Angling Times – 25 August 2026

Summary

England's junior fishing team — a consistent world-championship medal-winning machine — is dissected in the 25 August 2026 issue of Angling Times (£3.25) under the cover line "WINNING FORMULA". Matt Godfrey explains the talent pipeline, coaching structure and selection policy that keeps England's juniors ahead of the competition.

"It's Time for Big Barbel!" leads the seasonal advice, while the Tackle Guide celebrates "Fishing's Greatest Inventions" — 22 products that transformed the sport. The £5 Bait Plan offers a budget-friendly approach to bagging up all day. Ringer to the Rescue covers tench on the pole, and the Ask the Experts panel tackles summer catfish rigs.

Regular sections cover Top Stories (angling world mourns a legend, DBS rule changes from September 1), Top Tackle with a Nytro Distance Feeder test (page 16), Hot Pegs at Langold Lake (page 42), and the Let's Fish project spotlight (page 44) on securing the future of fishing. Des Taylor's column (page 48) covers stillwater carp and chub in the heatwave.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Expert Advice / Top Tackle / Hot Pegs / Tackle Guide

p.6 · Winning Formula — England's Junior Success Story
Matt Godfrey explains why England's youth team is a consistent world-championship medal machine. The article covers the talent ID system, the coaching pathway and the competitive selection process. England's juniors have won medals in 7 of the last 8 World Championships, including 3 golds. The U18 squad trains together for 12 weekends a year, funded by the Angling Trust.

p.16 · Live Test — Nytro Distance Feeder
Mark Sawyer puts the Nytro Distance Feeder setup through field tests, covering casting distance, bite detection and build quality. The rod is rated for 100g+ feeder weights and casts comfortably to 60 metres. Sawyer's verdict: "The best value distance feeder rod on the market under £150."

p.19 · Buyers Guide — 5 Best Catapults
Five of the best catapults for feeding everything from maggots to groundbait, tested for accuracy, range and durability. The list covers both standard and PVA-friendly models. The Korum Precision Catapult throws groundbait balls up to 35 metres with consistent break-down on impact — better than the Gardner models at the same price.

p.26 · The Masterplan — Tony Grigorjevs' Sweetcorn-Only Attack
Grigorjevs reveals his thrifty sweetcorn-only approach for commercial carp and F1s. No boilies, no pellets, no groundbait — just corn in different forms (whole, punched, mashed). The method costs £3.50 per session on bait, compared to £15-20 for a boilie-and-pellet approach. His winning match weight using this method was 84lb 12oz at a tough Woodlands View winter open.

p.34 · Ringer to the Rescue — Tench on the Pole
Steve Ringer explains his simple pole tactics for catching tench tight to cover. The setup: a 16 elastic, 0.12mm hooklength and a size 16 hook with a single maggot. Feed 5-6 maggots every 60 seconds through a pole cup and hold the rig within 6 inches of the marginal shelf. The approach works best in the first 2 hours of daylight.

p.44 · Club Spotlight — Let's Fish Project
How the Let's Fish project is helping secure the future of angling through community outreach and coaching programmes. The feature profiles three success stories from the initiative. Let's Fish has introduced over 8,000 people to angling since its launch in 2023, with a retention rate of 62% after 6 months.

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Editor's Take

The junior England team feature is genuinely inspiring and should be mandatory reading for every club secretary wondering where the next generation will come from. Grigorjevs' sweetcorn-only masterplan is the most practical budget-angling advice published this year. Weak area: the "22 Greatest Inventions" list is padded — some entries (elasticated pole, keepnet) are obvious, others (the landing net handle) are a stretch. Best for: Club anglers, junior coaches and budget-conscious matchmen.

Strengths
• England junior team talent pipeline with verifiable medal record and funding model
• Grigorjevs' sweetcorn-only approach with £3.50-per-session cost data
• Let's Fish programme with measurable participation and retention numbers

Weaknesses
• "22 Greatest Inventions" list includes several entries that are not inventions
• Arthur's Archive 1987 cheating scandal story lacks resolution

Verdict: Recommended — The junior team and budget angling features give this issue genuine value; the inventions list is a fun read but not a keeper.