Jon Arthur looks back at two recent matches where a place in the big-money Mega Match This Final narrowly slipped from his grasp…

I think I’m sadly destined never to qualify for the 24-man Maver’s Mega Match This Final. Like many others, I’ve so far been one of the nearly men in this event. In its first year I was second in a qualifier at Moorlands Farm and had to make do with the Runners Up Final, which sadly doesn’t exist any more. Last year I managed to frame in eight qualifiers and still never quite made it.

This season has been just as agonising. First up I managed to come 3rd at Decoy Lakes; a place higher than last year. I had a great day, catching 165lb but thought the 5lb carp I lost right at the end would cost me, as it sounded like Warren Martin would win with 170lb. Thankfully (for my own sanity) Warren’s weight was only good enough for 2nd, as Tony Dawson won it with 186lb. That actually cheered me up as there’s nothing worse than being just one fish away. More of that in a bit…

I had a decent day and my peg fished much better than I expected. I drew Cedar 1, which is a noted corner swim, but with the wind going the opposite way and every peg in on the lake I never anticipated it being a potential winning pool. Being downwind and at the car park end with everyone slamming their van doors right next to my attractive-looking margin didn’t put in the best frame of mind either!

As it happened, the fish were definitely still my way for whatever reason and I managed to win the lake. I had a great first hour bagging on just my top kit with meat on the hook before a quieter spell fruitlessly trying to catch shallow.

The margin to my right plumbed up horribly with a steep, uneven slope but I found a flattish area in 2ft of water. However, in the hot and muggy conditions I soon discovered this was too deep. It was only when I re-plumbed to find a spot in half that depth that I finally sorted it. Even then I had to fish overdepth and pull the rig up against the steep incline to hook a fish.

I think I was also perhaps thrown a few curve balls from ‘venue experts’ with some of the information. I had never fished the lake before so I had to heed their advice, but I know that if I had just put my blinkers on and done my own thing I could have caught more. For instance, the 10 pints of maggots I was persuaded to bring were a complete waste of time!

I think that’s the most frustrating thing on these matches, as all the information you tend to get is based on smaller knock-ups where everyone has a bit of room. This was a 120-peg sell out and I should know better that things always change on these bigger events.

My peg was apparently noted for barbel and F1s. I never had many of either, as mostly carp from 2-4lb were the order of the day. I felt I had things half right but not coming off my short line fast enough, a fruitless left-hand swim, that quiet spell shallow and not switching depths quite quick enough were all things I felt I know I could have sussed and reacted to quicker.

I definitely could have got nearer to the winner with quicker decision making but I didn’t beat myself up too much, as 11lb is a decent gap and I was still very happy with 3rd overall. Certainly more than I expected when I first sat down.

The next qualifier was a ‘little’ bit closer. This time it was at Cudmore Fishery, which is one of those venues that’s normally very kind to me. It was another red-hot day and I felt the fish would be up in the water. After pulling out Peg 3 on Suez I wasn’t sure what to expect. Andy May turned his nose up and reckoned it was the right end as far as the wind was concerned but not a peg you’d run to. A few of the other locals seemed to echo that.

However, when I got to the peg I felt I had an outside chance of framing. It was pegged every other peg on Suez and Peg 1 in the corner to my right was absolutely black with fish on the top and with a thick raft of scum up the edge. A dobber’s delight, I thought! I really didn’t fancy my chances of beating the guy on there but I wasn’t too disappointed to be on the edge of a few fish.

As I tackled up with a Crystal Dibber mugging rig a few stragglers started to drift my way and I just hoped they were partial to a hook bait or two dangled in front of their noses!

I managed a good early run with four or five ‘muggers’ but these fish were clearly not very obliging. There were loads of carp on the top but they were just sitting there sulking. I could gently slap a hook bait within an inch of their noses – even lay it on their backs – and they’d just slowly turn away. It was hard work but I did manage a couple more before realising the fish I could see were the ones that weren’t feeding. Instead, I started to throw and catapult casters and fished in and around the feed area. This worked a treat and by juggling depths and hook baits from meat to maggots and casters I managed to pick fish off most of the day.

Just an hour into the match I knew this was one of those weird days you get when the fish are moody and not responding to ‘normal’ tactics. I have seen this happen countless times on heavily fished venues. The fish are there but they are clearly agitated, easily spooked and don’t want to feed on the bottom, with regular swirls and bow waves all over the place.

I planned to attack the far-bank mud line with worms but that was a complete waste of time. Similarly, my margins only yielded two fish. As the last hour approached I could sense the swim was fading as I began to catch a few F1s instead of the bigger carp. This caused the swim to fizz and lead to more missed bites and swirls at the float. I should’ve just persevered, or perhaps started a fresh swim. Instead, I spent the last couple of minutes down the margin with casters for nothing. I definitely would’ve had another fish in the open water if only I had stuck at it.
As the scales arrived I wasn’t sure what I had got and had my usual conservative estimate of 80lb. I was a bit taken back to see me total 114lb 10oz. It was only then that I started to think I ‘might’ have a chance.

As the scales continued around the lake it was clear how hard it had fished as no one else broke the ton on this lake. Then, rumours came back that Milo Pool had fished hard and Panama had been won with 113lb – a good weight on there. That just left Arena Pool…

Again, everyone was saying how hard it had fished… but, someone had apparently caught 22 carp. I couldn’t believe it, as Simon Skelton had weighed 115lb 10oz to beat me by exactly 1lb! To say I was gutted would be an understatement but fair play to Si for making the Final two years on the trot.

Despite tucking into a cheeseburger as I waited for the results I felt completely empty inside. The only way to get it out of my system was to go fishing again! I therefore hopped in the van and headed for the Shropshire Union Canal. I hadn’t picked up a squatt rig for some time but I can honestly tell you I had one of the best evening sessions I can remember for a long time, with roach, perch, skimmers and lots and lots of lovely little gudgeon!

It was nice to be out in the countryside on my beloved canals, catching a fish every chuck and really helped to put things into perspective. It was dark when I finally made the hour-long journey home and I finally got back minutes after the England v Italy 11pm kick off.

I managed to watch the game and they played pretty well. They attacked in a positive manner but were just unfortunate to be beaten by marginally better opposition on the day. I think that also sums up my last two weekends!