04/11/2026
Massive congratulations to Bait-Tech NORTH Angler Steve lowther 🏆 YORKSHIRE OUSE 3-DAY FESTIVAL – CHAMPION! 🏆
72 anglers competing across Aldwark, Hunters Lodge, Bungalows, Middle Linton and Linton Bottom, split into three 24-peg zones, with points awarded based on zone positions.
🎣 DAY 1 – Peg 254, Middle Linton
Not the best area to draw, but managed to put together 3lb of small roach on a bottom-end slider, followed by 2lb of bleak in the final hour.
Finished with 5lb, which was good enough for 3rd in the 24-peg zone. A 6lb barbel caught on the next peg and a bigger 5lb weight from the Bungalows were the only weights to beat me.
🎣 DAY 2 – Peg 260, Middle Linton
Back at Middle Linton again, this time in C Zone.
It was a real struggle, picking up the odd small fish on the slider and an occasional bleak on the whip.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, I had around 1½lb in the net. I picked up the 4.5m whip for the umpteenth time and suddenly it was solid with kipper bleak, just 2ft deep!
Managed to catch another pound in those final 10 minutes to weigh 2lb 8oz, finishing 4th in the 24-peg zone. A big 4lb weight won the zone, with two 3lb weights also beating me.
After two days, I was sitting on 43 points and lying joint 3rd overall. All to play for!
🎣 DAY 3 – Peg 189, Hunters Lodge
Dave Limbert had caught 4lb from this peg the previous day, despite having some trouble with pike. The area had produced a few fish over the first two days, so I was hopeful.
Started with one small perch and missed a pull on the feeder, but there were no bleak to be caught on the whip.
I eventually managed to put together around 4lb of small roach and a similar amount of small chub, dace and perch, using a combination of a slider dragged well overdepth and another set around a foot off the bottom.
Finished with 7lb 14oz, which won both the zone and the match! 🥇
🏆 FESTIVAL WINNER!
Ended the three days with 67 points, just pipping Ricky Bonas by a single point!
Looking back, that late run of bleak on Day 2 proved absolutely crucial.
Having been beaten by Craig Turbit by just one point myself last year, I know exactly how gutting it feels to come so close.
It’s been a difficult festival this year, with the lingering colour in the river, which occasionally comes in from one of the Ouse’s many tributaries.
But I’m absolutely made up to have won this fantastic event for the second time! 🏆🎣
