Guru/Bait Tech matchman, Tony Curd, a painter by profession from London, is the second angler to qualify for the Fish ‘O’ Mania XVIII Grand Final at Cudmore Fisheries after a magnificient win at Makins Fishery, Warwickshire on Wednesday 20th April 2011. This will be Tony’s second chance at a shot at the prestigious Fish ‘O’ Mania Championship title in July.
Tony, aged 21, produced an amazing weight of 153lb 11oz from peg A9 on Lake 2. Tony caught mainly on the method feeder but took some big fish to 9lbs on the pellet waggler. The Londoner caught from the off and caught steadily in 3’s and 4’s throughout the day. At the draw most anglers, if pushed to say where they wanted to draw would have said anywhere on Lake 2 but it only turned up 8 weights over 50lbs, with one of these being the eventual winner Tony Curd.
Indeed, Tony beat second placed Tim Dabrowa by just one of those “lumps”. Tim, from Ely, caught steadily throughout the day on the pellet waggler from peg 26 on Lizard Pool. Third spot went to Jarrad Smith who produced a great performance to take 132 lbs 3ozs from peg 16 on Reptile. Coalville based Jarrad caught around 30 carp on the pellet method feeder. Dave Reeve from Suffolk, who was third reserve on the day captured 4th place with a net of carp to 12lbs totalling 129lbs 2ozs from corner peg A3 on Lake 2 again on the method feeder. Local angler Lee Farmer, from just up the road in Nuneaton, finished 5th in what was his first ever Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier. Lee caught 110 lbs 12ozs of carp to 6lbs from Lizard 11 fishing shallow on the long pole .
Tony Curd said, “I was made up to be fishing at Makins yesterday and it has been a big ambition of mine since qualifying to make it through to the final again. When I drew my peg at Makins I thought I had a good chance. I have fished the venue four times now and think it is a great venue and been kind to me”.
Despite being fished in bright sunshine with temperatures into the 20’s, this qualifier turned out to be a quality event with the top five anglers all scoring a “ton” and with the top ten anglers all posting weights in excess of 80lbs. 70lbs was needed to win all but 4 of the 13 ten peg sections. That said some lakes which had been on top form in recent weeks and were expected to produce the goods for this match in the end proved to be very disappointing. Many anglers finished the day frustrated at seeing so many cruising fish, few of which were interested in feeding.
On Saturday 23rd April the Fish ‘O’ Mania action moves to Lakeview Fisheries at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire with another angler looking to book their place into the grand final.
