Browning Hot Rods angler Tom Noton had a brilliant result in last weekends Angling Trust RiverFest final on the river Trent, finishing in fourth place across the two-day event. Here is Tom’s account of the competition.
I’ve been looking forward to this final for weeks. Lots of preparation and hours on the phone to various anglers leading up to what was set to be a very interesting final. I put a lot of hours into preparation on the build up and it paid off. The trent is a special venue and definitely my favourite river. The field of competitors was very, very strong. The Angling Trust RiverFest and Dave Harrell did a great job of running a super smooth online draw the night before each day. I have to say it was great to watch the laptop as the names and pegs were getting drawn out. Here’s how I got on…
Day 1
Peg A7 in the Ferry Field on the bend. Wasn’t somewhere I fancied much to be honest but I knew the roach were there earlier in the year. I set up the obligatory feeder rods for dace, waggler rods and the pole. The last rod out of the bags was a barbel/big fish rod… fortunately this came into play. After a difficult and incredibly wet first two hours a decent chub showed itself about 3 meters off the trees opposite. Another showed a few minutes later. After a fruitless visit to the perch line I was lining up for the big chuck across with proper gear on! A missed bite first chuck, second chuck I was into chub number one of about 2lb. It was a game of cat and mouse for the next 3 hours picking off the odd chub, biggest 3-4lb. At the weigh in I was super happy to tip 19lb 3oz on the scales. This was enough for 2nd in the Ferry Field behind angling legend Cameron Hughes with an impressive 26lb of roach from the end peg. Well done mate. I felt this was job done for the day as i was really trying to avoid a disaster in a difficult section.
Day 2
I was desperately hoping for a draw at the bottom of the rack where lots of fish had been showing the day before. Fortunately it was a good one in the shape of B68. Charlie Gooch had done the business off it the day before so after a pep talk on the phone I was ready and raring to go. I set up the kitchen sink for this. Feeder looked good with about 10 inches of flood water coming in. Pole was a little quick but fishable. Then I set up stick floats and whips. At the all in I chucked in six balls of ground bait and started on the feeder. A decent first hour saw me catch around 3-4lb of dace and roach. I tried the pole and caught straight away but then began missing bites. Alternating rigs and the long whips I kept a few fish coming but it didn’t feel quite right. Loose feed seemed best, but they were out of range beyond my ground bait. I lost my way mid-match a little, but came back strong on the stick float. Dave Harrell put it nicely saying that I ’needed to turn the screw‘ and with that I got out my biggest screwdriver and started to loose feed heavier and finished really well on the stick catching a good 4-5lb in the last hour. A day of ducking and diving saw me tip 20lb 9oz on the scales.
I was chuffed with this in the end and felt it was enough for the frame. I was delighted to find out this was enough for 4th overall in the competition and a nice payday. Just ounces in front of my hero Wayne Swinscoe and agonisingly close to 3rd but Darren Frost pipped me by ounces – awesome display mate. A big well done to my mate Clive Fletcher finishing 2nd, simply brilliant. A well deserved win to angling legend and good mate Paul Cannon who stamped his authority on day 1 with a smashing bream haul. Well done that man. A worthy champ.
Now that’s all done with a special mention to a few people who helped me with everything on the lead up and during the match. MASSIVE thank you to Mark Halksworth who sat behind me all the way. There is nobody better for the job when it comes to river fishing, the man is brilliant and his knowledge of the river is second to none. I couldn’t of done it without him. Not forgetting team mate and best pal Craig Halksworth for being a top mate as per usual. Also my girlfriend for putting up with endless fishing chat
Top bait as always from Nathans of Nottingham. Cheers Ben Dutton lad!
It has been a great year so far, hoping to keep it going.
Tom with a lovely catch from the Trent on a practice session for this years RiverFest final.