“CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR FOR BIG FINAL SPOT”
I’M GETTING closer to winning a big qualifier after two third places in my last two attempts, one of which was a very close call. That’s the nature of these events though. Third in an open is few quid in the back pocket, but on a qualifier you might as well be 33rd!
Partridge Lakes was first up for the midweek Fish O’ match. I drew one peg away from where I was the week before – 18 on Covey Canal 1. This was a very different peg, and one I felt I had a chance off. There were a lot of carp milling about in the scum.
The far-bank mudline was too deep, and fishing shallow only caught a few. My best lines were the margins and I fished three, one either side of me and a third long to my left. They gave me lots of small carp.
I did make a mistake chasing the better carp. I thought the fish were too small, but if I’d plugged away I might have got closer to winner Matty Dawes. I finished with 146lb, 20lb short.
The Golden Reel was next at Woodland View. My draw, peg 31 on the Front Deans Pool, was a bit deflating, but it turned out to be not too bad. I had a great run mugging fish shallow. With an hour to go I moved on to my short line, but I only caught four small carp. I had 138lb for third again, but just 146lb won, one big carp away from the final!
I’m not getting worried, though, as there are still lots of chances to get through. It’s brilliant to be fishing so many different venues and the lockdown has made me appreciate my fishing much more.
“You might as well be 33rd as third in a qualifier!”