Festival weekend a huge success

The traditional end of May 3 day festival of fishing was again a huge success.  For the third year in a row two different festivals were run concurrently. 


The original Salisbury Open festival run by Paul Barnard which accommodates 20 anglers shared the lakes with Mark Blakes festival which was set up; to give the opportunity to those anglers on the waiting list for "Barnies festival" a chance to fish a similar event.  Marks anglers which numbered a dozen shared the three original lakes at the venue - Barnmoor, Selwood and Cottage.


Day one of the event was hot and sultry with blue skies, with days 2 and 3 overcast but still warm.  The anglers which ranged from the superstars of the past to the superstars of today, battled it out for the excellent prize money and the bragging rights of festival champion.


Winners of Barnies festival were as follows:


1st Paul Barnard - Salisbury AC
2nd Graham Tappenden - Eastleigh AC
3rd James Knight - Reid's Tackle


Best result over the three day festival was James Knight with 204 lb from Cottage lake. Biggest fish (Barnmoor) Gary Wright 29 lb 8 oz Common Carp on the pole.


Winners of Blakeys festival were as follows:


1st Dwayne Seed  - Cormorant's
2nd Dave Moody - Reid's Tackle
3rd Mark Blake  - Freelance / Reid's tackle


Best result (s) over three days Dwayne Seed 109 lb 4 oz from Selwood and Daryl Mayer with 144 lb 4oz from Cottage. Biggest fish Barnmoor again with the hoffmeister Paul Hough catching a 14 lb Carp.


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On the pleasure side Simon Gillingham has caught a 30 lb Common Carp and a 28 lb Mirror Carp.  Nigel Tapper has had a run of 20 lb plus Carp on Barnmoor and one from Cottage lake.


On the famous Snake lake Eastleigh club had a club match with good weights from all areas and the winners being:


1st Mark Illingworth 82 lb 4 oz
2nd Dave Self 60 lb
3rd Brett Cooper 56 lb 12 0z


Forthcoming matches for the weekend of the 6th and 7th of June booked at the moment.  Saturday all lakes open for day ticket pleasure and club anglers.


Sunday the 7th Selwood, Cottage and the inner ring of the Snake lake are in use for matches.  Which leaves great fishing available on Barnmoor and the outer Snake. 


Wednesday the 10th the whole of Snake inner and outer is booked for a match; and an additional
 " open to all"on Cottage lake   Draw and match brief at 1pm fish 2.15 pm till 8.15 pm. Results on the bank. Book in with Reid's Tackle - Dave Moody 01722 711616 who will also brief you on any special rules for the match.


So with the weather due to hot up why not come along and enjoy the fishing in pleasant conditions at the venue where the float dips regularly and the tip or bite alarm react to the hard fighting fish.