Monday 23rd October 2023

Yesterday saw the highly anticipated first round of the 2023 ABC Baits Winter League take  place with 72 anglers lining the banks of the main match length of  River Wye at Belmont. The river had risen a couple of times over recent days, peaking at  3.81m on Saturday lunchtime. Dave Roberts made an early call on Friday annoucing that the river would be falling with a predicted height of between 2.5 and 2.9m.By the time the whistle blew to start the match the river was running just below 2.4m with plenty of colour. The air temperature was around 8 degrees. This was going to be a bleak and barbel match with many anglers deciding to go for the bleak from the off.

Individual winner on the day was Tom Boulton (Wizards)who managed a barbel catch of 50lb 6oz. Runner up was Brian Rigby (Cadence Superteam) who weighed in 49lb of whip caught bleak. Third was Geoff Brierley (Cotswolds) with a weight of 42lb 12oz. On the team front, defending champions Woodys Premier won the round with a total of 56 points, with Cotswold (53points) and DH Angling ( 52 points)taking 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

All in all it was a great match with all 72 anglers catching fish with the lowest section winner needing 34lbs.  With the large shoals of dace, chub, roach and perch not having yet fully migrated to their winter quarters, the signs are good for bumper winter catches. The full reults are shown below.