LATEST ADDITIONS

Chief tester Roger Mortimore has handled many reels over the years and is impressed with the build quality and performance of the new Akios range. When three Akios multiplier reels arrived on my desk – the smaller 656CTM and the larger 757CTM and 757CS – my first impression was how solid they felt. When I removed the side plates for a closer inspection, I could see that they are extremely well made from quality materials. There are currently six reels in the stable; three in the 656 size – the CS, CT and CTM for shore and light boat fishing – and three of the larger 757 size for boat or heavy shore fishing, also CS, CT and CTM.

Following Saturday’s Mega Match This qualifier event at Monk Lakes, Kent, please note below the full and final result: Monk Lakes, Kent, 8th July 2017 Angler's Name Weight (lbs/oz) Peg # / Lake Mike McMillan (Garbolino / Bait-Tech) 198-06-00 65 (Lake 2) Adam Southgate (Oakwood) 196-04-00 55 (Lake 2) James Taylor (Harlow Angling) 189-13-00 66 (Lake 2) Mark Tullet (Cresta Tackle / Bag 'Em Baits) 183-10-00 113 (Lake 3) Robbie Taylor (Guru / Dynamite Baits) 173-02-00 91 (Lake 3) Mark Goddard (Bag 'Em Baits) 150-02-00 135 (Lake 3) Mark Brown (Browning Wickford) 141-02-00 56 (Lake 2) Chris Vendervleit (Drennan / Bait-Tech) 136-14-00 58 (Lake 2) Garbolino's Mike McMillan booked his place in another Mega Match This final after topping the fifty-nine (59) strong field at Kent's Monk Lakes. Conditions on the day were hot and sticky with very little wind offering any sort of comfort. Anglers were given plenty of room, which made for a superb qualifier with very little separating the top two on the day and numerous one hundred pound plus catches being recorded from all three of the lakes used. Mike drew peg 67 on Lake 2 and endured a bit of an unsettled start losing fish early on before getting into his rhythm offering pellet long at 16m.

Angler's Name Weight (lbs/oz) Peg # / Lake Steve Rothery 140-14-00 32 (Moat Island) Ben Dales 114-01-00 29 (Moat Island) Ben Fisk (Bauer Media) 109-02-00 1 (Bridge Island) Ryan Laycock (Pontefract) 106-04-00 20 (Canal) Adam Richards (Browning) 99-03-00 28 (Reed) Adrian Higginbottom (Matrix) 97-04-00 61 (Moat Island) Matt Godfrey (Guru) 90-01-00 35 (Moat Outer) James Hall 81-00-00 17 (Moat Island) British Pole Championship Qualifiers: Steve Rothery, Ben Dales & Ben Fisk One hundred and ten (110) anglers attended this latest qualifier at Retford's Hallcroft Fishery. Despite conditions appearing ideal with plenty of cloud cover and with a slight ripple on the water, most anglers found the going tough early on in the match with the heavy, muggy atmosphere hampering what would have otherwise been an ideal day. That said, as the day progressed, the conditions improved a little with the resident carp moving into the margins during the final ninety minutes. Winner on the day, and next to book his place on this year's big money final, was Steve Rothery.

Angler's Name Weight (lbs/oz) Peg # / Lake Zac Brown (Preston Innovations / Sonu Baits) 194-00-00 4 (Copse) Les Wetton (Mosella UK) 167-08-00 8C (Pathfield) Craig Goldstraw (Middy / Bag 'Em Baits) 156-12-00 1 (Woods) Ben Townsend (Matrix / Spotted Fin) 151-08-00 40 (Woods) Reece Hearn (Matrix Image / Bag 'Em Baits) 150-12-00 28 (Pathfield) Ross Harold 136-00-00 33 (Woods) Richard Bond (Matrix Image) 126-08-00 20 (Woods) Jon Whincup (Frenzee) 117-08-00 26 (Pathfield) The final Southern qualifier of the 2017 Maver Mega Match This campaign marked a return to Coleman's Cottage in Essex where fifty four (54) anglers lined the banks of Copse, Pathfield and Woods lakes. Anglers were given plenty of room on the day with the standard of sport and weights recorded being very good. Competing anglers needed in excess of 150lbs in order to grab a British Pole Championship qualification place. Conditions on the day were ideal with plenty of cloud cover coupled with a good breeze producing fourteen weights over 100lbs.