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Regular blog contributor Tony Curd looks at a few potential highlights of the season ahead…



While nearly every lake in the country has been frozen solid which has resulted in cancelled events, I spent some time planning the spring and summer of my year with regards to which of the big events I will be focusing on this season, it seems I’m rather ambitious this year as I seem to have decided on doing virtually everything there is to be involved with! Maybe one day I’ll manage to keep things controlled and sensible but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one I’m afraid! 

Last week the Angling Trust released the results of the Fish’O’Mania draw and I was pleased to receive 8 tickets this year which is great, as you would have learnt from my previous blog ‘Fisho’ is a big part of my season and consumes a lot of time this year will be no exception and I received tickets for the following qualifiers: Peatling Pools, Larford, The Oaks, Barford Lakes, Tunnel Barn Farm, Boldings, Woodlands Thirsk and Lindholme Lakes.

There is a hell of a lot of miles in those qualifiers so I’ll be hoping it’s my lucky day again on one of the earlier events! 

Continuing a trend of the last 5 years or so I’ll be heading off to White Acres for the Dynamite and Milo Festivals, which are back-to-back this season. I really love fishing at White Acres, the buzz and atmosphere is unrivalled in my opinion, unfortunately the draw bag on these events has taken a serious dislike to myself over the last few years and not offered any chance of having a really good week but I hope to put that right this time as to win one of the festivals is a huge achievement and one I’d dearly like to experience some day.

On the Saturday between the two festivals there is, conveniently, a Match This Qualifier on the venue and you’d be mad not to get on it if you’re down there at the time as fishing is often about making the most of the opportunities that present themselves. 

Back in November I spent a bit of time fishing at Larford Lakes in Worcestershire trying to qualify for the Classic Final. My first match saw me miss out on qualifying by 8lb which was gutting but fortunately a favourable draw on my second visit helped me to a match win with 145lb of F1s on the match lake which ensured qualification for the two day final in May.
I wanted to get in on this one as it’s a competition I haven’t really had the time to try and qualify for in the past due to being involved in winter leagues etc. so to get it so early on was excellent. I have a Fisho qualifier at Larford the day before the final begins so I should be able to get a heads up on what’s happening at the venue from this, which can be invaluable at times.
Another event that will be featuring in my season is Match Fishing’s own Drennan Knockout Cup.

I’ve enjoyed fishing this in the past few years, and was going well last year making the last 32 before having to drop out as a result of my injury discussed in the previous blog, really good timing that was as you will tell from the regularity that it crops up in these articles! The venues for this year’s competition are just as good as it ever has been, with a wide range of different venues, top commercials, with some good natural venues included. It truly is an ‘all rounder’s’ dream event, and with the very best anglers the country has to offer taking part, mistakes are not an option!

As you can see spring and early summer is set to be a busy time, with so many events on at a similar time, it’s a great time of year to be out fishing though so the more the better, and no doubt as soon as it starts I’ll be looking towards the Autumn…