Angling: Changing conditions are good for anglers

Alfie Drummond and proud dad Rob with two stunning 'Knotford Twenties'.

With some river fisheries closed and our governing bodies advising extra fish care during the hot weather and low water levels, the recent rain and cooler temperatures came at just the right time to provide great pleasure catches and to save two of the country's top river competitions.

The 103rd Division 1 National Championships, held on the non tidal River Trent between Nottingham and Newark, responded to the changing weather conditions and provided what could be the best ‘National’ ever for the 470 anglers who took part.

Dorset angler Ian Paulley became this year’s individual champ’ from end peg E1 at East Stoke with a tremendous ton up 45.800kg (100-09) comprising 14 barbel to 7lb and 14 chub up to 4lb. All his fish fell to a caster-and-hemp-filled feeder with bunches of maggot and caster as hookbaits.

Mirfield’s Andy Bradley fell just one fish short of the winner with another huge catch from his peg, K27, at Rolleston. Casting mid-river with an open ended groundbait feeder loaded with caster and worm, he never looked back. Bradley landed big bream and skimmers throughout to give him the runners-up spot with another staggering weight of 44-200kg.

Barnsley continued their dominance of everything team oriented, winning easily with 387pts over their lifelong rivals Dorking, who totalled 361.

Harrogate’s Ian Bowman followed his previous day’s success as part of Barnsley’s National winning team.

And just 24 hours later, he took the Lower Aire championships’ individual title.

Drawn just below the weir at Beal, he showed his versatility in putting together over 100 roach for a superb 25-06. All his fish fell to caster over an initial heavy groundbait bombardment for his 11m-pole attack.

Pontefract’s Dean Grace took second place on totally opposite tactics, fishing a groundbait-and-caster choppy-worm feeder for 21-12 of bream, skimmers and hybrids. Over 20lbs of roach were needed to make the leaderboard and double figures were only good enough for section prizes and minor placings. I recall the day that these results would have been thought impossible from this part of the river.

The weather changes gave pleasure anglers the chance to get back out, and better-than-expected barbel catches were reported from the seal-hit Swale below Topcliffe, Asenby and Cundall with odd fish to double figures.

Bradford’s Bob Foster arrived at Grimston Park on the tidal Wharfe to the season’s first rising river and enjoyed a great session, netting ten barbel up to 9lb on bomb-fished luncheon meat. He also admitted losing a few that could have been bigger.

Stillwaters also bounced back with Leeds & District’s Knotford fishery giving father-and-son fishing pals, Rob and Alfie Drummond, the double-run catch of a lifetime.

Nine-year-old Alfie became the youngest member of Knotford’s prestigious Twenties Club with a stunning 20-10 common carp hooked and battled in tandem with his dad’s that just happened to be six6 ounces lighter at 20-04.

Well done, Alfie.

Results

Division 1 National Championships, Middle Trent: 1, Ian Paulley 45:800kg; 2, Andy Bradley 44:200kg; 3, Darren Taylor 43:550kg; 4, Steve Joy 31:050kg. Team Result: Barnsley & District 387pts; Dorking 361pts; Lincoln 327pts; Starlets 325pts.

Lower Aire Championships, Beal: 1, I Bowman 25-06; 2, D Grace 21-12; 3, D Armitage 20-08; 4, P Austin 20-02.