A full house of 60 booked on for this latest qualifier after a week of intense rain and serious flooding in the area.
Today started with further rain and overcast but clearing later in the day. Temperatures were cold with highs little above 5C.
Winner today was Richard Vaughn (Nu Fish North) who blitzed the field from peg 48 on the east bank to win the match and secure the all-important zone B win.
Richard weighed in 30lb 3oz of skimmers and fished a cage feeder with ground bait with dead reds and pinkies tucked in his feeder. Fishing at around 56 meters, bites were plentiful.
Second overall was Paul May (Burt Baits) from peg 53 on the east bank.
Paul weighed in 19lbs 13oz which on most winter days would normally be enough to win overall.
Paul finished the cage feeder with dead reds landing all skimmers.
Third overall was Graham Lewis (Eddy’s Bait) from peg 45 on the East Bank.
Graham fished the cage feeder and dead reds fished at around 50m.
Fourth on the day was Mark Deacon (Elton Tackle) who fished long with the cage feeder on the canal bank from peg 17.
Mark weighed 16lbs 1oz to secure a section and zone win.
Fifth to the frame went to previous Golden Rod winner Charlie Simpson (Bag’em Baits).
Charlie fished the cage with dead reds landing 15lbs 7oz from peg 43 on the east bank.
Zone Winners (zone of 20)
Zone A – Mark Deacon
Zone B – Richard Vaughn
Zone C – Ian Docherty