MATCH FISHING and the CAN-AM 2000

Little River, Windsor, Ontario, site of the Canadian leg of the Can/Am 2000

U.S. vs. Canada on Little River, Windsor, Ontario

We were fortunate to witness our first match fishing tournament, specifically STS' (Shorefishing Tournament Series) CAN-AM 2000, which pitted match anglers assembled by both the U.S. and Canada for a head-to-head competition between the two countries. The competition took place on Little River in Windsor, Ontario on April 29-30, 2000. The U.S. team was put together by Mick Thill, late of Thill floats from Lindy, and currently of Mick Thill Fishing Tackle. The Canadian team was put together by Jeff Turner of Niagara Fishing Tours Agency.

Team USA cap by Carpe Carpio

Rules and the drawing of the pegs...

Match fishing is a tournament of competing teams and/or individuals, with each angler assigned a certain peg, or designated area about 13 yards long. The angler can only fish within his or her peg, which is drawn at random. The two end-pegs are the coveted positions, as the lucky angler only has one neighbor to contend with. The goal is to catch the greatest amount of fish by weight, regardless of species (provided that they are in season-local laws always prevail)

Rig preparation

After the pegs are drawn and before actual fishing begins, the anglers are allowed 1 - 2 hours of prep time, when each angler plummets the water within their peg. Plummeting refers to checking the depth and any structure by probing the water with a lead weight on the end of the line. Mental notes are taken regarding depth changes, snags and any other irregularities on the bottom. This is also the time to prepare rigs, rods, poles, and prepare any groundbait or chum.

Ground bait preparation

Ideally, one would like to catch the largest species in the venue, like carp or catfish, but since the angler has no control over the quality of the drawn peg, he/she must use methods that can capture the widest variety of fish as efficiently as possible. This means using finesse and stealth, usually with ultra-long (up to 50 feet) take-apart poles popularized in Europe. As you reach out further over the water, you simply connect another section of the pole. When you bring a fish in, simply do the opposite, or disconnect the sections as you go. Since ultra-light lines are used, nets with long handles are also used to reach way out for the hooked fish, as each fish no matter how tiny adds precious weight to the total. A rod and reel is also used to reach out much further from the bank as necessary. This rod is also very long (by American standards) and spooled with light line for long casts. During actual fishing, only one rod or pole can be used at a time.

Different baits are used, including various worms, maggots, corn, bread and others. Live bait such as minnows are not allowed (I suppose these might somehow "inadvertently" make their way into one's bag weight). Because each ounce of fish counts, the tiniest hooks are used, down to size 14 and even smaller! The hooks are small enough to hook a shiner, yet sturdy enough to bring in a 30 pound carp. Fish are kept in each individual's keep net, a long net with hooped sections for keeping the fish alive before weigh in. Of course, all fish are returned afterwards.

Since Mick was kind enough to invite me to the match, and his world class reputation certainly precedes him, I watched him closely. Mick had two basic setups, including his exquisite 50 ft. ultra-light take-apart pole, and a rod and reel set with a waggler float for casting towards the far wall on the opposite side of the river.

After the whistle sounds to begin fishing, anglers chum or feed the area with ground bait within their pegs. Each team or each angler has their own secret mixture, which also utilizes the actual hook-bait, i.e. maggots, corn, etc. Besides mixture, the key is location of the feed balls and amount. One wants to stimulate feeding, yet not overfeed the fish, or worse, actually spook the fish. During plumetting, the angler selects two, three or more target areas for feeding. Since the angler is limited to fishing within their peg, he needs to take the utmost in care. One fellow raised the ire of other anglers, including team mates, by bombing his area with boulder-sized balls of chum, creating huge splashes and an excess amount of feed. This was considered bad etiquette, effecting not only immediate peg neighbors, but those further up and down as well.