After a lot of behind-the-scenes work, I’m pleased to share that baitingtheswim.co.uk has had a proper facelift — and there’s more to it than a fresh look.

The goal with this redesign was simple: make the site easier to use, faster, better to look at, and more useful for anyone serious about coarse and match fishing. Whether you’re here for the latest FishOMania qualifier result, a tackle review, or to check out your favourite anglers, things should now feel a lot smoother.

Here’s what’s new.

More Room to Breathe on Desktop

One of the biggest changes is the wider layout on desktop. It’s a small tweak on the surface, but it makes a big difference. Articles, photos and content blocks now have more space, making everything easier to read and a bit less cramped. The new layout is over 11% wider than previously, and has been implemented across the whole site.

As you’ll see in the images below, the new design is on the left, and the old layout is on the right. The first image is a snapshot from our old brand hub.

Re-Designed Homepage

The homepage has had a complete refresh and now makes full use of the wider desktop layout. The overall design is cleaner with less duplication of content. You’ll no longer see the same posts appearing in multiple blocks — each section now has a clearer focus, whether it’s latest news, tackle reviews, or match fishing news.

Cleaner Pages with Fewer Sidebars

We’ve stripped back a lot of the sidebars across the site. They’ve been useful, but in many cases they were just getting in the way. The new layout puts the content front and centre — especially on brand — so you’re not distracted by too many extras.

Less Clutter, Fewer Ads

We’ve also reduced the number of ad slots per page. Ads are still there (they help keep the site going with increased server costs), but we have been careful to cut down on the clutter. Pages should load faster, and the reading experience should feel a lot more relaxed. We’re still refining the ad placements, but if you have any feedback, let us know in the comment section.

Sticky Menu on Desktop

Navigation has has had an upgrade too. There’s now a full width navigation menu to give it more space, and we’ve updated the menu structure to make more sense. We’ve also added a sticky top menu on desktop, so you can move between pages without having to scroll all the way back to the top. Handy if you’re deep in a story or halfway through a long read.

New: Meet the Anglers Section

This is a big one.

We’ve launched a brand-new Meet the Anglers section where you’ll find profiles of some of the UK’s top match anglers. Each profile includes:

• A short bio and photo
• Their tackle and bait sponsor brands
• A quick link to all their news stories
• Social links (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram)

It’s an ongoing project — we’ll be adding more names over time — but the idea is to build a proper library of the people shaping the UK match scene. Want someone added? Let us know by using the Contact Us page.

Linked Brands and Anglers

Brand pages and angler profiles now link together. So if you’re reading about a brand like Matrix or Guru, you’ll see which anglers they sponsor — and if you’re checking out an angler, you’ll see which brands they work with. It’s a small touch, but it makes the whole site feel more connected.

Spot a Bug? Got a Suggestion?

We’ve tested the new layout across as many screen sizes and devices as possible, but it’s not always 100% possible to catch every error. If you notice anything not working quite right, or if there’s an angler you think deserves a profile, just shout. You can drop me a message via the contact page or ping us on socials — we always appreciate the heads-up.

More to Come…

This is just the start. Over the next few months, we’ll be rolling out more updates — including new venue pages, enhanced product reviews, and more features to help you get the most out of your time on the bank.

Thanks as always for reading and supporting the site.

Tight Lines
BTS