Lee Kerry given ‘Outstanding Contribution to Angling Award’ in the 2023 National Angling Awards

Proactive is not something that anglers are famed for being, often happy to sit and wait for others to make changes or get things done. That’s not so with this 2023’s winner of our 'Outstanding Contribution to Angling' award, Lee Kerry.

Putting aside all that he’s won as a top-flight angler, the 40-year-old’s real drive is to make fishing better for everyone, whether that’s through organising events, coaching, or the masses of media work he gets through.

He created the Feedermasters franchise with Mick Vials’, almost single-handedly reinvented the Winter League, and was the driving force behind the recent Euro Feeder Challenge that brought international fishing back to the UK.

It’s that unseen work that makes Lee a worthy winner of this award, unafraid to go over the top first and face the bullets of criticism. Having an idea is one thing – making it happen is another thing altogether…

GET THE BEST FISHING ADVICE FROM LEE IN HIS LATEST TIPS AND TACTICS ARTICLE.

What made you want to get involved behind the scenes, as it were?

"Mick Vials says a big part of my character is that I’m a leader, and that I’ll stand up at the front, rather than hide.

"I won’t stay silent if I feel that things need changing. I’ll be supportive, but if things aren’t happening, I will do it myself.

"In match fishing, if you want something done, you so often have to do it yourself. It’s not a personal crusade – I simply want to make things better for the good of the sport. I’m not an ideas guy – I’m an action guy!"

What was the thinking behind the radical change to the Winter League?

"Basically, the final was a bit lost, bouncing from venue to venue in the summer, and I felt it could disappear totally from the calendar. I worked in a group with the Angling Trust and said ‘Give me a clean slate and I’ll give you a better final’.

"The pressure was on and, as ever, people were scared of change, but the final needed an overhaul. I knew it needed to be in the winter and to include all teams, whether they fished their league on a commercial or a river. There was no point putting it on just a river or a carp fishery, as that would marginalise people. That’s why the split between Decoy Lakes and the Drains works so well. It must have, because it’s been like that for seven years, and I’ve not heard many complaints about it."

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Feedermasters has been a big success. So what’s the key to creating a great event?

"I’ve got a bit of a checklist, which is as follows:

1 - I want all of the anglers competing to have a full understanding of what’s going on – how the event works, where the money goes and so on.

2 - I want them to enjoy the fishing. This means using as few poor pegs as possible so that everyone has the chance of a good day’s fishing, whether they win or not.

3 - Embrace the media. I’ll encourage anglers to post their matches on social media so that they feel a part of it but also so that others hear about the event.

4 - Go the extra mile. That means good quality trophies, and recognition and plaudits for winning. I want those parting with their entry fee to feel that they’re getting value for money.

5 - Transparency. Don’t hide anything about the event. If you are taking some money out of the entry fee for admin, then be honest and say so.

6 - Pick the right venues at the right time. I’m always open to using new waters, but they have to be right for the event.

7 - Have the right team around you. Mick Vials created Feedermasters, so I can’t take the credit, but working with him and his brother Darren makes it all so easy. We never argue!"

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You always seem incredibly confident. Does anything ever rattle you?

"I’m not one to panic and on the day of a match or an event, I’m totally fine. It’s all about preparation – if you prepare well, the only things that can go wrong are those that are not within your control anyway.

"I guess I get a little bit of anxiety in the build-up, but I’ve got strong opinions and beliefs, and you have to stick to them. You can’t be swayed by a minority, just because they make the most noise"

Barnsley Blacks have had a real renaissance under your leadership. Was that part of a grand plan?

"I inherited something fantastic from former captain Glenn Lawrence, but I was aware of several things I would change if I was asked to do the job.

"When that happened, I had a clear vision of how I wanted things to be. I’ve a very keen interest in all sports and spend a lot of time looking at people management and how to get the very best out of people, so that’s what I invested in.

"I wanted the anglers involved to put the effort in because they wanted to, not because I kept nagging them to.

"Also, I want them to feel that they are part of something really special, to the degree where they want to keep doing it – sort of a sense of belonging, if you like. I think I’m also quite good at pulling things together and summarising.

"I don’t have ultimate responsibility for team tactics – that’s up to all of the lads – but I will help to bring it all together.

"It’s certainly not a case of ‘my way or the highway!’"

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What would you like your fishing legacy to be?

"I hope people don’t know me just because of what I’ve won.

"I pride myself on doing a lot of media work over last 15 years to help people to become better anglers. I love passing that knowledge on and spending time giving back to fishing. That’s top of list for me. Often, in match fishing, it’s about the results, but there’s another world out there for me. If I can help an angler catch one extra fish, I’m absolutely thrilled!"

WHAT HAS LEE KERRY WON?

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