Simple Match Fishing Forum

Neil Machin 5/1
Andy May 5/1
Jon Arthur 11/2
Matt Hall 7/1
Darren Cox 8/1
Les Thompson 8/1
Dave Swain 10/1
Mick Bull 12/1
Peter Rice 14/1
Matthew Smith 14/1
Paul Haines 14/1
Jamie Hughes 14/1
Chris Ellett 16/1
John Coster 16/1
Andrew Neal 16/1
Greg Cooper 20/1

the draw is live on tight lines tommorow night

the draw is live on tight lines tommorow night

I've only got council telly

Its all gonna be down to the draw cant help but feel sorry for the lads who have done so well in getting to the final, practiced like a good un and then draw right out of it !!!
Word has it rod and line is key ...... Dave Swain being a stockport lad is top drawer on both tip & waggler and well worth a few quid
Jon Arthur has experienced the cameras etc at fisho and will know the script inside out and his drawbag expertise could win it for him
I have a feeling tho it is going to be won by an outsider ...... time will tell

Good luck to everyone in the final

Got a sneeky feeling for Jamie Hughes

quote from Taypot

" I wouldnt like to say who'll win. In all honesty im actually not 100% confident myself as ive had good days and bad days on there.

My hunch is Coxy or Neil Machin as they have been practising together all week which has to help. Theres been no extra pegs allowed for friends/runners this year to help with practising too - but no one told us until Monday which has left some people with wasted holidays and rooms paid for.

If its a Method match then Bully should do very well and ive had an each way bet on him. Matt Smith has been doing pretty well, especially on paste but also on feeder from what i could see. Bodge has done very well on paste all week. Les and Jamie Hughes are looking pretty confident too. Andy May has had lots of sessions on here now and will be a big danger. I think Kieron's his runner on the day too.

Les won the Maver Pairs at Cudmore today and Ricey won the open there the day before so they're both on form. Ricey emptied it on Monday fishing a longer pole than ive seen him fish before (4m plus!) and did really well with casters, meat and worms.

Its a much shallower venue than Hayfield and i think that could mean the fish back off. The barbel (average 1lb 8oz to 2lb) definitely dont like too much noise, especially footsteps on the gravel path.

If i draw between 8 and 16 i'll be happiest. The high numbers 9 to 16 (approx perm 19 to 26) are where i expect it to be won as theres more barbel on this bank at the moment. The wind has been blowing into 9s bank all week too. Peg 8 (perm 10) has thrown up a few but the rest of the low numbers arent showing as many barbel as opposite.

Loads of stockies have been going in from 1lb to 3lb but mostly 1lb. These havent shown much on the pole but are coming out on the feeder. Theres also quite a few tench, big skimmers, chub and other fish to keep you occupied.

There are holes in the far bank grasses now so you can cast tighter across without snagging (so even i can cast half decent to them!). The level is also up 1ft since a week ago so theres 2ft down the edges now.

No ropes up yet but camera platforms have taken 2 days to bang in between the anglers. Theres more room behind the anglers this year and you can unship approx 13m without going into the crowd. The top of one of the banks will give you a good vantage to see both sides. Its a steep slope so prob no deckchairs unless you sit right at the top of it!

Nothings gone on the island yet but we think its a couple of static camera crews, so 'hopefully' no one will run over and peer over the edges when you cast!

Thats about all i can think of. Im really looking forward to it, win or lose. I reckon 60lb to 80lb will win. Coxy reckons 50lb if hard and 100lb if good. Whatever, i reckon everyone should catch a few and it will hopefully be a tight match. There are a few doubles coming out, too for the £2.5k heaviest fish prize..."

matt hall the first double winner

Nice insight to the match
Cheers.

my money is on Macho & May

:Di'm going a bit boss eyed with you to answering at thesame time

Personally think the bookies have got it spot on with Neil Machin or Andy May to win even of an average peg, although i think if the draws kind to him Dave Swain could have some celebrating to do

Joffle

I have put a Tenner on endpeg
So he better do well

lets not forget you have to be in it to win it all of them have done well to get to the final lets have the first tie on weight that would be good