Match fishing isn’t about sitting back and waiting for a bite. It’s about reading the water, feeding with purpose, and staying one step ahead of the blokes in your section. Whether it’s a Sunday club knock-up or a 60-peg open where you could find yourself next to a world champion, every match asks you the same question, can you figure it out faster than everyone else?
These nine match fishing tips make a difference. Whether you're fishing your local club match or chasing a frame in your first open, they’ll help you catch more and waste less time.
Fish the match, not the lake
It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to catch everything that swims. However, matches are won by catching what counts, not what’s easiest and before you even open your holdall, you need to know what sort of weight is needed to win, what species tend to show up, and what tactics normally score.
If carp have been winning it, don’t sit catching roach all day, but if it's tight and ounces matter, don’t spend an hour blanking for one lump. Get a grip on what you need to do, not what you want to do.
IF YOUR FISHING A MATCH THEN YOU'RE GOING TO NEED THE BEST FISHING KEEPNETS.
Prep beats luck every time
People moan about bad draws, but the best anglers seem to ‘get lucky’ more often than everyone else. That’s not luck, it's preparation.
Have your rigs right and your bait prepped properly and setup in a way that keeps everything on hand. If you need to re-tie a rig, top up a line, or switch tactics mid-match, it should be second nature and being prepared saves you time, leaving more time to catch fish.
CHECK OUT THIS EXPERT GUIDE FOR THE BEST POLE RIG MAKING TIPS.
Don’t feed for the sake of feeding
Big pots and loud slaps might look good, but match fishing is rarely about showing off. It’s about feeding just enough to keep fish coming without overdoing it.
On busy venues, less is often more, and small amounts of bait falling through the water is often key to attracting fish. The old adage of 'you can put the bait in, but you can’t take it out' is as true today as it ever was. If a line dies, ask yourself why before piling more in as it can often be detrimental when a rig tweak might have been all that was needed. Feeding is the most important part of any match, and the easiest thing to get wrong.
LOOSEFEED ACCURATELY WITH ONE OF THE BEST FISHING CATAPULTS.
Break it down
The best match anglers split the day into phases and usually the first hour is about settling nerves and keeping an eye out to observe what other anglers are doing around you. During the middle of the match, it tends to be difficult, especially on big carp venues, so putting anything in the net can keep you ticking over until the final hours where most of your weight will be caught.
Have a plan for each phase of the match, but be prepared to change it. The match will rarely follow the script you had when setting up, but if you can adapt and have the ability to change, it will help you catch more fish and win more matches!
THE BEST MARGIN POLES ARE GREAT FOR EXTRACTING THE BIGGEST EDGE DWELLERS.
Fish your own match
Especially in opens, it’s tempting to keep looking around, this is good in one sense to see how others are catching. It does pay to be cautious though, and if you see someone bagging and then suddenly your 12oz skimmers feel pointless, don't be tempted to chase by coming off feeding fish. Chasing someone else’s match almost never works and often when it comes to weighing in, you won't be far behind and will kick yourself for not catching more of the fish you had feeding.
Stick to your plan and focus on your peg. If someone’s mugging carp and you’re not set up for it, let them have it. You’re not trying to copy them, you’re trying to beat the people around you with what you can do. Learn from others, but don’t abandon your match to play catch-up.
THE BEST FISHING POLES ARE PERFECT FOR MATCH FISHING.
Club vs open matches
Club matches are great for learning. You’re fishing against mates, the atmosphere’s relaxed, and mistakes don’t cost much, but opens tend to be a complete contrast with the best anglers competing to win.
You might draw next to an international, a Fish’O winner or even someone with their name on a rod, but don't be put off, you can beat them! Everyone is fishing to the same rules for the same fish and that’s one of the best things about match fishing, it’s brutally fair. If you make better decisions than the angler next to you, it doesn’t matter how many sponsors they’ve got stitched on their Windstopper, you can and will beat them!
OUR WHERE TO FISH GUIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE BEST VENUES FOR A CLUB MATCH.
Keep notes
Keep notes on your phone, or better still, start a match diary documenting what worked and what didn’t. It is always surprising how patterns emerge which can help you in matches years down the line, while it won't always work, it can stand you in good stead and give you a head start over other anglers!
After ten matches, you’ll have more knowledge than you realise. You’ll remember that 5m line didn’t work in cold water, that corn outscored pellet in coloured conditions or that the fish didn’t come in the edge until the last 45 minutes.
This is how you level up fast, by learning from your own fishing, not just copying others.
THE BEST FISHING GADGETS CAN HELP YOU BE MORE EFFICIENT ON THE BANK.
Control what you can
You can’t control the draw, the weather or who’s on the next peg, but what you can control is your prep, your mindset, and how well you fish the peg.
If you draw badly, fish it well as what works on a bad peg will win you the match on a good one. If it is flat calm when you need a ripple, adapt your approach and feeding to catch what you can. Match fishing’s full of excuses if you’re looking for them, but it rewards anglers who just crack on and get the best out of the peg.
MAKE SURE YOU WEIGH FISH SAFELY AND CORRECTLY WITH THIS HELPFUL GUIDE.
Practice and prep make perfect
You don’t need flash gear, or a famous name, what you need is a solid plan, the discipline to stick with it, and the confidence to change it when the signs say it’s not right. Match fishing is about solving the puzzle faster than the bloke next to you, that’s all it ever is.
Every decision you make, every rig you tie, every handful of bait - it all adds up. Learn from your mistakes, trust what you know, and fish to your strengths, because even on the toughest days, when you're drawn next to a big name, your prep, your judgement, and your focus are what gives you the edge.
And when it clicks, when you’ve read it right and fished it well, there’s no better feeling in the sport.
EXECUTE THE BEST MATCH FISHING PLAN WITH THE BEST FISHING RODS.
