A Perfect Start

A great start in this year’s prestigious UK Championship saw me bag a nice match win with 102kg (225lb) at Lindholme Lakes.

Newly sponsored by Cresta and Gamakatsu, 80 of us were spread all around the complex. I found myself on peg 4 on Loco and with just one 10-man section spaciously pegged around this pool and a nice breeze blowing my way I half fancied it. As I was setting up there were loads of big carp on the surface and I was fully expecting it to be a ‘mugging’ day on the pole and pellet waggler. However, once the match got underway those dark shapes soon drifted away and I reverted to fishing casters shallow for F1s.

I had just one proper carp, a roach, a skimmer and a rudd, and all the other fish I caught were F1s from 1lb to 4lb. I ended up fishing between 12 and 14 metres out, loose feeding six pints of casters and catching anything from eight inches to 3ft deep.

I had a very occasional look down the margins but most of the time was spent fishing shallow. Although I caught a few fish later on with a homemade Crystal jigger float, the most successful rig was a standard fixed setup. This consisted of a 0.2g Crystal Dibber shotted with a simple bulk just above a 6in hooklength on 0.18mm Supplex to a 0.12mm bottom and a size 18 Kamasan B911 hook.

It’s fantastic getting off to such a good start, although it will be touch and go whether I can fish all four rounds this year. My wife and I are expecting our first baby, which is due sometime between the second and third round!

Round One Result:

  • 1st Jon Arthur 102.125kg
  • 2nd Jamie Hughes 76.025kg
  • 3rd Jimmy Brooks 71kg
  • 4th Pete Bailey 66.975kg

All images courtesy of UK Angling Championship.

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