Match anglers should we learn from them?

[Andy Macfarlane]

A match angler although in competition can draw a bad peg still uses all his knowledge to work his swim getting the fish to come to him and although you can’t go looking for the fish i believe that when fishing for pleasure most will do the same and get them to come to them.

I really do think the best anglers cut their teeth on match fishing.

 

I remember a guy called Kenny Collins giving me tips many of which i use today to draw the fish in

 

Maybe if we wish to play the numbers game but I'm not fishing for numbers. I've seen enough articles and programmes to know that many anglers, like Jan Porter as an instance, havn't or hadn't caught many fish of any considerable size until a specimen or species angler had show them a different approach to fishing. I'm not decrying Jan Porters skills by any stretch of the imagination. He'd kick my arse and then some but until Matt Hayes had shown him how to catch carp, he hadn't caught any of any particular size.

 

Not being a numbers angler, I'd far rather learn from the species angler.

 

It's only since I've wanted to catch fish like Rudd, that I've looked into how match anglers go about things and even then, I've actually stepped up my gear, caught less but improved on my size ratio, which to me, is the name of the game. My Rudd angling is looking less like match tactics all the time.

Edited May 17, 2013 by Andy Macfarlane

[Anderoo]

I've never had the opportunity to meet a top match angler, but people I know have, and have the utmost respect for them. I've heard plenty of stories where friends have been catching nothing, only for the match angler to take the swim over, make a few small changes, and go about emptying the swim. I'm sure we could learn stacks from those match anglers.

 

I have however met several average to poor match anglers and, no disrespect, just because they're match anglers doesn;t mean they're any good. It's the same for all branches of the sport.

 

Just to elaborate on my 'it depends on how good they are' comment. Luckily working out who the top match anglers are is far easier than working out who the top specimen hunters are, as theirs is a much more level playing field. The top match anglers are the ones that win the most. The 'top' specimen hunters could be the ones that sit in a swim all season waiting, or the ones that have the 'best' PB list, or the ones that fish the hardest waters, it's impossible to rank them because there are way too many variables.

[RUDD]

Having match fished for years alongside specialist/specimen fishing I have learnt more than I would by only following one discipline in angling. Watercraft is watercraft no matter what you are doing.

I very rarely manage a session over three hours these days but have caught alot of good fish this year by combining match/speci tactics.

One thing a good/top match angler can do as opposed to the average is work out how to catch the bigger fish in front of them to give them a better catch/weight ratio or even how to tempt a bite when things are hard. TBH the vast majority of match anglers I have come across are not that good with the same old faces in the frame every time.

How do you class a good specialist/speci angler? Consistant results from a variety of waters and a variety of species caught.

[Steve Walker]

I think the very best specimen and match anglers are probably more alike than they are different, in that they are usually innovators with an intuitive or earned grasp of fish behaviour and of the physics of fishing tackle and the ability to apply one to the other. For the more average but competent rank and file members, I think the mid-ranking specialist angler's advantage over his less successful peers is based more on knowledge and less on skill than his match fishing equivalent. And for the raw beginner, that difference is magnified - instant carp anglers can quickly pick up the knowledge they need to achieve some modicum of success, instant match anglers, less so.

[Barry C]

Should we learn from match anglers?

Well if we want to be better anglers we should be prepared to learn from any source available.

Remember learning is as much about finding out what doesnt work as what does.

So I will get as much info as I can from any source available, decide what if any to use or discard but try and keep it all in the back of my head for future reference.

Wether it be a matchman, a speci angler or a kid with string and bent pin if he has something to offer me I will gladly take it.

[Phone]

All,

 

We don't have Euro style match anglers. One thing I (think) I've noticed is the "best" fishermen, freshwater or salt, are always clearly organized and systematic in every detail. Maybe I notice that because I'm such a slob.

 

For example, while I make fun of those of you who have handles and bobbins all lined up in sync it can speak volumes about the angler. Yes, you can catch fish with my Zebco 33 and UglyStik but those of us who do that shouldn't have great expectations. Good fishermen have good kit.

 

Phone

[Maddog]

I've never had the opportunity to meet a top match angler,

 

...but you have met me every May for several years now, I am club champ (Verulam Angling Club) you know!!

[gozzer]

All,

 

We don't have Euro style match anglers. One thing I (think) I've noticed is the "best" fishermen, freshwater or salt, are always clearly organized and systematic in every detail. Maybe I notice that because I'm such a slob.

 

For example, while I make fun of those of you who have handles and bobbins all lined up in sync it can speak volumes about the angler. Yes, you can catch fish with my Zebco 33 and UglyStik but those of us who do that shouldn't have great expectations. Good fishermen have good kit.

 

Phone

 

I would normally agree with you Phone, but the best angler I've ever seen was one of the least organised I've ever met. I sat behind the late Ivan Marks

a couple of times, If you could see in his tackle box through the haze of tobacco smoke, you would think he was an absolute beginner. Stuff all over the place, but he seemed to know where everything was, and if he couldn't find it, he would adapt. He was even known to break off bits of a float to get the presentation he wanted.

 

John.

[Phone]

gozzer,

 

Yes, there are always execptions. I was generalizing but I'd bet it is well into the 90% range.

 

I am left handed. Ever notice how awkward left handed anglers look?

 

I guess I was saying there is a correlation between the serious nature of competators and knowledge. Casual anglers can watch all day and simply "don't get it". Having been both I can say I am far more helpful today than in my former life. I was quite focused and committed to the task at hand during competition. (and I was a slob then too, only with good equipment)

 

Phone

[poledark]

Should we learn from match anglers? should we have ignored the method feeder? enough said I think.

 

I used to fish with a guy who was an outstanding speciman hunter, proved himself so many times, that he was hated by most who fished the same places as him...................but................he was also an extremely competent match angler, and had that ruthless streak that makes many a man successful at whatever he undertakes.

 

Den

Edited May 18, 2013 by poledark