Over the years this has been a very competitive league and it probably still is one of the strongest in the country.

Not so long ago Oundle were the dominant force, that switched to Keenets Central then Peterborough had a good run in the late 90s.

Then came Mark One and Browning Hotrods. Add to all of those names Stanjay, Wades Match Group and now VDE and you see it's a tough job making it through to a semi-final!

I expect the upper part of the river to fish well in places – most will want to draw the boats at Stibbington, Water Newton or the bottom end of Railworld.

It should be a fair match, difficult in places particularly if it turns cold, but I am confident the best team will win on the day. A little bit of luck at the draw would not go amiss but the river should hold up well. The draw is at the Cherry Tree on Sunday at 8.30am with fishing from 11am until 4pm.

If you are thinking of fishing the river at the weekend, Orton is the place to head for to avoid a clash with the big match – miss out Milton as I hear there is a club match on the downstream section.

Ferry Meadows has hit a bit of late autumn form with the 40s producing a good mixed bag of fish for Stamford rod Andy Jackson. The two lakes should also start producing pike and zander to the many predator anglers that arrive on the banks at this time of year. Don't forget it is dead baits only.

With the hint of a frost around the corner a change in tactics could well be needed on the many stillwaters in the area. Already quite a few fish are being taken on a small feeder from Weston Lake, Peakirk, and the two carp lakes at Kingsland.

At Decoy Lakes expect sweetcorn, worm, pellet and maggot to work well fished on the deck with bigger fish only moving into the margins late in the day.

Railway Lakes, especially the shallow pool, is well worth a try for silver fish as well as carp.

Gerards Carp Lake at Maxey has fished well to a Method feeder with small mini boilies hair rigged as bait taking carp to double figures plus.

This is the time of year when the fen drains start to fish really well with the Old Nene at both March and Benwick expected to be the pick of the waters.

I also feel confident the narrows at Ramsey will be a consistent performer over the next few months along with Raveley Drain and possibly even the Twenty Foot at March.

Fixtures:

Tomorrow: Whittlesey AC, Carpet City, draw 1pm.

Sunday: East Mids Team Champs, Round One, River Nene, draw Cherry Tree, 8.30am; Cock Inn AC, River Nene, Milton Downstream; Deeping St. James AC, SHLS (1), draw 7.45am; Yaxley/Farcet/Holme, British Legion, Blackham/Bower, draw 7.30am; Oundle AC, Cunnington Shield, draw Riverside Pub 9am; Ramsey DAS, Phil Aldred Memorial, 145-164, draw 8am.