CHANGE OF FISH O’ VENUE WINS ANGLERS’ APPROVAL
Match anglers give big thumbs-up to return to Hayfield
THE decision to bring the Fish O’Mania final on July 14 back to Maver/ Dynamite Baits Hayfield Lakes has been welcomed by the match fishing community.
The Doncaster venue has hosted 11 finals down the years and made for some of the most exciting match angling moments on live Sky TV.
The large Island Lake, the water that currently hosts the Maver Mega Match This Final, will be used in 2018. It offers scope for a wide range of tactics, and with both big and small carp stocked it should give a finalist who is well behind after a few hours every chance to catch up late in the day.
“The event needed a change of venue, as the fishing and noted areas on the Arena Pool had become far too predictable and one-dimensional,” said multiple Fish O’ finalist Darren Cox.
“If the Island Lake is used, it will be excellent. It has some huge carp in it, which makes for great fishing.
“Also, a lot more styles will come into play, such as the feeder, waggler, bomb and pole.
“Hayfield owners Robin and Noelie Goforth are great hosts and will make the venue and fishing as good as you can get on big finals like this.”
The 2016 champion Andy May agreed. “On paper it should be a great final,” he said. “The fishing will be very different from Cudmore, going on how the last two Match This finals have been, but I have to say I don’t think there’s a better venue for spectators and the TV cameras than Cudmore’s Arena Pool.
“Unfortunately, the fishing hasn’t been up to scratch, and when the likes of Will Raison and Lee Kerry catch nothing, you know there’s something wrong.
“People seem to want to see big fish caught, and when you’re after proper carp there’s still every chance of coming back from the dead with a run of fish late in the match.
“I guess until we’ve had a final on Hayfield, we’ll never truly know. I didn’t think it would ever go back to Hayfield, but it ticks all the boxes.”
“The Island Lake will be excellent. It has some huge carp in it, which makes for great fishing”