New Zealander Feeder Champs, Lake Whangape, 25th April 2025

After relocating back to New Zealand and shipping all the match tackle from the UK, I finally had the chance to try some NZ coarse fishing.  How better than to jump on a match organised by the NZ Federation of Coarse Anglers and their Feeder Championship.

I took hours unpacking all the gear at home, and I was like a kid at Christmas opening my presents!

Being a feeder match meant I didn't need to bring the kitchen sink with me, and the preparation was straightforward.

The Draw
Arriving at the lake 30 minutes before the draw it was great to meet some of the folks I'd been chatting to online.  One thing that never changes amongst anglers across the world is the moaning and the banter!

26 fishing today, a great turnout with four sections.  I was first to draw.  Peg 23 would be my home for the day.

Set-up
Feeder only, so just the rods out.  I'd been told to fish 35 metres and potentially 50 metres so I set up:
  • 10' feeder rod - helicopter rig at 35 metres with braid
  • 10' feeder rod - method feeder at 35 metres with 8lb mono
  • 12' feeder rod - helicopter rig at 50 metres with braid
  • 12' feeder rod - method feeder at 50 metres with 6lb mono and 10lb shockleader
There are no pellets in NZ, however, I did grab some cat pellets to try, sweetcorn and worms. Groundbait was the Pro Carp from Johan at Masterclass Baits,

All-In
Lake Whangape is very shallow, probably 2' maximum at this time of year.  So while I was told 35 metres I wanted to ensure I fished slightly beyond those around me.  On the whistle I waited for the pegs around me to cast to see where they would be fishing; they all went short, from 10 to 20 metres.

The weather was overcast, water temperature down, with very little ripple on the water and I didn't want to "fill it" or do a "Ruddy Roach" (if you are reading this Steve!) so to speak so started on a small 4 hole cage feeder with groundbait and a few cat pellets with sweetcorn on the hook.

Casting was every 1-2 minutes to put a bed of bait down for the first 30 minutes without a sign of a fish.  Tim on the end peg opened his session with a couple of small carp fishing very close in.

Was using the cat feed pellets the wrong choice and had spoiled the swim, so I cut that type of feed out, switched to worm on the hook; however no real sign and my thinking was to switch to the method feeder.

After 45 minutes and seeing other anglers catching close and still no signs from my line, I swapped to the method feeder with sweetcorn on the hook, had two attempts short with no indication, so decided to continue fishing at 35 metres, now waiting up to 5 minutes between casts.

The weather started to change with the wind and rain putting a good ripple on the water, which and finally, at about the hour mark, my first indication came, followed by the tip wrapping wrong and an angry koi carp coming to the net.

Regular casting resulted in regular bites and more fish in the net, and the pattern started.  Casting to the same spot, starting the stopwatch, if no indication at 5 minutes, bringing it back in and starting the process again.

My match was going well.  With the lake being shallow, playing the fish with a low rod I started to notice that the hooklength and also the line above the feeder were becoming worn.  Throughout the match, I re-tied the entire rig four times.  

In the last hour, I lost a fish at the net; the line broke above the method feeder, which I put down to the wear and tear in the shallow lake.  So the backup rod was sent out with the open-ended feeder while I retackled the method rod.  This broke my rhythm, and I had 30 minutes in the last hour with no fish.

Two more fish before the all-out was called.  How had I done?

Result
29lb for a section win and overall second place!  Thrilled to bits!

Gary Bourne took top spot with 29lb 14oz and Jason McMahon 24lb 1oz for third.



Conclusion
Thanks to Dave Dixon for running a smooth match.  The 50 metre line never came into play.  How would I approach it next time?  Well I'd start on the method rather than open ended feeder and I'd tie a longer twizzle of line through the method feeder to try and protect the line more.

A big thanks to all the lads for the warm welcome, next outing hopefully on the river in June... This will be a new experience for me as I've never fished with flat floats before!

More Pictures





Location: Lake Whangape, Waikato 3772, New Zealand

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