MEAT RIG THE KEY TO BIG MATCH VICTORIES
Simple tactics bring Dave’s run of top form on Severn and Wye FREDDIE SANDFORD
ATOP river angler has proved that you don’t need high-tech rigs or fancy tactics to win matches – by scooping a string of big events using one of the oldest hookbaits in the book.
Dave Roberts, whose quartet of quickfire wins culminated in qualifying for the big-money RiverFest final, has put his winning streak down to having extreme confidence in his triedand-tested ‘meat feeder’ tactics.
After kicking off his streak on the River Severn by taking the prestigious Float Champs at Bewdley, Dave then added three victories on the Wye at Hereford.
Talking about his sparkling form, Dave joked: “I’m not sure what’s been going on! I’ve won two or three matches on the bounce on commercials before, but this is different.
“The size of these matches and the standard of angler has been brilliant, which makes winning them all the more special.”
It would be easy to think that Dave’s success is down to drawing good pegs, but that’s not the case. “I’ve drawn in areas I’m happy with, but not every peg has been a flyer,” he said.
“Two of the pegs I won from had never seen a Winter League match win before, and another peg I drew, peg 16 at Belmont, had never recorded a match victory as far back as records go.”
Indeed, the main factor in Dave’s success has been having confidence in his tactics, which are remarkably simple – as he explained.
“Having done a lot of barbel fishing on the Wye I have an approach that I’m happy with, but I’m not using any secret tactic. I use a big cage feeder crammed with small cubes of meat, and the same on the hook. It’s always served me really well, so I don’t see any need to change. I did a video on the tactic on my YouTube channel, ‘Angling Escapades with Dave Roberts’, just before the RiverFest qualifier, and people were asking me why I was giving my secrets away!” he said.
“But my tactics aren’t anything remarkable – the stars have just aligned for me.
“Let’s hope I haven’t jinxed it now, as I have the Wye Champs and the RiverFest final in the next few weeks!”