Last gasp barbel secures victory for Ed!
Small chub and dace featured in many of the catches in the first Shakespeare Championship qualifier of the season on a low and clear Warwickshire Avon at Evesham but it was a double figure barbel landed by Ed Warren that took top billing.
Preston Innovations backed Ed was at Peg 8 on the Town Waters and after being told there was a chance of a big fish or two there he set his stall out with chopped worm and caster at six and 14.5 metres. A 3g flat float, 0.20mm main line and 0.18mm hooklength tied to a size 12 hook was the approach but with less than half an hour to go and only a few perch and one ell in the net it looked very much like the plan had failed. That was until an 11-9-0 barbel took a liking to his worm hookbait and boosted his winning catch to 13-9-0, winning him a place in the big August final and £205 in cash.
It was a similar story for the third and fourth placed anglers. Third was Ray South of the Ferrymen team at Peg 36 with 12-6-0 of small chub and fourth was Daiwa Gordon League’s John Curtis with 10-1-0 of the same species at Peg 35. Making up the top five, at Peg 54, was Danny Ashington of Kamasan Starlets with 8-11-0 of chub, the best weight from the Hampton Ferry section.
Qualifiers: Ed Warren, Ray South, Danny Ashington
Next qualifier – Sunday June 27th – bookings through Diana Raphael on 01386 442458
Match winner Ed Warren