7 anglers fished the fourth and final ACA British Pike Championship 2008 Qualifying match of the winter at Longtown’s West Pond on Sunday, 3rd February, 2008.
The match was fished in teeth of a strong westerly with the wind growing stronger as the day went on. The pike were feeding, but very tentatively resulting in dropped runs and 6 lost fish amongst the competitors on the day.
Barrow in Furness angler Mike Fretwell won the match with a 9lb 6oz pike taken on a legered smelt fished in conjunction with fish own recipe fishy groundbait moulded around his lead ‘method’ style each cast. Mike hooked the fish with an hour of the match to go and whilst stewards were weighing his fish he had another run on the same rod that he had only just recast; but the pike dropped the bait on the strike! Mike went home £49 better off as well as qualifying for the 2008 ACA British Pike Championship Final.
Carlisle angler Kevin Brown took second place winning £28, Kevin had lost a pike at range within the first hour of the match using a drifted tout deadbait but was compensated when a 2lb 2oz pike took a fancy to the same bait 20 yards into another drift later in the match.
The match also raised £21 for the ACA.
West Pond fishery manager Chris Bowman had donated some special permit prizes for anglers fishing the series of 4 ACA qualifying matches held over the Winter; Mike won a full season permit with the heaviest total weight of pike taken during the series, Chris Brookshaw of Barrow and Carlisle’s Alastair Paisley both won a half season permits for the second heaviest total weight and the heaviest pike respectively.
The date of the next winters ACA British Pike Championship 2009 Qualifying matches to be held at the West Pond will be finalised later in the year and posted on the website, contact Chris Bowman on 01228 674519 or view www.bowmanfishman.fsnet.co.uk for further details.
Barrow angler Mike Fretwell with his 9lb 6oz pike
Carlisle angler Kevin Brown with the 2lb 2oz pike that won him second place in the match
