Bright sunshine and a warm breeze greeted the competitors for the last Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier this year at Lindholme Lakes, Epworth on Wednesday 26th June. The fish responded to these good conditions, and this was clearly illustrated when the top five anglers all broke the ton, and the backing weights were equally impressive with another 26 anglers recording over 60 lbs. Only one of the thirty ten peg sections was won with less than 30 lbs.
Top rod on the day was venue expert and angling consultant Nick Speed, who put a tremendous 116 lbs 1 oz on the scales. This comprised carp to 5 lbs plus lots of F1’s. 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 the winning hookbait.
Very close in runner up spot was top angler Adam Richards from Billingham who weighed 111 lbs 11 ozs next door to the winner on Bonsai 44. Adam had carp to 6 lbs also on the feeder fishing tight across with pellet. In third place was Matt Arnold from Spalding who weighed 111 lbs 4 ozs at Bonsai 71. Matt caught carp to 6 lbs on the pole fishing long to the island mainly on dead maggot. Fourth spot went to David Wilson from Thirsk with 102 lbs also on Bonsai at peg 69. Fifth place was a former Fish ‘O’ Mania Champion Shane Atkin with 101 lbs 7 ozs from Split 23.
All of the sixteen winners from the qualifiers held this year 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 13th July.
Qualifier winners for 2013;
Andy Power, Viaduct Fishery -179 lb 14 ozs
Darren Cox, Preston Innovations Boldings – 82 lb 7 ozs
Craig Jones, Makins Fishery – 99 lb 8 ozs
Les Thompson, Colemans Cottage Fishery – 167 lb 0oz
Gavin Millis, Gold Valley Lakes – 144 lb 6 ozs
Neil McKinnon, Tunnel Barn Farm – 121 lb 1oz
Gary Hicks, Maver Larford Lakes – 136 lb 3ozs
Perry Stone, Monk Lakes Fishery – 207 lb 14 ozs
James Dent, The Oaks – 37 kilos 500 grams
Andrew Leathers, Barford Lakes – 154 lb 15 ozs
Dale Shepherd, Aston Park Fisheries – 67 lb 0 oz
Tom Pickering, Messingham Sands Fishery – 144 lb 10 ozs
Jamie Hughes, Partridge Lakes Fishery – 148 lb 14 ozs
Nathan Watson, Woodland View Fishery – 152 lb 3 ozs
Lee Barrett, Woodland Lakes Fishery – 123 lb 7 ozs
Nick Speed, Lindholme Lakes Fishery – 116 lbs 1 oz
