WHO WILL WIN 50 GRAND PRIZE?
So much talent on show in Golden Reel final it could be anyone’s match
THIS Saturday, one angler will walk away from Bag ‘Em Baits Larford Lakes £50,000 richer.
In the Colmic Golden Reel Final 24 rods will do battle in five fast and furious hours of fishing – and from the quality line up it will be hard to pick a winner.
After qualifying from fisheries nationwide, each angler will be praying for a good draw on the Match Lake at the Stourport complex. Venue boss Phil Briscoe, who is behind this exciting new competition, is playing his cards close to his chest in terms of who could win.
There are former UK and Parkdean Masters champs, as well as Matchmen of the Year among the finalists and the weather on the day will play a big part in deciding which pegs fish and which don’t.
“The Match Lake can fish very differently, depending on the wind direction, but there are a few areas that I’d be pleased to draw the night before the match,” Phil said.
“Every angler is more than capable of winning, but simply because you are a big name in fishing doesn’t mean you’ll win. We’ve seen some brilliant anglers struggle on certain pegs in Match This Finals on the lake down the years but give them half a chance and it’ll be game over.”
From the 24 names, a few jump out at you including Andy Power, Andy Bennett, Jon Whincup and Nick Speed. But it’s the lesserknown anglers that Phil thinks could be the ones to watch, especially those local to the fishery who know it well.
“Paul Cook would be one of my favourites. He fishes Larford every week and knows the lake like the back of his hand. He is a very positive angler who fishes to win so half a draw and he’ll be hard to beat,” Phil predicted.
“Simon Richardson is another very good local lad. I’d also have a few quid on Luke Bamford. If
he draws the deep water on the burr bank his paste expertise could do a lot of damage.
“Permanent pegs 16 and 18 on the grass bank are excellent for bomb and pellet fishing and 24, 26 and 28 towards the island on the same bank are also good,” he explained. “Another good peg is 42, and the mid-50s on the burr bank in the deep water are brilliant for margin and short range work. I’d also be delighted with peg 64 if the wind was
blowing down that end. It’ll all be about the right angler on the right peg.”
Aside from that £50,000 top prize, second will pocket £5,000 and third will get £3,000. Each six-peg section will be fishing for £1,000, so if you don’t draw where you want to there’s still a good few quid to go for in your own ‘mini match’. There’s no danger of an end peg running away with things, as four anglers will fish as ‘blockers’ on the end
of each bank. Phil will be on the mic to provide live commentary, keeping spectators up to date with what’s happening.
“If you want to see top-level match fishing then I’d urge you to drop by and pay us a visit,” he said.
“It’s free to get in, and as well as the fishing there are tackle and bait demos on the Specimen Lake, tackle stands, catering and a bookmaker on site to give you a chance of winning a few bob.”