Chris Wilkins
Age - 51
Lives- Abergavenny
Clubs - Cardiff Nomads, Cwmcelyn, Ebbw Vale Welfare
Favourite Methods - Long Pole, Waggler, Feeder or anything that catches!!
Favourite Venues - Larford Lakes
I started my match fishing in the 1970s with Ebbw Vale Welfare AC as a junior and later joined Cwmcelyn AC in 1980, fishing numerous club matches all on natural venues as was the way back then. I progressed as an angler and won many club matches on both rivers and still waters, and competed in the South Wales team winter league, summer league and welsh nationals and also on the South Wales open circuit covering the other areas with venues such as, Gloucester canal, Warwickshire Avon, etc. With a group of like minded anglers like myself we enjoyed mixed success but learnt a great deal, however the lure of the opposite sex and the inevitable sound of wedding bells led to a mortgage, children and all the responsibilities that go with it, and this signalled the end of my match fishing at about 1990.
After about 20 years spent golfing, motorcycling, coaching football and raising a family my “passion for angling” was reignited after the death of a close angling friend. My ancient tackle was dusted off and along with my son a day out in his memory to Redhill fishery in Monmouth followed, 100 pounds of Carp later and with a big smile on my face I was “hooked” again. It wasn’t long before the competitive instinct came back and I was soon back on the club scene with Cwmcelyn AC. About six match wins and numerous frame placings in the first year I was overjoyed. Next up was Larford Lakes fishing bigger matches; this at the moment is my favourite venue as it’s not your usual twenty peg muddy pool. It has a high calibre of anglers every week and this year I have qualified for the Maver classic final in May after finishing second to Andy Kinder (62 lbs) with 58lbs of mainly skimmers and small carp. Whilst the club competitions are fun there was something missing and I longed for the natural venues of yester year. I am still more of a 10lbs of Roach than a 100lbs of Carp man, is it my age or a midlife crisis? When Luke asked me if I’d like to be part of this team I jumped at the chance and am looking forward to the year ahead with even more renewed enthusiasm.
I can’t say I really have a favourite method I am equally comfortable fishing fourteen metres of pole, trotting a stick float or waggler , feeder fishing or scratching for bites on the Mon/Brecs canal with the bread punch.
My son who is now 17 is a very capable angler himself and he could also learn a lot by being alongside us as the year progresses so it’s not all about me, if I can pass on any of my experience to the younger lads in the team I will be a happy man.
Lives- Abergavenny
Clubs - Cardiff Nomads, Cwmcelyn, Ebbw Vale Welfare
Favourite Methods - Long Pole, Waggler, Feeder or anything that catches!!
Favourite Venues - Larford Lakes
I started my match fishing in the 1970s with Ebbw Vale Welfare AC as a junior and later joined Cwmcelyn AC in 1980, fishing numerous club matches all on natural venues as was the way back then. I progressed as an angler and won many club matches on both rivers and still waters, and competed in the South Wales team winter league, summer league and welsh nationals and also on the South Wales open circuit covering the other areas with venues such as, Gloucester canal, Warwickshire Avon, etc. With a group of like minded anglers like myself we enjoyed mixed success but learnt a great deal, however the lure of the opposite sex and the inevitable sound of wedding bells led to a mortgage, children and all the responsibilities that go with it, and this signalled the end of my match fishing at about 1990.
After about 20 years spent golfing, motorcycling, coaching football and raising a family my “passion for angling” was reignited after the death of a close angling friend. My ancient tackle was dusted off and along with my son a day out in his memory to Redhill fishery in Monmouth followed, 100 pounds of Carp later and with a big smile on my face I was “hooked” again. It wasn’t long before the competitive instinct came back and I was soon back on the club scene with Cwmcelyn AC. About six match wins and numerous frame placings in the first year I was overjoyed. Next up was Larford Lakes fishing bigger matches; this at the moment is my favourite venue as it’s not your usual twenty peg muddy pool. It has a high calibre of anglers every week and this year I have qualified for the Maver classic final in May after finishing second to Andy Kinder (62 lbs) with 58lbs of mainly skimmers and small carp. Whilst the club competitions are fun there was something missing and I longed for the natural venues of yester year. I am still more of a 10lbs of Roach than a 100lbs of Carp man, is it my age or a midlife crisis? When Luke asked me if I’d like to be part of this team I jumped at the chance and am looking forward to the year ahead with even more renewed enthusiasm.
I can’t say I really have a favourite method I am equally comfortable fishing fourteen metres of pole, trotting a stick float or waggler , feeder fishing or scratching for bites on the Mon/Brecs canal with the bread punch.
My son who is now 17 is a very capable angler himself and he could also learn a lot by being alongside us as the year progresses so it’s not all about me, if I can pass on any of my experience to the younger lads in the team I will be a happy man.