| This was the day that twelve anglers would be fishing for twenty grand. The draw was at 9.30am and SKY Television cameras were there, to record every bit of action.
Pegs one or twelve were the ones that most anglers wanted, the ones that we thought would win. Over I went to the draw bag, and yes I was nervous, and selected peg 3. I was happy enough although I would have preferred peg 1.
Grant with Clint Elliott
Making His Draw.
On arrival at my peg, I set up a feeder, waggler and two pole lines. One at 11 metres and the other at 4 metres. Keith Arthur from Tight lines came over to congratulate me on the festival win and to ask what I thought would do the damage on this shoot out. I told him that around 40 lb. would win the match and that everyone would catch fish, as the lake was stocked with loads and loads of fish up to a pound.
That was before it poured down with rain.
The hooter went and I cupped in a pot full of fishmeal and casters at four metres, and half a cup at 11 metres. The groundbait feeder then went out. I turned to see my team mate Kian Wardle on the next peg playing a big fish. It was only a ghostie of around 6 lb. I couldn't believe it! Anyway my tip never moved so I went out on the pole and fed a little fishmeal with a few maggots. I caught a 3 oz carp straight away. I turned again, and there was Kian playing a 2lb. tench on the pole, I couldn't believe that either!
I had to catch fish and a lot of them to make up those two fish Kian had in his net. I got my head down and cupped in the bait tight as I had previously done in the festival. I started to catch well but they were only fish in the 3 - 5 oz bracket. Alex Murray was catching on the feeder and they were bigger fish. I knew I needed a bonus fish.
The SKY T.V cameras were behind me quite a bit, and as I was catching on the 4 metre line the fish were spooked quite a lot and my peg would go quiet when they were there.
I fed with a little pot of fishmeal after every fish I caught. I caught more fish than anyone else but they just weren't the stamp. At times Alex was sat there with his arms folded and I was still catching small carp. The last half hour saw Alex land some better fish and the crowd had himself or Lee Woodhouse, who was catching well on peg 12 opposite Alex, as winning the match.
That last half hour saw my peg die and I was just praying for a bonus fish, but alas it never came. The end of the match did however, and Alex lifted 28 lb 4oz onto the scales. I weighed 26 lb. 10oz, so close and yet so far, I was disappointed.
So Close Yet So Far
I fished the best I could but on the day it wasn't good enough. I had had a brilliant week and I will be there next year, hopefully with my name on that elusive cheque!
My thanks go to Whiteacres for running such a good festival.
Remember it's good to be a winner, but it's even better to be liked and respected.
Grant.
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