The Winter League Information: 2025 into 2026
This is a very popular series of competitions held over the winter months. Starting in November and held fortnightly through November December January February & finishing in March.
The Competition:
Normally anglers arrive and meet for 8.30 ready for a 9.30 start. The format is a pegged draw rotating every 3 to 4 pegs throughout the morning and the afternoon. It is a catch & release with a 5 fish limit per peg. First fish will be timed in the event of a draw at the end of day. First fish on each peg will count for 2 points, each fish then caught on that peg will count for 1 point to a max of 5 fish per peg. Most fish caught on the most pegs and points tallied will give positions for the day. The top three anglers win cash prizes at each heat. Each event tallies up your accumilative scores over 7 of the ten events this then gives the final placements for each angler. The Overall winner from the ten events takes home the Winter League Shield.
2025/2026 INNIS WINTER LEAGUE
Winter League Heat 10..the final heat.
Innis Winter League First Heat of 2025/26 was held on Remembrance Sunday with 15 anglers taking part from both Cornwall and Devon.At 11am a two minute silence was held where all anglers stopped fishing to remember the fallen.A few of our regular Winter Leaguers were unable to make today’s match but we welcomed two new anglers into the competition – Rhys Howard and Mick Gibaud – We hope they enjoy being part of the League.The match started at 9.30am and almost before the starting hooter had finished sounding, Rhys caught his first fish, quickly followed by four others in 20 minutes giving him his limit on his first peg.As the day progressed we were all starting to realise that the fish were not feeding no matter what methods were being used.We all came in at 12.30pm for a hot pasty and a cuppa and realised that most of us were struggling.By 4.15pm when the match concluded, Andrew Willoughby from Torpoint, had managed to catch 5 fish off 3 pegs giving him a total of 8 points and First Place in Heat 1.Dan Woodward caught 3 fish off 3 pegs giving him 6 points and putting him in Second Place.Rhys Howard caught 5 fish off 1 peg also giving him 6 points but was pipped by Dan as he had caught off three pegs.
Also worth a mention, Paul Nottle caught 2 fish off 1 peg giving him 3 points and 4th position and Mark Damarell getting 1 fish for 2 points and gaining 5th place.The remainder of us failed to catch which gave us a disappointing rod average of one.
BELOW IS LAST YEARS WINTER LEAGUE FINAL RESULTS
After the match was over, I tested the water temperature of the lake which was showing 12 degrees, and with the overnight change in air pressure, I can only guess that it affected the fish and made them reluctant to feed.
Full results shown below.
Heat 2 will be held on Sunday 23rd November, fingers crossed the fishing will be better
After ten heats of the Innis Winter League 2024/25 – St Austell angler, Alex Johnstone, gained the top position with 15 points. During the league he gained first place in four of the heats showing a great consistency over the course of the competition. Alex takes home the coveted Innis Winter League Shield. Congratulations Alex. Second Place overall was Andrew Willoughby from Torpoint with 24 points Third Place angler Keith Burnett from Newquay with 27 points. A late run of great results for Dan Woodward put him in fourth place with 28 points. A draw took place after Heat 10 for a complimentary catch & release season ticket worth £200. The lucky Winter League angler was Andrew Willoughby pictured below.
2024/25 Competition:
Innis Winter League Highlights
Just a short video summary of the ten events held over the 2024/25 winter season.