WHO WILL BE CROWNED RIVERFEST CHAMPION?
Running-water stars to battle for big-money title on Severn at Shrewsbury
THIS weekend sees the final of the 2018 Angling Trust RiverFest event at its new home on the River Severn at Shrewsbury.
And with some of the UK’s best river anglers lining up, event creator Dave Harrell believes this will be an absolute belter of a match.
There’s £40,000 to be paid out across the two days and the list of competitors reads like a who’s who of fishing – with internationals, former RiverFest champs and red-hot runningwater men all doing battle on a river that should be reaching its autumn peak.
Roach and dace are likely to be the main targets, although big bonus fish always play a part in matches at Shrewsbury. With easy access to every peg and a choice of methods at the disposal of anglers – plus hours of hard work done by the local council, the Environment Agency and match organisers to get the venue ready – Dave’s hoping that the weather holds out.
“Everything is looking fantastic for the final, even the long-range weather forecast, and I couldn’t be happier with the response from the local council and the EA who have done a lot of swim clearing work, putting in new platforms and allowing parking behind every peg on the quarry section,” Dave said.
“I’m expecting roach to be the dominant fish as the large shoals of dace have yet to move in, but by the time of the final they could well have done. We’ll sort specific pegs just before the final, so that we can use the best ones relative to the condition that the river is in.”
Running-line tactics will be key because, as yet, the large shoals of small fish that make the pole or whip to hand so deadly have yet to appear. Dave is thinking Bolo rod, waggler and stick float with perhaps a big-fish pole and worm line.
“Chub and barbel can show in certain areas, but I think they’re too much of a gamble to sit out for. I’d definitely have a worm line for big perch alongside my running line set-ups,” he explained. “At Shrewsbury, things can change overnight and a peg that produces 2lb on the Saturday could well throw up 20lb on the next. It could well be that the angler with nothing to lose on day two fishes for big fish and wins it outright!
“There are some real class acts fishing, and I’d fancy Welsh lad Ian Hughes, who was second in the recent Classic on the river, to do well alongside a lot of the big names like Hadrian Whittle and Sean Ashby.
“However, one thing previous finals have shown us is that the big name doesn’t always win!”
Fishing times for both days are 10.30am until 3.30pm after the 8am draw. The presentation takes place at the Four Crosses pub just outside Shrewsbury at around 6pm on the Sunday.
The winner will pocket £13,000 down to £1,000 for 10th place, and £250 will be paid out for every six-peg section winner.