Neil Machin

Myself and Bagem make products that will really help my fellow anglers capitalise on the fish in their swim.

There are so many baits on the market that don’t quite fit into the matchman’s niche for many reasons, but I believe with the backing of Bag’em matchbaits this is a thing of the past.

I have spent a lot of time at the Bag’em factory producing brand new products for the serious and not so serious match angler. These will be the baits that I and many of my friends USE not just endorse. New for 2013 i have designed two new groundbaits to target what some anglers would describe as one of the hardest fish to catch F1's. F1nesse Gold and F1nesse Green >>>

The quality aspect is at the forefront of all our disscussions and neither myself nor Bag’em Matchbaits are willing to compromise on this issue.

My agreement with Bagem is for the long term and is one which gives me freedom to continually develop baits for todays and tomorrows market. I hope you will like what you see.

Neil’s achievement list speaks for itself..

• Winner of the Pole Fishing Cup 2010
• Winner of the Maver British Pole Championships with Andy Moors 2010
• Kamasan Matchman of the year 07-08
• Fishomania 2006 Winner
• 2006 - Park Dean Masters winner
• 2006 - White Acres Festival winner

Jamie Hughes

Winner 2010 Kamasan Matchman
of the Year

I am a 29 year old scaffolder from the Wirral. I started fishing at about 5 years old when my Grandad took me to local ponds every Saturday.

I began fishing seriously at 15 with local clubs before moving to fish with Sensas Rod & Reel when I was 20 where I qualified for the Angling Times winter league final.

In 2006 I made the decision to fish as an individual under the Chester Tackle Locker banner and also to concentrate entirely on commercials. Fortunately this has turned out to be a good move as my fishing has improved greatly over the past few seasons.

Achievements to date:

• 4th in Fishomania Final 2012
• Heronbrook Festival Winner 2010
• Kamasan Matchman of the year 2010/2011
• Heronbrook Spring League Winner 2009
• 4th in 2008/2009 season
• Runner up in Kamasan Matchman of the year 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 season
• Fishomania Finalist 2008
• Maver Pairs Finalist 2008
• Heronbrook Festival Winner 2007

Click here to see Jamie Hughes youtube video >>>>

I have joined the Bag’em Team because all of the products are of an extremely high quality and there is something to cover all my requirements.

Pemb Wrighting

I am a plasterer from Hampshire and sponsored by Maver.

I first started fishing at the age of about 7. At the age of ten I started to fish local junior matches. These went well and I enjoyed every minute of them, so at the age of 13 with a lot of help from my parents I progressed onto the open match circuit. This led to fishing for a few teams around my area, mainly Milo Bordon and Daiwa Dorking. In 2004 and 2005 I was selected to fish for the England under 21 team. 2005 was a particularly successful year, we won a team Gold medal at the World champs, and an individual Silver medal.


Picture courtesy of Pole Fishing magazine

Recently I have decided to pack in team fishing to fully concentrate on individual matches. So far it seems to be going very well and am enjoying fishing more than ever.

I am delighted to be a part of the Bag’em baits team. The products are clearly some of the best on the market, just look at who uses them!

Achievements to date:

• 6th UK champs 2012
• 2nd Baston Basters Final 2012
• Winner Baston Masters Final 2011
• Team gold medal in under 21 World championships
• Individual silver medal in under 21 World Championships
• Silver team medal in div 2 national with Daiwa Dorking
• Winner of the 2008 Maver Classic
• Runner-up in the 2010 Maver Classic
• Top 10 finish at a Whiteacres festivals

 

Click here for Pemb's in session feature >>>>

Ian Giddins

I've been fishing since I was 5 and now i'm 27, I got into match fishing when I was 11 fishing junior matches at Moorlands Farm fishery in Hartlebury, I held the junior record there for about 18 months with 86lb.

I've always wanted to fish rather than going to school! Fishing has always played a massive part in my life and no doubt always will.

Home Town: Kidderminster
Profession: Carpet Factory (Dye House)
Favourite Venue: Larford Lakes

Achievements to date:

• Finished 2nd overall in the Mega Match This team championship final 2012
• Finished 2nd overall in the Maver Mega Match This final winning £5k 2012
• Qualified for Maver Mega Match This final at Larford lakes 2012
• Qualified for UK pole Championships 2012
• Finished 2nd overall in the Lindholme lakes 5 day festival 2012
• Qualified for Angling Times teams of 10 winter league final 2012
• Finished 2nd overall in Larford Lakes festival 2011
• Qualified for Maver Classic Final 2011
• Qualified for UK pole Championships 2011
• Finished 2nd overall in Larford Lakes festival 2011
• Qualified for Angling Times teams of 10 winter league final 2011

If you've not tried Bag 'em' Matchbaits Commercial Carp grounbait yet it's a 'must' to try. I put a lot of my success in 2011/2012 down to all the quality baits I've been supplied by Bag 'em' Matchbaits..

Trevor Robinson

I am 26 and live in Newcastle Under Lyme.

I started fishing from a very young age with my dad on the River Dane in Holmes Chapel catching Chub & Dace.  I started match fishing when I was 18 in the Audley Anglers Club with matches mainly at Border Fishery in Cheshire.  Border Fishery was where I first met Jeff Moors who took me under his wing and taught me everything I know to date along with the help of Neil Machin & Andy Moors, probably the best trio of anglers you could wish to be taught by.  


I progressed from club angling to joining Mosella Border side which was captained by Jeff Moors and had good success from then onward.  We gained a new sponsor with Browning and I was asked to fish for Mosella Garbolino who were a well respected Northern team with some great talent.  Now bringing me up to date I have had the opportunity to work with Bag’em matchbaits along with Maver Midlands.

Achievements to date:

• 2013 Third in Heronbrook Easter Festival
• Winner second round of the North Wales winter league at Heronbrook Fishery 2012
• Winner of The Midland Angler of the Year 2010
• Angling Times Winter League Finalist 2010
• British Open Finalist 2006/07/08/09/forthcoming 10.
• Maver Pairs Finalist 07/08/09
• British Pole Championships Runner Up
• Maver Classic Qualifier 07/08/09
• White Acres Milo Festival April 2009 – Finished 8th.
• UK Champs 2008 finished 8th.
• Tunnel Barn Winter League Team Winners 2009/2010
• Heronbrook Spring League Team Winners 2010
• Cudmore Teams of Three Winter League Winners 2007.
• Heronbrook Pairs Winners (150 pegs) 2007
• Browning Challenge Winner 2006
• Many Open Match frames.

Click here for Trevor Robinson's youtube video >>>>

I have joined Bag’em matchbaits because they produce top quality products and are a must for confidence.

Lee Thornton

I am 24 and I used to live in Ramsey St Marys in the heart of the fens and it was a choice of doing nothing or fishing the countless fen drains around my house!! I first started fishing with my best friend at the time and his father. I joined a club, first of all fishing junior matches, then onto the senior club matches.

My first open win was at thirteen on the Old Nene, At fourteen/Fifteen joined Sensas Dick Clegg Mark One and my fishing has just progressed from there.



I am now living in the Heart of Manchester and re-adjusting myself to getting involved with the local open scene which is much more healthy than back in Cambridgeshire. My main goals for the forthcoming season will be to get in the top ten at a Whiteacres festival, Qualify for the Maver Pairs Final and Qualify for the new Maver Match This Competition. I am also involved with the UK Champs and I would love to finish in the top four.

However my biggest goal for this season is to score enough points in the Kamasan Matchman of the Year to get into the top ten. I have never been in an area where there are so many 50 peg+ opens on commercials so I would say that this is my main ambition for the year to take advantage of my current situation!

I have been with Bag'em matchbaits from its inception and it's a real honour to be part of a great company that is going to be a major force in the UK market. Long may this continue.

Achievements to date:

• 2013 Winner of Heronbrook Fishery Easter Festival
• Winner Individual League Champion at Heronbrook Fishery 2013
• 2nd in the British Pole Championships 2010
• Whiteacres Milo Festival 4th overall 2010
• Drennan U21 team gold
• Fishomania Runner up
• In Fishomania qualifiers I have been 2nd twice, 3rd and 5th twice
• Senses challenge frames
• Drennan National Superleague frames
• Countless open wins
• Tunnel Barn Farm winter league team win
• Barford lakes winter team win
• Runner up individually angling times east midland winter league
• Fished two Angling time’s winter league semi finals and finals

One moment that sticks out for me for some reason was when I was fishing a club match for Ramsey AC. The angler on the far bank (I won’t name names!) struck like zorro into the tree. After entangling his rig in the branches he pulled back for a break to see his top four come flying off and into the middle of the lake. After twenty minutes of coming up with various ideas to get it back he eventually stripped naked, jumped into the lake and retrieved his top kit! I had to stop fishing for the tears!!

Pete Goodman

My name is Peter Goodman, I am 33 years old and living with my girlfriend.

I began fishing at about the age of 5 as I lived next to a river, I am self-taught. But as my career progressed individuals had an influence in making me who I am today

From the age of 20 I became a member of the very successful Sensas Dick Clegg Mark 1 side I fished with these until about the age of 27. I have fished as an individual targeting big matches until very recently when I relocated from the midlands to Kent and have become a first team angler with Delcac. And I am now enjoying the varied elements that come with mixed species venues and team fishing

Achievements to date:

• Will have finished the winter league final for the last 4 years consecutively with 2 different teams across two different counties
• Angling trust semi southern semi-final individual winner at Gold Valley 2013
• Team 8th in the CIPS rules 2 day final
• Kent winter league winners
• Monk lakes pairs winners with Mike McMillian
• Countless frames at monk lakes/frant/orchard etc.
• Winter league finalists in 2012 and 4th as a team
• Northern angling trust winter league semi-final 5th individual at Lindholme
• 2nd in the British Pole Championships 2010
• I was in the squad winning the East Midlands winter league and qualifying for the semi-finals and finals of the AT winter league for 3 consecutive years
• I fished the UK super league in the old format and the super league in regional format
• I fished several NFA nationals from 5th division to the 1st division, and was 2nd in the Gallion Cup on the Nene
• Winner of the hospital cup on the Forty Foot, and won The Eastern Regional Shield on the Ouse, with Mark 1
• Qualified for the fish o final 2006, finished 7th with 37Kilo
• Qualified for the Maver Pairs 2007 with Lee Thornton at Monk Lakes
• Won the Tunnel Barn winter league as a team 2007/2008
• Qualified for the Maver Pairs 2008 with Lee Thornton at Barford lakes
• Had 3 top 8 finishes in the Fish o qualifiers this year
• Had numerous open wins on matches from 30 pegs to 100+ pegs

From the outset Bag em have strived to develop the best baits. Now 4 years on the team is outstanding and the range of products is testament to the company ethos of not being the biggest but being the best. I feel proud to have been a part of this from the very start and having played an active role in the product development.
Bag em is now a recognised and respected brand across the country.

Amer Jawad

Age: 43

Home Town: Cambridge

Profession: Sales manager

Favourite Method:
Long pole bloodworm and Long pole squat fishing.

Favourite Venue:
Grand union canal and Tunnel Barn farm


Achievements to date:

• 2013 representing Wales in the World Angling Championships in Poland
• 4th Midland Angler of the Year 2010
• previous member of Kamasan Starlets
• Fish'O'Mania finalist 2007
• 3 British open finals
• Division 1 national individual winners medal.
• Maver Match this British pole championship qualifier 2011
• Cross Drove two day festival runner up 2012
• King Sedgemoor drain
• John Smiths festival team gold.
• Top individual points scorer in three different winter leagues
• Previous teams-Essex County and Kamasan Starlets
• Current 2012 team - Bag'em Baits in the Tunnel Barn winter league.

Jamie Wilde

For 2012 we have enlisted the skills of Barnsley based Jamie Wilde. This rising star has built a reputation as one of the countries most promising young anglers. At only 24 he has already got an impressive list of achievments:

Achievements to date:

• Parkdean Masters finalist,
• Intermediate National Winner- Stainforth Canal
• 3rd & 5th at the Maver Festival in White Acres
• 6th at the Milo Festival
• 6th at the Preston Festival
• Two winter league wins at Messingham Sands
• Many open match wins

Caroline Reed, the Bag'em manager explained 'Jamie was introduced to the team by Lee Thornton one of the founding members of Bag'em. Jamie is exactly the right calibre of match angler we want to join our Bag'em team, he is definitely one to watch for the future

Click here to see Jamie's in session feature >>>> 

Myles Levy

I have recently finished my degree in fishery management and aquaculture which took up a lot of my time during the last 3 years but I still managed to fish a bit. Since completing it I have been fishing a lot more and will continue to be doing so with my main aims for next year being the Fishomania and Maver Match This. Listed below are a few of my more recent and more high profile wins and placings.





Achievements to date:

• 6th Maver Match This Final 2012
• Broke the 5hr record at orchard lakes in the new forest with 305lb
• 6 wins in a row and winner of orchard lakes evening series
• Qualifier for Viaduct all winners final
• Winner of London and South east super league at Bough Beech reservoir with 59lb 8oz of Roach
• Countless open wins at various venues throughout the south from 20 to 80 pegs
• 3rd and 6th in fishomainia qualifiers in 2010 (Only fished 2 qualifiers in 2010 due to completing my degree)
• Section winner in Drennen super league final
• 2 x Drennen all winners team champions
• 3rd overall in Drennen All Winners Final 2008 at Moorlands Farm
• 2nd overall in Drennen All Winners Final 2007 at Tunnel Barn Farm
• Maver pairs qualifier
• British pole champs qualifier

Greg Norris

I'm 48 years old, but have retired due to disabilities.
I started fishing at an early age but I only began fishing the open circuit 11 years ago.
I like to fish mainly on the pole but do enjoy method fishing at distance and to islands.
My goal for next year is to qualify for Fishomaina and the Maver Match This as I have been runner up in qualifiers so far.

Achievements to date:

• 3rd Maver Match This qualifier so I qualified for British Pole Champs final later in 2012
• Runner up, Fishomaina qualifier at Woodlands Thirsk 2012
• 2nd in the UK Angling Championships 2011
• Qualified Maver Pairs 2009 & 10
• Picked to fish for England 2009 for anglers with disabilities
• Fished for northeast of England in Nationals we won teams in 07, 08, 09. I had top 4 in all matches
• Qualified for Kamasan final 2007, 08 & 10 came runner up 2008,
• Fished in county champs final 2010-2012 came individual 3rd overall in 2010 

Craig Goldstraw

I am a joiner from Ashbourne, in Derbyshire. I started fishing at the age of 5 where I learnt on the local River Dove. A small local club opened and I fished there for a few years, which took me on to the open circuit around the Midlands .

I now travel all over the country fishing for the Maver Midlands Team during the winter and have now started fishing Fishomania and 'Match This' qualifiers.

During 2013 i would like to qualify for one of the big events and do well in the Drennan Knockout Cup.

Achievements to date:

• 2013 Winner of Larford Team Spring League
• Won JCB summer league 3 years running on natural waters.
• Won the spring leauge at Heronbrook this year under Maver Midlands Bag'em 2012
• Finalist in the Maver Match This team event in 2012 and won my section .
• Qualified for the UK champs in 2011
• Won winter league at Heronbrook Maver Midlands Bag'em 2011
• Runner up Tunnel Barn winter league 2010
• Record holder at Izzak Walton Fishery bottom pool with 208lb
• Record holder at Longford Fishery with 149lb

Matty Pillay

I started fishing age 4 and have been mad keen ever since. I progressed through the local club scene onto open level match fishing at 14, in that same year I won a few major opens when the press named me (the witham wonder boy.) I've been lucky enough to catch the back end of the big open river scene which has given me a good understanding of a variety of different skills and methods.

Achievements to date:

• 2012 Larford festival 7th
• 2012 Lindhome festival 4th
• 2012 Lindhome spring fest 3rd
• 2012 Maver classic finalist
• 2011 Larford festival 6th
• 2011 Lindhome festival 7th
• 2011 big bash champion 200 pegs
• 2011 Lindhome spring fest 6th
• 2011 Maver classic finalist
• 2010 Larford festival 2nd (on weight)
• 2010 Maver classic finalist
• 2010 white acres dynamite festival 12th
• 2010 hallcroft ultimate league finalist
• 2009 hallcroft ultimate league 4th
• 2009 Maver pairs final
• 2008 Hallcroft ultimate league 4th
• 2007 Maver pairs 2nd overall with nick speed
• 2006 uk champs 12th overall
• 2006 hallcroft ultimate league 3rd

With over 25 years of match fishing under my belt theres not many venues natural or commercial I haven't won at !

Pete Rice

The photograph shows Pete Rice (sitting) with Mike Hamlington owner of Tunnel Barn Farm Fishery. Pete has been working with the Angling Development board for the last 12 months helping to get kids into angling. He is also one of 12 people in the UK chosen to take part in a pilot scheme for level 3 coaching. Good Luck Pete!

I first went fishing when I was 6 years old with my grandfather on a local river where he caught a 2lb tench, the only fish of the day. That fish had me hooked and from then on every Sunday I pestered him to take me fishing.

I joined a local fishing club when I was 12 years old and started fishing their matches on the local rivers Avon and Arrow. Those days matches were drawn at 7am and only 4 hrs long so that everyone could get back in time for the pub!

I fished my first open match at 15 because I thought that I was good enough after winning the club aggregate for 2 years, how wrong I was!! The class of angler in the opens was so good that I was totally lost. The anglers like Ken Giles and Clive Smith were the local stars and they were fishing tactics I had never heard of. It took me 12 months, fishing 3 times a week before winning my first open on January 1st. I had a lot of luck to win, not skill, but over the years I have turned that luck into a bit of skill.

The very first match that I won was in 1973 at Hampton Ferry. There were 80 pegs and I won with a weight of 18lb 10oz of chub and roach.

Achievements to date:

• 1st in Fish O Mania Qualifier at Tunnel Barn 2008. 130 pegs, won with
  a weight of 195lb.
• 1st in the Maver pairs qualifier at Tunnel Barn 2008. 100 pegs and won with
  a weight of 144lb.
• Won 16 Wednesday open matches at Tunnel Barn on the trot in 2007.
• 1st in the Maver pairs qualifier at Tunnel Barn 2007. 100 pegs and won with
  a weight of 197lb.
• Won Float only league at Tyford on the river Avon 3 times in 5 years.
• Runner up in John Smiths festival at Evesham in 1989.
• Daily Mirror champ at Longleat in 1981.

Pete has worked full time at Tunnel Barn Farm Fisheries for the last 8 years and is a Qualified National Sports Council coach.

Claire Dagnall

Sadly Claire died peacefully on March 16th 2011 aged just 46. She will be greatly missed by the Bag'em team, she was a lovely lady and one of England's finest match anglers, we were honoured to have had her on our team.

Claire was an England International and worked full time at Leeda as 2XL and Leeda Brand Manager. She was married to Mike Dagnall who fishes for Kamasan Starlets.

She started fishing at the age of 10 in local parks with her dad around Birmingham.

Claire said "I fished my first match at Swanshurst Park and from that was asked to join the BAA/Starlets Junior team. I then started fishing junior matches eventually becoming team captain.'

I enjoy fishing the open match circuit, particularly team matches and festivals at White Acres. The highlight of my year is competing in the World Championships."

Claires incredible list of success:

• Represented England in 7 World Championships, won 3 team gold medals, 1 silver and one bronze
• Won Ladies National twice
• Won Ladies Fishomania twice
• Open wins Bridgewater Canal, Moorlands Farm, Woodland View etc
• Embassy Pairs Final Qualifier
• Drennan League Round Winner
• Won 1 day of Challenge Sensas Final
• Member of Kamasan Starlets Match Squad

Lee Taylor

Lee, from Warwickshire, started fishing when he was 7 years old on the canals around the Warwickshire area, before progressing to win junior matches and successfully compete outside the junior age group in the club circuit.

During 2006-2007 Lee fished waters including Barston in Solihull and Spring Pools in Rugby, which accumulated in him winning the Intersite individual at Barston in 2006 and coming 4th in the final of the Stafford Moor Mania in 2007.

Over the last winter months I have been concentrating on my silver fish sport at a venue called Dog Lane where I have been taking part in their ‘silvers only’ pairs winter league. We have had a great league with plenty of roach , skimmers and perch being caught, myself and my dad finished 2nd overall in the league, with myself having the top weight of the league with 22lb of quality roach!!

Lee said "I'm heavily involved with the www.total-fishing.com and www.total-fishingclub.com web sites . These two sites get like minded anglers involved in some cracking matches and events over the country. One which is currently taking place at the minute is the Total Fishing world series!! I was lucky enough to qualify for the final later this year which will be held at The Glebe. I won my section at Cudmore with a net of skimmers and carp which will see me now partake in the final , and hopefully winning a trip to watch the world champs in 2010."

"My summer matches will include the Boddington masters series with matches also at Makins , and a 2 day festival at the Glebe. Later on in the year I will also be attending the ACA masters at the Glebe where I will be putting in 2 teams under the Total-fishingclub banner!!"

Dale Calvert

From: California USA

Sponsors: Bag 'em Matchbaits & Middy




Achievements to date:

• 4 venue records
• 418lbs 8oz venue record Wrightington Fishery, Rivington View in 2011
• 201lbs 6oz Wrightington Fishery, Canal 2 in 2009
• 268lbs 4oz German Lane, Lancs in 2009

Many features with Angling Times, Pole Fishing Magazine and IYCF

Developed methods called "splashing pellets" and "the anti-rig" one of which bagged me the 418lbs monster catch

Favourite Method: Pole fishing tight to islands
Favourite Bag 'em Product: White Chocolate Tuffits
Favourite Middy Item: My XK55

Angling Ambitions: to become well known and recognised as an innovative and inventive angler with Bag 'em Matchbaits & Middy responsible for catching big weights. To beat my PB and reach the 450lbs barrier

Nigel Baxter

Nigel Baxter is a very experienced, retired Northamptonshire based match fisherman who regularly fishes matches four times a week.

He has been match fishing all his life. Starting at club level and progressing into open matches.



Nigel’s won countless river matches including:

• Winter League Nene Championship
• Wellend Championship
• 300 peg opens at Ouse & Nene
• He’s fished for the famous Oundle match team, winning the winter league final in Denmark

Nowadays Nigel fishes opens on commercials, mostly at Decoy Lakes in Peterborough. He’s a regular winner & framer and holds the best weight at Decoy being 194lbs.
His best winning weight in carp matches is 332lbs on the pole.

Dave Smith

Dave is one of the most respected junior angling coaches in the country, he is also the Project coordinator of the “Get Hooked on Fishing Border” scheme, and the onsite coach at the prestigious Border Fishery in Altrincham, Cheshire.

Dave works with thousands of young anglers each year introducing them to angling, developing their angling skills and improving their angling techniques. Dave is either fishing or coaching on a daily basis and with over 45 years of match and specimen angling behind him he makes the ideal person to field test many of our products.






Hollie Smith

Hi I’m 8 years old and a student at Sandford Hill Primary School, and I love angling. My dad Dave runs a Get Hooked on Fishing scheme so since I could walk I have been able to fish with my Dad.

Having my Dad always on hand to help me is brilliant, but he also has some great mates like Neil Machin, Andy May, Pete Goodman and Andy Moors, so picking up tips and asking for advice is not a problem, and face it, who better to ask.

All this help makes my fishing seem easy; I have already done 100lb plus sessions, and the support and products I get from Bag’em have gone a long way in making those catches happen. I love it when new products come out, testing them with my Dad is brilliant, I get really excited because when they start to work I catch more fish.

Loads of Love Hollie

Click here to see Hollie talking to Jamie Hughes about how he won the first day of the Heronbrook Festival (youtube video) >>>>