Once very much the prerogative of the continental match anglers, pole fishing since the 1970s has seen many changes within the approach of anglers upon our banks, to see it become extensively used everywhere within angling.
Even now it is still an ever-growing part of the serious match angler’s kit, where admittedly without one, many would simply not be able to compete.
It’s a thought this week, as on speaking to parents on the bank, here looking for advice to purchase some tackle for children, I gave my advice to keep it simple and look at buying a kit that would make the ‘job’ not only simpler and practical, but also very much worthy of achieving some success.
First though, as many will recognise, a pole can be generally seen as an expensive piece of equipment and in many cases this is very true. This of course can be seen as a stumbling block for many, especially when understanding that a ‘new hobby’ for any youngster, may just be a 10-day wonder.
My advice was again streamlined by advising to keep everything simple and purchase one of the many shorter poles, one that some may recognise as ‘whips’.
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Sticking to basics again, a youngster’s confidence on catching fish closer before them also gathers and maintains an interest especially given a far greater success rate than those who may struggle fishing longer.
For me, ask a local tackle dealer for their undoubted experience before facing a pointless exercise of wasting a hard earned budget available.
Then with success, moving on with experience, the ‘add-ons’ make the game a whole lot easier and inevitably more interesting and enjoyable for everyone.
On the bank itself and reflecting back on that very conversation, my thoughts looked at the results on our Leeds Liverpool Canal that adjoined the very property of my new friends that day.
A water that holds a very special place in my heart, our ‘cut’ always comes to mind and I was eager as always to hear how it had fished, as another good turnout for the ‘midweek flyer’ took place up on the scout hut length near the parish hall at Lydiate.
Winter roach are the target here and along with perch and a bonus skimmer or bream, tactics have to be spot on and effective as on the competition stakes here with the standard very high amongst this field of expert pole anglers.
Lydiate’s Steve Ball (Burscough Aquatics) took the honours in this one, as he not only notoriously celebrated another end peg next to ‘Billy’s Bridge’, he was also celebrating his birthday.
Ball took some quality roach and perch for a well-earned 6.6.0 for a win. Second on the day was Blundellsands rod John Easton with 5.6.0 and third with 5lb was Formby’s Gareth Charnock.
Still on the canal, Sunday then saw the association match take the shelter behind the garages up near the Scarisbrick Arms at Haskayne.
L&DAA chairman Peter Gradwell took the honours in this one with a creditable 7.2.0 net of small roach on what was a very tough day.
Paul Charnock took second with 3.2.0 and Steve Ball was again in the frame with 2.8.0.
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