Don’t know – there’s a separate forum just for match results now (https://www.total-fishing.com/phpbbforum/viewforum.php?f=53) although I don’t mind people putting them on here as well….

Sorry about the lack of results. Since the death of Keith Ford, running of the matches has fallen to Andy Wilson-Sutter. His wife had a baby not long after Keith’s death so instead of hanging around after the matches, Andy has to rush off home to feed it and change nappies 🙂 . I am always one of the last off the bank so just have not had the opportunity to get them.

I do know that Nicky Larkin had his first win of the season last Saturday on the river though. Peg 120 (end peg to the right of the concrete bridge) and he weighed 54lb something. That section has been brilliant for a while now and threw up 5 weights over 30lb on Saturday. The week before Tony Watling won from the same section peg 118 and the section threw up loads of weights again. Even I had over 20lb from 112.

On Saturday Chris Vanderfleit drew 144 ( the last peg downstream on the downstream side of Langley pump) and only managed 35lb or so and ended just out of the frame. The last time he drew it (about 2 weeks ago 😮 ) he won the match. How is it that the guys who don’t really need a good draw because they are brilliant anglers anyway always seem to get one? Maybe it is just that because they are brilliant anglers we always notice the good draws they have.

Chris V had 32lb and came 6th, I had 33lb and landed the last frame prize, I was on peg 23 to the left of the Pub and beat everyone to my right (and left, one peg!) until the 100s and that magical section, so was really pleased , pegs 22 and 23 get some proper hammer during the week and things were very tricky for me, I lost 4 fish 1 Bream and 3 skimmers on the way in which cost me second place on the day, they just “dropped off” and several times during the match the hook fell out in the landing net, the fish were just not having it properly, speaking to some of the other lads that were on fish in the 100s they told me they had to use their disgorgers!!!

This all reinforces my views regarding Nationals and the like, last week Robert Hubbard and I debated the merits of opening up other parts of the river to peg out a National on the Yare, I was/am adamant that it would lead to a serious decline of the Yare, I have seen what sustained angling pressure can do to a venue after a National and in some cases they NEVER recover to their former glory, the Stainforth and Keadby canal is a prime example.

One of the reasons the river Yare is sooooo good is the lack of angling pressure it receives, 14 Saturday opens per year and the odd Sunday match thrown in, by the way, the Yare rarely fishes better on the Sunday after a Saturday match ……what does that tell you??? I rest my case.

The way the Nationals are going, we could hold one on the river using the pegs we use now! You could always hold one or at least a Regional match on the Yare, Thurne and Bure. But it would need to be early September after the boats calm down a little and before the fishing drops off.

Talking slightly less tongue in cheek, then I agree that all fisheries, with the exception of the commercial carp lakes, seem to suffer when they get really pressured. Deeply hooked skimmers often turn belly up as well.