What defines Match Angling Ability ?

[TF_MarkV]

This really follows on from Pauls ‘You have to do the legwork’, but I didn’t want to hijack that thread.

I definitely think watching top anglers is an excellent way to learn. I should do it myself ! At the same time, it’s not the answer to everything and got me thinking about what makes a really good match angler …

Personally I reckon you need a certain amount of intelligence, got to be relatively bright, quick to learn and spot things.

I reckon you need something that helps people in other sports, not to the same degree, but it’s needed. I mean the ability to cast well, and in the past throw well. Is it hand to eye co-ordination ? Whatever it is I saw Ivan Marks throw groundbait like you wouldn’t believe. Apparently he was pretty good with a cricket ball too.

Dedication/commitment/desire/.persistence …whatever you want to call it, is essential to do really well.

A good temperament I would think helps a lot, the ability to cope under pressure, handle the wind ups and keep going.

Lastly, ‘be in the know’ , mix in the the right circles.

That’s my attempt at the recipe. Is there something else ???

Unfortunately, I certainly don’t tick all the boxes ! 😀

[TF_craigm]

I agree with that, also from speaking to some of the good anglers that beat me on a regular basis it’s their thought process – they are always thinking of what they could do to speed up the bites, or make the decisions and implement them straight away instead of sitting back and waiting. I am always told that if something comes into your head you should try it straight away as its popped in for a reason, you can always change back if it doesn’t work but if it does it can be the difference between framing and coming nowhere. The top anglers tend to have the confidence to try different things and stand by their decisions, where other anglers are too worried they’ll look daft for trying it.

[TF_paulnewell]

When an idea enters your head you must immediately do it cause in the pub afterwards it’s too late . Time spent on your gear is essential . But you can go overboard making up pole rigs . A few right rigs is much better than hundreds on the wrong line strengths . Hooktying on the bank must and is wrong else why would all the England team have loads tied up ? Efficiency is the key because the others won’t wait for you . Matchfishing on the rivers I fish will usually hold few surprises on the bait front and a combination of good skills and a good draw is required . Same applies to carp commercials But there can be the chance for a lesser skilled matchman sneak in the money with a bait that fools the fed up fish ! My old saying the best technical angler on the bank with the wrong bait looks crap compaired to the reasonable man with the right bait . :rolleyes:

[TF_dirkdiggler]

Going fishing with your Dad from the age of 4 who happens to be already an accomplished Match winning angler and connected in some way to the England squad.
Ability to listen and learn.
Lucky drawing hand.

[TF_matchace]

when you actualy read mags and the papers its the same thing over and over again
KEEP IT SIMPLE
and hope to the high heavens you have a good draw the rest they is elementry my dear watson lol
but no seriously good preperation a decent knowledge of the veune and hey presto your in the money

[TF_Spuds1]

Feeding feeding feeding , oh did I mention feeding

[TF_paulnewell]

An exceptional understanding of your quarry ! 😉

[TF_paulnewell]

How many brown envelopes you get over at least a five year span ! 😀

[TF_total12]

Being in touch with the venue helps.
Choosing the correct bait helps.
Being prepared , bait and tackle.
Having options / places to go.
A good memory/ instinct / gut feeling, (call it whot you will.)
Efficiency.
Feeding.
Keeping things simple.
Fishing positively (no point coming half way to save face unless in a team event, even then really)
Drawing arm needs to be good.
Reading between the lines when watching / listening to others.
Getting out on the bank improves all the above.
tight lines.

[TF_joffmiester]

Practice and listern and always turn upto your peg with a open mind 😉 they way you want to fish a peg might not be the way the fish want it choose balance tackle and take your time a fish only counts if its in your net 😉 😉

[TF_AnglerPaul_MParticipant]

Errrr. this is a great question and I think there are loads of answers, dependent on the person, but the main ones are;

Know the venue
Know how and what to feed
Know your quarry
Be aware of your surroundings and be prepared to adapt
Try not to over complicate things.

My gramp fished for Wales when they won the 1989 Gold, and I’ve been fishing with him a fair few times.He still knows his stuff, but to be quite honest (when ever we talked about current matches) I guet the impression he really dislikes the way match fishing has gone. It’s all about huge weights and CARP, CARP, CARP. He prefers the old school, fishing for bits where a bits and a few well caught lb of fish win.

His thinking is always the same;
Venue
Presentation
Best bait you can get. In his case it would involve wading through bogs, sifting for Joker and Bloodworm, breeding gozzers, getting wasp grubs, increasing the size of maggots by putting them in damp sawdust, then turning them into bigger casters than everyone else. Not disputing these baits would still catch fish, but probably no where near the amount the pellets/meat/boilies work these days.

I suppose the point of all the this.. knowledge (venue, presentation, bait preparation, rig pattern etc), adaptation (whats happening on the day, what are other people doing, what are the conditions on the venue, where are the fish on the venue) and improvisation (doing what you need to do on the day to get the fish in the net) will generally do you right.

[Anonymous]

Well my theory is

The most important part without doubt is to draw great pegs,ones that you know from experience produce the good weights,

Knowing when your tackle that your using isnt performing very well,and making the changes that gets some sort of response,

Definately choosing the correct method to fish the peg and get the most from it,

Having the correct elastics to line ratio,so your not pulling out of the fish and losing a fair few,

Feeding correctly and not knackering the peg up after bagging five or six quick fish,

There is loads of answers to this but the best anglers end up rising to the top for most matches cos theyve ‘ GOT IT ‘

[TF_paulnewell]

Stop blaming the draw and ask some questions of yourself . Everyone can fall into that trap . Yes you may be drawing bad but if you keep blaming that when you get on a good un you will slip up . I wasted 2 yrs at Moorlands before I asked for help and advise . Kevin Adderley suggested fishing bread much closer than I was at Tunnel. I used to pot it at 16 metres . Yes I won some like that , but when I changed my style and took on board his suggestion it’s fair to say I won an odd un !! Even the Very top boys look for usefull info I think they probably are quicker to analise the stuff and maybe add the good bits and ditch what’s wrong . The greats will still make enquiries , Once you think you know it all you stop learning and results will fall . 🙂

[Anonymous]

If a good angler gets on one of the flyer pegs,then they are very hard to beat,you should know that,sometimes the good anglers win from normal pegs because of who else are sitting on the flyers,,lakes will always have 4-5 great pegs on them,the rest are just normal and take hard graft to compete from…the draw is very important,i dont need to blame the draw,i draw half decent and win plenty,i just know how matchfishing goes 🙂

[TF_Sluicer]

A former World Champion, who was a good friend of a friend of mine once told him “You can teach anyone to catch fish, but you can’t teach them how to feed properly to keep catching. They either have the ability or they don’t; and that’s the difference”

As someone else has already said; feeding – that’s the key.

[Author]

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