River Thames Festival 2021: DAY ONE

Live match fishing from the three-day Thames Festival with 72 anglers competing on the river! Day One is at Abingdon, Oxford, and there are plenty of quality roach to target... which also means a few pike could be about!
Coaching Days & Fishing Experiences: www.jonarthur....
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[@hedgerowpete]

brilliant video

[@JonArthur]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnmorris6434]

Thanks for another great video Jon. I think, that by clearing that patch of weed you said, to fish in, it created an open patch for the pike to play in, pike cant strike in weed where the roach can shelter. Those pike were hungry, waters getting colder now so its time to fatten up for winter. Atleast he didnt rip the end out of your keepnet, I've had that mid session. Better luck next time.....

[@JonArthur]

Cheers John. The weed wasn't actually cleared to fish in, it was cleared so I could fish anywhere past it as if it was left I wouldn't even have managed to push a baited rig out or net a fish without hooking it.

[@jamesflynn1784]

Bless ya John great footage all best for next one mate

[@JonArthur]

Cheers JF

[@mikepattinson3285]

As said great video. Those pike, needed a pike rod set up to nail a few see if that put them off.

[@JonArthur]

Agreed

[@robshaw3655]

you jokingly said about having a bucket of fish. Do rules allow you feeding them off with some big mackerel herring tossed in the margins..although that might attract even more in

[@jakmalek3457]

That is brilliant footage of those pike 😆 bloody things 🤣

[@JonArthur]

Cheers Jak

[@lesleygrocott6037]

Hi Jon perhaps you’ve got bigger balls than the rest of the other match anglers.🧜‍♂️All the best Andy

[@JonArthur]

Ha ha :-)

[@denniswilliamrobbins3031]

Hi Jon great video shame about the pike, wondering could you not have set up a lure rod for just in case the pike showed up which they did, what 8 to 9 pounds in weight, or don't they count in matches fishing, not a match angler just do pleasure fishing. 🎣🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐟🐟

[@JonArthur]

Pike are banned in most modern matches and currently you are not allowed to get them out with a separate lure rod, although it's a suggestion I made after the event and hopefully they will allow a lure rod and popping them in a 2nd keepnet next year. This works at places like Evesham where they are also a problem. Fingers crossed!

[@darrenlea5947]

Hi Jon. A sterling effort despite the predator trouble. I don’t know what the match rules are but would you not be able to set up a spinner to catch the pike and then keep net it to stop the problem?

[@TJ-ss1up]

The problem with that is how much time do you end up fishing for pike. If you hook them you have to land them and unhook them to get them in a net, they were big fish so not gonna be a 30 second job. Probably lose as much weight by not fishing as you do by the pike trouble.

[@JonArthur]

Sadly not allowed :-(

[@brianwelbourne9896]

I hate those days when old Esox turns up and ruins your days fishing, Maybe in the end take a pike rod and lure with you and get him out.(I Know, not allowed!) Rotten day leaving your nerves on edge waiting for the next strike. grrrr. Better luck in the next one Jon.

[@JonArthur]

Thanks Brian. Pike are banned in most modern matches and currently you are not allowed to get them out with a separate lure rod, although it's a suggestion I made after the event and hopefully they will allow a lure rod and popping them in a 2nd keepnet next year. This works at places like Evesham where they are also a problem. Fingers crossed!

[@oldbloke135]

At this time of the year pike go mental. They are still warm enough to be really active and they know they need to fatten up before spawning starts in February. Just remind yourself that without them that river would just be stuffed with three inch roach and bleak, not the quality roach you were catching. Not much consolation if they all choose your peg!

[@JonArthur]

Not sure I totally agree as they seem to eat the bigger roach, not the smaller ones ha ha!

[@clivecottingham2043]

Unlucky mate,awful to watch those crocs,but still enjoyed the vid.What’s to come?

[@JonArthur]

You'll have to wait and see! ;-)

[@ggwildlife]

great video as always "go away pike" looking forward to the next one which is already up ... :)

[@JonArthur]

Many thanks

[@stephenking7770]

Been there many times the thames is a nightmare for them. Not sure it's the way you feed just luck to avoid them.

[@JonArthur]

Agreed!

[@sillybait1329]

Unlucky Jon what an absolute nightmare, they used to have a spare rod in the old days and catch the pike and keep them in a separate net, shame they dont do it nowadays

[@JonArthur]

You can do it at Evesham and I'm hoping they'll let us do it on the Thames

[@justinvanschiak7447]

Go back and target them for spite lol fun on heavy gear plus you can gently condition them to not like you there lol

[@JonArthur]

Ha ha, can't see me conditioning the pike. They love me too much! :-)

[@grahamnash9794]

No wonder you had frayed nerves. It's not only the frustration, not being allowed to do anything about the Pike, but also how it can make you jump so often too. I reckon you got it right with that idea of feeding them off. A couple of diced mackerel kept in the freezer, and pick them up on the way out. I agree with the "fished a good match" assessment. Always enjoy a video from this channel. Made sweeter with a lovely little Katie to see too. TTFN.

[@JonArthur]

Thanks Graham

[@patcarroll5896]

Unlucky Jon that is definitely Pike Armageddon 🤮

[@JonArthur]

Too right!

[@topfuelteddy]

Same on the Nene at the moment John , not much you can do about it , so frustrating .

[@JonArthur]

Absolutely. Worst year I've known for them. :-(

[@scottandrewjohnmiddleton8676]

Another brilliant video Jon and you should take a lure rod with you catch the pike n put him down stream out the way shame you couldn't drag the loud mouth nob down stream n slap him about a bit you just don't need idiots like that either way what a nice bag of fish under the circumstances lol

[@JonArthur]

At the moment you're not allowed a lure rod to catch and release the pike but I'm hoping they'll bring that rule in next year.

[@scottandrewjohnmiddleton8676]

@@JonArthur ha ha ha looks like your gonna need summat heavy for that 1 Jon big old girl she was

[@allanwithers8509]

Great video Jon. But that Pike certainly ruined your day.

[@JonArthur]

Yep, and sadly any chance of winning the festival :-(

[@topfuelteddy]

Joe Flying the flag for WDNAC 💪💪

[@JonArthur]

💪

[@samhirst7331]

Great vid as always. Like i said before what more can you do, still smashed it. Ive put my name down for a match in 2 weeks 😁 first one ever. Just a small local one but a match none the less. Never thought I'd be bothered about match fishing but been watching your vids for ages and i just wanna give it a go 😁

[@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp]

Excellent Sam. I love fishing small matches with my club over 60’s. The results don’t matter much, it’s simply a nice way to spend some time on the bank with some fellow reprobates. Good luck to you.

[@JonArthur]

Very best of luck Sam

[@samhirst7331]

@@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp cheers pal. Honestly cant wait. Like i said i never had an interest in match or pole fishing but i think Jons vids have got me waning to do it. And its the match itself. Its put on by a couple who run a fishing tackle market stall. What they do is just amazing its all community driven and theyve even started matches for their customers so it just seems right for me as its on a really nice well looked after pond. Im not really into these commercial fisheries brimming with fish. Prefer natural or older venues that dont get fished as much, its the mystery. No mystery at a commercial is there. Plus i get to get involved in this little community of anglers aswell as test my self at fishing competitively. Just a good day out more than owt if we have a good days fishing it's a bonus aint it.

[@samhirst7331]

@@JonArthur cheers pal. My aim is to not come last out of 12 anglers but if i do so be it. Tis a day out and im sure plenty of lessons will be learned. Cant bloody wait 😁

[@johnfrench9608]

Esox Lucius the curse of the match angler. It is an amazing creature though been persecuted for centuries but still going strong.

[@terrystokley2968]

Great film shame about the pike Jon.

[@JonArthur]

Yup!

[@jimmystaelens]

The best fishing content on KZbin with great insight and camera angles!

[@JonArthur]

Thanks Jimmy, cheque's in the post! ;-)

[@jimmystaelens]

@@JonArthur 🤣🤣🤣

[@ifishcatfish]

Pike is so easy to catch. Why not catch a few pike for weight?

[@JonArthur]

Pike don’t count in most uk matches

[@terencematthews2249]

How frustrating Jon!! It’s a situation that as very little answer to it!! Under the circumstances you did very well, Great video Jon thank you 🎣🎣🎣

[@JonArthur]

Cheers TM

[@iang953]

Been the same on the middle Trent this year, had some cracking days which have turned into a pike fest and ended up giving in.

[@JonArthur]

Every river this year it seems :-(

[@jameselston8848]

Jon thanks again for this super video. I was 2 pegs upstream and just beat you with the help of that 2lb bream. I think the excess weed in your peg was a big issue and I couldn’t get a fish in without a pike grabbing it the next day in a very weedy swim! Your fish in general seamed bigger than mine too and I only fished 13m

[@jameselston8848]

I think you would have had north of 20 off my peg. It was only my second match in 35 years

[@JonArthur]

Cheers James, that bream looked nearer 3lb to me ha ha! I only fished 13m as well. Next two days I fished 14-15m though.

[@JonArthur]

You did great!

[@tonycamplin8607]

An enjoyable video however why don't you focus on the float it would make them even more interesting. I used to match fish the Thames back in the very late 1950s when you had to stick to the Thames size limits so you wouldn't have been allowed to keep a lot of your fish. We fished much closer in and didn't use so much ground bate. Times have certainly changed

[@JonArthur]

Yep the rivers are all so much clearer and weedier than the 1950s and they certainly don't flow as much either. Any rain we have is rushed through the system. Clinically clean due to lack of power plants and chemical rather than biological sewage treatment. Clear water means predators are much more numerous too. But the fishing is great, but different. As for focusing on a moving float, that would be impossible to fish a match and operate a zoom lens camera all by myself ha ha!

[@thomashiorns5500]

Hi. Jon..a great result under the circumstances..so whats the ruling on the pike..if you land 1 do they count..do you have to put them back..nock them on the head..whats the rule..

[@JonArthur]

Pike don't count and should not be harmed

[@gavingoldthorp4093]

The balling in attracting pike is a 'thing' that I always heard. I always used to enjoy balling it (it's satisfying making a big spladoosh 🤣) and found it's swings and roundabouts with the pike - I've had trouble when cupping, while we know the roach respond to it too! I think it's just something we have to put up with on rivers, after all you don't get pike trouble when you're not catching! Doesn't take the frustration away mind you... Nevertheless, a great watch as always Jon 👍

[@JonArthur]

So true! Just think it's bad luck really.

[@EddiePedalo]

I had pike troubles on a session a few weeks ago. Got one 4oz roach back minus a big chuck. He wasn't going to go back, so I dispatched him, stuck him in my bag and put him in freezer when I got home. Caught my first ever zander on him last week. Silver linings.

[@JonArthur]

Circle of life ha ha!

[@neilpotter66]

When's day two going to drop on Jon please?

[@JonArthur]

Patience! :-)

[@neilpotter66]

@@JonArthur 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@paulsomersetwolf5970]

Well done Jon great fishing so unlucky with those pike couldn't believe how many Attacks you had from them you would surely had been up there in the frame if not for them Croc's keep going hopefully you have seen the last of them for the remaining matches best of luck👍🎣🎣

[@JonArthur]

Thanks Paul

[@michaelgoff4731]

Did the pike go for your watering can lid 😄😄. Another top, top vid Jon, keep um coming and I'll keep liking um

[@JonArthur]

Good memory ha ha

[@laurieharper1526]

Bad luck, mate. Those pike are starting to try to pack on weight for winter now the weather's cooling down. When they're ravenous like that, they'll have anything.

[@JonArthur]

Yep, don't go swimming in the Thames!

[@stephencawston9412]

Love all your vids John I have to laugh when the soaps come on I will go in my room to watch all my fishing subscriptions our lass allways says go on then leave me and watch your King Arthur .

[@JonArthur]

Thanks Sir Stephen, one of my loyal disciples! :-)

[@jamesatkinsfishing]

would it be aloud to put a pike plug on and catch it, it would put it off the feed for a bit lol. still well fished Jon 👍

[@JonArthur]

Sadly not allowed, but maybe next year?

[@simonheeks3661]

Another great video,such a shame the pike were taunting you,wish I was there to throw the asbo in for the pike maybe they would have backed off.looking forward to your next vid.😁👍

[@JonArthur]

Thanks Simon

[@RossiDeakin0406]

Set a lure or spinner and pop any takers in a spare net, never seen one or maybe more so actively feeding, such a shame, spoilt a great match... Love your content pal and look forward to the next one, tight lines. 👍

[@JonArthur]

Definitely more than one lurking in my swim. Sadly not currently allowed to lure fish for them and pop in a 2nd net, but it's something I've asked after festival to be considered

[@antrog1895]

@25:00 wow incredible bit of film. Cheers Jon 👍🍺🍌

[@JonArthur]

Bananas aint it!? :-)

[@jamesstridgen6320]

Great video

[@JonArthur]

Thanks for the visit

[@peterstones3095]

great vid JON,vid of the pike attacks was awsome,great result with over 20 pike attacks.

[@JonArthur]

Nice for you to watch. Not so nice for me ha ha!

[@stephenpyner4156]

Great video as usual Jon, I always enjoy watching you. You did well not to swear with the amount of pike you had in your swim, good luck though for the rest of the festival

[@JonArthur]

Might have edited a few choice words out ;-)

[@3brewster]

Great video Jon thanks 👍🎣💪💪 24:54 in …. Great footage that mate !!

[@JonArthur]

Thanks, at least you all got entertained by my misfortunes! :-)

[@ihcfn]

Some lovely roach there Jon, Shame about the pike, a lure rod and a popper could have helped you out there perhaps?

[@JonArthur]

Yes and I've asked for that to be allowed next year

[@richardrichardw9520]

Looked liked you were fishing your pole like a whip Jon with no elastic ?

[@JonArthur]

Definitely used elastic. 6-8 Slik mostly.

[@roberthill5839]

Great video Jon & a great weight considering all them flying pike 😂

[@JonArthur]

Thanks 👍

[@TerryMatthews1]

Brilliant effort Jon in view of the time and fish lost through Pike attacks. Better luck in the next one hopefully.

[@JonArthur]

Thanks Terry

[@MARCLEEMATCHFISHING]

Is it allowed to chuck spinner out to catch pike and sack em up?you'd have had em out in 2 or 3 casts then the 15 to 20 mins to clear em out peg would be worth it,no?

[@JonArthur]

Sadly not allowed :-(

[@MARCLEEMATCHFISHING]

@@JonArthur shame, seems best way to avoid the type of day you had.

[@richardrouse1873]

Stressful day Jon 🤣I fish the Warwickshire Avon most weekends and this is the worst season for pike ever completely ruin your fishing 🎣 good luck for the next 2matches and hopefully no pike 🤣😎

[@topfuelteddy]

The Nene is the same this year , worst year in memory , seems the same everywhere .

[@JonArthur]

Fingers crossed... else the pike will have them! :-)

[@Esoxluciouss11]

my word, thats unreal.. well done anyway,,, ty for sharing

[@JonArthur]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@philaltimas3008]

a great video as always Jon, shame about the pike, lets hope we dont see many in molands this winter

[@JonArthur]

Argh!

[@JohnWilliams-wl2cf]

Next time take a load of dead bait and gradually tempt it away from your swim , once one picks up the others will chase it , the original taker won't come back to your swim ,,, a lot of the scars on pike are not from cormorants but other pike... either way I couldt just sit there and do nothing .

[@JonArthur]

That probably and sadly wouldn't be within the rules... :-(

[@JohnWilliams-wl2cf]

@@JonArthur I don't know how you put up with that on the Thames... couldn't the trust just electrocute the stretch ?

[@Boxersboy-um1fd]

John, amazing catch in the circumstances. Fortunately / Unfortunately for you, I am a lure angler who targets Pike - maybe let me know where you are next and I'll fish between the pegs and save you a problem!!

[@TJ-ss1up]

Do you ever walk the weigh in on a match to find out who's had pike trouble? Imagine being there and getting on that peg for the afternoon/evening.

[@JonArthur]

More than welcome!

[@JonArthur]

Try EVERY peg at Sandford! :-)

[@andybeales6998]

Hi Jon, great video as always. Just wondering what the orange staining was on your hands? Secret bait additive maybe??

[@JonArthur]

Bronze maggots!

[@andybeales6998]

@@JonArthur I haven't used bronze maggots for so long now, when do u prefer them to red or whites?

[@solidcold9491]

Cant you catch it and put it in a different keep net? i know you cant weigh it in at the end.

[@JonArthur]

Hopefully next year they'll allow that

[@jasonlodge2078]

Put the wind up you,those buggers. Good video.

[@JonArthur]

Absolutely!

[@dkgambituk]

Fling….must remember where that went…love it lol.

[@JonArthur]

:-)

[@jamiehoney9889]

Epic footage, not so great when catching roach though!

[@JonArthur]

Absolutely! :-)

[@pedrobandino5391]

Good video Jon, nice weight with all that trouble

[@JonArthur]

Cheers Pedro

[@scottessery100]

i think next year they should let you weight the pike in

[@JonArthur]

That'll never happen, but allowing us to catch them and pop them in a 2nd net is a sound idea

[@pauljones6951]

Loved the slow motion clips….👍

[@JonArthur]

Cheers Paul. Like the clips myself, just not in my match ha ha!

[@jamiehoney9889]

Do pike count in the matches if u land them?

[@JonArthur]

Sadly not

[@frankhurley9684]

Hi John, are the hooks you use barbless

[@JonArthur]

Not on a natural venue. Barbless on commercials and micro barbed on natural waters are the norm for everyone.

[@stephengeoghegan-doughty.5870]

Hi Jon Great effort bud, not so easy with crocs like that is it, a shotgun would have been handy with fish that size,it could work, not seen any rules that say you cant shoot crocs especially when airbourne, is it a fish, is it a plane, no its a 15lb croc boom, (was 😉)hahaha, if you did that your swim would be full of perch and eels or (congers) At least you enjoyed a laugh with the little one, thats worth all the anxiety on its own, good luck on the remaining days buddy Take care, stay safe, regards to the family, and keep it lit.👍 my friend.

[@JonArthur]

Ha ha, I think I'd rather pop the ASBOs opposite than the pike :-)

[@marineboy1964]

Jon Would of a longer landing net handle helped with the pike , maybe leaving a long net in the water would scare the pike off a bit , not sure if it would work but it's worth a try and maybe a over size landing net aswell

[@JonArthur]

I don't have strong enough arms for that. I think they'd have bitten it in half like Jaws! :-)

[@charliecox9421]

another cracking vid Jon

[@JonArthur]

Thanks CC

[@Rob-di7uu]

Seen the same at Evesham festival. Often wonder if a predictor match held 1-2 days before with fish being returned off the match length might work ?

[@JonArthur]

Sadly the predator anglers don't hook half as many as we do, but a good idea nonetheless!

[@stevedavies75]

What happens if, hypothetically, a pike took your hooked fish, and you landed the pike? Could you weigh it in? Also, could you spin for it, knowing you can't weigh it in by spinning, catch it, put it in a separate keep net and not have it as part of your weight?

[@JonArthur]

Sadly they don't count

[@olderandy4798]

Can you not just bag the pike or do they not count?

[@Siiid95]

Not aloud to weigh pike in matches

[@JonArthur]

Nope, pike don't count

[@RossiDeakin0406]

Just a thought, did the speeding up of trying to land the fish play into the pikes predatory instincts,?.. Maybe..

[@JonArthur]

Play a roach slower and there's only one outcome, but at least you have a chance if you are fast

[@MegaTreble99]

Great video Jon

[@JonArthur]

Cheers

[@lusty444]

I wonder if Clive Branson is watching this! I watch a lot of Vlogs by various Anglers on river matches and Pike have been problem this year. Have you noticed it very rarely happens on pleasure days!

[@JonArthur]

I hope it rarely happens again whether I'm match or pleasure fishing, ha ha!

[@lusty444]

You should of had 10 minutes with a Plug after the whistle!😀

[@JonArthur]

On Day 2 some proficient lure anglers were chucking VERY lifelike lures in pegs where we were plagued by pike and still couldn't catch them. They just want real roach it seems!