The Angling Trust is pleased to confirm the details for the 7th Tidefest Angling Championship to take place on the tidal Thames in London on Sunday, September 6th. A donation from the ticket monies will once again be made to the children’s angling charity Get Hooked on Fishing.

The 40-peg match, which is sponsored by Thames Water, has generous payouts with a first prize of £500, three other main prizes of £400, £200 and £100 plus eight £50 section places up for grabs. It is expected to attract some of the top river anglers in the area as previous matches have thrown up 40lb bags of bream along with some quality roach and dace. All fish with the exception of eels can be weighed in.

The match is being held over two areas of gravel foreshore from Kew Bridge down to Barnes. The eight sections will be spread across two zones at Strand on the Green, which has produced bream to over 7lb in previous matches, and at Barnes, an area known for both bream and quality roach. To ensure a fairer match a continental payout system will be applied with the first and third and second and fourth places split across the two zones.

Tidefest is a celebration of the recreational importance of London’s river and will involve a range of other activities designed to get people out and enjoying what the Thames Tideway has to offer. The groups involved in organising this year’s event include the London Wildlife Trust, Institute of Fisheries Management, Thames 21, The River Thames Society, ZSL and the Angling Trust. Other activities planned include foreshore walks, river dipping, seine netting, paddleboarding, sailing, kayaking and historical walks along the Thames Path.

Angling Trust Policy Chief and Tidefest Chairman Martin Salter said:

“The Angling Trust is pleased that the Thames Tidefest Angling Championship is able to attract great support from both sponsors and anglers. This is more than a fishing match for it showcases the health of the Thames right in the heart of our capital city. We are keen to encourage a resurgence in river match fishing and events such as Riverfest and Tidefest show that there is still an appetite for these types of competitions.

“We are especially grateful to Thames Water for their generous sponsorship which means that once again all the ticket monies will be going to support the fantastic work of the charity Get Hooked on Fishing that does so much to help youngsters get into our sport.”

Angling columnist and Trustee of Get Hooked on Fishing, Keith Arthur, welcomed the news, saying:

“Tidefest is such a great event and you never know what the river will turn up or which methods will work best on the day. The heavy flows this winter could well make for a better match this year as they will have moved more fish down river and hopefully into the match sections. In the right conditions the winner could have 40 or 50lb of bream but there will be plenty of prizes to be won by those who can get amongst the shoals of roach and big skimmers. I’ve already bought my ticket as this is one match I never want to miss.”

Will Barnard, Angling Development Manager at Thames Water, added:

“Thames Water is again proud to be sponsoring Thames Tidefest, including this now well established angling competition. The upgrades to our large sewage treatment works at Mogden have already delivered big improvements to the water quality in the tidal Thames and once the Tideway Tunnel is completed we will see an end to those potentially damaging storm water overflows which will make an already good fishery even better.”

Match Details:

Draw: 7.00am Brentford Boating Arch, Kew Bridge, Strand on the Green, W4 3RE

Tides: High – 6am 6.9m.  Low – 1.30pm 0.8m

Fishing: Five hours from 8.30am – 1.30pm (depending on tide height)

Rules: Thigh wading only permitted, all fish except eels can be weighed in

Zones: A) Strand on the Green. B) Barnes foreshore

Prize monies: 1st place – £500; 2nd – £400; 3rd – £200; 4th – £100 plus £50 per 5 peg section. (overall match winners excluded).  Winners cheques available on the day.

Continental Payout: Top Four prizes alternating by zone

Tickets: £20 in advance with £5 to the angling charity Get Hooked on Fishing

Booking Details:
Book tickets online at  www.anglingtrust.net/events  or contact
Ron’s Tackle – 465 Upper Richmond Rd West, London SW14 7PU.  020 8876 4897
Tackle Up – 151 Fleet Road, Fleet GU51 3PD.  01252 616129