This year’s Maver Club Angler of the Year final, held at Leicestershire’s prolific Glebe complex, was everything the qualifiers could have hoped for.

The competition attracts thousands of the country’s club anglers.

Anglers score points for being placed in their club matches over the year, and the top 20 go through to the prestigious fish-off.

With three days match fishing at Leicestershire’s superb Glebe complex and accommodation provided for all competitors by Maver, the event is rapidly establishing itself as the country’s premier club competition.

The final was fished to the same format as last year’s event with three five hour matches where the finalists are split into four sections of five.

The overall winner is then decided on section points with a maximum five for a section win down to one point for last. In the event of a tie on points, the winner is then decided on aggregate weight and that was the same for the top three individuals.

Because the Glebe is a membership only fishery, anglers that fished the final in 2001 were going to have a distinct advantage over those that qualified for the first time. These included Phil Rhodes (Wolverhampton PO), Stu Bagnall (S Jones AC), Neil Lloyd (Grove Park AC), Mick Ribbons (Market Harborough DA) and last year’s ‘wooden spooner’, Old Windsor AC’s Steve Rowland.

However, even though there were several anglers with a distinct advantage over the first timers, the good thing about the Glebe is that it’s very fair with a number of methods and baits working effectively

On Day One only one survivor from last year’s final managed to win his section and even at such an early stage, Stu Bagnall was a clear favourite. His favourite luncheon meat tactic did the damage and Stu’s 47lb 1oz was also the top weight on the day. Brummie Stu ended with three section wins and that gave him the Maver Club Angler of the Dave Wightman secured second place and Wayne Worts third with 11 points

The full picture report on the match is in the current issue of Match Fishing Magazine.

 

Result:

Winner, Stu Bagnall, S Jones AC

Day One: 47lb 1oz, 5 points

Day Two: 39lb 15oz, 5 points

Day Three: 49lb 4oz, 5 points

Overall weight: 136lb 4oz

Overall points: 15

 

Second, Dave Wightman, Twyford DFC

Day One: 37lb 1oz, 5 points

Day Two: 18lb, 4 points

Day Three: 40lb, 13oz, 5 points

Overall weight: 95lb 14oz

Overall points: 14

 

Third, Wayne Worts, Mottingham DAS

Day One: 8lb 13oz, 4 points

Day Two: 44lb 14oz, 3 points

Day Three: 26lb 4 oz, 4 points

Overall weight: 79lb 15oz

Overall points: 11