A full sell out of 60 pegs at Barston. Conditions on the day was not ideal with extreme winds, gusting to around 60mph and temperatures of around 9C.
Previous week to the qualifier had seen the lakes completely frozen so the general opinion was that bites would be difficult to come by.
How wrong could you be as the complex surprised many, chucking up some great weights on both banks.
Winner today and progressing to the final was England International, Phil Ringer who drew peg No 123 on the road side bank.
Phil was quickly into fish from the whistle casting at around 55-60m with the hybrid feeder and washed out yellow wafter hook baits.
Phil caught steady all day finishing the day with a bag of prime F1’s and carp to weigh in 123-6-0.
Second on the day was previous Golden Rod Champion Prezmek Solski who drew the River bank peg 55.
Prezmek fished a very tidy match, casting the hybrid feeder loaded with micro pellets and orange waffters, landing 99-4-0 of carp and F1’s, casting at around 50m.
Prezmek once again qualifies for the final. For the record, the polish feeder ace now qualified for every Golden Rod Final to date.
Third in the frame was Mitchell Huskinsson from peg 124.
Mitchell fished a hybrid feeder casting at around 40-50m landing carp and F1’s to weigh in 91-4-0.
Fourth overall was Geoff Wiseman from peg 80 with 91-4-0 from peg 80.
Geoff fished a great match fishing very tidy with a hybrid feeder and waffter hook baits casting around 50m.
Geoff caught steady all match to weigh in 82-1-0 and grabbing a zone win putting him into the March Grand Final.
Fifth placed Adam Wakelin drew peg 54 and battled out next to Prezmek Solski falling a couple of bites short of qualification.
Adam fished at 55m with the hybrid feeder landing a fine catch of carp and F1’s weighing in at a level 81-0-0.
Zone Winners (20 Peg Zones)
Phil Ringer
Prezmek Solski
Geoff Wiseman