Hampshire’s stunning Broadlands lake has a long history as being one of the top day ticket waters in the country and this year sees the first ever visit by the BCAC to it’s banks. The PVA bags / trout pellet method was developed by the forward thinking Hampshire crew at this venue back in the early 90s and it still works today. At 26 acres and holding a good head of fish to over 30lbs it has large islands and plenty of bars / bays to keep the anglers on their toes. It really is a stunning venue set in the Test Valley and a few of the lads that have been down to practice have had some great results. Weather permitting we expect a great competition here with some good weights being banked.
Match Report
Localised storms and heavy rain sent the water of Broadlands a chocolate brown just before the event, and coupled with the fact that the fish started to chase each other round as the competition wore on, the was always going to be tough. The lake and surroundings were looking glorious, a credit to the new owners who are really putting this historic venue back on the map in a big way. There were carp evident in every swim but they didn’t want to get their heads down in the roasting hot sun. By tea on day 1 it was Lee Poolard and Laim Hodges who lead the way in the outlet swim with 38.10 followed by venue regulars Graham Mabey and Jonno Barton with 2 fish for 24lbs exactly. Next door and on the edge of Blackwater bay Danny Otter and Glen Burnett were snapping at their heels with 22.08.
Overnight there was a cautious amount of action all around the lake and by dawn the early leaders had stretched their legs an upped their tally to 65.10. Two local anglers, Richard Seeds and Lee Baker stepped into the mix with 48.05 from the motorway bay and it was Otter/ Burnett who lead the Battle of Blackwater bay for the third remaining slot on 41.10
By a roasting hot mid day which saw anglers on the floaters and zigs the weights had changed but not the running order, and the action continued around the lake seeing anglers usually picking up multiples of fish when they were getting bites rather than just the odd fish here and there.
Pollard / Hodges didn’t put a foot wrong and worked both the margins and the island with skill and dexterity to remain untouched at the top by dusk on Sat with 101.06. The lead was not massive but comfortable enough. The big battle that had raged for the remaining slots calmed down with Seeds/Baker holding in there with 73.08 for second and Otter / Burnett challenging for that position with 70.02. Maby / Barton had lost their way a little and remained on 47.12 looking like they might be well out of the game.
The last night / early morning on the fishery saw every team catch fish and early leaders Pollard / Hodges kept their position and their cool with 123.04. Baker/Seeds took one of the lakes bigger residents, Holyfield at 26.08 plus another double to put them in what seemed a comfortable second with 108.08 and Otter / Burnett remained third on 70.02.
With just 4 hours of the match left the wind changed and the Bearded Battle of Blackwater Bay really began. The wind was now pushing into the swim of Mabey / Barton who knew it like the back of their hand. The fish also started moving in they started catching. In an incredibly exciting sprint finish Mabey / Barton would catch one then lose one whilst next door Otter / Burnet would do exactly the same. Otter / Burnett looked the most promising with 93.12 on the score sheet against 76.02 next door but a string of lost fish claimed by the pads for Otter / Burnett and a brace of landed carp for Mabey / Barton with just 1 hour left changed the order of the match as they now totaled 100.12 against 93.12. One fish for both of them could knock out the “presumed safe” Seeds / Baker who sat now only 15lbs ahead of 4th.
It went to the wire and it was Mabey / Barton who were jumping for joy at the hooter having landed 3rd. Second placed Seeds / Baker breathed a sigh of relief with second and the cool and calculated Pollard / Hodges were never really threatened with their first all the way through.
 |
Place |
Pairing |
Weight lb:oz |
Team |
1 |
Lee Pollard / Liam Hodges |
146.09 |
|
2 |
Richard Seeds / Lee Baker |
108.08 |
|
3 |
Graham Mabey /Jonno Barton |
100.12 |
|
|
4 |
Danny Otter / Glen Burnett |
93.12 |
|
5 |
Neil Rivers / Brian Byford |
40.1 |
|
6 |
Dave Benton / Chris Boyda |
39.05 |
Crafty Carper |
7 |
Ian Poole / Jon Finch |
23.12 |
Carp Talk |
8 |
Luke Weedon / Carl Jones |
12.05 |
|
9 |
Mark Smith / Ian Reed |
7.05 |
Army |
10 |
Fraser Gascoyne / Charlie England |
7.02 |
|
11 |
Terry Hofgartner / Simon Hofgartner |
5.04 |
Rigmarole |
12 |
Leon Matthews / Richard Matthews |
DNF |
|
A new venue to the BCAC calendar this year, the 27 acre carp lake at Broadlands has a long history in carp fishing. Going through a resurgence at the moment Broadlands has a good stock of fish in the doubles and twenties bracket with the biggest just over 30. With loads of features to fish to it will certainly be an exciting eliminator round for 2008.