Hawkins Cracks The Code!

Frugal feeding key to Bait Tech Festival Win.
Ringer Baits backed ace James Hawkins had five days to remember last week, after romping to victory in the prestigious Bait Tech Festival at White Acres. With cool temperatures and torrential rain, the fishing wasn’t up to its usual spring standards – with frugal feeding holding the key to big weights for many anglers.

James started his week on Trewaters, and though he enjoyed a nice days fishing, and caught 34lb on a feeder, he was beaten by two anglers in his section – a result which he ended up dropping. Day two saw him drawn on peg six on Trelawney, when a 45lb net of F1s and carp taken on long pole fished with meat. This was good enough for a section second, and saw James climb further up the leader board.

Day three was James’s turn to fish the famous Porth Reservoir, and with a section win required in order to stay in contention, he knew a positive approach was required. He cast 70 yards with a big groundbait feeder, laying down a bed of feed for the venues resident bream. In the final hour of the match, his tip pulled around, and James found himself attached to a monster! Fortunately, he landed the beast – which turned out to be a 5lb bream, and gave James the section win that he needed.

On day four, James headed to prolific bagging complex Bolingey Lakes, and drew what he later described as being his best peg of the week, in the shape of peg 46. An ultra negative bomb and bread approach formed the basis of his attack, and 12 carp later James found himself with another section win.

With all to play for on the final day, James found himself on peg 43 on White Acres prolific Pollawyn, and once again a bomb and bread approach came up trumps! James cast his bomb tight into the far bank cover and found 20 carp for a weight of 89lb.

He explained: “When I found out that I had won my section I was over the moon, but still wasn’t sure that I would have done enough to secure top spot.

As it turned out, three of us tied on 35 points, and the result was decided on our dropped result, and then went to weight!

I was absolutely delighted when I found out I had won, along with qualifying for the Maver Match This Final,  this is by far my proudest angling achievement. I’m not sure what I will do with the money as yet – probably just add it to my savings!”    


Result:

1st    James Hawkins     35    233lb 8oz
2nd    Neil Adcock        35     114lb 14oz
3rd    Matt Godfrey     35     156lb 6oz
4th    Andy Leathers    34    273lb 12oz
5th    Mikey Williams     34     191lb 4oz
6th    Steve Tucker     34     140lb 0oz
7th    Mick Lees     34    245lb 8oz
8th    Shaun Sylvester    34     285lb 13oz
9th    Danny Wynn     34    163lb 3oz
10th    Phil Ringer     33     254lb 12oz
11th    Steve Cook     33     220lb 0oz
12th    Russell Grimes    33     164lb 5oz
13th    Pete Wild     33     436lb 14oz
14th    Harry Billing     33    108lb 7oz
15th    Andrew Power     33     175lb 13oz
16th    Steve Ringer    33     294lb 9oz
17th    Tim Rowe     32     162lb 10oz
18th    Martyn Howard    32     195lb 13oz
19th    Callum Dicks    32    224lb 8oz
20th    Ed Warren     32     196lb 10oz

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