Bright sunshine and a warm breeze greeted the competitors for the final Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier of 2013 at Lindholme Lakes and the fish responded well, illustrated by the fact that the top five anglers all broke the ton, and the backing weights were equally impressive with another 26 anglers recording over 60lb. Only one of the thirty ten peg sections was won with less than 30lb.
Top rod, and final qualifier for the grand final, was venue expert Nick Speed who put 116lb 1oz on the scales comprising carp to 5lb and a number of F1s. Nick drew peg 45 on Bonsai Pool and caught the bulk of his fish on the method feeder tight to an island with pellet being winning hookbait.
In runner up spot was Adam Richards who weighed 111lb 11oz next door to the winner on Bonsai 44; Adam had carp to 6lb also on the feeder fishing tight across with pellet. In third place was Matt Arnold with 111lb 4oz on Bonsai 71 with carp to 6lb on the pole fishing long to the island mainly on dead maggot. Fourth spot went to David Wilson with 102lb from Bonsai peg 69.
All of the sixteen winners from the 2013 will be competing to win one of the most prestigious titles in angling in the Fish ‘O’ Mania grand final at Cudmore Fisheries, Newcastle under Lyme on Saturday 13 July.
The final line up, and the venue they qualified at, are as follows:
Andy Power, Viaduct Fishery
Darren Cox, Boldings
Craig Jones, Makins Fishery
Les Thompson, Colemans Cottage
Gavin Millis, Gold Valley
Neil McKinnon, Tunnel Barn Farm
Gary Hicks, Maver Larford Lakes
Perry Stone, Monk Lakes
James Dent, The Oaks
Andrew Leathers, Barford Lakes
Dale Shepherd, Aston Park Fisheries
Tom Pickering, Messingham Sands
Jamie Hughes, Partridge Lakes
Nathan Watson, Woodland View
Lee Barrett, Woodland Lakes
Nick Speed, Lindholme Lakes
