The ever-evolving match fishing scene means that there has never been a better chance for club and pleasure anglers to make a name for themselves and scoop some serious cash into the bargain, experts have claimed this week.
Events such as Fish O’Mania and Maver Match This have traditionally seen only the winners of qualifiers go through to the final, making it nigh-on impossible for ‘the average angler’ to stand a chance against the elite stars.
But the sector has expanded at pace over the past few years, with new formats giving match anglers with less experience a shot at getting their name etched onto prestigious trophies. Have you ever wonder ed what it take to qualify? Well here are the best tips we can give to help you get into one of these prestigious finals!
Choose your venue wisely!
Enter qualifiers at venues that suit your strengths. There is little point buying a ticket for a venue that is completely out of your comfort zone, yes occasionally and angler qualifies unexpectedly, but it is usually those who know how to get the best out of the scenario they are faced with.
For example, if you are a dab hand at catching carp on the Method feeder, you may struggle at a venue where pole fishing for F1s is expected to dominate. It goes without saying that it is best to choose fisheries you enjoy visiting, if you don't draw well or don't win at least you can enjoy your day on the bank, which is first and foremost what fishing is about!
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Dedicate a bit of time
It goes without saying that the more experience you have on a venue, the greater your chances of success—whether it's winning your section or the match to qualify for a big-money final. A combination of pleasure fishing and match fishing is an excellent way to practice. If you feel you have an edge, try fishing some of the poorer pegs on the fishery—if your approach works there, it will be even more effective on the better pegs.
Competing in an open match or two before the qualifier will help you fine-tune the required tactics and baits, minimising the risk of wasting precious time or making poor decisions on the big day.
If you can't make it, why not call the fishery or check their reports on Facebook to see if you can deduce what lakes are fishing better, and what methods/fish you need to catch to win!
SITTING COMFORTABLY? YOU WILL BE WITH ONE OF THE BEST FISHING SEATBOXES!
Go for it
A ‘boom or bust’ approach is often necessary to qualify for big matches. Simply catching a few fish and rotating rarely yields enough to challenge your rivals. Instead, committing to just a couple of tactics and making them work is often the key to securing qualification.
If you adopt a winning mindset and fully commit to the most productive methods at the fishery and drawing in an area with fish present—there’s no reason you can’t qualify!
IN THE SUMMER THIS METHOD OF FISHING SHALLOW IS INCREDIBLY HARD TO BEAT!
Decision time
With several big-money matches now available, some don’t require you to win the entire event to qualify, giving you a much better chance of success. If you’re not confident about beating a field of 120-130 anglers, check whether a section win is enough to secure qualification. By analysing the number of anglers you need to beat, you can improve your chances—after all, it’s easier to progress if you only need to outperform 10 anglers rather than 20 or even 100+.
IF YOU WANT MORE TIPS ON CATCHING ON THE POLE, STEVE RINGER HAS SOME GREAT ADVICE!
Top tips
Apart from being a dab-hand in the drawbag, there are some things you can do to increase your chances of winning.
Get organised!
Make sure you have plenty of rigs tied up, and check the mainlines on your reels to ensure they won’t let you down. It’s also worth inspecting your pole elastics and replacing them if needed—the last thing you want is for them to snap when you're catching well!
Double-check that you have everything packed and ready to go, as forgetting something crucial on the day can completely throw you off!
Arrive on time
One thing often overlooked in these matches, especially when traveling a long distance, is allowing plenty of time to set off! Arriving at the fishery with time to spare helps you relax, while arriving late or in a rush only adds unnecessary stress. This can impact your decision-making and ultimately affect your performance during the match. You don't want to draw a potentially match-winning peg all flustered and not having times to set everything you need up!
Familiarise yourself with the rules
Each venue will have specific net limits and rules that you must abide by. You don't want to catch enough fish to win, only to be disqualified for unintentionally breaking a rule! Ensure you have enough keepnets—if you expect 300lb to win and the net limit is 50lb, we recommend bringing at least eight.
While you may sometimes borrow nets, you don’t want to be up and about, disrupting your catching rhythm, you also don't want to be worrying about slipping one extra fish in a net because that might be the one that sees you lose the net or be disqualified entirely!
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