This year’s 7th Carnivorous Artificial Bait Boat World Championship is to be held on the 11,000 acre glacial lake of Lake Bourget in South Eastern France, where the town of Aix-Les-Bains will play host to this influential and growing angling event.
The Rhônes Alps provide for an unforgettable backdrop to these waters, and the historic city of Geneva is just 40 miles away. Lake Bourget is the deepest lake contained entirely in France with average depths of 85m to a massive 14 m at its deepest and competitors will face challenging conditions in targeting the lake’s monster-sized pike along with zander, perch and Arctic charr. With a proven history of some remarkably sized fish, this venue looks perfect for the UK styles of lure fishing.
Following on from last year’s first entrance into these World Championships, Team England has launched a number of team trial events to select the squad that will represent the nation in France. In order to select the strongest team possible a number of two-day heats have been arranged, from which the top eight individual anglers from each heat will receive an automatic invite to attend a Grand Final to be held in May; after which a six man squad will be selected to wear the coveted three lions and represent the Angling Trust and England.
The trials will be run under the same conditions and rules as used within the World Championships with two competitors allocated to a boat only permitted to use ‘cast’ lures and not ‘trolled’ ones. However, drop shotting is permitted as allowed within the rules imposed by the governing body of FIPSed. All fish caught over a specified size are measured and points per species and per centimetre over the specified size will be awarded.
The cost of entry for each of the trials heat is £25 (plus boat hire/day ticket per day), from which all proceeds will go towards the costs of sending the squad to France, and entry forms can be obtained from the Team England website HERE or direct from the Team Manager, Mike Skipper, by email at teamenglandluresquad@gmail.com.
Further information on both Team England and these trials can also be obtained directly from the website, or again by emailing Mike at the email address supplied.
It is hoped that once again Sky Sports will attend with the England squad and film another ‘special’ on these World Championships following on from the tremendous coverage last year.
Heats
Heat One
Esthwaite Water, Hawkshead, Lake District. 29 and 30 March 2014. 15 boats available (30 anglers) Fish 10am to 4pm.
Heat Two
Bewl Reservoir, near Lamberhurst, Kent. 10 and 11 April 2014. 20 boats available (40 anglers). Fish 10am to 4pm.
Grand Final
Llangorse Lake, Brecon Beacons, Wales. 17 and 18 May. 10 boats available for hire. However, anglers with their own boats are allowed to use their own boats, but must follow the rules imposed by the venue. Those bringing their own boats will be allocated a boat partner, and the cost of the boat ticket will be given to the boat owner towards their own costs. Once again we will fish to the same rules as the World Championships and from 10am to 4pm.
Llangorse Lake has its own campsite along with its own café and bar and a number of good bed and breakfast accommodation within the area, and competitors will fish for the exceptionally good head of pike. The draw for all trials events will take place at 9am each day.
