Keith Arthur: Hosting angling's top tournament

Every angler has won that 130-peg qualifier to be there so, on their day, they can beat the best. And to win £25,000 they'll have to.

Keith Arthur
Quotes of the week

FISH 'O' MANIA
Live on Sky Sports
12pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 2 & HD2

Fish'O'Mania has developed into the most important angling contest in UK match angling.

Whilst entries for every other team and individual contest dwindle, demand for Fisho tickets still outweighs supply by a ridiculous amount: some events have more than 500 applications for 130 tickets.

Now the matches have all been fished, the qualifiers all know their fate and on Saturday, one of Sky Sports' premier outside broadcasts of the year happens - in glorious high definition.

New venue

For the first time since 1997 we have a new venue for the final: Cudmore Fisheries near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire.

Some years ago the owners decided to create a lake specifically for televised events. During that time the lake has evolved and matured and is now ready for The Big One. The lake is circular with a circular island so each peg has a far bank to fish to.

The pegs are also well-spaced so there is potential for nearside margin catching as well as a decent 'shelf' where fish can be caught at 6 metres or so, a slightly deeper central channel (you'll hear that described as 'the track') and several depressions in the bed of the lake caused by barbel shoals.

Locals tell me that the barbel create these holes whilst feeding and while they don't usually come into play in summer - they are more of a winter sanctuary - knowing they exist and finding them could pay major dividends.

The match cannot use the entire lake as one end is needed for access to the island so cameras can bring you face-on action, whilst the other end (of a circle? You'll see what I mean) has a drop-off that makes it unsuitable for spectating.

The sides (that circle again!) of the lake have a level area close to the water that will make camera access far better and weighing in easier too. The anglers have much more room both on their purpose-built concrete platforms and behind where a full 13 metres of pole can be 'shipped' backwards before it encounters spectators. From there the banks slope making viewing easy for the expected throng.

As well as the main event, there will be the usual celebrity action and the fiercely-contested Ladies and Juniors events, both with major prizes for the qualifiers, who have gained their places by reaching high positions in their respective national championships.

Big money

But, of course, Fish'O'Mania is what it's all about. Sixteen qualifiers will line the bank all looking to get their paws on a BIG cheque, in more ways than one, to the value of £25,000.

There are two previous winners on show: Neil Machin on his third final took the prize in 2006 and Matt Hall who narrowly beat Darren Cox in the dying minutes of the match in 2003.

If you like coincidences, in the year when Matt triumphed there were no members of the Ringer clan involved and this is the first time since then the final has been Ringer-less.

Neil Machin is also local, living just 5 miles from Cudmore and it is his local fishery where he gains many of the points that made him Kamasan Match Angler of the Year yet again in 2007/8.

But Andy May, in his first final, is possibly even more familiar with Cudmore: he's the resident Professional Anglers' Association coach there!

Dave Swain is back for his fourth final and he's a Cudmore regular on top form. Jamie Hughes, Matt Smith and Les Thompson also know the score at Cuddy - in fact it's a case of more anglers being regulars at the venue than not. The other previous finalist is Jon Arthur who has been UK Individual Champion in 2006 and 7.

So it is safe to assume it isn't a bad field. Every angler has won that 130-peg qualifier to be there so, on their day, they can beat the best. And to win £25,000 they'll have to.

Spectators are also welcome at Cudmore and admission is free, with a car park charge of £5 irrespective of how many passengers. Tight Lines will be live from Cudmore with special Fisho guest Tom Pickering on Friday evening, plus the usual repeats and, of course, the whole match LIVE on Saturday from 12 noon on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports HD 2.

I can't wait!

Do you want some tips or advice from Keith Arthur? To send him a question, please click here: skysportsclub@bskyb.com

Keith answers your questions

KEITH REPLIES: Hello David. Without doubt the most frustrating fish in the world to catch are 'normal' grey mullet, the thick-lipped variety. Thin-lipped and golden greys can be easier as they are more predatory but greys can live, like Marjorie in Little Britain, on 'dust'.

Just the other day I was watching a group of a dozen or so on my local section of Thames, fully 45 miles from the sea, just 'licking' algae from the stones. I only know of one caught from the 'freshwater' Thames, at least landed, by an angler and that was a fish of 2lb 12oz from Chiswick on trotted maggots. They don't usually make that mistake!

However, I think that fly fishing may just offer the best opportunities. I've not tried this theory yet but I am hopeful. A friend catches them quite regularly from the beaches on the Isle of Man on Walker Mayfly Nymph patterns in size 14s. He reckons they imitate the sandfly maggots that hatch on bladderwrack. He may be right but that isn't in a river. I reckon try to imitate the algae. Does that sound daft? Well, consider this: Enterprise Baits now produce plastic sweetcorn that looks like it has been in the water ages, and therefore safe for carp to eat, by glueing marabou to one side of the corn, so it wafts like silkweed.

Using that theory, why not fish a floating line with a long, (12ft or so) fluorocarbon leader of 6lb minimum, to present a 'weed fly'. If you have damsel nymphs (and who doesn't) snip off some marabou from the tail (unless you tie your own and have some already) for the weed and 'palmer' it round a size 12 long-shank hook, say a Kamasan B175, which is strong enough too. Tie it as thick as you can. I reckon it might just work. Once. After that, start again.

I wish you well and await your results, with pictures.

Keith, for years now myself and two/three others have taken a week's fishing break in either Denmark, Ireland or Holland. Next year we have a fancy for something different. Hearing how much you rate the Florida Keys can you advise the best time of year, where to go, tour operator or DIY etc. Looking forward to hearing from you, tight lines.
Tony Fulton

KEITH REPLIES: Hi Tony. The below applies mostly to Key West: I'll explain more later. As long as you avoid 'summer' there, from June to October, which coincidentally is hurricane season, it is always 'best time' for something. In November it's offshore (not too far!) for wahoo, tuna, sailfish. In December, more of the same but more sails, and January sees the start of the king mackerel season, which usually peters out towards the end of March.

Wahoo action slows down around Christmas, sailfish peak usually around January and February then the tarpon start rolling itno the harbour area and channels in late February/early March. They are most affected by cold fronts (it gets right down to 65º at night and only 70º-odd by day sometimes!) which drop the water temperature from their favoured 77-83ºF. Around this time permit shoal on areas of the reef, 6-7 miles out, and multiple hook-ups of my favourite fish are possible right into April. Also in 'winter' local captains have started to find huge (20lb+) redfish in the shallow waters 'out back' in Florida Bay. They migrate from the northern areas around Flamingo.

Right the way through it is possible to catch several species of snapper and grouper, plus many types of shark, including hammerhead, tiger and bull sharks. Some of those are described by my pal Roy Marlow as: "...nasty custards."

Further north, towards Miami, there is fishing in very shallow water for bonefish almost through the year, plus sharks. In the cooler months, December and January, cold fronts can put them down for a few days at a time. From March onwards the shallow 'flats' hold different species that can be fished for from skiffs in not much more than 1ft of water. Even big sharks can be caught in a couple of feet.

I know two English people that run charters and even accommodation around the 'Middle Keys', at Islamorada: John Rawle, who is there at peak times and Dave Plummer, who has guided Nigel Botherway.

I stay in Key West and book it all myself, flying to Miami, hiring a car then driving down with some great fun on the way there and back. You can fly to Key West, changing at Atlanta, Tampa or Miami too. Sometimes that is the best option as if you are fishing in Key West you can book accommodation within easy walking distance of the dock. The island is only 2 miles by 4 miles!

As well as the Summer period, I'd avoid March, which is Spring Break and the island fills up with loads of youngsters, hell bent on a good time. Everything is top dollar then. I always go in April but this year I am taking a short trip in November, with my wife, so not much fishing (she thinks - haha!). My regular captain, Damon Santelli, tells me December and May are both great months. Accommodation is dearer in December though - try his website and check out the photo pages.

Our regular accommodation is at Pelican Landing - take a look at this page and see the 'Pelican Landing' condos.

Now go and have the best time ever!

Do you want some tips or advice from Keith Arthur? To send him a question, please click here: skysportsclub@bskyb.com