SDAA Centenary Match - River Crossens

[marky]

After fears that the match would be cancelled due to a thick blanket of weed which covered the mile-long match length, the event took place today.

There were 68 anglers at the draw, and the five-hour match was won by Brian Woods (SDAA) with a club record weight of 98lb 12oz from peg 45, which brought him the £1000 top prize.

The weight comprised mainly bream between 3lb - 7lb which Brian was into from the first put-in on hemp & caster. Brian confirmed later that he lost several even larger Bream which wouldn't fit in his landing net.

Second was Richard Yates with 40lb 5oz (£600) and third was Chris Gorrell with 12lb 9oz (£400).

The weather was great, the weed cleared to reveal a top quality venue and the event was excellently run. Hopes are high that this will become a regular event on the North West match calender.

[jackpike]

Yep it was a great day

[matt82]

Two great weights there! Well done to Mr Woods. It sounds like the day was a resounding success.

[bigdave]

well in...a grand for a match is not to be sneezed at,especially for a 68 pegger,do you have to be a member to fish it?

[matt82]

The match was an open Dave, I think it would have cost you £25 to enter. I was tempted myself but I have no knowledge of the water and besides I was away this weekend.

[marky]

I'm a member and apart from two sections that I've fished over the summer I had no knowledge either - including the section I drew. As far as I'm aware, no-one had fished the section the winning weight came from this season so it just proves that if the fish are there anyone can win.

I hope it's repeated next year because (planned & marketed correctly) it could become a very popular event. The commercials are now the staple diet for match anglers in this part of the country (as, probably elsewhere) so to re-establish one of the more traditional venues could prove to be a great test for those anglers who moved over to the commercials from drains, canals, etc...

The spin-off from the great work that went into making the event a success is that there are now pegs all the way along the match length that can be fished, and as a lasting reminder some of them have been made permanent near the parking areas so there are now more options available to members. All the pegs fish well on their day and (as has been seen in the pictures) there are some cracking bream to go at. (£36 is nowt these days - see the club website for an application form)

[alan76]

A great catch,if I was here I defo would have had a go myself.