Health and fitness expert Nigel Shipp is developing diet and exercise regimes – specifically for anglers!
The dedicated matchman and angling coach is also an experienced personal trainer and nutrition coach, who’s worked in the fitness industry for 30 years. And, having witnessed anglers with health issues, and hearing first-hand accounts of post-match fatigue, he’s out to drive change in the sport.
Nutrition guidance to optimise performance, exercises for back pain and posture, plus post-match recovery strategies, are only some of the methods he plans to implement.
Other sports are already reaping the rewards of similar regimes. Many snooker players now focus on fitness off the table, citing diet and exercise as a route to better results. The same can be said of darts players and professional golfers.
Nigel has already helped some of angling’s biggest names, including Bob Nudd, Aidan Mansfield and Rob Swann. He’s also currently working with two-time Fish O’ Mania champ, Andy Bennett.
He now plans to help a wider audience, with training programmes - the likes of which have never been seen in fishing - currently in the works.
Harder than it looks!
“The demands that match fishing puts on our bodies are greater than ever,” Nigel told us. “Hundreds of pounds of fish are often required to win, and the calorie expenditure is massive when a day is spent fishing a pellet waggler or the long pole. A lot of anglers won’t notice how tired they are, as they’re so focused on what they’re doing. But think about how often you get home from a day’s fishing and are absolutely shattered. That’s a sign that your body is crying out for fuel.”
In festivals, where anglers fish for up to five days in a row, the toll on the body becomes even greater.
“I’ve felt aches and pains myself, going into the third day of a festival, but I can work out the nutrition I need to fuel myself for the next match, and have my recovery strategies in place,” Nigel explained.
“Something anglers may not notice is mid-match fatigue, be that physical or mental, but it impacts performance and will happen if they haven’t consumed the correct food beforehand.
“A professionally made and tailored nutrition plan will give anglers an advantage over their competitors.
“My aim with anyone who comes on board is for them to be able to arrive at a match and then only have to think about the fishing, knowing that they’re in the best physical condition possible.”
Fitness misconceptions
When we hear the words ‘personal trainer’, the image of hours in the gym comes to mind. But, in Nigel’s plan, that’s not always necessary.
“The gym isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine. There’s lots that can be done at home. I’ve had anglers approach me with complaints of bad backs or poor posture, and I can offer personalised advice to help them, with the exercises needed often involving only bodyweight.”
Young anglers coming through the ranks have also been in touch with Nigel, his advice helping them to avoid long-term health issues.
“A positive result of what I hope to do will be to improve the health and fitness of match anglers in general,” Nigel added. “Unfortunately, lots aren’t taking care of themselves properly, but I’m passionate about helping people. I don’t mind admitting that I’m obsessed with fishing, and know full well the mental health benefits it can bring. The more people I can help combine that with physical health benefits, the better.”
Changing for the better
Nutrition plays a pivotal role in Nigel’s programmes, but what exactly does that mean for anglers? While he didn’t want to give too much away, he did reveal that a staple element of a day’s fishing for many is far from beneficial.
“Typically, a pre-match fry-up is many anglers’ usual breakfast, and although it will make you feel full, the protein it’s packed with is not the body’s chosen fuel source for performance,” he explained.
“The processed meats it’s made up of are also full of salt, which dehydrates. Not to mention saturated fats, which, when consumed regularly, can have serious consequences on long-term health.
“What you want to be eating before a match are complex carbohydrates (which provide energy), combined with a protein source, which slows down the carbs’ energy release over five or six-hours.
“The amount consumed depends on the individual’s calorie need. I can work this out for you, so you can sustain performance. Timing is also important, to ensure the optimisation of that nutrient for the duration of a match.”
Although that may sound complicated, those are terms and practices that all other sports are pretty familiar with.
“Why match fishing is so far behind is crazy, particularly in an era when you have professional anglers travelling huge distances and investing heavily financially to fish qualifiers,” Nigel said.
“While most of my programme is based around these top-level competitors, my experience can benefit anglers of a wide range of abilities, from those that simply want better results to those that wish to achieve weight loss and strength gains, and to feel more energised in general.”
CONSIDERING GIVING MATCH FISHING A GO? OUR GUIDE TO STARTING MATCH FISHING WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST START
Get in touch!
Nigel is developing an online programme for anglers which he hopes to launch in the New Year. If you want his guidance, search contact Nigel Shipp on nigelshipp@anglingperformance.com