News

Four late fish for 75lb see northern rod in Match This final.

Barnsley rod Mark Stainsby has qualified for the Maver Match This Final, with a fantastic 126lb 12oz net from Maver Larford Lakes.

The near-sell-out qualifier was attended by 106 anglers. Conditions, however, were disappointing and difficult to say the least. Strong winds made for very difficult presentation on the pole, and a massive fall in temperature also knocked the fishing backwards.

Fishing Republic-backed rod Mark drew Peg 23 on the Specimen Lake. Mark fished the Method feeder to catch bream and carp early, but later caught at six metres and down the edge to land some huge carp. In the last hour, he landed four carp that totalled 75lb to finish the day 7lb clear of the field.

Second-placed Stuart Ballard (Maver Midlands) drew Peg 39 on the Match Lake and made the most of the sheltered conditions by weighing 119-00-00 of F1s and carp to pole and pellet. 

Third-placed Neil McKinnon (Preston Innovations) drew fancied Peg 43 on the Match Lake. Neil had a good match, catching carp and F1s on pellet at six metres, but kicked himself when he found he could catch much quicker fishing longer and shallow. An "opportunity missed to qualify for the final" were his words at the end of the match, but his 114-15-0 net still landed him a place in the British Pole Championship.

Fourth-placed Paul 'Tommy' Hiller (Daiwa Dorking) was unlucky not to make the big final, after recording an 89-14-0 net.

Rob Wootton (Shimano / Dynamite Baits) secured his place in the British Pole Championship thanks to a 85-05-00 effort from Peg 45 on the Specimen Lake.