Fish O’ return?
Doncaster water favourite as Fish O’ final set to move
New home for big final?
COULD the Fish O’Mania final be heading back to Hayfield Lakes?
This week we can reveal that organisers The Angling Trust and Matchroom Sport are considering a change of venue for the megamoney match next summer... with the Yorkshire venue among the front runners for the showpiece final.
With a proven track record of hosting the final, the Doncaster complex would be favourite, after a number of finals at Staffordshire’s Cudmore Fisheries that have been dogged by poor catches.
No deal has yet been struck, but Hayfield already hosts the Maver Mega Match This final and ticks every box.
Matchroom’s Luke Riches has admitted Hayfield is ideal for the match.
“Hayfield is a strong possibility for a change, but nothing is confirmed as yet,” he said. However, Angling Times can reveal that officials from the Angling Trust and Sky TV have visited the fishery.
“We’d love to host this match but it’s all down to the organisers,” said Hayfield’s Noelie Goforth. “We have been approached with a view to holding the final here but no timescale has been put in place to say yes or no.”
“We do view Hayfield as the Wembley of matchfishing and I think anglers see us as the home of Fish O’Mania. Of course, we wouldn’t say no if we were asked to host the final.”
Three-times Fish O’ champion Jamie Hughes is a fan of the Maver-sponsored fishery.
“From a spectators’ point of view, Hayfield would be a great venue as the carp are bigger and the weights will be good,” he said. “Cudmore has been good to me, but I don’t think 24 anglers on the Arena Lake works in the current format. “However, that number on the Island Lake at Hayfield would be perfect wherever you go as no-one can make the fish move to where they don’t want to be,” he added.
“Hayfield’s lakes are bigger and aren’t as affected by pressure, plus a lot of methods work there so it would make a good spectator event.
“Speaking as an angler, as long as I could go into the draw knowing that whatever peg I get gives me a chance, I’d be happy. As it stands, Cudmore doesn’t do that.”