Match Fishing in Europe

Monday, 26 October 2026

2026 - Gavle - October 24th and 25th

Looking forward to try this venue as i have seen great catches over the years here. The CATCH club organised this very well and with over 50 competitors this looks to be a great event.

I arrived at the BEST WESTERN hotel and Russ was already there along with Per Nilson and wife , Kjell , Patrik.

The atmosphere was excellent and the drinks flowed and many laughs

Saturday came around however i had a bad tummy from some rather dodgy fish and chips at a local hostelry in the square that coupled with a very bitter tasting Irish coffee.

It was D section for me and its all car to the peg - great venue and no reason for a trolley

Set up was TAP at 11m and two 7m whips

Starting to play with my balls

After 4 hours it was the weigh in time - i enjoyed a productive 1st hour and reached 50 fish , ended up with 178 fish for 20 kilos . I certainly enjoyed it but you could see how the regulars caught with their closer in tactic ......i shall no better next time

Håkan 13100 - nice guy i spoke with that evening at the event sit down

Tomas - Kung of Hjalmere

The Norwegian Viking did the business with 32 kilos !

Erik

Roger

Jonas

Linus

Thomas

Klasse

That night we all attended the local food hostelry

Marcus being funny with Patrik who beat me both days

Sunday came around and the weather was to be windy and rain - yuk !

My section was to be A , Russ's peg from the day before.

Made up 3 whips of 5m and 6m using METMASK bagging whip floats made by EXNER

My gear made to withstand any gusts of storm winds

Patrik to my right - brilliant whip angler

Sadly i had a poor weight , started of well in first hour but i got the depth and feed all wrong , i am sure . I ended up with 149 fish (too many small ones) Tomas Enstrom to my left slaughtered the section with 37 kilos - his style of fishing so impressive and how did he manage to catch so many large roach ? I noticed he was fishing i estimate at least 1 to 2m of the bottom holding back on a light float (1-2gr?) He did not put in that much feed whereas i put in too much but with no extra bits in it , maybe some corn and maggot . Clearly there is a good tactic and some of the weights in the match were staggering with Marcus taking 40 kilos ( in 4 hours !)

Richly deserved for a decent guy

Saturday, 17 October 2026

2026 - Nyköping on the boards - Sunday October 18th

A visit to what is hoped to be a bagging session as recent years has seen a good collection of fish moving into the town area.

and so it proved to be a good session ..........

Day started with clearing ice of the car

Arrived about 07:00am .........fish rising all over and many Gooseanders taking advantage of the surface fish

My favourite corner on the boards ...... set up ;

- Pole T5 to an 8gr EXNER Lucifer

- Whip 8m to a METMASK Bagging EXNER built float 6gr

- Pole T4 to a Garbolino SPT19 4gr

- Whip 5m to a METMASK Bagging EXNER built float 2gr

The swords for the day

Reached a 100 after 2.5 hours approx.

Look at the fish time

178 , Roach , Ide , Bjorkna , skimmer, Rudd , Hybrids , Perch

Sunday, 4 October 2026

2026 - GOTLAND on the Carp arena - 30th Sept , 1st, 2nd October

Ok ! Let the trip begin ! ........Russ picked me up from my abode and we got to Nynasham in quick time and queued up ready for our entry to the Ferry. While there Russ , as usual , attended to his caster turning , what else ! If you want fresh premium casters , only he knows how!