Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
MATCH FISH FOR CARP
Learn the skills you’ll need to enter big-money contests
EVER fancied pitting your skills against other carp anglers? The growing carp match scene gives you that opportunity and the chance to win some massive prize money. But just what does it take to succeed in this competitive sport and how should you approach your first carp match? We joined ‘Mr Consistent’, Joe Hubble, and his angling partner Phil Bury during a recent match to find out how they set about reaching the final in some of the country’s most hotly contested carp events. It’s a bright sunny Saturday at Sandhurst lake in Hampshire and already the odd carp is cruising on the surface, sunning themselves in the warmer upper layers. Dotted around the lake carp anglers go about their regular routine. Everything is as it should be, except perhaps that the most eagle-eyed might have noticed that each swim is occupied by a pair of anglers. Welcome to the world of competitive carp match fishing. In peg 11 are stationed Nash-backed Joe Hubble and his match fishing pal Phil Bury. Stalwarts of the match scene, Joe and Phil boast an impressive record of having caught fish in 26 matches on the bounce and having been runners-up in both the British Carp Angling Championships (BCAC) and the Erics Carp Championships (now the UK Carp Championships – UKCC).
In the beginning
“Phil and I have been fishing matches together since 2004,” said Joe. “Initially, we just started match fishing as something different from our normal big-fish angling. The matches were taking us to new venues, which meant getting outside our comfort zone and learning new tactics as we went. “Now it is just something that we do each year as part of our normal routine, and it definitely makes us better anglers, that’s an absolute certainty.”
Match tactics
The match is already nearly 24 hours into its allotted 48 hours, and so far our pair have failed to trouble the scorecard. Still, Sandhurst is known for both the quality and the quantity of its carp and, with several other teams yet to score, it’s still anyone’s game. Joe and Phil tend to concentrate on these tougher venues, where one or two fish can bring qualification, rather than the outand-out bagging waters, such as Drayton Reservoir, or Shearwater, where hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds of carp can be needed to qualify. Joe explains why. “It suits our style of angling to fish venues where just one or two big fish can be enough to get us through. This is partly because these are the types of venue, and the style of fishing, that we do all the time, but also because we don’t have the time to practise beforehand, so we use our tried-and-tested tactics.” With no time to practise, or even visit some of the venues before fishing them, how do the boys set about preparing for their matches? “The internet is a real boon to us,” explains Joe. “Many of the venues we fish are more than a hundred miles from home, so with busy jobs, we just don’t have the time to fish them regularly. By following the reports on the web we can get an idea of the areas that are producing the bulk of fish and the tactics that are working.” Choice of venue then is critical for success, so how do the duo choose the qualifiers that they are going to enter? “We only enter one qualifier for the BCAC and UKCC each year, so we pick the venue that suits our style of big-fish carping. Obviously, if you are regularly fishing venues where big catches are the norm, then you would do well to fish qualifiers that suit you.” It’s an exciting form of fishing, with the tension building before you even reach the venue. “Everything starts with the preparation a few days before the match and by the time we are driving down on the Friday we are really buzzing. I am normally a bigcarp angler, fishing for just a handful of target fish, so the match fishing side makes a really nice change to that style of fishing.” Before the start of the match, there is a draw for the choice of pegs. The pair that draw number one have first choice of swim, number two second, and so on. So fish location and a dollop of luck in having an early pick of swims, can make or break a weekend. With no chance of moving during the event, how do Joe and Phil go about deciding on their choice of swim? “Ideally, we get to the venue the day before the event and spend plenty of time looking around,” asserts Joe. “Often, fish will be in different areas of the lake at different times of the day, so we get to see their movements from the afternoon right through to the following morning. Often though, we do not arrive until late at night, having driven down after work, and then we will have a look around in the dark and be up early the following morning to look more. “It’s amazing how much you can see once your eyes have acclimatised to the dark and often you will hear fish jumping in different areas of the lake at night, giving you essential help in locating them.”
Big fish or bust
With the team fishing venues where they are after just one or two fish over the 48-hour period, how do they approach the fishing once the hooter sounds? Do they fish the same tactics, or try to mix it up? “We are lucky in that Phil and I tend to prefer different tactics and this definitely increases our chances of catching. Phil likes to fish with small baits such as particles and corn with PVA, whereas I tend to adopt a boilie-only approach. On really prolific venues you might be better off both fishing with the going method, but when bites are at a premium it pays not to put all of your eggs in one basket. Similarly, because we can use two rods each, they won’t be fished on the same spots, or with exactly the same rigs and baits. By mixing things up we can find something that works on the day.” Interestingly, the pair believe that many venues can fish differently in matches owing to a combination of factors. Firstly, the venues are often rested the day before a match with no anglers fishing, followed by rigs and spods disturbing the peace as the hooter sounds. Secondly, there are often fewer anglers fishing at a weekend when there is a match so the fish are able to find areas away from the anglers and hide up. Joe’s boilie approach means that it is often not until the latter stages of the match that he receives a bite. “I will often introduce quite a lot of boilies at the start of the match and then wait for the carp to hopefully arrive. It can take the fish maybe 24 hours to start visiting a bed of boilies, so it is important that I don’t lose confidence and start changing my tactics. My best chance of a bite comes from 36 hours onwards, so I need to sit on my hands and wait for that all important bite.” Joe tends to stick to his tried-and-tested big-fish rigs when match fishing. “I will often be fishing over light weed, so it will be chod rigs and hinged-stiff rigs for me. These are rigs that work really well over beds of boilies, so suit the tactics that I prefer.” On the other hand, Phil can be much more active. “I like to try and work the swim harder, fishing with PVA bags of bait and lightly baiting, trying to winkle out a bite”, states Phil. The contrast in tactics is quite marked, but makes a lot of sense, enabling the anglers to get the most from their peg’s potential.
Preparation counts
Although not always possible, the anglers tend to begin preparation at home, ensuring that they have plenty of rigs tied and baits ready to go. It might not be needed, but zig gear, floater fishing tackle and other opportunist gear needs to be sorted too, as a change in circumstances may see a golden opportunity present itself. “Last year we were fishing a semi-final at Shearwater in Wiltshire and were virtually the last pair out of the draw and ended up in a section that was expected to produce very low weights. As luck would have it, though, halfway through the match the wind changed and began blowing into our end peg. Our area suddenly became alive with fish and we ended up with more than 1,400lb, proving that you have to stay positive and be willing to adapt to conditions. So what are the boys’ top tips for winning carp matches? “Fishing venues that suit your style of fishing, is absolutely key”, reckons Joe. “Be prepared for the style of fishing on the venue, whether that means long range, fishing in weed, zigging, or whatever”, opines Phil. “Try not to disturb the swim too much when you start, as this can disturb the fish and cost you a quick fish”. “Conversely, fish right to the end of the match, we have qualified with just 10 minutes to go before now”, recalls Joe. “Pick venues that you want to fish and will like fishing, and most importantly of all, enjoy your fishing!”.
Qualified again!
On the second night of the competition, Phil is into a good fish and skillfully guides it towards the bank. Safely netted by Joe, she weighs a satisfying 27lb, good enough to move the pair into a potential qualifying position. Now comes a nail-biting wait as the hours tick down until the end of the match Finally, the hooter sounds and our intrepid duo can breathe a sigh of relief. They have, once again, qualified for the semi-final.