Team MATCH FISHING on the GREAT OUSE Littleport - 45th WICAC

After a long journey South I arrived at Littleport, Cambridgeshire to compete in the 45th WICAC (Water Industries Coarse Angling Championships) This team match fishing event is held annually and sees teams from the water companies, environment agency and contract partners battle it out for the prestigious title.
With a weakened team and no practice on the venue, we had very little chance of winning but, maybe just maybe we could make the frame, if not there was always an outside chance of individual glory.
On scouting out the sections, I stumbled across none other than 4x world champion, Bob Nudd so I took the opportunity to pick his brains. What a thoroughly approachable and obliging gent he is. Bob told me the venue had been fishing well in the mild weather we'd been enjoying in the run up to the event and that feeder and pole were the go to methods. I watched for a while as the angler he was coaching caught some nice 10oz skimmers on the feeder 3/4 across. Apparently on the long pole there were lots of small fish up in the water and in order to avoid them you'd need to get the olivette within 12 inches of the hook - I'd cross that bridge if I came to it!
With 5 sections of 15 anglers, I knew that I'd be fishing A section on the Ely Beet club water and was hoping my team captain would pull me a peg near to the parking and the bridge - it wasn't to be and I ended up receiving a text - Peg 7 - right in the middle of the section! After a cold northerly wind and temperature drop, the preceding day was the first cold one in weeks - this was going to be hard!
Getting to the peg was a mission in itself as I had to handball all of the gear in 4 trips down a fast busy road from the parking area at peg 15 and get it over the armco barrier - I couldn't see the pegs in this area ever getting fished much due to the difficulty in getting to them.
You join me after just prior to the all in for what turned out to be a very challenging day.
Enjoy it if you can😉
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#MatchFishing #Littleport #GreatOuse
Until next time...
TIGHT LINES!

[@clivecottingham2043]

The thing is John if they aren’t there,nothing you can do.Boat traffic was shocking,and the road at the back of the peg didn’t help.Filming was top class.Just over a kilo on bits with all restrictions not bad.Keep going mate,waiting for your next outing.Good luck.🎣🎥🎣

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

I know Clive, not much you can do but keep trying different things and never give up. Some better sessions to come my friend. 🎣🐟

[@stufletcher9300]

That looked like a fcuking nightmare, the road, boats, funk me!!! Bolo n stick float sprang to my mind. I was shouting to the TV short feeder. Good effort pal. Can't wait for the big match. 👍🤣🤣👍

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

It was awful I ain't gonna lie Stu. Just no flow in the river at all really barely moved all day so stick and bolo not really an option. I had a slider and a fixed waggler with me but the wind was bad so chose the pole, it just didn't seem like they would benefit me. I tried the bomb over the pole line and nothing, I dunno sometimes nothing helps🤷‍♂️. Big one coming soon👍. Tight lines buddy.

[@pmay222]

proper silvers scratching .....that pole cup would drive me crazy id just lob a ball in.... but enjoyable vid to watch... keep em coming...

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

The bottom was undulating so I needed to be accurate with the feed, hence the cup. Glad you enjoyed it anyway, thanks for watching👍

[@antrog1895]

Blimey what a day and what a venue talk about obstacle fishing. Tough luck there I thought you did your best. A real kick in the teeth when you end up 13th of 15. Chin up and onwards and upwards. Great vid as usual. Cheers for taking the time to film edit and upload. 🍺🍺🍺

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Thanks Ant, it was very disappointing, some tight weights either side, just didn't go in my favour🤷‍♀️ There's better to come.

[@phillipblackham9629]

Tough day John, like the M1 motorway on the river and behind you...😡..keep um coming 👍

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Tell me about it Phillip. Will do mate👍

[@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp]

Local knowledge. You don’t want to fish down the middle. There’s an upward shelf either side and it’s best to fish at the bottom of each. Ten metres or less on the pole. You should have ten to fourteen feet depth in front of you depending upon which section you were in. I enjoyed the video mate. Always enjoy watching your fishing.

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Thanks Anthony, I was on Ely Beet Social Club section, most people fished long. I was 3/4 on the feeder mostly. I met Bob Nudd the day before so I blame him for duff info🤣

[@adamstoneangling3411]

Great vid again mate, not a lot you could do there! If Bob Nudd tells you something you listen 👍 There just wasn’t enough present. I’m sure something big is coming 😉 Tight lines.

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Cheers Adam, will keep pushing on, one of these days I'll get it bang on.

[@davidfarmery4577]

Well done all the boats were very bad but you had a few fish not a good result but that's fishing thight lines

[@andybenstead7240]

My dad had a caravan at Littleport at Sandhill bridge from 1974 to 2002 , boats were always a problem , we always fished wag at 13 meters and a pole line just over the shelf at 8/9 meters , by the way Bob Nudd use to be a regular and he always fished at 9 meters max

[@johnloxley8705]

Now then John. Cracking video buddy. I didn’t know whether it was a fishing video or a boating video !!! it must’ve done your head in, but you kept your cool😎😎👍👍... Love watching ya videos buddy and you’re a top class Angler. I know you didn’t feel like that was the case, but like you say if the fish ain’t there then it’s always going to be hard…. I’m sure you didn’t let the lads down as you did exactly what you always do and a proper video. Some people wouldn’t have bothered putting it on if they felt like that but you didn’t. That’s proper fishing. I’m sure you’re fishing buddies will be will be well Proud of you …. Just being there and part of the team iis what it’s all about. no doubt the rivers will be coming up again after After all the rain we’ve had today. … look forward to your next video. 👍🏽😁🎣

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Thanks for the kind words John, yes the boats were a nightmare as was the traffic behind me. You got the edited version, there were even more boats🤣. There's better to come shortly, just getting the bad ones out of the way...it's all chronological order of my season, that said I had a couple of matches, one on the Swale, the other on the Don that just weren't worth putting up, they were that dire!

[@dennishoward3096]

hard luck john you did your best in very difficult conditions. If its not mindless dog walkers its bloody boats, your luck has to change soon mate. Keep smiling still an enjoyable video.

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Thanks Dennis, still smiling mate 😁despite having everything including the kitchen sink thrown at me this year🤦‍♂️

[@davidwilkinson6949]

I enjoyed that video. Don’t be hard on yourself you gave it your best shot

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Tha is David, glad you enjoyed it mate. Did what I could pal, it just wasn't good enough.

[@andyjames7164]

Gave it your best John. Good video as usual. Been nice if you could have got em going ont whip eh? 🤔

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Thanks Andy, I just couldn't make anything happen on the whip, wasn't the peg for it I guess.🤔

[@johnibbertson2960]

if the not there john there hard to catch ye can only do ye best hard luck

[@jamesatkinsfishing]

That was hard for you Jon so many boats non stop, don't no what else to say mate bad luck, keep them coming👍👍

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

The boats were same for everyone, just the fishing was definitely harder in the middle of the section ...nothing new there . More to come mate👍

[@jamesatkinsfishing]

@@HOOKEDFishingChannel best of luck

[@donnyrover1]

You didnt let any one down john , you tried your best in bloody difficult conditions wi wind and more boats than whitby harbour. It looks a good venue ( apart fom the bloody boats) ..keep going mate , looking forward to your next excellent vid.

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Yes, I think the area I was in was just lacking fish. The boats were just insane and the traffic behind was as bad. The whole river fished hard but that was down to the downpour and cold northerly the day before after weeks of mild weather - it literally felt like winter on the friday. ❄⛄

[@desdingwall9025]

You can only do your best john as long as you enjoy it

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

True Des, true👍

[@freddavis5648]

well done John tough area by the look of it

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Cheers Fred - it didn't exactly seem alive with fish, started out ok but got worse - probably a combo of the boats and bright sun.

[@martincallaghan8817]

puzzled by that whip line , there was a ripple on the surface was convinced there'd be a few there ' did that wind change direction later in the match .? don't see what else you could have done John . 👍

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Hi Martin, the wind was swirling around most of the day. I should have tried a slop to cloud the whip line up and gone on it right at the start but the feeder was working initially so stuck to the team plan as best I could, you have to adapt to the peg.

[@martincallaghan8817]

@@HOOKEDFishingChannel indeed you do buddy , years ago when ground bait consisted mainly of crumb of the white varieties a bit of wet mashed bread 🍞 was added to said wet mix a bit down the edge to see if it was making the required cloud and off you'd go and with any luck a few roach and rudd . 😉 And on occasion I still resort to it chub still seem to like it but keep that to yourself 🤣

[@tonychandler8606]

Just a tough peg

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Yeah, don't think those in the middle see much bait going in - just easier to get to the ends.

[@markymarkthelabman7639]

Tough day John 👍certainly no lack of effort just not to be.the boat and road traffic would have sent me crazy

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

I've had some bloomin noisy pegs this year, the access to that one was ridiculous, walk down that road with the gear for 7 pegs and over the Armco, took my life in my hands on that road!

[@markymarkthelabman7639]

Dedication 👍

[@darrenbrewster3345]

Unlucky John 😞😞 🤞🤞it’s not your last bud 👍👍👍 You never now what’s just around the corner my friend 🤞🤞😉😉

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

I hope not Daz, but that's the problem, not knowing right now. 🤞

[@darrenbrewster3345]

@@HOOKEDFishingChannel 🤞🤞🤞bud

[@topfour9160]

John m8 be careful the way you position your pole when on feeder... I did same and accidentally dropped my feeder on a cast... Went straight through me 5th 🤦‍♂️... Great video tho 👍

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

I'll bear that in mind, not much you can do though, just got to get as comfy as possible within the confines of the peg. Thanks 👍

[@jorvikangler]

No real bonus fish to jack the weight up as it was quite tight at that end of the field. Oh well.

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

The end pegs fished better as is often the case, just got done by a few ounces either side. 🤷‍♂️

[@keithbrown6990]

Hi John long way to go but next time maybe

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

It was Keith, a long old haul for a couple of pound - rubbish. The cold snap the day before killed it!

[@gazellis1961]

At the end of the day you gave 100% as always John, still a great video and where did all them boats come from?.. more like Henley regatta than the great Ouse

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

It was horrendous boat traffic all day, that was only the half of it. Just kept grinding away as you do.

[@paultrattles5066]

Unlucky John - got to be it to win it - do you work for Yorkshire Water?

[@HOOKEDFishingChannel]

Hi Paul, yes I work for YW, most of the bandits work for YW or ST...or did.

[@paultrattles5066]

@@HOOKEDFishingChannel thought so - I work for Tilbury Douglas on the framework partnership