RAF Carp Championships - Oxlease Lakes Oxford.

Results of the RAF Carp Angling Championships were:

1st - Tug Wilson, RAF Halton
2nd - Reg Verney, RAF Halton
3rd - Craig Whitehead, RAF Lyneham

Incidentally, Tug donated the first prize of a week's holiday in France to charity.

Championship Report

Tug Wilson from RAF Halton emerged victorious following the 72 hour event on Oxlease lake, to become the inaugural champion of this event. Tug had to work extremely hard on a very fickle Oxlease. Sustained catches of mid twenties ensured a creditable winning weight of 182lb.

Tug’s approach was simple - little Funnel Web bags of Hinders Blitz cast to showing fish or marginal spots. He resisted the temptation to ‘give em some’ and his patience paid dividends. He subsequently won a 20kg sack of Hinders Blitz to replenish his dwindling supply.

The prolific Oxlease Lake on the Linear Fisheries Complex was the venue for the event. The fish run to mid 30’s so thoughts of a whacker were on everyone's mind.

With 33 carpers and 99 rods in the water over a 72 hour period, you could say the fish were pressured for a few days. However, as the strong south westerly grew on the second day, it became evident that the winner would come from northern end of the lake. Tug Wilson, Craig Whitehead and Mark Jarvis consistently caught off the end of the wind, whilst Reg Verney managed to hold a few in his swim on the way through, before eventually the fish couldn’t resist the crashing waves at the northern shore anymore. Even Reg’s copious amounts of Fusion could not persuade them otherwise.

Oxlease proved to be the perfect venue for this inaugural event; challenging but with a chance of a few fish if tactics were spot on. The stamp of fish was also a bonus, with several upper 20’s and one 30 being caught over the 72 hours.

View photographs of the event in the Gallery >