Pairs League

The LACC Pairs League

The pairs league is open to all LACC members and is a fun, friendly competition that is fished for throughout the season. There are 5 rounds in total, but only each team’s best four results count towards the final league table. The competition is suitable for anglers of all standards and everyone is made to feel welcome, so why not team up with another member and enter the league this year, it’s a lot of fun and we can almost guarantee that your skills will improve as you fish the matches. If you’re looking for a partner, email lacccompetitions@gmail.com and we’ll see if we can bring people together to fish.

Pairs league dates 2023/24

Sat April 29 pairs 1 at Warwick
Sat Sept 23 pairs 2 at Warwick
Sat Nov 4 pairs 3 Stratford/Warwick
Sat Dec 2 pairs 4 Stratford/Warwick
Sat Feb 17 pairs 5 Blue Lias

The 2023-24 league will be fished over five matches. In four of the matches, anglers will be divided across up to four sections of canal, and the matches will be fished on overall length. The remaining match will be fished on a single section and only the four largest perch and four largest zander will count.

There will be a minimum of four pairs to a section in sectioned matches. For example, if 12-15 pairs enter, they will be drawn between sections 1, 2 and 3. If 16 or more pairs enter, they will be drawn between sections 1, 2, 3 and 4. 

LACC PAIRS LEAGUE RULES

Entry to each round of the competition will cost £5.00 per team (payable in advance). Fishing is with lures only.

The league will be competed over 5 matches, with each team’s best 4 results counting towards the final league table. Four of the matches will be in sections and decided on longest total length. One will be fished on a single section and decided on the combined length of best four zander, best four perch.

Pairs must stay together. You should be within speaking distance of each other and able to quickly land and measure fish together.

No keeping of any fish in landing nets and continuing to fish. All fish must be measured and photographed as soon as they are caught and then immediately released. The penalty for breaching this rule is disqualification.

Each angler may only fish with one rod at a time. (although they may carry as many rods as they wish). Each angler may only use one lure at a time (no multi-lure rigs).

All teams must photograph all fish caught on an unhooking mat using a competition-standard fish measure (no tape measures) and with their competitor’s sticker in the picture using a camera or phone that allows photos to be viewed. Captures should be recorded on the scoresheet provided. Photos must be taken from above (not the side). The head must be clearly visible against the start of the measure and the tail visible on the measure.

Scoresheets should be photographed at the precise end time of a match and either emailed to lacccompetitions@gmail.com or sent to the club’s Facebook account using Messenger. Photos should be made available for checking once you have returned to the competition HQ.

All anglers must carry an unhooking mat and net, and teams must have a fish measure (measures will be available for teams that don’t have one).

Teams may use a car during the day to travel to and along their match section. All travel on the towpath must be on foot. Please park considerately. No use of pub car parks unless specifically authorised.

You can fish in areas you would normally fish during a pleasure session. Note: this includes fishing up to lock gates but not within locks themselves.

Sectioned matches

Where a bridge forms the boundary to a section, teams from both sections may fish under the bridge. However, you should not cast out into the next or preceding section. Where a lock forms the boundary, the first section ends above the lock and the second section starts below it.

It is your responsibility to ensure you stay fishing within your allocated section. If you catch fish outside your section, they should not be entered on your catch return or should be removed from your return if you later become aware that you were out of section.

The winners of each section in a sectioned match will be decided by which team catches the longest combined length of perch, pike, zander, chub and ruffe.

The match winner in a sectioned match will be the team that catches the longest combined length of perch, pike, zander, chub and ruffe. In the event of a tie, the decider will be the team with the longest fish.

Points in sectioned matches will be awarded as follows:
Match winner – 6 points (20 in total for match win and section win)
Section winner – 14 points
Section runner-up – 9 points
Section third – 5 points

The longest perch and zander caught on the day will also earn their team an extra 5 points.

Single section match

The match winner in a single section match will be the team that catches the longest combined length of their four largest perch and four largest zander. In the event of a tie, the decider will be the team with the longest fish.

Points in a single-section match will be awarded as follows:
1st – 20 points
2nd – 16 points
3rd – 13 points
4th – 11 points
5th – 10 points
6th – 9 points
Any other teams that catch – 5 points

The longest perch and zander caught on the day will also earn their team an extra 5 points.

Substitutes and ties

Each team will be allowed to use one substitute angler on two occasions during the duration of the league competition, so if your partner is unavailable, you can fish with a substitute partner on a maximum of two occasions.

In the event of a tie between any of the top 3 teams at the end of 5 rounds, the winning team will be the team that had the most section wins. If teams are still tied, it will be decided by which team had the greatest combined length from their four scoring rounds.

By entering the competition you agree to abide by the club and competition rules of the Lure Anglers Canal Club and accept that you take part in this event at your own risk.