Throughout my Angling Life, I have had the pleasure and honour to fish with many great anglers. From World Champions, National Champions and natural winners, there are so many. I have had the pleasure of fishing for top match fishing teams in Trev’s Browning, Daiwa Dorking and Team Image. I have fished Nationals, Winter Leagues, Super Leagues, Invitation matches and many big matches. I have rubbed shoulders with the very best, and many have impressed me with their dedication and shear natural ability. Here I will name the top ten anglers that have had a impact on my fishing, and try to explain what makes them all born winners. Here goes……
- Graham Dack – Defiant Mobile, Trev’s Browning, Team Image.
Graham has probably had the greatest influence on my match fishing career than anyone else. My old travelling partner, we have fished nationals, winter league finals, UK Championships, and countless big matches. Graham was the person who put me up to join Trev’s Browning back in 1989, I used to sit behind him on local matches, eager eyed and trying to learn. We enjoyed great times at Trev’s, bounced off each other with ideas, and he was and still is an angler that commands my utmost respect. He is so good at catching fish, a real natural angler, who’s whole life revolves around fishing. I have witnessed Graham catch chub on the waggler on the Thames, 300lb of carp at Decoy winning a big final, to catching 2lb of gudgeon for a section win on the Oxford Canal. Graham is class, and a fish catching machine. Three time National team champion, Winter league final winner, Kamasan Finalist.
Dickie Carr – England International, ABC, Team Robbos.
My hero growing up was Dickie, I used to sit behind him at Cooks Ferry and think, I want to fish like that. I suppose that’s where my love of the River Lea came from, and my love of bloodworm and joker fishing. Dickie brought the continental style of fishing to my local venues, it was the first time I saw ground baiting at the start of a match, Dickie made catching look so easy. I always thought that Dickies England career was cut short, although with the emergence of Bob Nudd from our area, it would of been a bit much to have two southerners in the England set up.
Bob Nudd – England International, Essex County.
What has not already been said about Sir Bob, possibly the greatest pole angler of our generation. Bob s a phenomenal angler, who is still competing well into his 70’s today, and still winning. Four time World Champion, National team winner, Winter league team winner, Super league team winner, UK champion, Benson & Hedges, King of Clubs, Bob has won the lot. Whenever you are pegged in Bobs section, you need to raise your game and get your head down, why, because Bob fishes to win. My utmost respect, although I wish I had his time to be a professional fisherman, and devote my life to the sport.
Dave Vincent – England International, Trev’s Browning.
A stalwart member of Trev’s, a friend and former team mate, and a bloody good angler. Dave is another famous resident of Stratford, East London, and lives just round the corner to me. He is a ruthless angler, and during our Trev’s heyday, a committed team angler, bordering on the obsessive. Many a time would myself and Dacky get a scowl from being hung over on a practice, after a good night out the night before. Dave was always lucky for me, either on opens or team practices, as I normally won when he was next to me. In fact I can remember catching 16lb of roach from Pickets Lock on the Lea when Dave was next to me, only to be beaten by Derek Young on the blue doors at Ponders. I was there in Bulgaria when Dave made his World Championship debut for England. I ran the bank on his section for him, and he came a very creditable fourth in section.
Graham Smith – Trev’s Browning, Image Blackhorse, Daiwa Dorking
The Squatt Wizard is probably the country’s best canal angler, his record over the years is second to none. There have been many great canal anglers like Dave Berrow, Simon Nickless, Paul Turner, Derek Young, but the thing that sets Graham apart is he is still at the top of his game. When he first joined Trev’s he totally transformed mine and the whole teams canal fishing. On our local Regents and Grand Union, he refined the methods that made us unbeatable. In fact on one Drennan Super League we had five out of eight section winners. Graham, Dacky, Derek Young, Peter Vasey and myself all won our sections against top opposition. When you consider we had Essex, Robbos, Dorking, Delcac all in the Super league, it was no mean feat, and a record that still stands today.
Derek Young – England International, Trev’s Browning, Essex County.
Probably the most natural angler ever to pick up a fishing rod, to me Derek was the best angler I have ever seen. To think he just simply gave it all up and stopped fishing is a travesty, and quiet simply unbelievable. Derek could do the lot, waggler, feeder, big rivers, and the best bloodworm angler born. To fish and learn from Derek during my early Trev’s days was an absolute privilege. I have seen him win at West Drayton countless times, all in big matches, and all with faultless displays of perfection. I was gutted when him and Peter Vasey joined Essex, and it was certainly the start of the decline at Trev’s.
Mark Pollard – England International, Image Blackhorse, Essex County.
‘Polly’ is another naturally gifted angler, cock handed if you watch him, but can fish and win on any method. At the forefront of squatt fishing with the Blackhorse team on the Grand Union, Mark was a winner in his teens. I was actually drawn next to Polly on my first team match for Trev’s at Slapton on the Grand Union. I got within a pound of him, so considered that a good result on my debut. I was lucky enough to work with Polly at both Future and Image and it was an absolute learning curve and pleasure. I actually saved his life on one night out in Birmingham.
Steve Gardner – England International, Daiwa Dorking
Steve is quiet simply a fish catching machine, his knowledge of angling is awesome and he was definitely the brainchild behind the Dorking machine. During my time at Dorking there was anglers like Will Raison, John Merritt and Steve Saunders, but it was Steve who left the lasting impression. We would practice a venue, and he would always find a way to catch fish, his natural elimination and formulation of tactics was superb. His knowledge and memory also left you in awe, I can remember a time when i had won my section a Willow Park in Winter. I had won the section on punch, on the small lake, and he had got to know about it. He made me get my rigs out to show him, as he wanted to know the exact way I had caught, thats dedication. You got to know very quickly why he was one of the main England Team members, and why he fished for the national team for so long.
Tom Pickering – England International, Barnsley Blacks,
Tommy is one of my angling heroes, I often wished that I lived upt North more, just so I could watch him on a more regular basis. What Tom has not won is not worth winning, he’s a born winner. The England team that first won the World Champs on the Arno have always stood in high esteem, and Tommy was a integral part of that. I’ve been fortunate that I have seen him in action at International level, and nothing seems to phase him, he’s as cool as a cucumber. World Champion, UK Champion, National, Winter League winning team member, and so many other titles. He has just been selected for the Senior World Champs, and I would not bet against him adding this title to his many honours. Simply class.
Peter Vasey – England International, Trev’s Browning, Essex County.
Peter was such an important part of Trev’s Browning, and along with Derek Young formed the backbone to the team. That might sound a bold statement, but the proof is in the pudding, Trev’s didn’t win anything once Derek and Peter left for Essex County. On any venue they would sus out methods and tactics, on canals, they were awesome. When they went to Essex they capped off their honours list with Winter League and Super League titles. They both received their England call up at the same time to the Home Internationals at Holme Pierepoint. Once Derek left angling and gave up the sport totally, Peter still enjoyed huge success with Essex, individually winning the Classic in Ireland, and the Evesham Individual title. Peter is so consistant it is unbelievable, often winning his section in all six winter league rounds, a real team player.
