Vandervleit Just Misses Out On A Second Fisho Final Appearance

Jack Reid

Drennan-backed Chris Vandervleit was just one place off qualifying for this year’s Fish ‘O’ Mania Final with a massive 177lb 5oz catch! The match was last weekend at Barford Lakes in Norfolk, where the southern match ace has already once qualified for the £30,000 final, back in 2009. 

Chris-Vandervleit-lands-carp-at-Barford
Chris lands a carp on Pleasure Lake. Picture courtesy of Tight Lines.

Well in front on the day was Kieron Rich, with an impressive 227lb 1oz total, mostly caught by ‘dobbing’ for cruising carp from Peg 2 on the Match Lake. Kieron is also no stranger to Fish ‘O’ Mania and will surely now rank as one of the favourites for the 16-angler Final.

Second-placed Chris put a colourful bag of fish on the scales from Peg 7 on the Pleasure Lake. His mixed catch included 15 carp to 14lb, plus 50lb of smaller fish, including F1s to 5lb, tench to 5lb, skimmers, perch and roach. His 177lb 5oz total is also now Chris’ best match weight to date with his trusty Drennan Acolyte pole!

Chris commented:

kieron-rich-fisho
Kieron Rich sails through to the Fish ‘O’ Mania Final. Picture courtesy of Tight Lines.

“I’m not too disappointed about coming second, as I was 50lb off the winner and don’t think that I could have done much better from the peg. My travelling partner, Gary Miller, also came 4th with 162lb so we’d both had a good day’s fishing! 

“I caught down the edge from the off at 13 metres to my right, next to a grass bank. Big-potting groundbait, chopped worm and caster was necessary to feed off the small roach and perch. I mixed up 2kg of 50/50 Bait-Tech Special G Gold and Green at the start and had three pints of casters and a kilo of worms with me.

“Every time I got a bite I never knew if it was going to be a large carp or a tiny perch. That’s the best bit about fishing worms and casters!

“My best rig was a 0.2g Drennan AS4 float on 0.22mm line to a 0.20mm hooklength, size 16 Kamasan B911 Extra Strong hook and pink Carp Bungee elastic.

“A big well done to Keiron Rich for winning the match! I haven’t got any more Fisho tickets, but I’m about 30th on the reserve list for the qualifier at Coleman’s Cottage this weekend, so I will be attending that. Hopefully I can squeeze on and finish one place better!”

Chris looks on anxiously as his catch is weighed in front of the Sky TV cameras. Picture courtesy of Sky Tight Lines ( @SkyTightLines).
Chris looks on anxiously as his catch is weighed in front of the Sky TV cameras. Pictures courtesy of Tight Lines.

For running commentary from every Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier, follow the Sky Sports Tight Lines Twitter feed: @SkyTightLines.