Fish O’ Mania Final guide & Clubman
Countdown to big match
THE first UK big-money summer match final is fished this Saturday as the Sky TV cameras and crowds descend on Cudmore Fisheries for Fish O’Mania XXIV to see who will depart £50,000 the richer.
Twenty-five qualifiers will line up on Arena Pool at the Staffordshire fishery to slug it out over five hours in what will be a new look final. More anglers are competing than ever before and you’d be hard-pushed to pick a winner.
From England internationals to former Fish O’ champs and some of the most consistent performers on the match angling scene, every finalist will go into the match believing they can win. And with almost every peg in use it’ll be equally hard to say where the winner will come from.
The bookies will take plenty of money on double Fish O’ champ Jamie Hughes, while England men Lee Kerry and William Raison will both attract attention too. Then there’s double UK Champ Andy Power, anglers of the calibre of Steve Openshaw, Adam Richards and Tony Curd, and former winners Steve Jackson and Steve Cooke.
“It’ll be hard fishing,” said 2016 champ Andy May. “Five or six
pegs will be brilliant and the rest will be a struggle in terms of an outright win, although there will be bites for everyone because the stocking of the lake hasn’t altered from last year. That means small F1s, ide, skimmers and tench and the odd big carp. I’d say pegs 1-10 on the day will be good as that’s where the fish have been in recent years.
“However, eight pegs are not in use so I don’t know how these will balance themselves out. If there aren’t blockers fishing then the end pegs could well be brilliant! It’s not commercial carp bagging as we know it, and there will be a lot of technical work to keep several lines on the go with light lines and small hooks.
“I think chopped worm and caster will be the baits most in evidence on the day.
“In terms of who will win it, I’d have a few quid on William
Raison. Not only is he an excellent angler, but he’s also got knowledge of fishing the lake and the fishing will suit him.
“That said, Jamie Hughes, Lee Kerry, Adam Richards and Andy Power are all outstanding as well! So much will depend on who draws where, and also what the weather is like.
“These two factors will go a long way towards deciding if you have a chance or not.”