“IS THAT IT UNTIL JULY?”

THERE’S normally very little that stops me getting out and fishing a match, but with more restrictions coming into place with regards Coronavirus, I think the time has come for match anglers to stop.

There are more important things to worry about than trying to qualify for a big final. Fisheries are closing and the whole landscape might well have changed to no fishing being allowed whatsoever by the time you read this.

I did go to Woodlands View for the Golden Reel qualifier, but I shouldn’t have. The atmosphere was not nice, and I think we all felt a bit wrong for being there. Even if I’d have qualified, I doubt there would have been much point. I can’t see the big-money finals going ahead if there’s a long break from fishing.

I drew peg 2 on the Arles Pool, and with the peg next to me not drawn, I had loads of room around me! I fancied it to win and began fishing 4mm pellet short for a few early carp before I saw some big fish down to my right.

A mugging rig sorted two double-figure carp out in no time, and at around the halfway point, my other margin came good, although it was here where I made a mistake that cost me the win. I was expecting the fish to be feeding deeper water, but I just couldn’t catch well enough here.

In the end, I changed to fishing in 18 inches of water and it was miles better. At the weigh-in,

I had 116lb for third overall, probably three or four carp behind the winner Andy Power. I felt I’d fished a bad match and made wrong decisions.

“I can’t see the big money finals going ahead”