FISHING - IS IT TOO EXPENSIVE? Lee Kerry and Rob Wootton discuss how costs have increased and how some fisheries are trying to help anglers out with incentives.
As a pleasure angler that fishes the odd match (unsuccessfully) I personally think fishing is relatively inexpensive. You have to weigh up the cost against enjoyment and I always have a smile on my face when I’m fishing
Elite fishing is expensive.but I say if you can't afford it don't go. If I could afford to fish with the elite lads I would but i cant . so I stay local with the lads and I love it . Especially the banter💪🎣
True. I can’t afford it either. I don’t have enough time to compete with the elites, nor do I have the money and I too stick with a local club with some good, all round lads.
I love my fishing, I don't do matches and fish mostly club waters by myself. The benefit I get from being outside with my thoughts and nature, far outweigh any monetary costs.
I think you're missing the point, the real cost is the kit. The way to make fishing cheaper is stopping the mass mark up on buckets for example quid at b and q and 10.99 at tackle shop. Poles should be 13m tops that reduces tackle costs by 2k
Like any sport or hobby, fishing can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want it to be. Yes, there are basic costs that are unavoidable, but the "arms race" mentality, not to mention the chasing after status vis the acquisition of state of the art gear few really need or can do justice to, is the reason many overspend. Assuming the discussion is about match fishing, it's true that you can't compete with an Argos all-in-one starter kit, but once you have equipped yourself with good quality, but not silly money tackle, you are good to go. Look after it and it will last. Replace it when it's no longer useful, not because it's last year's model. Forget the expensive breakfasts, the super pools (that many only enter because they don't want others to laugh at them), the gallons of bait that are usually discarded at the end of the day, the Gore Tex team clothing, etc, etc and fish at your level or just slightly above it (you have to be honest with yourself about your capabilities). There's little point fishing against internationals unless you are in their league. They win so often for a reason - they're better than most of us. It's as simple as that.
I fish the open matchs on the Norfolk rivers and I reckon each match costs upwards of £100 with Diesel, Breakfast at the draw, minimum 1kg worms, a gallon of assorted casters, maggots, squat, hemp, pinkies, potentially 6 bags of groundbait, entry fee, pools, a couple of pints at the presentation at the end, it got to be too much this year, my work almost dried up and I told my wife that her and the kids couldnt go abroad, I felt that spending upwards of a 100 quid to go fishing was too much and I actually stopped going, I have fished for the last 50 odd years and this is the first year that has happened
Better angler's tie their own hooks, even better angler's breed their own bait, even better angler's mill their own ground-bait & invent their own tackle. It's all about keeping things simple & cost effective. And if you invent new tackle, you keep it to yourself for as long as you can. I'm mid-forties, I can do all of the above. When I win my section, I'm instantly in profit and not breaking even or just winning my money back. Either you are good... Or you've read too many magazines and just think you're good.
Do a video where you kit yourselves top to toe with kit, let’s say a grand (I’m sure most match anglers will av spent £1000 on tackle) and go see if you can compete. That’d be interesting 🤔
I think Rob comes over as a bit of a Bounty hunter if I’m honest , lots go for the crack meeting up with mates and the competition and potential money is a good bonus
@@mickbrooks8114: Think Nash started that with their boilies….what hacks me off is if you confronted them they still somehow manage to justify it. If you going to raise your prices just do it but who the fuck would put 900gms in a bag unless they’re trying to hoodwink their customers. Korda done the same with their Floss…..changed the packaging and cut the amount on the spool by 40%….robbing bastards. They must think everyone is thick !!!!
Stopped match/club fishing 5 years ago... carp venues, one after another... increasing costs, got sick of mouth damaged carp day in day out... heavier gear needed every year... net limits, bait limits, ( don't get me started on the big fishery pellet con) peg limits... sold the lot, bought a split cane rod centerpin reel and loving the sport once more... and you guy 0:11 s wonder why match attendances are falling away...?
I think the biggest problem area is probably f1 venue open matches in the summer. People often need 8 pints of maggots or casters, worms, and a couple of kg's of groundbait. Unless you're getting bait provided by a sponsor, that's getting for just under £50 of bait. Add to that £30 match entry etc, and in a field of say 20 anglers - only the top 2 (maybe 3...) are getting their costs back...but then compare a day's fishing cost, with that of watching a premier league game (probably £60+) for 90 mins, or a day at the cricket (£120+...)
Big money matches need to drop in price to 30 quid ticket 20 pound pools.make the final prize 25 grand. My local is partridge,it cost 26 to enter,20 pound bait bill,breakfast and fuel. Win ur section which is 40 pound and ur still at a loss.
I personally believe Rob hit the nail on the head when he said it was a arms race. I along with friends stopped doing our local open some time ago due to the cost of pools. Why do so many people want to gamble loosing pools money week in week out. We did several open matches where ALL pools money went to charity. This went down like a lead ballooon. There has to be a lot of spare money in circulation. I can't afford to do any form of gambling. It's your money at the end of the day, spend it as you wish!
Fishing has never been cheap but people are bringing the subject up because of the country’s situation! Hats off to lindholme for helping out but I would still fish matches regardless of cost it’s a lifestyle choice
i think the reason for the rising cost is the fact that in a lot of commercial venues these days in the warmer months, you need 200lb to even come close to framing, so you need the bait to feed them into your peg. So i think if stocking levels were lower on match lakes, there wold be not as much need for a gallon of casters/maggots etc. we used to have great matches where the target was 20lb, lots of venues still do, but it doesnt look good in the angling times if a commercial was won with 20lb in the summer, as people want massive weights now. Higher expected winning weights is driving the cost of entering a match
Unfortunately the way to sort this is limits but this also means some people will catch less than they do now.. White Acres have operated bait limits and venues should do similar. It would also reduce the impact of venue experts/specialists which can put people off. Tackle limits should be considered, a 13m pole limit across the board would level things and enable youngsters to get into matches, even top kit limits, how about 6 kits set up at any one time, I see open anglers on F1 venues with 10 short kits set up, plus other long kits also set up.
As someone with zero interest in commercial fisheries, I don't find angling particularly expensive. If you double up gear (a lighter carp rod can fish dead baits and catch big river barbel), don't buy cult brands or suffer from status anxiety, pleasure fishing can still be reasonable. A pellet waggler rod makes an excellent perch, chub or tench float rod. It doesn't help that reels come with a single spool, spares are half the value of the reel and models have a shelf life like a mayfly, but own brands still sometimes come with 2 or 3 spools. A 4000 series reel can be used for roach and pike without too many compromises and the appropriate line. If your rods must say "barbel", "specimen" or "match" before you can be seen in public, you'll pay for the privilege.
Exactly….buy reels with three or four spools. Useable for several different disciplines, same with rods. A 2.75tc will do carp,pike and even barbel on rivers like the Trent. We make it more expensive than it needs to be, Im as guilty as the next man, it becomes a fashion parade.😊
I think that from a pleasure side of it fishing is only as expensive as you want to make it, I've been for a days fishing, had a breakfast payed for my share of petrol and brought whatever bait I needed (usually a couple of bags of pellets that has lasted 2 or 3 sessions) half a pint of maggots and some worms and had some change out of £30. Tackle only costs what you can afford to pay and most of it is used for long periods of time. As for match fishing I agree that you just go to where you can afford to enter a match and use whatever bait your pocket allows you to buy
Match fishing is now getting very expensive. Festivals in particular. Once you add up all the expense, you find yourself shaking your head. Just the odd open for me now in the UK, I can afford three festivals in Ireland by cutting back.
Nice listening to you on todays topic. I run a club of 16 anglers and our costs per match are Match/Dayticket £12.00 .(£2.00 goes in to Club funds). Pools £5.00 (£4 for 3 places and £1 Biggest Fish). Total £17.00.Optional Super Pools £5 each and Golden Peg £2 each. So if all in each Match £24.00. On top you have your bait. Maggotts £3.75 Pint, Corn and Meat and Pellets £?. Add Breakfast £10.00 and Fuel £10.00 Total if all in approx £60.00. The only way to save is to cut down on Pools, Dont have breakfast and Limit your Bait. Poss Saving £15.00 Max. All this is based on fishing matches at our local Fishery Warwick Wold approx 10 miles away. Great subject guys, keep them cumming,.
Interesting debate. Fact is the economy will always influence affordability of matches. This is nothing new and if venues offering "elite competition" find a drop-off in attendances, they will have to evolve to survive but that affects only a tiny proportion of match angling potential. It was clear in the 1990's that match angling would end-up in the position it is. "Local match of 30 anglers" - back then it would have been 40 to 60 even up to 100 anglers every weekend, especially in local winter leagues. Why? Because a proliferation in commercial fisheries split the customer base into small bands of anglers fishing an increased number of tiny so called matches, serving to fund the commercial enterprise. If anglers are now concerned about the price that's somewhat self-fulfilling. The whole thing is unnatural. The solution is very simple. If anglers consider they are or want to be the "elite" they need to be able to afford it. If they don't, then find something or start something affordable, but there is a massive black hole that will never be filled until society changes, if match fishing is to get back to, and progress from, where it once was and that is that parents need to take their kids fishing and, in parallel, clubs need to run structured kids events. Oh, but wait where did all the clubs go? Well, of course they folded at the same rate commercial fisheries appeared, leaving just the few very well run clubs to survive. This injection of family enthusiasm into the sport won't happen without societal change. Thus anything that isn't home, computer, or at least brief and conveniently, based will ultimately fizzle-out. We only have ourselves to blame if we fail to retain such opportunities for enjoyment, competition and associated wellbeing advantages to continue, long term.
Pleasure angling can be as cheap or expensive as you want to make it. Join a cheap local angling association (I am in Wigan DAA ~£40/year). I have a good choice of waters; canal rivers and ponds, (some of which are like commercials) and that hold a wide variety of species. I have a lot of tackle that I have accumulated over the years yet don't use use most of it. Generally I mainly use a cheap Maver match rod and a John Wilson Avon rod coupled with an old Mitchell Match and an old Mitchell 300 respectively. Lesson is don't be a tackle tart which I learnt the expensive way. Cheap can of sweetcorn, luncheon meat or a pint of maggots and that it. Match fishing on the other hand, or specialist carp fishing, can get very expensive.
I am also in Wigan and its only £27 a year being a OAP thats less than 10 pence a day I normally fish the canals and £15 will do me for the week and under £10 in winter
@@davidlee8999 Hello, could I ask you a few questions about the WDAA, I also live in Wigan and am just starting to get into fishing. Is the permit worth it for someone just starting? It seems to provide a variety of different waters and species? Thank you very much.
@@BenBoyer-wi2rg Being retired Ben the cost works out at about 50p a week so for me its a no brainer, for full paying anglers its still under a £1 a week again great value for money and like you mentioned there are several different venues and multiple species so for me I will always have a WDAA card I live 15 minutes from the canal and fish it 2-3 times a month in the summer months a bit less in the winter months by comparison Hall Lane commercial fishery costs me £6 a visit granted there are a lot more fish in Hall Lane than the canal but still great value for money hope this helps tight lines Ben
great video and there no doubt fishing like most things are getting more expensive , tackle can be as cheap or expensive as you want the pair of you were sat on £300+ boxes, and top kits I have seen other videos of top anglers with 30 + poles 2-5 thousand pounds fishing is no different than any other sport the better you become the need for better kit normally follows, but yesterday I pleasure fished my local commercial fishery for £10 which includes bait and petrol and still had bait left for sessions on the canal next week, disposable income will always dictate peoples participation in any activity, and commercial venues need to make a profit , as soon as bait / entry costs reduces attendance then things need to change and whilst half price entry helps if anglers cant afford the bait costs to compete then maybe limits need to be applied
Great subject, one thing you missed was some of us in the north, proper north! ( Northumberland ) have no choice but to travel 1 1/2 minimum hours each way to fish top quality commercial fisheries.
It's to expensive for 80 % of anglers here you needed 3kg of chop worms to compete casters and maggots ,,,1 kg of worms use to do it then sponsored anglers bringing more and more the matches went from 25 to last Sunday 5,fished ,
I’ve had this very debate more times than I care to admit. Times have changed and fisheries have evolved, along with an angler’s expectations of their intended quarry. We’re no longer content with a local pond where we can win with 10lb of silvers and maybe 1/2 carp. Commercials often give easier access without the need to walk far. We’ve been spoiled essentially 😳
Great article this. Like anything prices have rocketed. I’m an average club angler. We have a match a month. I’ll watch a vid about a lake or seasonal tactics and stick to it. I’m finding a trip to my local tackle shop for a pack of hooks, a feeder or 2 , a few pellets and a replacement bit or bob that broke or a new elastic I’m walking out of shop £25 to £30 down. £10 pools, and fuel and looking at £50 quid a match. I love it but people are leaving the club as it’s too much.
I never throw groundbait away these day,bag it and freeze it.. £10 for 2kg of groundbait...maggots are put in airtight containers then fridged,they'll keep fresh and alive for weeks...
One subject not much touched on in the video, was the cost of tackle, which did not suprise me , as the presenters are sponsored, which means every item of tackle I buy, pays for their free kit. The tackle and bait maunufacturers are destroying match fishing because juniors are not coming through the system, (to replace all the "50 something". guys you see at the big matches) as the kit is priced beyond, their means. I am off the opinion, that the likes of Preston, Guru, Matrix, need to reduce prices, to ensure the future of match fishing
back when i was younger and fising a match once a week ona friday evening after school bait was always the cheepest part living less than a mile from a maggot farm i could fill a 5l tub up with maggots for £1 would do the few hours match ona friday and cover all the weekend and afterschool during the weeks fishing, following weekend id go again and have some casters from what ever maggots i had left from week before. back garden was full of worms so that was another esay bait for free. this was 15 years ago now i live on the coast so mostly sea fish and ocasionally carp fish
Rob saying 25 quid is all u need to go for a days fishing is bit like saying if u have 25 quid for petrol u can go 4 a drive but not mentioning u might need a car too...ok fishing can be as cheap or dear as u make it..but if u wanna be competitive its expensive in my eyes..so i dont match fish..
Many big matches these days are providing income for “content creators” on facebook & you tube hence the large sums required to enter “prestigious” competitions, does this happen in other sports? Beware of what you wish for!
Hiya a prime example of the cost of things is it costs around 50pounds to watch a premier league game for 90 minutes where as 50 quid would buy a good days match fishing whith your mates and the possibility of a small return I know what I would sooner be doing on a Saturday
i have only attended 2 matched blanked on 1 and the other i won on luncheon meat/sweet corn a feeder rod and a black recycle box as my seat these was my only 2 matches (i say was because my last experience was horrible even though i won, long story) but to be fair if there was bait restriction IE cant use luncheon meat sweet corn or bread i don't think i would have bothered as now i'm a carper after that match when i caught my first carp, for me personally if i was to join matches again i would have to be allowed to use meat/corn/bread and just take it in my stride and enjoy the day out and whatever happens happens doing matches doesn't have to be expensive and as long as you are having fun.
The cost of equipment is certainly too expensive. What was the cost of those seats that you are sitting on? The rods/poles that you use? This is where the real expense is. I am just a pleasure angler. I don't pay to fish commercials, I just fish the river and local lakes.
I don’t see where any pleasure is in match fishing. Just go fish as cheap and easy as you can, why stress for money you probably won’t win ? Life too short. Can’t see enjoyment and relaxing in match fishing.
im a single guy spend 90% of my earnings on fishing i love it. to be fair you get out of it what you put in look at lee and rob fishing at the highest level loads of gold medals look at bagger and mr hughes they give it everything yes they might get there tackle free but i bet befor that they spent loads on it just go out and enjoy yourself its great sport i wish some pools were more
I only pleasure fish, I think its out pricing for pleasure fishing. I can't afford the luxury of buying a cheap £1.000 pole or £350 seat box, i have to buy a 2nd hand box big and bulky, our local commercial fishery is £12.00 a day, you add the rest of the tackle and then bait its getting very expensive let alone going match fishing. As a retired gentleman of a certain age would you not think commercial fisheries could lower prices for pensioners. As you said cost of living, travel costs and then bait (which isn't cheap) every little helps 👍👍👍🎣🎣🎣
The big money qualifiers are madness, and they are now only for the elite level/professional angler. In reality on the open circuit the pools has never moved with inflation and it should be £50 now but obviously that is impossible for everyone. A pick up on a match now won’t cover the day. I can afford to enter still but my solution would be to do away with pools or lower it to say £5 so it takes out the financial aspect but keeps the competitive element. Im all for the 13m pole limit to
Your talking north of 130 quid now to fish a match, Thats including tickets,pools,superpools(which i hate) baits, fuel, topping up your tackle, food and drink. Theres to many big money matches now and of course they come at premium with ticket prices. I do think superpools need banning id much rather pay £10 extra and give the cash to the fishery and get them to put food on for everyone ever after the match, as the social side of fishing after a fishing match is shocking. And its the fishery that needs supporting not a silly superpool.
Yep . That's why I shop online for certain stuff.. some cheaper gear is better than the expensive gear but all your paying for is the name like you do for trainers etc..nike Adidas,,
I think the qualifiers for big money finals limit who can go most working men & women cant afford all the tickets petrol plus who's getting all this time off work ,& then all bait makes it impossible for ordinary working people 🤔🤔
Yes it's getting expensive, and the equipment is already out of reach of a large number of people and bait is getting on the expensive side as well. Lindholme have done a fantastic gesture to get people back on the banks.
The cost of tackle is only going up as well because its a captive market. Dont get me wrong, its a great sport and I love it but its hard when you see 2kg of groundbait go up in price by £4 and will only go up further, but for me its a pleasure and I will spend that for a days happiness but not everyone can which is sad to see. I have seen too many anglers give up becuase its getting too expensive even for pleasure angling.
I don’t think it’s dearer than trying to compete at golf at a high level ? Pleasure angler has many options to keep the cost down including joining a club not opting for the very best kit you don’t need to have some fun
I drive 130 miles round trip, roughly £17, £25 pools, £7 breakfast, £15 bait = £64 pw. If I pick up a top 3 and maybe a section in a month happy days, my outlay is halved. If not, I’m still happy 😃
I drive 50 miles round trip,roughly £4.30. Breakfast at home. £7.00 bait =£12.50. £25.00 pools. =£37.50. Can be as expensive as you make it. To win between £25.00 and £120.
@@davidwescott2632 : Think these people have forgotten how to eat at home. We’ve become Americanised whereby everybody ( or most) want to eat and drink out all the time. Think where McDonalds,Costa,Burgerking and KFC comes from….its not even convenient, you have to go and get it.Easier to open a sandwich box
YES IT IS FROM A WORKERS PASTIME ITS BECOME ALL ABOUT MONEY AND YES YOU CAN GET BUDGET GEAR,,,, BUT 1 NO ONE WILL TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY AND 2 YOU WONT FEEL YOUR FISHING CORRECTLY ..IS IT THE ROD THE LINE THIS PLASTIC REEL ,THEY HAVE GREAT GEAR,, I DON,T ,,AT SOME POINT THE CHEEP STUFF WILL NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH SAD BUT TRUE,,
Commercial fishery owners have got too greedy! My local F1 mecca charges £26 pool's they take £11 peg fee and £15 into the pools, not i ncluding bait. Compair that to my local association canal match £10 pools £5 optional and no peg fee or £20 pools and £2 stock fund.
The price of poles are a joke- too compete with the top guys that fish 16 meters of pole with untold top kits and gallons of casters you need bundles of dough- too me thats not fishing-
£25 is still to much for a pensioner, there is no free fishing anywhere anymore thanks to [ maggie ] with her getting around the magna carta. and having to have a fishing license, then you either buy a day ticket or pay for membership of a club, then you talk of £25 as if its nothing, worked all my life and now cant afford to go fishing with the cost of getting there and the long walks to a peg, unlike the commercials where you can park at you peg. i know its cheap to some but to expensive for me. maybe once a month at most. this is why fishing is dying where can kids go without money.
It,s like most mens hobbies or passt times,Mines bigger than yours, scenario,s, Jezz being an oap ican feed myself for a week for a pint of bloodworm,LOL.
Who cares about gay match fishing i mean if you really love fishing you would be happy sitting on shore at the beach or whatever of the rocks at the river and guess what,it hardly costs a cent.
@derekskinner One expample-If folks insist on buying fancy ground bait like punch crumb which is advertised as the dogs whatsits-for £5 or £6 a bag --when you can buy a cheap loaf for 45p in the supermarket and liquidise it which does exactly the same or even a better job -and having to have the latest tackle that is being advertised by the experts as must have--fishing WILL be expensive. as for day ticket prices at some commercials, they are starting to take the piss.
I agree with what you are saying there, for example one fishery near me charges either £15 a day or £10 a day if you pay £50 membership just to fish for silvers and their tackle shop and cafe are also overpriced compared to everywhere else around me
As a pleasure angler that fishes the odd match (unsuccessfully) I personally think fishing is relatively inexpensive. You have to weigh up the cost against enjoyment and I always have a smile on my face when I’m fishing
Elite fishing is expensive.but I say if you can't afford it don't go. If I could afford to fish with the elite lads I would but i cant . so I stay local with the lads and I love it . Especially the banter💪🎣
True. I can’t afford it either. I don’t have enough time to compete with the elites, nor do I have the money and I too stick with a local club with some good, all round lads.
I love my fishing, I don't do matches and fish mostly club waters by myself. The benefit I get from being outside with my thoughts and nature, far outweigh any monetary costs.
I think you're missing the point, the real cost is the kit. The way to make fishing cheaper is stopping the mass mark up on buckets for example quid at b and q and 10.99 at tackle shop.
Poles should be 13m tops that reduces tackle costs by 2k
Like any sport or hobby, fishing can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want it to be. Yes, there are basic costs that are unavoidable, but the "arms race" mentality, not to mention the chasing after status vis the acquisition of state of the art gear few really need or can do justice to, is the reason many overspend. Assuming the discussion is about match fishing, it's true that you can't compete with an Argos all-in-one starter kit, but once you have equipped yourself with good quality, but not silly money tackle, you are good to go. Look after it and it will last. Replace it when it's no longer useful, not because it's last year's model. Forget the expensive breakfasts, the super pools (that many only enter because they don't want others to laugh at them), the gallons of bait that are usually discarded at the end of the day, the Gore Tex team clothing, etc, etc and fish at your level or just slightly above it (you have to be honest with yourself about your capabilities). There's little point fishing against internationals unless you are in their league. They win so often for a reason - they're better than most of us. It's as simple as that.
I fish the open matchs on the Norfolk rivers and I reckon each match costs upwards of £100 with Diesel, Breakfast at the draw, minimum 1kg worms, a gallon of assorted casters, maggots, squat, hemp, pinkies, potentially 6 bags of groundbait, entry fee, pools, a couple of pints at the presentation at the end, it got to be too much this year, my work almost dried up and I told my wife that her and the kids couldnt go abroad, I felt that spending upwards of a 100 quid to go fishing was too much and I actually stopped going, I have fished for the last 50 odd years and this is the first year that has happened
Fishing for 50 years and told your wife and kids they couldn’t go abroad this year 😂😂😂……who are you kidding ?????
Better angler's tie their own hooks, even better angler's breed their own bait, even better angler's mill their own ground-bait & invent their own tackle. It's all about keeping things simple & cost effective. And if you invent new tackle, you keep it to yourself for as long as you can. I'm mid-forties, I can do all of the above. When I win my section, I'm instantly in profit and not breaking even or just winning my money back. Either you are good... Or you've read too many magazines and just think you're good.
@@Tony-gu4sz so what's matches have you won what are your accolades? Love to no cause your pretty confident your the best ?
Do a video where you kit yourselves top to toe with kit, let’s say a grand (I’m sure most match anglers will av spent £1000 on tackle) and go see if you can compete. That’d be interesting 🤔
I think Rob comes over as a bit of a Bounty hunter if I’m honest , lots go for the crack meeting up with mates and the competition and potential money is a good bonus
Sonbaits 2 kg groundbait, was £5.99 now £9.99
Yup that cost increase is wild.
Yes and Some manufacturers have shrunken the bag sizes pellets used to be a kilo bag now a days 900 grams or less
@@mickbrooks8114: Think Nash started that with their boilies….what hacks me off is if you confronted them they still somehow manage to justify it. If you going to raise your prices just do it but who the fuck would put 900gms in a bag unless they’re trying to hoodwink their customers. Korda done the same with their Floss…..changed the packaging and cut the amount on the spool by 40%….robbing bastards.
They must think everyone is thick !!!!
Joke...freeze all my unused these days
Match fishing cost is too much that’s why most the matches don’t have any younger anglers coming through
Stopped match/club fishing 5 years ago... carp venues, one after another... increasing costs, got sick of mouth damaged carp day in day out... heavier gear needed every year... net limits, bait limits, ( don't get me started on the big fishery pellet con) peg limits... sold the lot, bought a split cane rod centerpin reel and loving the sport once more... and you guy 0:11 s wonder why match attendances are falling away...?
I think the biggest problem area is probably f1 venue open matches in the summer. People often need 8 pints of maggots or casters, worms, and a couple of kg's of groundbait. Unless you're getting bait provided by a sponsor, that's getting for just under £50 of bait. Add to that £30 match entry etc, and in a field of say 20 anglers - only the top 2 (maybe 3...) are getting their costs back...but then compare a day's fishing cost, with that of watching a premier league game (probably £60+) for 90 mins, or a day at the cricket (£120+...)
Big money matches need to drop in price to 30 quid ticket 20 pound pools.make the final prize 25 grand.
My local is partridge,it cost 26 to enter,20 pound bait bill,breakfast and fuel.
Win ur section which is 40 pound and ur still at a loss.
I personally believe Rob hit the nail on the head when he said it was a arms race.
I along with friends stopped doing our local open some time ago due to the cost of pools. Why do so many people want to gamble loosing pools money week in week out.
We did several open matches where ALL pools money went to charity. This went down like a lead ballooon.
There has to be a lot of spare money in circulation. I can't afford to do any form of gambling.
It's your money at the end of the day, spend it as you wish!
All the gear and no idea . Most tackle and baits are marketed to catch the angler not fish .
Fishing has never been cheap but people are bringing the subject up because of the country’s situation! Hats off to lindholme for helping out but I would still fish matches regardless of cost it’s a lifestyle choice
i think the reason for the rising cost is the fact that in a lot of commercial venues these days in the warmer months, you need 200lb to even come close to framing, so you need the bait to feed them into your peg. So i think if stocking levels were lower on match lakes, there wold be not as much need for a gallon of casters/maggots etc. we used to have great matches where the target was 20lb, lots of venues still do, but it doesnt look good in the angling times if a commercial was won with 20lb in the summer, as people want massive weights now. Higher expected winning weights is driving the cost of entering a match
Unfortunately the way to sort this is limits but this also means some people will catch less than they do now.. White Acres have operated bait limits and venues should do similar. It would also reduce the impact of venue experts/specialists which can put people off. Tackle limits should be considered, a 13m pole limit across the board would level things and enable youngsters to get into matches, even top kit limits, how about 6 kits set up at any one time, I see open anglers on F1 venues with 10 short kits set up, plus other long kits also set up.
still get ripped of with fisheries own pellets they are usually skrettings you can buy a sack for £40 last all year
As someone with zero interest in commercial fisheries, I don't find angling particularly expensive. If you double up gear (a lighter carp rod can fish dead baits and catch big river barbel), don't buy cult brands or suffer from status anxiety, pleasure fishing can still be reasonable. A pellet waggler rod makes an excellent perch, chub or tench float rod. It doesn't help that reels come with a single spool, spares are half the value of the reel and models have a shelf life like a mayfly, but own brands still sometimes come with 2 or 3 spools. A 4000 series reel can be used for roach and pike without too many compromises and the appropriate line. If your rods must say "barbel", "specimen" or "match" before you can be seen in public, you'll pay for the privilege.
Exactly….buy reels with three or four spools. Useable for several different disciplines, same with rods. A 2.75tc will do carp,pike and even barbel on rivers like the Trent. We make it more expensive than it needs to be, Im as guilty as the next man, it becomes a fashion parade.😊
I think that from a pleasure side of it fishing is only as expensive as you want to make it, I've been for a days fishing, had a breakfast payed for my share of petrol and brought whatever bait I needed (usually a couple of bags of pellets that has lasted 2 or 3 sessions) half a pint of maggots and some worms and had some change out of £30. Tackle only costs what you can afford to pay and most of it is used for long periods of time. As for match fishing I agree that you just go to where you can afford to enter a match and use whatever bait your pocket allows you to buy
Match fishing is now getting very expensive. Festivals in particular. Once you add up all the expense, you find yourself shaking your head. Just the odd open for me now in the UK, I can afford three festivals in Ireland by cutting back.
Being sponsored is a massive advantage in my opinion.
Nice listening to you on todays topic. I run a club of 16 anglers and our costs per match are Match/Dayticket £12.00 .(£2.00 goes in to Club funds). Pools £5.00 (£4 for 3 places and £1 Biggest Fish). Total £17.00.Optional Super Pools £5 each and Golden Peg £2 each. So if all in each Match £24.00. On top you have your bait. Maggotts £3.75 Pint, Corn and Meat and Pellets £?. Add Breakfast £10.00 and Fuel £10.00 Total if all in approx £60.00. The only way to save is to cut down on Pools, Dont have breakfast and Limit your Bait. Poss Saving £15.00 Max. All this is based on fishing matches at our local Fishery Warwick Wold approx 10 miles away. Great subject guys, keep them cumming,.
Interesting debate.
Fact is the economy will always influence affordability of matches.
This is nothing new and if venues offering "elite competition" find a drop-off in attendances, they will have to evolve to survive but that affects only a tiny proportion of match angling potential.
It was clear in the 1990's that match angling would end-up in the position it is.
"Local match of 30 anglers" - back then it would have been 40 to 60 even up to 100 anglers every weekend, especially in local winter leagues.
Why? Because a proliferation in commercial fisheries split the customer base into small bands of anglers fishing an increased number of tiny so called matches, serving to fund the commercial enterprise.
If anglers are now concerned about the price that's somewhat self-fulfilling. The whole thing is unnatural.
The solution is very simple.
If anglers consider they are or want to be the "elite" they need to be able to afford it. If they don't, then find something or start something affordable, but there is a massive black hole that will never be filled until society changes, if match fishing is to get back to, and progress from, where it once was and that is that parents need to take their kids fishing and, in parallel, clubs need to run structured kids events.
Oh, but wait where did all the clubs go? Well, of course they folded at the same rate commercial fisheries appeared, leaving just the few very well run clubs to survive.
This injection of family enthusiasm into the sport won't happen without societal change.
Thus anything that isn't home, computer, or at least brief and conveniently, based will ultimately fizzle-out.
We only have ourselves to blame if we fail to retain such opportunities for enjoyment, competition and associated wellbeing advantages to continue, long term.
Pleasure angling can be as cheap or expensive as you want to make it. Join a cheap local angling association (I am in Wigan DAA ~£40/year). I have a good choice of waters; canal rivers and ponds, (some of which are like commercials) and that hold a wide variety of species. I have a lot of tackle that I have accumulated over the years yet don't use use most of it. Generally I mainly use a cheap Maver match rod and a John Wilson Avon rod coupled with an old Mitchell Match and an old Mitchell 300 respectively. Lesson is don't be a tackle tart which I learnt the expensive way. Cheap can of sweetcorn, luncheon meat or a pint of maggots and that it. Match fishing on the other hand, or specialist carp fishing, can get very expensive.
I am also in Wigan and its only £27 a year being a OAP thats less than 10 pence a day I normally fish the canals and £15 will do me for the week and under £10 in winter
@@davidlee8999 Hello, could I ask you a few questions about the WDAA, I also live in Wigan and am just starting to get into fishing. Is the permit worth it for someone just starting? It seems to provide a variety of different waters and species? Thank you very much.
@@BenBoyer-wi2rg Being retired Ben the cost works out at about 50p a week so for me its a no brainer, for full paying anglers its still under a £1 a week again great value for money and like you mentioned there are several different venues and multiple species so for me I will always have a WDAA card I live 15 minutes from the canal and fish it 2-3 times a month in the summer months a bit less in the winter months by comparison Hall Lane commercial fishery costs me £6 a visit granted there are a lot more fish in Hall Lane than the canal but still great value for money hope this helps tight lines Ben
great video and there no doubt fishing like most things are getting more expensive , tackle can be as cheap or expensive as you want the pair of you were sat on £300+ boxes, and top kits I have seen other videos of top anglers with 30 + poles 2-5 thousand pounds fishing is no different than any other sport the better you become the need for better kit normally follows, but yesterday I pleasure fished my local commercial fishery for £10 which includes bait and petrol and still had bait left for sessions on the canal next week, disposable income will always dictate peoples participation in any activity, and commercial venues need to make a profit , as soon as bait / entry costs reduces attendance then things need to change and whilst half price entry helps if anglers cant afford the bait costs to compete then maybe limits need to be applied
Great subject, one thing you missed was some of us in the north, proper north! ( Northumberland ) have no choice but to travel 1 1/2 minimum hours each way to fish top quality commercial fisheries.
Never really been cheap but by the time you factor in bait,petrol,food,tackle a trip fishing is a minimum of £30+ each trip.
Excellent discussion . As you say each to his own .
It's to expensive for 80 % of anglers here you needed 3kg of chop worms to compete casters and maggots ,,,1 kg of worms use to do it then sponsored anglers bringing more and more the matches went from 25 to last Sunday 5,fished ,
I’ve had this very debate more times than I care to admit. Times have changed and fisheries have evolved, along with an angler’s expectations of their intended quarry. We’re no longer content with a local pond where we can win with 10lb of silvers and maybe 1/2 carp. Commercials often give easier access without the need to walk far. We’ve been spoiled essentially 😳
Great article this. Like anything prices have rocketed. I’m an average club angler. We have a match a month. I’ll watch a vid about a lake or seasonal tactics and stick to it. I’m finding a trip to my local tackle shop for a pack of hooks, a feeder or 2 , a few pellets and a replacement bit or bob that broke or a new elastic I’m walking out of shop £25 to £30 down. £10 pools, and fuel and looking at £50 quid a match. I love it but people are leaving the club as it’s too much.
I never throw groundbait away these day,bag it and freeze it.. £10 for 2kg of groundbait...maggots are put in airtight containers then fridged,they'll keep fresh and alive for weeks...
One subject not much touched on in the video, was the cost of tackle, which did not suprise me , as the presenters are sponsored, which means every item of tackle I buy, pays for their free kit. The tackle and bait maunufacturers are destroying match fishing because juniors are not coming through the system, (to replace all the "50 something". guys you see at the big matches) as the kit is priced beyond, their means. I am off the opinion, that the likes of Preston, Guru, Matrix, need to reduce prices, to ensure the future of match fishing
How much does it cost to go to a football match against a days fishing
back when i was younger and fising a match once a week ona friday evening after school bait was always the cheepest part living less than a mile from a maggot farm i could fill a 5l tub up with maggots for £1 would do the few hours match ona friday and cover all the weekend and afterschool during the weeks fishing, following weekend id go again and have some casters from what ever maggots i had left from week before. back garden was full of worms so that was another esay bait for free. this was 15 years ago now i live on the coast so mostly sea fish and ocasionally carp fish
Rob saying 25 quid is all u need to go for a days fishing is bit like saying if u have 25 quid for petrol u can go 4 a drive but not mentioning u might need a car too...ok fishing can be as cheap or dear as u make it..but if u wanna be competitive its expensive in my eyes..so i dont match fish..
Many big matches these days are providing income for “content creators” on facebook & you tube hence the large sums required to enter “prestigious” competitions, does this happen in other sports? Beware of what you wish for!
Go to Southfield Reservoir midweeker, 20 quid pools and not much bait or tackle required.
Hiya a prime example of the cost of things is it costs around 50pounds to watch a premier league game for 90 minutes where as 50 quid would buy a good days match fishing whith your mates and the possibility of a small return I know what I would sooner be doing on a Saturday
i have only attended 2 matched blanked on 1 and the other i won on luncheon meat/sweet corn a feeder rod and a black recycle box as my seat these was my only 2 matches (i say was because my last experience was horrible even though i won, long story) but to be fair if there was bait restriction IE cant use luncheon meat sweet corn or bread i don't think i would have bothered as now i'm a carper after that match when i caught my first carp, for me personally if i was to join matches again i would have to be allowed to use meat/corn/bread and just take it in my stride and enjoy the day out and whatever happens happens doing matches doesn't have to be expensive and as long as you are having fun.
My grandson likes football, I take him occasionally to watch our local team, well over 100 pounds for the day out.
The cost of equipment is certainly too expensive. What was the cost of those seats that you are sitting on? The rods/poles that you use? This is where the real expense is.
I am just a pleasure angler. I don't pay to fish commercials, I just fish the river and local lakes.
I don’t see where any pleasure is in match fishing. Just go fish as cheap and easy as you can, why stress for money you probably won’t win ? Life too short. Can’t see enjoyment and relaxing in match fishing.
im a single guy spend 90% of my earnings on fishing i love it. to be fair you get out of it what you put in look at lee and rob fishing at the highest level loads of gold medals look at bagger and mr hughes they give it everything yes they might get there tackle free but i bet befor that they spent loads on it just go out and enjoy yourself its great sport i wish some pools were more
It's now £35 plus bait plus fuel.....£55 plus...
I only pleasure fish, I think its out pricing for pleasure fishing. I can't afford the luxury of buying a cheap £1.000 pole or £350 seat box, i have to buy a 2nd hand box big and bulky, our local commercial fishery is £12.00 a day, you add the rest of the tackle and then bait its getting very expensive let alone going match fishing. As a retired gentleman of a certain age would you not think commercial fisheries could lower prices for pensioners. As you said cost of living, travel costs and then bait (which isn't cheap) every little helps 👍👍👍🎣🎣🎣
The big money qualifiers are madness, and they are now only for the elite level/professional angler. In reality on the open circuit the pools has never moved with inflation and it should be £50 now but obviously that is impossible for everyone. A pick up on a match now won’t cover the day. I can afford to enter still but my solution would be to do away with pools or lower it to say £5 so it takes out the financial aspect but keeps the competitive element. Im all for the 13m pole limit to
its not about the money ..... how many matches you fished ? match fishing is all out mercenary at times
Get your platform level man!
Your talking north of 130 quid now to fish a match, Thats including tickets,pools,superpools(which i hate) baits, fuel, topping up your tackle, food and drink. Theres to many big money matches now and of course they come at premium with ticket prices. I do think superpools need banning id much rather pay £10 extra and give the cash to the fishery and get them to put food on for everyone ever after the match, as the social side of fishing after a fishing match is shocking. And its the fishery that needs supporting not a silly superpool.
Yep . That's why I shop online for certain stuff.. some cheaper gear is better than the expensive gear but all your paying for is the name like you do for trainers etc..nike Adidas,,
I think the qualifiers for big money finals limit who can go most working men & women cant afford all the tickets petrol plus who's getting all this time off work ,& then all bait makes it impossible for ordinary working people 🤔🤔
Yes it's getting expensive, and the equipment is already out of reach of a large number of people and bait is getting on the expensive side as well. Lindholme have done a fantastic gesture to get people back on the banks.
What have they done ?
The cost of tackle is only going up as well because its a captive market. Dont get me wrong, its a great sport and I love it but its hard when you see 2kg of groundbait go up in price by £4 and will only go up further, but for me its a pleasure and I will spend that for a days happiness but not everyone can which is sad to see. I have seen too many anglers give up becuase its getting too expensive even for pleasure angling.
I don’t think it’s dearer than trying to compete at golf at a high level ? Pleasure angler has many options to keep the cost down including joining a club not opting for the very best kit you don’t need to have some fun
way too expensive for a lot of pleasure anglers
Yes end of
Ground-bait has doubled in price , fisheries are now £8 a day plus , and some of there pegs are atrocious, even well established fisheries !
Only if you believe you need all the gear featured in sponsored videos. 😅😅
fishing is expensive as you make it, local teams with waters are not expensive, depends how many matches you do
I drive 130 miles round trip, roughly £17, £25 pools, £7 breakfast, £15 bait = £64 pw. If I pick up a top 3 and maybe a section in a month happy days, my outlay is halved. If not, I’m still happy 😃
I drive 50 miles round trip,roughly £4.30. Breakfast at home. £7.00 bait =£12.50. £25.00 pools. =£37.50. Can be as expensive as you make it. To win between £25.00 and £120.
@@davidwescott2632 : Think these people have forgotten how to eat at home. We’ve become Americanised whereby everybody ( or most) want to eat and drink out all the time. Think where McDonalds,Costa,Burgerking and KFC comes from….its not even convenient, you have to go and get it.Easier to open a sandwich box
YES IT IS FROM A WORKERS PASTIME ITS BECOME ALL ABOUT MONEY AND YES YOU CAN GET BUDGET GEAR,,,, BUT 1 NO ONE WILL TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY AND 2 YOU WONT FEEL YOUR FISHING CORRECTLY ..IS IT THE ROD THE LINE THIS PLASTIC REEL ,THEY HAVE GREAT GEAR,, I DON,T ,,AT SOME POINT THE CHEEP STUFF WILL NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH SAD BUT TRUE,,
Commercial fishery owners have got too greedy! My local F1 mecca charges £26 pool's they take £11 peg fee and £15 into the pools, not i ncluding bait. Compair that to my local association canal match £10 pools £5 optional and no peg fee or £20 pools and £2 stock fund.
You guys are sponsored , unlike most anglers fishing against you. Just saying it’s a big advantage
The price of poles are a joke- too compete with the top guys that fish 16 meters of pole with untold top kits and gallons of casters you need bundles of dough- too me thats not fishing-
£25 is still to much for a pensioner, there is no free fishing anywhere anymore thanks to [ maggie ] with her getting around the magna carta. and having to have a fishing license, then you either buy a day ticket or pay for membership of a club, then you talk of £25 as if its nothing, worked all my life and now cant afford to go fishing with the cost of getting there and the long walks to a peg, unlike the commercials where you can park at you peg. i know its cheap to some but to expensive for me. maybe once a month at most. this is why fishing is dying where can kids go without money.
SAME O,D STORY REDUDUCE PRIRICES GET SAME INCOME
It,s like most mens hobbies or passt times,Mines bigger than yours, scenario,s, Jezz being an oap ican feed myself for a week for a pint of bloodworm,LOL.
Who cares about gay match fishing i mean if you really love fishing you would be happy sitting on shore at the beach or whatever of the rocks at the river and guess what,it hardly costs a cent.
@derekskinner
One expample-If folks insist on buying fancy ground bait like punch crumb which is advertised as the dogs whatsits-for £5 or £6 a bag --when you can buy a cheap loaf for 45p in the supermarket and liquidise it which does exactly the same or even a better job -and having to have the latest tackle that is being advertised by the experts as must have--fishing WILL be expensive. as for day ticket prices at some commercials, they are starting to take the piss.
I agree with what you are saying there, for example one fishery near me charges either £15 a day or £10 a day if you pay £50 membership just to fish for silvers and their tackle shop and cafe are also overpriced compared to everywhere else around me