Very strong, gusty winds and torrential rain made for a very unpleasant day for the 130 brave souls who faced the horrendous conditions at the second Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier at Gold Valley, Aldershot on 18 April 2012.
Simon Fry made the best of the bad conditions and landed nine carp up to 12lb from peg 45 on Gold Lake to secure his place in the grand final in July. The Starlets and Garbolino backed star from Stratford-upon-Avon fished pellet with a method feeder to win with 72-14-0.
Simon said:
“The weather on the day was horrendous with really strong rain and winds, but I drew an area where I knew it can be reasonable to fish. My plan of attack was to fish the method feeder across towards the middle of the lake just ten yards short of the rope to go for carp. One or two people said that I was in with a chance with only an hour to go, so I thought I needed a good last hour. Unfortunately I did not have a bite for the last 40 minutes of the match, but my fish must have been a decent size to win me the match.
I felt sorry for the angler in second place as he was so close behind me and we have all been in that position. I was familiar with the venue as having fished the UK Champs and Drennan Knockout Cup, but having said that I have not fished at Gold Valley since last summer.”
Not far behind Simon was local rod, Jonathon Budd from Elstead who missed out on qualification by a mere 10oz. Fishing mini boilies with a method feeder at peg 63 on Middle Lake, Jonathon caught a similar number of carp up to 12lb for 72-4-0. Fish ‘O’Mania stalwart, Steve Jackson came close yet again in third place with 68-10-0, also catching carp to 12lb on pellet and method feeder from peg 121 on Syndicate Lake.
RESULTS
1st Simon Fry (Garbolino Starlets AS) 72-14-0
2nd Jonathon Budd (Farnham AS) 72-4-0
3rd Steve Jackson (Garbolino) 68-10-0
4th Glen Butler (Bowlers Angling) 61-10-0
5th Ryan Watson (Daiwa Dorking) 50-8-0
6th Geoff Vallance (PI Delcac) 49-10-0
7th Frederick Thompson Andover 47-7-0
8th Mark Brennan Blandford Forum 44-10
The Fish ‘O’ Mania excitement continues for 2012 with the third qualifier to take place on Saturday 21 April at Makin’s Fishery, Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
