Qualifiers to Date

Larford Lakes, Match & Specimen Lake A dull and overcast day with highs of around 18c and a gentle breeze. So conditions looked good and weights were plentiful on both lakes. The winner on each lake of 24 anglers would put them in the Grand Final and a chance of lifting the crown and a massive £50,000 pay day. Winner on the Match Lake and certain to be a big threat in the final was Alex Walker who drew peg 24 on the grass bank. Alex caught on the method feeder casting close to the island with banded pellet landing ...
Read More

Well that’s it! The last qualifier of the 2021 Golden Reel Championship campaign finishing up at Larford Lakes. With just one finalist and two Semi Finalists remaining, it was all to play for. Conditions on the day presented a high pressure change and with very heavy overnight rain and thundery conditions, it was never going to be easy. That being said, it was Andy Christie who grabbed the last automatic qualification placing with a brilliant 225-7-0 from peg 15 on the Match Lake Burr. Andy fished tight down his edges and also chased carp swimming shallow to secure his victory ...
Read More

Eighty anglers turned out for this latest qualifier. Conditions were overcast and cooler with highs of just 18C. Winner today and through to the prestigious Grand Final was Andy Kinder (Maver). Andy drew peg 84 on Pool 5 fishing a very tidy match launching the feeder tight across to land approx. 120lbs of carp. Later switching to his margins, Andy landed a further 100lbs of prime carp all caught on the pole over ground bait to finish the day with 222-1-0. Second placed Mark Griffiths (Guru Mainline) drew peg 90 on pool 6. Mark weighed in 198-10-0 all caught on ...
Read More

A much better turnout for this latest qualifier. Conditions on the day were overcast with light rain showers and highs of 20C. Winner today progressing to the Grand Final was Chris Weeder Snr who drew peg 121 on Covey 5. Chris fished caster and maggot shallow and down his edge over ground bait and pellet hook baits. Chris ended the day with 179-13-0 of carp and F1’s. Second overall and making it through to the Semi Final was Rob Parker (Warrington Tackle and Gun) who drew peg 133 on Covey 6. Rob fished hard pellets down his edges landing 167-1-0 ...
Read More

Conditions today were much cooler with highs of only 18C. A stiff wind also made for difficult presentation on the day. Winner today and progressing to the September 11th Grand Final was Paddy McMahon who drew peg 20 on the river bank pegs. Paddy’s simple approach was PVA bags fished both short and long with various waffter hook baits. Paddy was rewarded with some good carp that weighed in at 89-0-0. Second overall was Darren Sanders from peg 124. Darren fished the method feeder short and pellet waggler ending up just one fish short of the overall winner with 82-2-0 ...
Read More

Lakes – Match & Specimen. 70 anglers fished this latest qualifier. Conditions for the match were good with highs of around 22C, a gentle breeze and bright sunshine. Winner today and progressing to the September Grand Final was Perry Stone (Cresta) who drew peg 5 on the Specimen Lake. Watching Perry, I have to say I witnessed a near perfect performance on the pellet waggler and the long pole shallow. Perry fished the pellet waggler at around 30m with banded 8mm pellet and later in the day fished the pole at 16m, finishing the day with a massive 266-3-0 of ...
Read More

Temperatures for this latest qualifier reduced to a pleasant 22C with a gentle breeze and partial cloud cover. Winner today with a massive 267-6-0 was James Hall (Browning). James drew peg 2 on Laurels and fished pellet short and caster short and later caught tight down his edges. James now progresses to the September Grand Final. Second overall and qualifying for the Semi Final was Jimmy Brooks (Preston / Sonu) who drew peg 15 on Laurels. Jimmy was a couple of fish short from an instant place in the final weighing in 261-5-0. Fishing casters shallow landing a bumper bag ...
Read More

Lakes Elm, Cedar, Oak & 6 Islands. Barry Mason (Guru / Mainline) has been a big supporter of the Golden Reel qualifiers and was rewarded today with a place on the September Grand Final. Barry drew peg 22 on 6 Islands and fished most of the match on corn tight down his edges. This tactic produced a superb bag of carp which weighed in at 224-9-0 and well clear of his nearest rival. A big well done to Barry. Second on the day was Simon Skelton (Dynamite / Melton Mowbray Pork Pies) who drew peg 1 on Elm. Simon fished ...
Read More

Lakes – Lambsdown / Warren. Conditions for this latest qualifier were warm with a light breeze and highs of around 20C. Winner today and progressing to the September Grand Final was fishery owner Mick Bull (Frenzee / Bag’em) from peg 1 on Lambsdown. Mick knew he had drawn a flyer and started on the long pole shallow catching carp from the off. Bad luck in that his pole folded so he reverted to both pellet waggler and bomb & pellet. Needless to say, both the bomb and waggler worked well for him producing some carp weighing in at 273-12-0. Second ...
Read More

Lakes – Match & Specimen. A muggy and still day. Fish were swimming shallow everywhere so the match started slow with the odd fish being caught shallow on pellet long. As the day went on, fish started to feed down the edges and fishing short with meat & pellet. Winner today and progressing to the September Final was Ashley Blunt who drew the burr bank, peg 16 on the Match Lake. Ash fished the channel by the island mugging for most of the match on pellet, landing some good carp and F1’s to finish the day with 250-10-0. Second placed ...
Read More

Condition for this latest qualifier were good with sunshine, gentle breeze and highs of around 22C. Winner today with a massive 216-8-0 was Andy Power (Preston). Andy drew peg 51 on the river bank and opted to fish the long pole slapping with banded pellet. Andy now qualifies for the September Grand Final and is the first angler to qualify for every final so far. Second on the day was Mark Stainsby who drew peg 49, next door to Andy Power. Mark caught a couple of carp early on the pellet waggler and then reverted to bomb and pellet fishing ...
Read More

Lakes – Front Deans, back deans, High & Arles. Conditions today were near perfect with a gentle breeze and highs of around 20C. Winner today and progressing to the September Final was Steve Openshaw (Mossella) who drew peg 34 on Arles. No one deserves a final place more than Steve who supports the event at almost all the qualifiers. Steve fished caster shallow at various lengths bagging up carp and F1’s to weigh in 183-4-0. Second overall and taking a Semi final placing was local rod Kevin Slade who drew peg 23 on Deans. Kev caught on caster shallow and ...
Read More

Conditions on the day were difficult with bright sunshine and very little breeze. Highs of around 20C with fish swimming shallow on both lakes. Also attendance was disappointing with just 58 anglers in attendance. Winner today and progressing to the September Grand Final was Scott Jones who drew peg 21 on the Match Lake. Scott fished tight down his edges with soft pellet over micro and a few fish at 6m recording a superb catch of carp and F1’s weighing in at 203-4-0. Second overall was Krzystof Frackowiak from peg 18 on the Match Lake. krz fished the margin with ...
Read More

Lakes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 A disappointing mid week turnout with 71 anglers fishing. Conditions today being muggy 30C with no breeze and bright sunshine. Needles to say all the carp were swimming shallow and difficult to catch. Winner today and progressing to the September final was Ken Portas (Sheffield) from peg 1 on Lake 1. Ken fished short on pellet shallow landing 219-4-0 and a shot at the winners purse of £50K Second overall was Andy Power (Preston) with 205-0-0 of carp all caught on pellet waggler and pole shallow with pellets. Andy has ...
Read More

Lakes – Covey 1,2,3,4,5,6 & Willow Red hot conditions and very little breeze today. Spawning had also slowed things down but all that being said, catches were excellent for the 87 man field of competitors. Winner today, and progressing to the September Grand Final, was 5 times world champion Alan Scotthorne (Drennan) who drew peg 163 on Covey 6. Alan fished caster shallow across to the reeds landing carp and F1’s winning the match with 201-4-0. Second overall and reaching the semi final was Graham Ramsdale from peg 166 on covey 6 with 173-14-0. Graham fished caster shallow landing carp ...
Read More

Lakes:- Willows, Bonsai, Loco, Laurels. Lindholme had a huge spawning just prior to this qualifier so fishing was always going to be hard. Perhaps the spawning had kept a few competitors away as attendance was disappointing with 74 anglers booked on. Winner today and making his way once again to the Golden Reel Final was Andy Bennett (Guru / Blake Baits) with 197-8-0 from peg 48 on the Willows. Andy fished caster shallow all day landing carp and F1’s comfortably winning the match. Second placed Dale Shepherd drew peg 40 on the Willows fishing caster shallow to weigh in 170-0-0 ...
Read More

Lakes Beastie, Cedar, Yew, Oak, 6 Islands & Elm Qualifier number nine with Decoy Lakes hosting this latest qualifier with an attendance of 82 anglers taking part. Conditions were bright sunshine with highs of around 24C and little or no breeze. Following heavy spawing the week prior to the match, we were expecting a difficult match with many of the resident carp swimming shallow. However how wrong to think that the weights would be low, with no less than 42 of the field recording over 100lbs. Winner today with a massive 364-7-0 was Jordan Holloway (Preston) from peg 8 on ...
Read More

Lakes – High, Front Deans, Back Deans & Hay. Due to a clash of dates with Fish O Maina, Preston Feeder, Barston plus other local matches, the attendance at Woodlands was very disappointing with only 54 in attendance. With conditions improving and highs of around 18C, light breeze and mainly sunshine, things were looking good for some big weights and Woodlands view delivered just that. Winner today with a massive 209-4-0 was Welsh International Lee Edwards (Dorking Daiwa). Lee drew peg 34 on Back Deans and fished casters shallow long landing carp and F1’s. Lee qualifies for his first Golden ...
Read More

A clash with Fish O Mania reduced the attendance to 71 anglers for this latest qualifier. Conditions today was dry with a gentle but cool breeze and partial sunshine and highs of around 14C. Winner today and making his way to a third Golden Reel final was Tom Edwards (Daiwa) from peg 100 on pool 7. Tom caught well on the long pole fishing shallow with casters landing around 60lbs of prime bream and over a 100lbs of carp to finish the day with 166-9-0 and a shot at the £50K final overall prize. Second to the frame was Kieron ...
Read More

A full sellout for this qualifier at Barston Lakes. Conditions were awful with a cold northerly wind and heavy showers. Needless to say the winter conditions affected the lakes badly and bites were difficult to come by. Winner today and progressing to the September Grand Final was local angler John Jones (Middy / Burt Baits). John drew peg No14 on the river bank and caught on short to start with but later switched to the method feeder long with waffter hook baits landing 99-5-0 of carp and F1’s for a comfortable win. Second overall was Fran O’Rielly (Frenzee / Bag’em) ...
Read More

Specimen, Match and Arena Lakes. A full house of anglers for the 5th qualifier of the series. Conditions today looked to be difficult with a stiff breeze, highs of just 12C and heavy rain. Furthermore, rain for most of the week had reduced temperature of the water substantially. On top of all that the bream & roach had spawned so the resident carp were homing on the spawn to feed. All that being said, weights were still impressive with 18 weights well over 100lbs mark. Winner today and progressing to the September Grand Final was Jon Radford (Bait Tec.) with ...
Read More

A near sell out of 92 anglers at Woodlands Thirsk. Conditions were a strong breeze, highs of just 10C with heavy showers. The run up to this qualifier had also seen cold temperatures, heavy rain, hail and strong winds. Water temperatures were considerably down for the time of year but the fishing was outstanding on the day. Winner overall and progressing to the September Grand Final was Kev Wadge from Partridge 1 with a brilliant 202-12-0 of carp all caught shallow at 16m on pellet. Kev now has a shot at the £50k title. 2nd overall was Ethan Bradley from ...
Read More

This latest qualifier was reduced to 80 pegs so to present better pegging and was a near sell out of 75 anglers. Winner overall and progressing to the September Grand Final was Andy Fulleylove from peg63. Andy fished at 16m with the pole shallow presenting hard banded pellet and pinging over the top. At the scales, Andy weighed in 187-3-0 almost doubling his nearest rival with quality carp. Second to the frame and securing a semi final placing was Jon Arthur (Matrix) from peg 61. Jon also fished the long pole shallow with hard pellet landing 94-15-0. Third to the ...
Read More

A near sell out of 92 anglers turned out hoping to grab a qualification placing and a chance to bag a massive £50K. Winner today from peg 37 on the Partridge Lake was Ryan Bennett with a massive 191-11-0 of carp. Ryan fished the long pole all day fishing pellet shallow and slapping with a few fish also down his edge. This is Ryan’s second attendance at the Grand Final in September. Second overall and securing a place in the semi-final was Andy Bennett (Guru/ Blakes Baits) who drew peg 35 on Kestrel. Andy caught stockies from the off and ...
Read More

The first of the 24 qualifiers took place at Larford Lakes with a sell out entry Conditions today were not favourable with a heavy frost and a number of snow showers with heights rising no more than 6C The first qualifier was set on both the Specimen and Match Lakes. Winner on the day Paul Carnwell (Garbolino /Bait Tec) who drew peg 40 on the Specimen Lake. Paul had a slow start finding a few skimmers and odd bream but half way through the match found the carp feeding down his edges over ground bait. Fishing either a piece of ...
Read More