WADE ON WATER with Richard Wade Record breaking catch dwarfs opponents’ efforts

IT HAS been a busy weekend at Lychgate Fisheries with the Lychomania final fished on Monday and the Fisheries match record smashed out of sight in the Saturday Open match.

The Lychomania final is the biggest match of the year in the Hinckley area and is fished by some of the area’s best match anglers who all had to win a qualifier match to take part.

It was the inform Andy Findley who took the honours, Drawn on peg 34 Andy caught steadily all match to finish with a winning 117lb catch.

Pushing him all the way was Charlie Thackrah on peg 41, who finished second, with a 98lb 4oz catch.

Steve Brindley came third with a 58lb 14oz catch from peg 44 while Mark Sidwells finished fourth with a 56lb 2oz catch.

In the Saturday Open match Luke Winstanley made a slow start from peg 41, catching just one carp in the first hour.

Switching between pole and feeder tactics he began to catch and for the rest of the match it was a fish every put in and he finished with a superb record breaking 218lb catch.

Previous record holder Andy Findley came second, finishing over 100lb behind the winner, and there’s not many times that’s happened. Andy landed 92lb 8ozs from peg 28.

Steve Brindley came third with a 58lb 4oz catch from peg 55 with Mick Wilson finishing fourth with 57lb 4ozs from peg 19.

Mill on the Soar’s match record could have been in danger if Hans Bauer had landed a few of the 15 big carp that he lost, with one even breaking his pole to escape.

At the end Hans weighed 66lb from peg 38 to take first place. Mick Linnett landed 20 small carp from peg 31 to take second place with 57lb 10ozs. Pete White finished third with a 39lb 2ozs catch.

Higham Lane Fishery’s Wednesday evening “Bag Up” wasn’t quite the expected fish fest, but it was a close finish with just one small carp separating the top three.

Paul Cook won from peg 6 with a 36lb 11oz catch on pole fished pellet. Hinckley tackle dealer Dominic Carino finished second with 34lb 11ozs. Ricky Arms came third with 32lb 11ozs.

Andy Findley made a quick start to Wednesday’s Lychgate Fisheries Open match, putting two carp in his net after the first five minutes.

Switching between the pole and feeder kept the fish coming and Andy finished with a match winning 71lb 14ozs.

Paul Gardener came second from peg 30 with a 33lb 2oz catch on pole fished sweet corn. Mick Wilson was third with 31lb 14ozs with Steve Hill in fourth place with a 31lb 8oz catch.

Hinckley Angling Club’s open match at their Barwell Lane Fishery was won by Steve Green with a 9lb 4oz catch of bream and roach.

Mick Woodward finished a close second with a similar catch weighing 8lb 13ozs. Dave Golby came third with 6lb 6ozs.

There was a close finish to Sunday’s Brookfield Open with just one small carp the difference.

Leading the way was Ian Shirley with a 41lb 8oz catch from peg 3. Stu Campton came second with a level 40lb catch from peg 5. Ray Lewis came third with 29lb 8ozs with Dave Sutton taking fourth place with a 24lb 12oz catch.

Spawning carp slowed the sport in Wednesday’s Maynes Lakes Open match.

Leading the way was Darryl Moore who managed to find a few feeding fish to win with a 37lb 2oz catch.

Results: pool one, first: Chris Edwards 29lb 3ozs from peg 38; pool two, first: Darryl Moore from peg 4; pool three, first: Karl Downing 33lb 12ozs from peg 50.

Thursday’s Higham Lane Open was won by Andy Findley who pole fished pellet on peg 10 to finish with a 99lb 7oz catch.

Dave Ale used method feeder tactics to catch 58lb 11ozs to take second place with Dave Massey finishing third with a 44lb 7oz catch.

Higham Lane have an Open match every Thursday, draw 9am.

Lychgate Fisheries have started the Lychomania 2018 qualifiers, with Open matches on Saturday, draw 9am and on Sunday draw 12.30pm.

Brookfield have an open match on Sunday at Stoke Golding, draw 9am.

Hinckley Angling Club have an open match at Barwell Lane Fishery this Sunday, draw 9am.

Mill on the Soar have an open match every Tuesday, draw 8.30am.

Maynes Lakes have an open match every Wednesday, draw 10am.

Lychgate Fisheries have an open/ Lychomania qualifier on Wednesday, draw 9am.

Higham Lane have their Wednesday evening “BagUp” open. The draw takes place at 5.30pm.