THE third and final Mainline Baits Carp Open pairs event of 2019 at Upper Tamar Lake took place from October 4-6, with Launceston duo Nigel Woods and Rich Ford emerging victorious.

Thirty-three pairs turned out for the event with £3,500 up for grabs. Anglers chose their swims, collected a Mainline goody bag and were transported to their pegs. Fishing began at 4pm on the Friday and ended after 45 hours at 1pm on the Sunday.

The weather was rough to say the least, very strong winds hammered the anglers through Friday evening giving way to a much calmer Saturday and Sunday. The fishing was hard, but this made for a really great competition which went right down to the wire.

Woods and Ford scooped the top prize of £2,000 with four carp for a weight of 49lb 1oz from peg 20 on the Cornwall bank. Woods and Ford’s win followed on from winning the July competition and finishing third in the March event to cap a fine year at the prolific venue.

They held off a fantastic late flurry from Dave Bellew and Steve Lovell (Somerset) who caught three fish on the Sunday morning to finish on 47lbs 12oz and less than 2lb behind the winners. Dave and Steve collected £1,000 for the runners-up spot. 

Jeff Watts and Simon Sweet (St Austell) were third and won £500 for their three carp with a total weight of 30lbs 13oz.

Largest fish winning 2kg of Mainline spod and PVA mix was Daniel Comaneci (London) who had a cracking 21lb 14oz mirror carp. Smallest fish, winning 2kg of Mainline spod and PVA mix was Karl Yates (Bude) who had a 9lb 13oz common carp.

The section winners winning 5kg of Mainline freezer baits boilies were:

Mervyn Beal and Danny Peters; Jamie Rusling and Nick White; Ben and Matt Cooper; Daniel and Tiberiu Comaneci.

Thanks were expressed to Mainline Baits for their sponsorship.

The first event of 2020 will be held from March 27 to 29. Bookings can be made on 01566 771930.