Tidefest Match 28th September - Kew

First annual Tidefest match, part of the Thames Festival



The TideFest angling match is a great opportunity for the angling community to highlight the importance of the tidal Thames as a recreational resource and the need to continue to clean up London's river. The match is being organised on September 28 jointly between TAC and the Angling Trust with the tickets proceeds going to the excellent kids angling charity Get Hooked on Fishing.


There is a limit of 50 pegs and there is roadside parking behind the river wall at Strand on the Green.

The fishing can be excellent on this stretch which is just downstream from Kew Bridge. There are some good shoals of bream, roach and dace. Last year one of the Uxbridge Rovers matches was one with over 30lbs of bream on the feeder and double figures of roach and dace on the stick float is always on the cards. We will be fishing down the gravel foreshore from two hours after high tide. Waders are essential!


It would be great to have a good showing from TAC members and for those that don't fancy fishing we will be looking for some volunteers to help with the stewarding.

sounds great.  
50 pegs at £5 each =£250.
£500 for the winner.?
is this correct?

No mate

£500 to the winner plus any pools on the day. The prize has been put up by Tideway Tunnels who are part sponsoring the whole day. Day will hopefully also include foreshore walks, boats trips, river activities, most after the match, more to follow on that

£5 entry goes to Get Hooked on Fishing Charity

sounds good.

Hope so mate, might even enter   

might even see my ugly mug down there  

Anyone fishing this?

Knowledge here I reckon someone could scoop the case   


Need to register of course   

I got my ticket to fish this yesterday,a letter actually numbered 2.If no one else fishes it at least I,ve got
a 50/50 chance of winning £500.
Happy days.

Mate you have a great chance.... well until I get a ticket   

Anywhere is the rules about using alarms?



Anyone one else up for a challenge?

Would love a TAC member to win this, of course would mean a round at the pub   

I will definitely fish it, no not a match man but a bream expert....

Dave match fishing is not all that hard. especially on the massive bits of the thames which you are talking about, Throw the feeder at it, if the bream dont come along, your money will go to john.   

CAN volunteer to help out, but will need a tow to get there

Cheers Keith, we will get you there mate, lets chat nearer the time, happy to pick up

Bump.. looking like an easy win for me, a non-matchman, anyone else getting involved?

will the tide be going out or coming in when the fishing starts, will it be high tide, low tide, wot type of moon will it be,   ,

Keith Collett wrote:

will the tide be going out or coming in when the fishing starts, will it be high tide, low tide, wot type of moon will it be,   ,

Lowest tide around 1 pm and as part of World Rivers Day they have also got Kayeks and Canoes demos at Kew Bridge at the same time,we had these turn up last time and they banked them and went in the Pub.
Me ,Lee and Andy B had a pint ,and I recommend the Steak and Ale pie.

I hope to fish this match (work permitting) and I have fished this stretch a few times.
These are my tips for a good day out; As said above waders are essential, crocs if you're that way inclined lol.
Only take essential gear, a medium feeder rod, selection of cage feeders.
Baitwise, maggots for bites, dace and roach present. Pellet caught the big carp last time I was there.
As the tide recedes you will have to move forwards. After a few hours you are 30 yards further down the bank than where you started...
Take the bare minimum of gear is my best advice.
Target species are bream to frame, 10lb of dace is possible if you don chesties and trot stickfloats.
Most importantly you will need strong banksticks for your keepnet. The riverbed is rocky, I take a mallet...
For rodrests the same applies. A beach tripod is the best but expensive option, touch ledgering is also an option for those who opt to carry less gear.
The parking is okay and no great walk to most pegs .
Hope this helps and 98% sure I'll attend.....

any idea who is responsible for Pegging? Just hope its generous given the pace of the river at low tide

Mark Hathway wrote:

any idea who is responsible for Pegging? Just hope its generous given the pace of the river at low tide

Could be someone froms Rons Tackle,on Riverfest theres 30 yards, with this current you tend to feed the
peg below,if ground bait is used make sure the heaviest mix is used.I mix mine with 50% dark leam.I will go there
for a practise on 14-15 Sept or 20-21 Sept as these tides are similar to the match.

Understand it is only 30 pegs now as downstream by the island you can wade across.

Got my ticket, watch out you Bream... I am an expert

Should be great fun, who else apart from me and John are fishing it ?



If you can, pop down and heckle, abuse, all the normal stuff

Im helping out

I will be done to help also ,

Charles Mills wrote:

I will be done to help also ,

Bream ghillie again ?

Got my ticket........