In a close run finish at the Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier at Hallcroft Fishery, Retford, Nottinghamshire on Wednesday 28th May 2014, Dereham angler, Raymond King weighed 112 lbs 11 ozs including a carp of 16 lbs, from unfancied peg 6 on the Island on Bridge Pool. He caught his fish shallow feeding pellets with an 8mm on the hook.
Just one fish behind was Barry Bush from Wallasey fishing peg 20 on Canal Pool. He put 108 lbs 3 ozs on the scales having caught smaller carp to 4 lbs also on pellet fishing tight to a reed bed. At the end he admitted to having lost 20 fish in these reeds.
In third place was Bernard Hook on Outer Moat 2. He caught steadily in the margins for the first three hours, but barely added to his tally in the latter part of the match. His weight of 90 lbs 11 ozs included carp to 10 lbs caught on meat and pellets.
Robert Morris of Bassingham took fourth spot with 65 lbs 14 ozs from peg 26 on Bridge Island. Fifth was Rob Hitchens on Moat Island 15 with 60 lbs 4 ozs. Melton Mowbray ace Simon Skelton captured sixth place with 59 lbs 15 ozs from peg 70 on Outer Moat.
The weather played a large part in suppressing weights in this qualifier. Following heavy rain in the previous 24 hours it then drizzled for the whole day and to make things worse there was a brisk, and chilly, north easterly wind.
None of the lakes fished to its potential and several anglers packed up early not having had a bite. That said the bigger lakes, Moat and Bridge, saw pockets of feeding fish and those anglers who drew on these put some of the venues really big fish on the scales.
With only four Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifiers left for this year the next qualifier takes place on Saturday 31st May at Partridge Lakes, Culcheth, Warrington.
