What Is Match Fishing?

  Match fishing is a event where Fishermen and Women gather at a lake, pool canal or river and see who can catch the biggest weight of fish in a set amount of time say with in 5 hours. The anglers will be given time to set up and the match will start at a set time by the sound of a horn, whistle or by shouting All In and will be ended in the same way but shouting, All Out. There will be rules to abide to and anyone caught breaking these will be disqualified. 

  I'm not sure when match fishing started but in 1846 it was noted that a match fishing contest took place between Hulme Anglers Society and the Warrington Anglers Society on the river Weaver. It is suggested that this might have been the first fishing match to have stewards appointed to make sure it was fair and conducted in the right manor.

   It was recorded that one of the first National Matches was organised in 1894 by the editor of the Anglers Magazine based in Scarborough and the fished the River Ouse near York and the winner prize was a massive £50 which was a lot of money back in the day.

Common Match Fishing Rules & Instructions

Rules can vary from one competition to another, so they aren't very strict. Here are some general guidelines:

Event General Instructions

• Register with the match officials and pay any fees.
• Arrive on time, as latecomers are usually not allowed.
• The venue is crucial and is usually selected by the match officials or through discussion with competitors.
• Pegs are drawn before the match starts. Competitors can set up their gear before the starting signal.
• After drawing your peg number, proceed to your spot on the bank, which will be your fishing area for the event.

Event Rules

• No mobile phones or causing disturbances during the competition.
• The maximum keepnet weight is 50 lbs.
• Prizes are awarded at the end of the match.
• Stop fishing when the match officials signal the end.
• If you hook a fish before the signal, you have up to fifteen minutes to land it.
• Keep your peg area clean of litter.

Tackle Rules & Suggestions

• Every angler must draw a peg number and only fish from their designated peg.
• No pre baiting is allowed
• Competitors can be prohibited from using mobile phones
• Competitors have in use only one rod or pole, one line with one hook at a time 
• Participants withdrawing from the match cannot give their bait to others.
• All Competitors must retain all fish in a keep net that abides by relevant EA Bye-laws 
• Remove bait from the hook and conceal all tackle except the keepnet when leaving.
• Don't add bait to the water after the match and take your bait with you.

How Matches Take Place You can fish in either a club match or an open match. Open matches are open to anyone, while club matches are for members only. Club matches are more beginner-friendly and a good way to start before moving on to open matches. Team fishing events are also an option, where scores are based on points rather than weight.

Where to Start If you're interested in match fishing, consider joining a local angling club or participating in regular open matches at a nearby fishery. Ask local tackle shops or fisheries for information on clubs or search online.

Considerations Before Entering a Match At the venue, unload your gear, including poles or rods, nets, seat boxes, buckets, and fishing trolleys. Prepare your baits ahead of time, such as ground bait, pellets, or live baits like maggots. You'll also need a bucket and water for mixing ground bait.

Species of Fish in Match Fishing Events

Match fishing often takes place at commercial fisheries with various coarse fish species:

Carp (Cyprinus Carpio)

• Found in rivers and still water.
• Effective baits: tiger nuts, bread, sweet corn, worms, boilies, pellets.

Roach (Rutilus)

• Adaptable, found in rivers and still water.
• Effective bait: maggots.

Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)

• Live in shallow still waters.
• Effective bait: float fishing maggots.

Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus)

• Found in rivers and still waters.
• Effective method: trotting.

Chub (Leuciscus cephalus)

• Found in rivers and still waters.
• Effective bait: cheese, lob worms, bread flakes, lures.

Common Approaches to Match Carp Fishing

Pole Fishing

• No reel, poles vary from 3m to 20m.
• Poles are lightweight and made of carbon fiber.
• The line is attached to the pole tip with elastic running through the top section.
• Different poles for different elastic sizes.
• Allows precise bait placement.

Feeder Fishing

• Uses rods and reels, mainly quiver tip rods.
• The benefit is bite indication through the coloured rod tip.

What You’ll Need Your tackle depends on the venue type. You'll need a good pole (at least 13m), a float rod, a feeder rod, and quality fixed spool reels. Avoid low-quality or inappropriate tackle to stay competitive.

Match Tips And Tricks

• Don't overfeed your swim.
• Keep track of your catch rate compared to others.
• Have rigs ready to save time.
• Use a wide mesh landing net and a long handle for efficiency.

These tips should help you get started with match carp fishing. Best of luck!