In recognition of the difficulty of sourcing lures with ‘manufactured’ barbless treble hooks when predator fishing the General Committee, at its meeting on 4 November 2020, agreed the following amendment to general by-law 19, effective from 8 November 2020.

General Bye-Law 19. Hooks

All hooks must be barbless (as manufactured, not crushed barbs), with the following exceptions:

• Size 14 and smaller, which may be barbless or micro-barbed.
• Trebles and hooks used on lures which may be crushed flat.

Ladies National Championship

Saturday 3rd October 2020, Marsh Farm, Milford. 19 fished.

This re-arranged fixture was fished on a dour Harris Lake at Marsh Farm in Milford.  2 days of heavy rain, which eventually stopped an hour into this match, turned this into a tough match for most.  The lakes rudd and roach stock virtually switched off across the whole lake leaving most of the ladies to sit and wait for quality fish.

Charlotte Gore topped out with 8.325Kg of crucians and tench on the long pole from peg 3 to be crowned the Ladies National Champion 2020.  Not too far behind was Samantha Sim who caught crucians also on the long pole at peg 17 for 7.075Kg and at the next peg 15 Kayleigh Smith caught crucians and tench for 6.250Kg.

The Angling Trust would like to thank Godalming AS for the use of the venue and Roger Howe and his team for helping out in running the match. Next years match is to be fished at Packington Somers on Saturday 17th July 2021.

2020 Angling Trust National Championship for anglers with disabilities

Saturday 3rd October 2020, Marsh Farm, Milford. 14 fished.

This re-arranged fixture was fished on the normally productive Richardsons Lake at Marsh Farm in Milford.  However, 2 days of heavy rain, which eventually stopped an hour into this match, turned this into a dour affair for most.  2 anglers plundered a large bream shoal from opposite sides of the lake which had settled between 2 islands, Wayne Smith from Leicester drawn on fancied peg 12 came out on top to be crowned the Angling Trust Anglers with Disabilities National Champion 2020 after taking 15 bream to 3lb, 2 tench and 3 crucians for a terrific weight of 25.075Kg, all caught on pellet on the method feeder.  Using similar tactics from peg 34 was local rod Paul Chudyk who had a dozen bream for a level 14Kg to take the runner up spot.  Peg 11 turned up 3rd place for Nigel Loker who took 3 bream and bits on long pole for 7.575Kg.

The Angling Trust would like to thank Godalming AS for the use of the venue and Roger Howe and his team for helping out in running the match. Next year’s match is to be fished at Packington Somers on Saturday 17th July 2021.