Steve Mayo Interview

Here’s the third in my series of interviews, this one is with top match angler Steve Mayo just before he jets off to start a new life in Thailand as a fishing guide.

I recently had the pleasure of your company on a trip to the lovely Gillhams Resort in Thailand and I think it’s fair to say we had a blast! But let’s find out a bit more about you,

Steve Mayo – I started fishing when I was 12 years old with my dad on the Bristol Avon at Keynsham, my first fish was a roach of about 2oz.

My favourite style of fishing has always been the waggler. In the early days it was waggler and maggot on the river for chub then it changed to waggler and maggot for carp on commercials which eventually changed to pellet waggler fishing. I also enjoyed a lot of success at Larford lakes fishing balls of groundbait at range fishing a waggler shallow over the top catching big carp.

Steve in action using his favourite method

Your favourite venue?

My favourite venues have changed over the years but probably my favourite natural venue would be Porth reservoir near Newquay and my favourite commercial would have to be Larford Lakes for its diversity.

I think as an angler competing at the top level it is important to be consistent and there is no better place to prove this than the Whiteacres festivals. I would say my best results would be my two festival wins there.

A lovely ghostie caught on the pellet waggler

My favourite method is fishing soft pellets over micros for skimmers, I do okay but seem to suffer spells of missing lots of bites, any tips?

In my opinion if you are missing too many bites you are feeding too much, try cutting back your feed even to the degree of only feeding 10-12 micro pellets through a kinder pot.

My favourite groundbait for skimmers would be Thatchers Natural Groundbait. If the water is coloured I would add 25% Sensas Lake to it.

Well Thailand, what can I say, the scenery, the weather, the food, the fishing, the beach, the people, the bars and of course the way of life. For me the way of life is so much more relaxed so I can’t wait to get away from the stress of living in the UK

As I have just said in your previous question I want to get away from the stress of living in the UK. I loved working for Maver and I thought I would be working in the tackle trade right up until I retired. But unfortunately I feel the trade is suffering from the recession and the lack of kids coming into the sport. It has been more difficult to make a living over the last 18 months so after being offered a position as a guide at Gillhams Fishery in Thailand I felt it was an opportunity I could not turn down.

Moving to Thailand is a big decision yes but the world is a small place these days. I will only be 24 hours away. That being said I will obviously miss my family and friends. With regards to UK match fishing, it’s not the scene I fell in love with. The matches are getting smaller and venues seem to be peggier than ever. So I think this is the right time for me to move on to something new.

Well maybe we could work something out and run a mini festival at Gillhams which would be interesting to say the least. The weights would be outrageous. When we both fished in the same peg at Gillhams in November we had over 1000lb of fish between us!!!

You were with Maver for a long time, what items in their range do you rate highest and are there any new exciting products about to hit the shops?

Maver has always been at the forefront of product design, especially pole production. I feel the best product they have to offer is their range of Elite Carp poles, they are as stiff as any pole out there but they will handle the biggest of fish in modern commercial fisheries. There is not a better pole on the market for the modern commercial match angler in my opinion.

Have you any angling heroes or anyone who has inspired you?