Peterborough match organiser Ted Rowe said: "After all the hard work put in by Whittlesey Angling Club and the top quality pike fishing the drains produced on the day I feel the match was a resounding success and look forward to coming back to the Whittlesey fens once again next year."

From what I heard at the draw few would argue with that. In fact I did not hear one angler suggesting a move, yet the rumours still persist.

Matchwinner was Leon Sibilski with 24lb 6oz taken from the Glassmoor Bank section running towards Turves.

The Lincoln angler became the first man to win the match on more than one occasion. In fact he has rarely been out of the top five over the past few years of this prestigious event and must now surely be regarded as one of the best predator anglers in the country.

Some anglers would have you believe that pike fishing and winning pike matches is all about luck, being in the right place at the right time when the pike are feeding. But it is not as simple as that.

I had my spies out watching him at the weekend and it was quite amazing how his tactics produced the goods.

While many anglers around him fished a conventional match, fishing deadbaits and spinners out on separate lines, Sibilski did something completely different, feeding up his swim with small balls of light groundbait laced with pinkies to attract small fish into the area.

Once he saw signs of a few fish he then put out his baits and almost instantly he was rewarded with a decent pike.

By the end of the match he had put four fish to the scales to give him a richly deserved title.

Spare a thought for our local rod Paul Lenton from March. He came agonisingly close to scooping the top spot finishing just two ounces short of the title weighing in 24lb 4oz.

The only saving grace on a very disappointing day for him was that he took a 21lb 12oz fish which gave him the biggest fish prize of the day.

Ramsey rod Keith Rayment also did well, taking fifth place with a pike of 19lb 2oz.

Top lady angler was Ann Harden with 14lb and best junior rod was Lewis Maltby, who had two fish for 14lb 4oz.



LOCAL pike anglers will be pleased to note that Mill View Tackle from March will be running several open pairs matches through the winter starting on November 30.

All the matches will be fished on the Twenty Foot Drain at March with the draw at 7.30am. Further dates are December 28, February 8 and February 22.

Tydd Gote Angling Club are running an ACA Pike Qualifier this Sunday on the North Level Drain with the draw at Clough Treatment Works at 8.30am. Tickets and further details are available from Dave Parlett on 01945 463913.



SOME of the teams will be full of confidence going into round four of the East Midlands Team Championship match this weekend after some fine results in the practice match on the Twenty Foot Drain at March and Whittlesey Dyke.