We’re closing in on the big day at Westwood Lakes, and it’s time to meet another five finalists heading into FishOMania 2025. This group brings a mix of youth and experience, with a double champion, debut appearances, and even a former junior winner stepping onto the biggest stage in match fishing.
Andy North was the first of the five to qualify, earning his place at Weston Pools 2 on June 21. He was joined by Steven Forster, who booked his first final appearance at Hallcroft Fishery on June 25. Bradley Lucas was victorious at Lindholme Lakes 2 on July 2, before two familiar faces joined the line-up: Andy Bennett qualified at Moorlands Farm 2 on July 5, and Lee Thornton rounded out the group with success at Tunnel Barn Farm 2 on July 9.
Meet the 2025 FishOMania Anglers:
Full name: Andy North
Age: 46
The first place you ever went fishing: A local pond near Mansfield, where I’m from originally
Your favourite place to fish: Weston Pools
What would you do with the £50,000 if you won?: Take the kids away to America and invest the rest
Favourite fishing method: Maggots in winter
Your first FishOMania memory (as a competitor or a viewer): Watching as a kid on Sky Sports in 1994—the final at Mallory Park. Ian Turner won it. I felt sorry for the legend Dickie Carr
Bank runner’s name: Colin Scott
Best FishOMania finish to date: 6th in 2010. Won £2,500 for the big fish with two minutes left of the match
Full name: Steven Forster
Age: 39
The first place you ever went fishing: Kiveton Hall Farm
Your favourite place to fish: Aston Park Fisheries
What would you do with the £50,000 if you won?: Haven’t thought about that
Favourite fishing method: Pole shallow and margin fishing
Your first FishOMania memory (as a competitor or a viewer): Winning Junior FishOMania in 2001
Bank runner’s name: Graham Pendleton
Best FishOMania finish to date: First time in the final
Full name: Bradley Lucas
Age: 20
The first place you ever went fishing: The sea
Your favourite place to fish: The river
What would you do with the £50,000 if you won?: Buy a van—and probably have to take the family on holiday!
Favourite fishing method: Mugging
Your first FishOMania memory (as a competitor or a viewer): Watching Andy Bennett win his second back-to-back title
Bank runner’s name: Harry Bignell
Best FishOMania finish to date: This is my debut
Full name: Andy Bennett
Age: 40
The first place you ever went fishing: The local pond behind my house, called Sadjas
Your favourite place to fish: I do love Whiteacres—been going for years. Lovely part of the country, Cornwall is
What would you do with the £50,000 if you won?: Gamble it all on red—haha! No, seriously, probably just have a nice holiday and treat all my friends to a free bar all night for coming and supporting me
Favourite fishing method: At the minute, long pole deep water fishing—can’t beat striking into quality fish in deep water
Your first FishOMania memory (as a competitor or a viewer): Watching Neil Machin catching 200lb down his edge to win the final while my pal Nathan Watson lost ’em all day
Bank runner’s name: Connor Barlow
Best FishOMania finish to date: 2× winner – 2019 and 2020
Full name: Lee Thornton
Age: 38
The first place you ever went fishing: River Lark on my grandma’s boat
Your favourite place to fish: Partridge Lakes Fishery
What would you do with the £50,000 if you won?: No plans with the money—best off not counting chickens and all that!
Favourite fishing method: Pole fishing with meat
Your first FishOMania memory (as a competitor or a viewer): Watching all the FishOMania videos as a young kid from the first events
Bank runner’s name: Neil Machin—previous winner and record holder of the largest winning weight
Best FishOMania finish to date: 2nd in 2005
Additional note: Looking forward to the match—although I slipped a disc on Sunday, so it’s going to be a painful one unfortunately
