THE first-ever Mainline Baits Carp Open was held at Upper Tamar Lake near Bude over the last weekend of March and was deemed a resounding success.

The fishing was extremely tough but made for a really close competition which every pair of anglers could have won right up until the end.

Thirty-three pairs made the trip and the draw took place at 1pm on the Friday (March 29) with anglers choosing their swims in order. They also collected a Mainline Baits goody bag filled with some of their fantastic innovative bait products and a free 24-hour permit for Lower Tamar to use at their leisure.

Head of angling at South West Lakes Trust, Ben Smeeth, said: “The fishing over the weekend was really hard. Only nine carp were caught between everyone but this made it a gripping competition with every catch so important.

“The lake had been fishing so well leading up to the competition with fish to over 25lbs being caught regularly. The pressure of the competition and weather conditions really made it difficult for the anglers."

The winners were Dean and Dave Willoughby from Barnstaple. They banked a cracking 24lb 6oz common from peg 32 to take the £2,000 top prize.

Runners-up were Karl Yates and Allan Jones from Bude who managed two fish for 22lb 15oz and they collected £1,000.

Third place finishers were Rich Ford and Nigel Woods from Launceston who had a cracking 21lb 10oz mirror.

The next Mainline Baits Carp Open pairs will be held from July 5-7 with bookings available by calling 01566 771930.