Waveney One

Any of you young budding match anglers out there interested in a match at the Suffolk Water Park? As Part of the National Fishing Festival, junior matches will be held on Tuesday 7th August and Tuesday 21st August. The age limits are 12 to 16 year olds inclusive but if anyone younger than 12 wishes to take part then they must be accompanied. The draw is at 9 am and the fishing will be from 10am to 3pm. Small prizes will be available for the winners. Entry is £4, the price of a day ticket for juniors.

Well, it was a great match and the weather was benign for the 39 who eventually fished it. Not enough wind for M1 perhaps but perfect for the pole on M2 where the top 5 weights came from. Unfortunately I was on M1 and in the worst section on there judging by the weights.I did manage to win the section though so that was OK. Top man on the day was Aaron Coleman of Gipping Valley AC who caught most of his fish on the method feeder from peg 57 in the corner on M2. Aaron had 71lb 5oz on banded pellet. 2nd was Pat Denny from Saxmundham Angling Centre who fished paste on the pole and was just 2 fish away from winning. Pat weighed 67lb 12oz. 3rd was Jimmy Ellis, Nisa Waveney who doesn't make many trips to the Water Park but seems to frame whenever he does. Jimmy had 57lb 2oz and fished red maggot on the method to start and then fished the paste on the pole. 4th was Jimmy Randall, Colmic Whizzo, with 54lb 7oz 5th Richard Reynolds, Ipswich, with 52lb 7oz 6th Mick Godfrey, Viscount Tackle, with 49lb 6oz who had the top weight on M1 and was section 3 winner. Section winners included Mick Godfrey above Lake M1 Section 1 Richard Watson, Nisa Waveney, 32lb 14oz Scetion 2 Scott Douglas, Nisa Waveney, 41lb 12oz Section 3 Mick Godfrey, Viscount Tackle, 49lb 6oz Sections defaults on M2 Section 4 John Dale, Ipswich, 47lb 11oz Section 5 Kenny Rolfe, 43lb 5oz

Only 4 days left now!

Spotter went for a sneak practice yesterday and had a thoroughly good day out and is looking forward to next weekend. Only 6 days left to book in and as I am restricting the match to 60 pegs to keep only the good pegs in tickets are beginning to sell out. Get in quick if you want one. If you need any details, email me and I will give you lowdown.

Had a good match there yesterday evening. Fished 6.30 to 9.15 and the winner had 55lb up in the water. 23 fish of modest size. I managed second with 32lb all caught on paste on the bottom at 6 metres. 4 other 20 -30 lb weights.

The flood water is receding and the stagings are now visible again. No fish have been lost or escaped into the river so looking forward to a good match.

I use both types of hook but whenever possible I use barbless. There is no doubt in my mind that they are less likely to cause damage to both fish and humans than barbed hooks in the hands of the inexperienced . Sure, barbed hooks do little damage to fish when used properly and the fish is handled properly. They do serious damage to people and clothing when in the hands of the wrong people. I have hooks stuck in me by kids almost every week when coaching. If I was teaching them using barbed hooks, I would begin to look like some of the carp on some other waters around here with more pin pricks than a pin cushion and a ripped mouth! Barbless hooks for the inexperienced all the time!

The rod and line is certainly more flexible than a pole. Beginners often have a little trouble turning the reel handle the wrong way and getting tackles but in the longer term it is worth sticking with it. I started off with a 'whip' which in fact was the top two sections of one of my fathers rods with the line tied to the top eye! Not long afterwards I was given a rod and reel and that (and its replacements) lasted me for about 20 years before I got my first pole. You can fish a waggler or a stick float on lake or river. At a pinch you can get away with fishing a straight lead with a float rod. Certainly you can fish up in the water for carp with one and a waggler or bubble float. I would go with the rod and line option and create proper all round anglers then they can move onto a pole as they progress. To find a coach in your area, try the local commercial waters, or look at these web sites http://www.allthingspiscatorial.com/ http://fishcoach.org/ Also National Fishing Week is coming up so there should be an event near you. See this website. the coaching is free there and there should be coaches available who will be able to point you in the right direction. http://www.nationalfishingweek.co.uk/index.php

Sorry, the date of the match is 22nd July 2007. Just in case anyone is interested.

Hi Guys, there may be some of you who will know of Vince Morgan. He was one of the original founder members of the PAA and did coaching the world of good around Suffolk. He was the first coach to be based at the Suffolk Water Park. Although a PAA coach, he also did a lot of work for local clubs and their juniors on an entirely voluntary basis. He was described by the local police as a 'one man crime prevention team' Vince died some years ago now and there has been an annual memorial match to celebrate his life at the Suffolk Water Park. It is generally well attended and there are few angling coaches who turn up. The draw for the match will be 9.45am at the fishing lodge at the Sufolk Water Park and fishing will be 11am to 4pm. Two keepnets are required, one for carp and one for silvers including the large tench. Other rules are fairly restricted I am glad to say. Barbless Hooks, No Catmeat, No Floating Baits, No fixed rigs (ie all feeders must be free to slide off if they get snagged.) For the weigh -in the lower rings of keepnets must be pulled through, or fish must be swum to the top of the net whilst it is in the water. Fish must not be tipped down the net. You can park behind your peg. All pegs except for the canal, have stagings and are disabled friendly although there is a slope down to the water over cut grass. You will need box attachments or long banksticks as the water under the stagings is deep, up to 7 foot. There is a cafe on site where you can obtain a good breakfast and is likely to be open after the match for the presentation. The website for the Suffolk Water Park is http://www.suffolkwaterpark.com/default.htm there is a complete set of match rules. The results for all the matches this year are on there as well in the Forum pages. If anyone wants a ticket they can ring me on 07881 953310. If you want any details on how I fish it, (I rarely win but manage a few frames) send me a pm. We hope to get 50+ anglers.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion lutra, but I totally disagree with you. I find him entertaining and there is not a lot Keith doesn't know about in the angling world. He practices and can talk informatively about all sorts of fishing that the vast majority of anglers in this country have never experienced. I have fished all over the world for coarse, sea and game fish and know what he says is 99.9% correct. his knowledge of UK fishing is second to none. Programmes like Keith's do the angling world an immense amount of good and there are very few anglers with Keith's vast knowledge that could carry it off. I will be there with you on the Yare Bob, let's hope this season is as prolific as the last.

The Suffolk Water Park just off the A 14 west of Ipswich and home to many 30lb + carp and some big pike, bream and tench has just launched its' website. To view including a photo gallery follow this link:- http://www.suffolkwaterpark.com/

Just to say that an another site someone has suggested that if people feel the need to sack a fish, that they add a marker buoy of some sort on a separate cord. This way should the bag take off for some reason then the buoy could be spotted and the bag and fish retrieved. Sounds like a plan to me.

I think that you are probably correct in what you say Rob. I wouldn't use one personally, I don't own one. Due to the circumstances, I suspect that there will be a ban being brought in fairly quickly on this particular water. Like all things, if used properly for a short period, there probably isn't a problem. Better than leaving the leaving the fish on the bank for instance. However, like most things, people get it wrong and then a ban is imposed, spoiling things for the responsible anglers.

I heard a very disturbing story yesterday morning and was shown the sack. Someone had sacked a 32lb carp but had either not secured the cord properly or had failed to check the cord for damage and it had broken. Whatever, the fish had swum off in the bag and subsequently died. It was found dead yesterday. It was a known fish and last weighed at 32lb. Could I just say that if people are sacking carp, even for a short period, make sure the sack is properly secured and that the cord is not damaged. What happened is a dreadful waste of a fine fish and should be a lesson to us all.

Thank you for the reply Peter. I suppose that as long as the bill is stopped and further restrictions are not placed upon either anglers or boaters who cares about the exact wording.

Peter, I have looked at the petition and there is no mention of angling. "The Broads Authority Private Bill is being promoted as a 'safety' bill, yet it promotes wakeboarding, officially rated as being a hazard. It also extends powers to further restrict or prevent navigation. In both cases this directly effects my safety and my ability to freely navigate the tidal rivers of the Broads. It must be opposed. " I have signed it but surely as a keen fisherman why doesn't the petition mention anything about the possible restriction in the length of poles that may be used or restrictions on where people can fish?

I read the post very carefully and explained how the situation could have arisen and what I know of the people there and the geography. I usually only deal in facts on public websites such as this and if I express an opinion then I say so. There is a rule that no swims can be booked in advance, I said that in my original post (fact). There is certainly no preference given to baliffs or any one else remotely connected with the Suffolk Water Park (One exception is that occasionally baliffs are allowed to fish where there is no public access). The only other exceptions being matches and the training facilities but this does not apply to the lake referred to in the post. I refrained from commenting on what was reputedly said between the parties involved as I was not there and it would serve no useful purpose. I personally find it hard to believe half of what was said (that is an opinion) as the post was totally inaccurate in some aspects (fact) and appeared to me to be vindictive and unpleasant in other parts. I stated the facts as I know them to be but can't comment upon what was said in the heat of the moment between people that seem to have jumped on very high horses. As I have said I wasn't there. Since my original post (late in the evening on Monday when I first saw the post by VictorM) I have been in touch with the manager of the Suffolk Water Park (which is exactly what VictorM should have done) as I felt he should know of the posts and he is now looking into the allegations made in the thread. He had heard nothing about the incident until yesterday. As chevin has stated and I have posted on another of the many sites that 'Tony' posted his long winded tripe on (opinion), if he felt he had a problem or a legitimate complaint he should have written to the Suffolk Water Park and made that complaint official. Posting such things on websites does nothing to help the situation if there was/is a real problem. I hope that answers your questions Kleinboet. I certainly am not in a position to be able to answer on behalf of the Suffolk Water Park but they are taking the matter seriously. I would suggest that people judge the Suffolk Water Park on facts and their personal experiences of the place and not rely too much on hearsay. In my humble opinion you will find very few waters where the staff are as honest about the prospects on the day or as helpful in their suggestions of pitches or bait. Nor will you find many where they are more pleasant. I could have said that Tony should not have entered the fishery until the fishery is opened up, that is why there is a gate there, but it felt a little nitpicking.

The difference between this poll and the Angling Times one is that the AT was after 'Angling Legends'. This is the 'Greatest Angler'. There is an enormous difference. Chris Yates and Bernard Venables are not in my top ten of greatest anglers but would be in top 5 of legends. For greatest anglers, there are quite a few that would qualify but are not listed. Those listed are mostly coarse anglers so can hardly be described as the greatest anglers.

Thanks for that Si. I'm glad of that. In fact SWP has very few bait bans or indeed any bans whatsoever in their matches.

Don't you guys ever read a post properly. Of course I have an interest in the water park, I said so. If you look up my signature and my website you will see that I am proud to be associated with the fishery. I coach children and adults there on how to fish. Hopefully as part of that I teach the children how to grow into sensible reasoned people.

I believe that is what I said. I wasn't there! It doesn't stop me knowing human nature, the geography of the incident and the nature of 3 of the individuals concerned. It was also incorrect in some aspects and extremely insulting to those who upset the poster. What annoys me about this post is that it is the first the poster appears to have put on here. It would suggest to me that it was intended to cause trouble.

Tony, I cannot speak officially on behalf of the Suffolk Water Park as I am not an employee nor do I have any authority to speak on their behalf. I am however an angling coach there and have a good knowledge of the Suffolk Water Park (from the description this is the water you mean) and the people referred to. I am pleased to see that nowhere in your note do you say that people were abusive or were swearing. However your descriptions of the individuals that have upset you are hardly pleasant and are very rude caricatures of the individuals. I will correct one or two errors in your post. Firstly there are 6 toilets on the site including a disabled one, and separate ladies and gentleman's in the cafe. The others are 3 portaloo's of which 2 are based on the specimen lake where you fished , one on the flagpole swim and one on the car park on the peninsular. The third is located between match Lake 1 and the Traditional lake. The portaloos are also suitable for wheelchairs. The portaloo's are cleaned and emptied by the contractor once a week. The employees also inspect them regularly. If the one you had occasion to visit was filthy then I am afraid it is the fault of the people who use it. It does happen you know. I assume that the two people who 'overtook' you and opened the gate were the part time fishery lodge attendant and her husband. Both are baliffs but I am pretty sure that her husband is an not employee, the lady in question works Saturday and Sunday mornings in the fishing lodge. The rules of the specimen lake are that no pegs can be pre booked and they are taken on a first come basis. The only exception to this being the match lakes for official matches and the training pools which can be fished by juniors when they are not required for training. I suspect that the chap who set up in the swim you wanted to fish did so because he was only going to have a short session whilst his wife was working. I would have some sympathy with you if it was obvious that you had decided to fish that particular swim near the lodge and he barged in. From your description of the incident and my knowledge of the water I don't think it was obvious. You must appreciate that it is not unusual for people attending the Suffolk Water Park to park next to the lodge (as you did) and wander down to the lake (as you did) at that swim (as you did) before going into the lodge, buying a ticket and then driving around the lake to fish elsewhere. It is what we fishermen do, especially as it appears the lodge wasn't open at that time you are speaking of, just before 7am when the baliff arrived. I don't know how the conversations went but you were obviously still upset about it when you made your post so it is fair to assume that you were even more upset at the time. I don't know about you, but I have discovered that in life a lot of strife comes through misunderstandings and that every action has a reaction. How your initial comments were made (you were very annoyed and felt cheated) and what was said would tend to dictate the rest of the discussion. If you were as upset as it appears then perhaps your comments were a tad aggressive? That causes a reaction. Trevor the main baliff, fishery manager and gamekeeper at the Suffolk Water Park is not a man to be bullied or to be talked down to. I don't think that you did any of these things by the way otherwise you wouldn't have fished, but you must appreciate that dealing with the public day in and day out he needs to develop a very hard shell and tough skin. He is very knowledgeable about the fishing all all things about the site. He certainly calls a spade a spade and if he sold you a ticket it is certainly because you weren't offensive to him however annoyed you must have felt. Don't you think that you are making a mountain out of molehill? At the end of the day, you caught a great fish that you probably wouldn't have seen if you had fished your original choice of swim. Having said all that, it is a shame that you day out was spoiled and the catching of such a wonderful fish was marred by your experience. I hope that you will calm down at some time in the future and return to use what are some of the best facilities in East Anglia and as far as the fishing on the specimen lake and Traditional lake are concerned some of the best fishing in East Anglia. Richard Watson Angling Coach By the way, the water Si referred to regarding bait is not Suffolk Water Park as far as I am aware. If it is the water I think it is, it is also on my list of do not visit again for very similar reasons to those expressed by Si.

Perhaps it would have been useful for them to also say that children under the age of 12 do not need a licence.

Lovely fish !