WORLD CHAMPS GOLD FIRMLY IN THE SIGHTS OF ENGLAND TRIO

If you think we’re having it bad with the current heatwave, spare a thought for the three England teams preparing to do battle in this year’s FIPSed Fédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive en Eau Douce Masters, Veterans and Anglers With Disabilities World Championships in Portugal where temperatures have reached 45 degrees!

Despite this, there’s been plenty of fish to catch in practice and each team has a plan to put into action tomorrow and on Saturday when each championship takes place. The Angling Trust Masters and Angling Trust England Disabled Coarse Fishing Team are fishing the River Sorraia in Coruche, while the Angling Trust Veterans are half an hour away on the River Raia at Cabecao.

Both are familiar venues to all and armed with that experience, plus up to date information from their sources, each Manager is happy and raring to go tomorrow morning with a good start imperative to have any chance of making the podium. Match times have been put back an hour to avoid the worst of the heat, fishing from 9am until 1pm.

For the Veterans at Cabecao, carp are becoming the dominant species, fish averaging 3lb being the target, fish that England have caught their fair share of on both pole and waggler. For the Masters and Anglers With Disabilities however, it might be a familiar venue, but they’re fishing on the opposite bank.

The sandy bank normally used was washed away by floods, meaning the opposite bank has been pressed into service. The water is much shallower here on the pole line, which looks like being the main method catching carp and barbel. Practice weights have been good, the Masters having over eight kilos on a couple of occasions.

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Angling Trust England Anglers With Disabilities World Championships squad

Paul Etherington – Manager

Phil Spry

Ethan Etherington

Lee Gregory

Andrew Saunders