Several days of heavy rain following straight on from spawning made the fishing very difficult for some at the Shropshire Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier venue, Preston Innovations Boldings Pools.
A lot of fish were up in the water on most lakes but not in any particular hurry to feed and the normally reliable late match margin swims did not really produce; that said the lowest weight to win a ten peg section was almost 38lb.
Going into the final hour a number of anglers looked to be in with a shout but eventually it was Mark Johnson (Maver Midlands) who found enough fish to clinch top spot. Mark took carp to 10lb and F1’s to record a weight of 113lb 12oz from peg 7 on Beech. He caught mainly on pellet fishing shallow and later on in the margins where he had his better fish.
Runner up, going one better than the previous week at Partridge Lakes, was the ever-consistent Grant Albutt. Fishing at Beech 20 he put 86lb 2oz on the scales with F1’s and silvers caught shallow on caster. In third place was Kieron Rich with 75lb 4oz of carp, F1’s and silvers taken on the deck with maggot from peg 17 on Chestnut Pool. Fourth was Lee Barratt from Hawthorn peg 5. Lee weighed a mixed bag of carp and F1’s totalling 62lb 3oz taken on pellet and fifth spot went to Richard Buxton with 60lb 3oz.
With only two more Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifiers to go for 2012 the action continues for the next 130 competitors on Saturday 16 June at Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk.
