Barnsley Blacks angler Andy Geldart was the 9th angler to qualify for the Fish O Mania final to be held on the 14th July at Cudmore Fisheries in Staffordshire. 130 anglers fished the qualifier at Oaks Fishery, Sessay, North Yorkshire on Saturday 2th May.
Following all the recent heavy rains and the flooded fields after the local river burst its banks, it was a pleasant surprise for the 130 anglers to be greeted with sunshine and a forecast of a fine day for the qualifier.
The winner drew peg 3 on Maple Lake next to the tackle shop, a peg which has generated a number of Fish O Mania qualifiers over the past few years. Andy opted to fish meat shallow across to two areas on the far bank with a down the track and inside line as back up, but when the hooter sounded at 4pm it was clear they were not needed.
Following a number of weighs Andy’s final tally for the match was 67.700Kg. Andy caught steadily throughout the match, loose feeding meat for fish to 7lb+ for his all-carp weight. Andy said after the match that though he fishes regularly in a many big events across the Country, including several previous Fishomania qualifying matches, “he was just a little shell shocked and it would take him some time to take it all in”.
2005 Fishomania winner Marc Jones took the runner-up spot; drawing peg 65 on Cedar he fished caster shallow for carp and F1’s to finish with 37.050Kg. Marc wished Andy all the best for the Grand Final though as he still had a number of qualifiers still to go he was hoping he may still take one of the qualifying spots and join Andy in the big event.
Third place was taken by Fishomania regular Steve Rothery, pegged 23 on Maple. Steve fished 13.5m across to the far bank and down into the corner on meat and pellet for his finishing weight of 34Kg.
Fourth place was Dave Lowe from Chorley with 28kilo 850grms from Maple 61.
Fifth place with 27kilo 200grm was Lee Riley from peg 19 on Beech.
