Fish ‘O’ Mania 2006, the last but one qualifier at Lindholme Lakes produced an emphatic victory for Matthew Hall from Nottingham. The event played host to many big name anglers including Matthew Hall, Geoff Ringer and Tommy Pickering and some local anglers from South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

Winner and Fish ‘O’ Mania champion in 2003 Matthew Hall recorded a 140lb 4oz weigh in to put him in first position, ahead of retired Geoff Ringer, a Fish ‘O’ Mania regular from Ravensthorpe in Northampton with an 88lb 12oz weigh in. Matthew described the days angling as “awesome”. Fishing up in the water with pellets and waggler proved to be very successful in the match, with his biggest fish landed being a 4lb Common Carp.

The winner from Nottinghamshire was a local to the venue and has “fished there on numerous occasions” said Neil Grantham from Lindholme Lakes. By qualifying for the Grand Final at Doncaster, the win will help his reputation as becoming one of the most consistent match anglers in the country.

He is the 15^th member of the elite group of competitors who will be competing for the biggest prize in angling on 22^nd July at Doncaster. Matthew certainly has the calibre and experience to go on and win the event as he is a past winner back in 2003. Mathew is very proud of his Nottinghamshire roots and he will be doing his best to bring the title back to Nottingham.

NFA Match official Brian Turner commented that the “match went very well” and the location of the lakes meant that anglers “had no problems getting there”.

Some reserves were able to fish at the contest and the reserve process was very successful within the event, as has shown throughout the Fish ‘O’ Mania championship. Lindholme Lakes hosted an excellent match for anglers on a very warm, sunny day, with many of the anglers fishing at previous Fish ‘O’ Mania events in the past, trying their luck.

In third was electrician Sam Morgan adding some electricity to the draw by pulling in a 72lb weigh in, favouring casters and worms. Sam commented on the competition that he “had plenty of small fish” in his first Fish ‘O’ Mania event. This fantastic result for Sam just goes to show the quality angling present in this competition.