Fish-O-Mania 2007

Fancy trying to qualify for the 2007 Fish-O-Mania Final?

The Sky TV televised £25,000 winner takes all event, is taking place again this year and to claim a place in the big money final anglers have to win one of the qualifiers taking place in the next few months around the country.

Midland venue details and qualifying applications are obtained only through the NFA website, nfadirect.com entry is £20 per qualifier.

Decathlon Angler Of The Month

The first Decathlon Angler Of The Month of 2007 is Dudley based, Chris Hillman.

Barber, Chris from Russells Hall, didn't take any short cuts, when he caught this superb winter barbel of 8-8-0, from the lower Severn at Worcester.

The Severn has produced very few of its larger specimen barbel so far this season, with all the double figure fish reported coming from around the Worcester area.

All Chris has to do to claim his Geologic reel prize, is to drop into the Decathlon Sports & Leisure Megastore at the Merry Hill Centre, with a copy of this article.

Patshull Park

The annual Bob Church Trophy match for fly fishing enthusiasts is being held at Patshull Park, on 25th March and tickets are selling fast.

2006 champion winner Rob Rozewicz, from Wombourne, will be back to defend the trophy he won last year, fishing from a boat out on the Great Lake.

The unseasonal snow and freezing conditions tested the trout anglers to the limit, in last year's competition, they'll all be hoping for more spring-like weather this year, for this well attended event.

To book in: 01902 700774.

Maver Pairs 2007.

The dates for the qualifying heats for the Angling Times/Maver Pairs Challenge 2007, have been announced with entry forms now available in Angling Times, each week.

This annual event is as popular as ever with West Midlands match anglers, who always seem to have a large number of two man teams in the big money final, held in August each year.

Midlands qualifiers are April 28 and May 12, Maver Larford Lakes in Stourport, May 5 and June 20, Heronbrook Fishery Stafford, June 9, Woodland View Droitwich, July 7, Tunnel Barn Farm Warwick and June 30, Browning Cudmore Fishery Stoke.

Time for a Perch.

This is the time of year when I begin fishing for those large perch that inhabit venues around the area, float fished lobworms with chopped lobworms as feed, are the only combination I use, my personal best is still the 3-2-0 fish I caught at Kingsnordley Fishery Bridgnorth, two winters ago.

I've had a number of 2lb plus fish since then, which are still magnificent specimens from any venue, a 3lb perch is a fish of a lifetime.

There's plenty of perch of all sizes to be caught from venues locally, with Himley Hall, Moorlands Farm, Sion Farm and the Staffs/Worcs Canal at Hinksford all worth a try.

Keep up to date with midland angling on: www.midlandanglingnews.com