06/08/25 - Barston

Weight - 29lb 0oz (14lb 10oz - silvers)

Catch - 10 Bream, 4 F1s, 4 Roach

Weather - Warm & sunny. Moderate breeze

Match - Garbolino Clubman Final (50 anglers) - 3rd in section

It’s been a long time coming since I qualified in late May, but today was the Garbolino final with 50 anglers across the whole lake

When I arrived, I met up with Jason Crump and Simon Stacey, and we all hoped for a draw at the bottom of the lake. At the draw Jason pulled p41 and I then drew p43, whilst Simon drew up in the 50s! Oh well it was likely we would be fishing for section.

When we got to our pegs, I was little more optimistic about catching as the wind was blowing straight into our bank, although looking at recent results it seemed 50lb would be a good weight although there had been a few DNWs.

On the all-in 8 feeders full of pellet (micros, 4s & 6s), plus some corn was deposited at 42m. I then started on a hybrid at 70m and didn’t have a bite. Moving to the 42m line, again no bites and after an hour I was still blanking. Bank walkers suggested my section (p43-p51) was fishing hard.

In the meantime, I had fed a pole line at 11m with mircos and 4s. When I switched to the pole fishing a 4mm expander, I caught a couple of roach, before latching into a 3lb bream and a couple of skimmers, but the action didn’t last.

I mixed up how I fed, but regardless I would catch a couple of fish before they disappeared. This was a common theme when speaking to other anglers after the match.

I tried my 42m line again and a 20/25m line where I had been pinging 8mm pellet without success.

With 90mins remaining I was told 40lb was winning my section, whilst I only had 10lb.

Back on the straight lead with an 8mm red pellet and the tip finally went round and a 5lb F1 was netted. I then noticed a fish roll to the right of where I had been feeding and tried the pellet waggler, which produced another 3 F1s quite quickly before they disappeared.

Back on the straight lead with a teabag produced a bream and with 30mins remaining I hooked what was obviously a carp, which I lost at the net. At 10lb, it fortunately didn’t cost me as my section was won with c. 55lb.

A bit of an anti-climax in the end, but there is always next year.