Midlands match fishing ace Dave Harrell is touting a novel pairs idea that would see two anglers fishing from the same peg.

Dave, the man behind the successful Riverfest series, believes it could encourage more pleasure anglers back onto running water.

He said: “A lot of pleasure anglers don’t match fish because you are isolated for five hours. This new concept gets over that and makes it a much more sociable occasion.”

The idea, which is already in place in some European countries, could be particularly successful if an experienced river angler was paired with a novice, allowing the less experienced angler to gain confidence and learn while he or she match fishes.