thirteen, fished Hazleford below wier. Only new how to fish a float but problem was surface was covered with foam so couldnt see the damn thing. Angler in next peg showed me how to set feeder up so I had to fish it on my float rod as I didnt own a feeder rod (happy days)! Still managed a few gudgeon, eels and roach, great to look back, got a grin on my face now thinking about that day.

My first match was with these guys on here at Cudmore and despite practising loads I came last with 5lb dead and it was a proper nasty day to boot but I must have enjoyed it though as i've fished a few more since then

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LeeTwin
Mr 3oz number 1 ><))))*>

I fished many matches as a junior, I just tried to work out how long ago and I ran out of fingers, doesnt time fly,

Well as a junior I fished many matches during the school holidays all arranged to keep us deliquants off the street I done well the first year winning the Enfield borough champs and that got me into this sport big time.

I was asked to fish for Edmonton and Tottenham my first ever club by Ron Oliver, The first meeting I attended I was asked to fish the LAA Thames Championship, this back in the late 70's early 80's was a seriously huge event, and beleive it or not a rover lol

well to say I was overwhelmed by the whole day would be an understatement from memory it was 300 anglers per section and I drew about 10 from last away on my section,

I walked and walked for what seemed like hours not looking for a good peg just looking for a peg, I walked from Chertsey bridge all the way to Shepperton lock cut where I finally found an opening, I dont have a clue what happened to the guys behind me as there wasnt any pegs left,

Anyway I set up the pole they were in early stages of development back then fibreglass heavy and not very long, as im plumbing up I heard this croaky old voice say to me "you won't catch much there son" I later find out this was Reg Cook the late LAA Boss, the whistle went, and away we went, I fisherd for gudgeon down the edge and bleak on the whip, you know what its like its a numbers game at that age your only interested in putting as many as you can in the net to beat your mates

I caught steady , one a chuck in fact the colour had the small fish in a frenzy, I kept looking to my right, the point on the main river ( the fliers) and all they were doing was looking at me

The final whistle, Im happy I caught around 600 fish, and I had a real bad middle two hours, along come the scales, and I remember Mr Cook walked right past me to the guy on the next peg and some guy shouted "you have to weight the young en in"
it was like I wasnt in the match anyway along comes the scales,

Back in them days you had a card filled in name, club, weight and amount of fish
I pulled the net out and his face was a picture, " where did you get them from" he asked, then followed with " I aint counting that lot" I cant remember my weight but I framed in the LAA Thames Champs and won the juniors by a mile, I still have the silver rose bowl.

Sadly despite many a letter from some top anglers the LAA refused to pay me my winnings on the grounds I was a junior and not old enough to gamble which essentially is what it was deemed doing at the time when paying your pools.

Needless to say I wanted more, I have fished many LAA events over the years and won money in quite a few but none even come close to seeing Reg Cooks face and hearing those words
" Where did you get them from"

Memories Memories

The walk back was a breeze I was on cloud nine I could have carried the tackle of guy next to me as well.

Mine was a match on the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Wigan as a guest at the fishing club my brother was a member of. As I had been booked on it for a few weeks, I spent every weekend leading up to the match practising using the methods I was most comfortable with (advise gained from a few locals.) I would find myself finding a quiet stretch of the cut , and feeding my own swims, as well as potting feed into the swims either side of me to attract fish to other pegs as well as my own, as if there were anglers either side. People must have thought I was a right looney if they saw me.lol.

When matchday came I was fortunate to draw a fancied peg, which made me a little uneasy to be honest, but thought what the heck. I started on the punch and managed to get myself into some sort of rythm then lost the fish completely! I still dont know why to this day. Anyway, within ten minutes of the end of the match I got a sail-away bite that luckily required no strike as the elastic was being pulled from the end of the pole, (I was busy watching the angler to my left, if Im honest I had give up and was waiting for the hooter) two minutes later, along ith two attempts with the landing net and quivering hands, I managed a bream of around 2lb.

It was enough for me to win the section by 7oz! Bloke on left not amused! If I hadn't drawn a flyer I would have been nowhere near in my opinion, but Im glad I did as it more than wetted my appetite for matchfishing.

I would love to get back on the canals. Might try it again this year.

Good thread by the way.

My first match was back in 1975 A St.Helens AA junior match on Leg O'Mutton dam a small lake aprrox 3 miles from home.
I cycled to the match with my wicker basket/seatbox and my brand new Milbro ''Blue Match'' rod strapped to the crossbar.

I fished the waggler with worm over breadcrumb and managed to put a few small roach and perch in my dads keepnet.

Fished a few junior matches around that time on the dam and further afield at Carr Mill which was a massive sheet of water for a youngster like me. Suppose i've always enjoyed the competitive side of fishing.

Funny but even though we had a car back in those days i was expected to find my own way to the matches unlike these days when ''dads'' taxi is at my kids beckon call.............