Someone even called me a 'hard-nosed match fishermen who sees fishing as nothing more than a sterile, ego-boosting, money-making contest'.

Well, I admit to enjoying the competitive edge that match fishing provides but I have always enjoyed pleasure fishing as much if not more than the match side of our great sport.

Related:
National on the Nene a complete disaster, Ken Wade, 1 October 2008.

Seals are worrying anglers, Stephen Briggs, 3 October 2008.

What do you think?
Add your comments below, email: bob.french @peterboroughtoday.co.uk or telephone our sports desk 01733 588710.

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than fishing the River Nene for chub, barbel or roach and that is why I will defend it and stand up for it when I feel things are not right.

That disastrous match result coupled with at least one seal in the venue could do untold damage to the club that has managed the river around Peterborough for a very long time.

When I say manage I mean that in all its forms, yes they and I run matches. They produce the revenue so that the waters the club control are as well maintained as possible for pleasure anglers as well as matchmen.

I was also criticised for reporting on local club matches, but isn't that the same as in all competitive sports?

Footballers like to see results no matter what level it is played at and I like to think I cover the fishing match scene reasonably well each week in The Evening Telegraph.

On Fridays I always try to give a rundown of waters pleasure anglers can try their luck at, with hardly a mention of matches.

I do try hard to get pleasure catches and trout fishing news reported as often as possible. In fact The Evening Telegraph was the first newspaper in the country to report a record barbel for the River Nene and the article even had a picture of the fish to go with it!

There have also been pictures of youngsters just starting up and pleasure anglers with good catches taken so it's a little unfair to say I only cover the match fishing side of our sport.