Conditions for the 108 anglers who made their way to Heronbrook were a little inconsistent on Saturday, with a biting wind and low overnight temps it was apparent early on that weights would be a little short of the venues summer form. However, this did make the match an incredibility close affair with only a handful of anglers breaking the hundred-pound barrier.
To ratchet up the ante even further, it was clear that Darren Dale had put a cracking net of fish together on Match Lake 15, but was one of the last anglers to weigh! Finally, when Daz put his fish on the scales it was elation for Paul Gibson, who’s fantastic 120lb 6oz was just 11oz clear of Darren’s!
Paul drew peg 26 on Meadows Lake and went about making most of his corner peg, fishing pellets long and short to build a 120lb 6oz weight of proper carp and F1s. Darren’s tactics varied quite significantly with him catching well on the tip early doors and backing himself up with proper carp short on meat, for 119lb 11oz from peg 15 on Match Lake.
Rounding out the top three was rising star Kristian Jones, who’d drawn on corner peg 31 on Canal Lake. Kristian took full advantage of his bridge feature, picking off proper carp on pellets and he finished off with a good run on meat for 112lb 8oz.
The Angling Trust would like to thank Neil and his staff at Heronbrook for all their help with the qualifier and both Terry Nutt and Dave Watkins for a cracking job running a hectic Heronbrook qualifier.
We move northwards for the next qualifier at Lindholme Lakes, for which tickets are now only available on the day. It’s worth noting; as always we close the tickets on Wednesday before a match at 15:30, so make sure you visit the booking site to guarantee a ticket for Partridge Lakes this weekend.
How to Book Tickets
Tickets for the Fish’O’Mania XXVI qualifiers will again be sold via the Angling Trust events booking website. Ticket prices have once more remained the same at £25 per qualifier.
Results
1st Paul Gibson 120lb 6oz
2nd Darren Dale 119lb 11oz
3rd Kristian Jones 112lb 8oz
4th David Brown 105lb 8oz
5th Darren Johnson 101lb 8oz
