Feedermasters sells out in minutes
Incredible demand highlights growth in feeder matchfishing
THE SOARING popularity of feeder-based match angling was underlined this week when tickets for Feedermasters sold out in a record-breaking 45 minutes.
At 10am on January 15 thousands of super-keen matchmen descended on the event’s Facebook page to book their place on one or more of the 20 qualifiers available, but after just 15 minutes three-quarters of the tickets had been snapped up!
“It was unbelievable to witness,” said Feedermasters organiser and 2019 champion, Lee Kerry.
“After just 30 seconds some qualifiers had sold out and at one stage around 300 people were trying to buy tickets for just a single event. In the end it took around 45 minutes for the full 1,200 to sell out!
“Part of the success can be attributed to the fact that we didn’t want to be too greedy, so offered just 60 spaces per qualifying event. We pride ourselves on offering balanced fishing matches which give every competing angler a chance to qualify.
“It’s an incredible feeling to see how popular this competition has become, and it certainly proves that there is a massive demand for feeder-based matchfishing.”
To many, the uncomplicated nature of feeder fishing is the reason behind the competition’s overwhelming success, with anglers requiring minimal tackle to be able to compete on an equal footing.
Angling Times Match Editor Richard Grange said: “It’s no surprise to me that feeder fishing matches are so incredibly popular, and becoming even more so. When you compare Feedermasters to say, Match This or Fish O’Mania, the difference is substantial.
“Firstly, you only have to win your zone to qualify, not the whole match, so you have more chance at the draw.
“Secondly, the amount of tackle required and setting-up time are both drastically reduced, and thirdly, fishing the feeder is so much easier than slapping and tapping at 16m for carp, for example. Finally, there is less choice for the feeder angler when it comes to big events to fish, so anglers tend to go for the ‘biggie’ and that’s Feedermasters.”
OFFICIALS behind an angling club in Wales believe they’re just a few years away from producing a new British record crucian.
Around 40 fish weighing 2lb-3lb were discovered as members netted its flagship pleasure water.
Rosie Pool, in Flintshire, has long been the jewel in the crown of Connah’s Quay & District Angling Club. Five years ago it was stocked with hundreds of baby crucians in a drive to transform the lake into a premium fishery for the species.
With the help of an extensive conservation project it’s now clear that the crucians have thrived – maintaining a superb average weight per fish.
Connah’s Quay treasurer James Davies assisted with the netting of the lake and said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to see how well the crucians have developed over the years.
“A large slice of the credit has to go to Andrew Ellis and his team from AE Fisheries.
“Andrew has assisted in the project from the start and taught us how to turn Rosie Pool into an environment where crucians and tench can thrive.
“We increased the habitat for the crucians with the introduction of lily pads, and have even removed certain fish such as goldfish and smaller fry. This is to ensure that there is no cross breeding and helps bring the biomass of the lake down.
“The result is that we now have a lake full of genuine crucians of quality size. They are even spawning, as a good number of smaller crucians were also found.
“The Welsh crucian record sits at 2lb 12oz and I know we already have fish of that size in Rosie Pool, so I wouldn’t be surprised if a British record will be living here in the near future!”