North Yorkshire's Oaks Fishery has announced it is to hold its £10,000 match fishing festival later this year.

Set to take place over the August bank holiday weekend, the event is open to anyone who wishes to head along and get out their fishing rods to be in with a chance of bagging the £10,000 first prize, the Angling Times reports.

"If all goes to plan we hope to get over 100 anglers competing over the three days' fishing on the Maple and Cedar lakes as well as our three new lakes, Ash, Beech and Sycamore," said Oaks Fishery manager Tom Kay.

He added that no other festival is offering a top prize of as much as that which is on offer at Oaks Fishery this year.

Meanwhile, angling enthusiasts in recent months have had little call to get out their fishing rods due to the continuing freezing weather that has been seen across the UK, the news provider recently reported.
 

Enthusiastic anglers may be pleased to learn that the waterways have been reopened at Draycote Water for those looking to put their fishing rods to good use in the coming months.

Fishing on the trout reservoir will be available from April and could be an attraction for those looking to catch some large specimens, the Coventry Telegraph reports.

However, a lack of funding has meant that plans for the construction of a new visitors centre at the site have been put on hold for the minute, but more boats will be available this year than ever before for those who wish to take the waters in order to try and improve their catch.

Elsewhere, local publication The Herald recently reported that anglers looking for some excellent sea fishing may be able to get a spot on The Crusader in the coming weeks, which is offering trips off the Plymouth coast.

Skipper Richard Matthews took the vessel out as part of the ongoing winter wreck fishing season last week, with further jaunts expected in the coming weeks.
 

There was some impressive use of fishing rods at a recent competition in Beccles Quay Lagoon, East Anglia, but one participant ultimately finished well ahead of the rest of the pack at the event.

David Roe took home the first-place prize at a veterans' match held at the waterway and was praised by the runner-up on the day Joe Beckham, who also organised the contest, reported Eastern Daily Press.

The competition was put to bed by Mr Roe when he caught a huge winter tench and a similarly large bream.

Mr Beckham was quoted as saying: "It took considerable angling skill to get these two specimens out on light pole tackle so David Roe was a worthy winner.”

The winter tench caught by Mr Roe weighed in at 5lb 12oz and the bream hit 5lb on the scales, according to the newspaper.

Fishing rods were also recently in use at the Durham Country Council Open, with Caroline Allmond winning the women's category and Nathan Rudkin emerging victorious in the junior contest.
 

Tony Mellor will be the envy of many enthusiasts who enjoy competing in angling competitions with fishing rods, as he has sealed to two victories in a matter of days.

According to the Gazette & Herald, the sportsman finished on top at the GB Angling Club and Phoenix Angling Veterans events, which took place at the Wykeham Match Lake, North Yorkshire on Monday January 17th and Friday January 14th respectively.

Mr Mellor won the veterans' competition with 6lb 8oz of carp, while 1lb 3oz of small perch was sufficient to see him take home first prize at the GB occasion.

"On both occasions it was the 11-metre pole with single pinkie hook bait that did the damage," noted the publication.

Another big winner this month was Hugh Talbot, who took home £2,000 after catching the heaviest fish at the Durham County Council Open – a 4.64lb codling – from 261 people with fishing rods participating in the contest.
 

People who enjoy taking fishing rods out to the UK's waterways may be interested in an item referred to as 'the untippable trolley'.

Speaking to the Angling Times, inventor of the product John Davey described how it makes him "truly happy" when he sees his ideas putting a smile on anglers' faces.

The untippable trolley, the latest in a long line of concepts he has come up with over the past 20 years, boasts swinging front wheels to give it stability when going up and down steps or around corners.

"I've always been obsessed with fishing and it's coming up with products that solve everyday angling problems that gives me pleasure," Mr Davey was quoted as saying.

Among his other ideas are a self-striking rod, pole wheels and a rod/pole hybrid.

Writing for the same publication, Mark Sawyer revealed that manufacturer Sensas are all set to launch three poles designed specifically for the English fishing community and he highly recommended the one he tested – the Sensas Power 524 Carp.