One Off Shows
Catfish Challenge 2008 Part 1

Duration: 28 minutes
Series: One Off Shows

Take a break with us at Lakemore Fisheries in Cheshire,  England for the first instalment in our fly-on-the-wall coverage of the 2008 Catfish Challenge.

Introduced by top predator man Mark Barrett, who happens to be the joint holder of the Catfish Challenge Cup, this two-part show features a whole host of top specimen anglers (including Mick Brown, Simon Clarke, Steve Broad, Gary Newman...), paired alongside some of the country's leading match anglers (Kieron Rich, Neil Machin, Derek 'Chinaman' Willan, Jamie Masson, Matt Hall...).

Plus there's the odd angler who is not sure what he should be - step forward international match angler turned big fish angler, Jan Porter, and plenty of Realtree gear.

So what's it all about? Well obviously catfish are the key to the cup, but first the big fish anglers have to step out of their comfort zones and target a bag of fish under the guidance of the matchmen, who can look (and laugh) but not touch!

Part One covers the match on Golden Lake, warts and all, with Lakemore owner Mark Ashmore explaining the nuances.

It's fairly light hearted stuff and it's fun to watch some of the big fish men struggling on the long pole, but there is a serious side, because each pair's total weight will be added to the weight of catfish caught later, and could make all the difference.

Once it's all over ('ringer' Jan Porter winning the day with his partner Kieron) it's back to the serious stuff of having a good old nosh at the belting looking BBQ, where the anglers can make their excuses and plan for the night ahead.

And this is just the calm before the storm, as Part Two sees the matchmen having to get off their boxes and into the bivvy for a 12-hour, all night catfish match... those mollycoddled, daylight only match anglers ain't going to like that!