19/11/2024
All you fishing fans don't forget to net yourselves a copy of today's Chorley & Leyland Guardian to read the Adlington Angling Centre fishing column ;-)
Today's article is all about how last Saturday Adlington Angling Centre & Fox Rage held the third and final round qualifier of the hugely popular pike fishing match that is The Predator Classic 2024 as it returned once again to the area where 10 of the finest predator hunters from around the area competed for the five golden tickets available for the final which takes place on Saturday 23rd November.
Thanks to Southport and District Anglers Association the event took place on the Back Lane wall of the prolific Anglezarke reservoir which is set at the foot of the simply stunning backdrop of the West Pennine Moors where over the past three months have seen a total of 37
anglers compete in the three qualifying rounds as they cross rods in battle to book one of the 15 golden tickets that are available for the final.
Due to how the event fished last year Adlington Angling Centre decided to bring the competition forward in the calendar to give all the anglers competing the best chance of sn**ching a snapper from the reservoir as over the past few years on the venue the best fishing has always proved to be in September, October and November which is why they have made the decision to fish the event earlier on in the pike season to make it a more exciting event for all the competitors which over the past few years has always gone down to the wire
Over the weekend all the predator hunters arrived bright and early at 7am for draw before they made their way to their chosen swims for the day where they had an hour to get set up before the 'ALL IN' was cried out across the reservoir at 8am then over the next eight hours they would cross rods in their battle to book one of the five places up for grabs for the final.
At 8am all the predator hunters cast out in unison into the moody looking reservoir that had some lovely overcast weather but with the high pressure on top of the reservoir being flat calm like a mill pond all the competitors felt it was going to be a tough day at the office as they sat back behind their baited rods waiting for the first piece of action!
As it turned out on the day all the anglers proved very well founded as bites proved very hard to come by, even with the bait fish which some of the lads where fishing for on the quiver tip but on peg 6 it was Dave 'Alligator' Atkinson's angling prowess that came to the fore as he slowly began to get the much sought after bites on his tip rod as Dave quite rightly felt that live baits would be key to his chances of to tempting one of these predators to strike on this tough old day!
Wasting no time at all Dave put the skimmer live bait onto his hooks and cast out his b**g out in front of his keep net where he thought a pike might be laying in wait looking for an easy meal. As it turned out Dave's logic of thinking was proved right as in no time at all his offering on a platter proved just too irresistible for a residing water wolf as his float quickly started to glide across the surface before it vanished into the depths of the cold water, so quick as a flash Dave jumped up and hit into the fish setting the hooks at the first time of asking and he was in!
As Dave made contact with the pike he could feel it was a decent specimen as it instantly made a lunge for the rocks that lay in wait at the bottom of the pitchings in its bid to snap his line and certain freedom but Dave was wise to this crafty croc's moves as he quickly got a better angle on the fish and expertly turned its head guiding it up towards the surface where it flared its gills and thrashed its head trying to shake out the hook which unfortunately for Dave it was able to do as his line went slack and his heart sunk, leaving him looking up to the pike gods in despair as he knew only too well how important landing that fish would have been!
Not being the type of character to dwell on his disappointment Dave then dusted himself down and re- cast out another skimmer live bait back out into the same area in front of him and at 11.30am like busses his second bit of interest came along in quick succession as a residing pike found his offering too tantalizing for its taste buds as it chowed on down and he was in for the second time on the day!
As Dave hit into the fish and set the hooks at the first time of asking his heart was in his mouth as thoughts where still fresh in his mind about the fish he'd just lost before he set about his tug of war with the angry Esox he was connected to, the fish fought like a trojan as it shot off in an raging run into the depths of the reservoir trying to spit the hook but with his heart beating ten to the dozen Dave kept a steady pressure on the fish and adjusted his fighting drag on his reel accordingly as he was mindful to be very cautious in this battle with his prize where after a brief tug of war plus with some gentle persuasion from his flexing carbon he began to start getting the upper hand on his quarry and it wasn't then long before this croc was resigned to its fate then Dave did what he does best as he guided a lovely 9lb 12oz pike into the waiting arms of his landing net taking this top angler into 1st place on the day leaving him simply delighted!
Unfortunately for all the anglers that was as good as it got for all on the day as they threw everything but the kitchen sink at the reservoir in their bids to sn**ch another snapper as they sent out live baits, dead baits and lures in their bids to tempt another pike into striking which sadly for them was to no avail as the fish just seemed to just switch off feeding and it turned out that solitary 9lb 12oz pike Dave 'Alligator' Atkinson caught was the only bit of action on a tough as teak day for all the anglers which needless to say secured Dave the match win booking his place in the final in fine style!
This Saturday 23rd November will now see eleven of the finest predator hunters from around the North West compete in the final of the hugely popular pike fishing match that is the Adlington Angling Centre and Fox Rage Predator Classic Final 2024.
Thanks to Southport and District Angling Association the final will be taking place on the Back Lane dam wall of the prolific Anglezarke reservoir.
This tournament has so far seen a total of three qualifiers over the past three months were 37 of the finest pike anglers from the area have crossed rods in battle in their bids for one of the 15 available golden tickets for this Saturday's final on November 23rd.
Here is the list of anglers competing in this weekends final in weight of fish caught order -
1 - Simon Fisher - 19lb
2 - Ashley Gray - 14lb 10oz
3 - Mark Sandby - 14lb 7oz (Current biggest fish of the tournament)
4 - Gary Hennigan - 13lb 11oz
5 - John Nicholson - 13lb 10oz
6 - Andy Gibbs - 12lb 4oz
7 - Ian Newton - 10lb 4oz
8 - Dave Atkinson - 9lb 12oz
9 - Tom Gorst - 7lb 10oz
10 - Matt Seddon - 6lb 8oz
11 - Steve Greenwood - 5lb 9oz
This weekend the draw will take place as always at 7am on the Back Lane car park with fishing being from 8am until 4pm on the Back Lane dam wall and up past the point on the left hand side
The event is a Pike only match where the angler with the best total weight of pike will be crowned the Adlington Angling Centre and Fox Rage Predator Classic Champion 2024.
On the day of the final the anglers will have the choice of fishing various techniques to tempt any residing pike into striking as they can lure fish, fly fish, or bait fish (live baits are allowed if caught on the water) bait boats are allowed with 2 rods maximum in the water at any time, ALL fish caught on the event are to be weighed by officials only.
The organisors of the event also encourage all the finalists to help each other if any is needed netting or unhooking fish as they want to not only see as many pike as possible grace the bank but they also want to see them all swim away healthy and safe back into the water to fight another day.
Prizes on offer -
1st Prize £500
2nd Prize £250
3rd Prize £150
The angler who catches the biggest overall fish caught over the whole tournament which is currently Mark Sandby's cracking 14lb 7oz croc that was caught in the first round qualifier.
If Mark's lovely 14lb 7oz fish is beaten by any of the predator hunters over the weekend by a larger fish they will then walk away with the £100 cash prize that is on offer for this success.
There will also be £300 of tackle prizes donated off our sponsors Fox Rage which will be split between the successful anglers.
If any of you predator fishing fans from the area want to come down to the reservoirs to watch the cream of the area's snapper sn**chers compete in this weekends final you are more than welcome to come down and watch but please make sure you stay behind the walls at the top of each dam wall to give the competitors the space they need, it is also a great vantage point to see all the action as the anglers cross rods in battle.
If you want any further information about the event either bob into Adlington Angling Centre or just call Andy at the shop on 01257 474823, alternatively you message the shop via Facebook.
