The anglers fishing the fifth Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier yesterday (24 April) were treated to an all too rare day in the sun with near perfect conditions for fishing, and Gold Valley Lakes did not disappoint with over 100lb required to make the top five.
The battle of the day was fished out on adjacent pegs 115 and 116 on Syndicate Lake and Fish ‘O’ Mania ‘bridesmaid’ Grant Albutt (Daiwa Dorking) got off to a flier on peg 116 taking six carp in the first hour on the pellet and waggler. At the next peg Gavin Millis (Feltham & Twickenham/Farnham) started on the method feeder but, seeing what Grant was up to, took that as his cue to switch to the pellet waggler and started to catch straight away.
Though he was behind at the halfway mark Gavin clawed his way back and ended up with 23 carp to Grant’s 18, but Grant’s were reported to be a better stamp and it was going to be a real nail-biter at the scales. At the weigh in Gavin registered 144lb 6oz and Grant 141lb 5oz – unlucky for Grant, his eighth runner up spot in the Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifiers, and his second runner up finish in the competition in a week!
Congratulations to Gavin who not only held his nerve in the tight battle of this qualifier, but he also stated after the match that he would be booking his wedding the next day.
Third place went to Chris Cameron (Middy) from Gloucester, pegged on the far bank of Syndicate at peg 119. Chris took 114lb 8oz of carp on the method and then on the pole down the edge using corn and pellet. In fourth place was Kidderminster’s Robert Brennan who fished corner peg 31 on Gold Lake who had a golden spell during the last 90 minutes fishing meat, and pellet down the edge bringing him 15 carp to 10lb for a total weight of 105lb 4oz.
The Fish ‘O’ Mania action moves to Warwickshire’s Tunnel Barn Farm this weekend…
