Severn Trent Region – England Loch Style Eliminator 2011
Fished at Blithfield on 5th June 2011
Thirty-eight entrants competed for places in this year’s national final to be held at Grafham in September.
A cool north-easterly breeze ensured that the fishing would not be easy. Despite reasonable catches on practise days, the trout were very reluctant to take and some very experienced anglers were found scratching their heads at the end of the day! Most success seem to come to those that persisted in areas where fish had been located in previous visits and to plug away with one set method. Many fish fell to small dries or traditional wets such as silver invicta. Best rod on the day was World Team member Phil Dixon of Crewe in Cheshire. He was the only angler to catch his 8 fish limit and begin catch and release. Finishing with 9 trout for a total bag weight of 19lb 5 – an excellent achievement on such a dour day. Phil fished a fast glass line with blobs either casting to moving fish or allowing the line to sink a couple of feet before making a slow pulled retrieve. Second place went to Gary Owen of Coalville, Leicestershire with 7 fish for 13lb 7. Qualifying for the second year in succession from Blithfield were Nick Dunn from Wilmslow, Cheshire, Martin Greatbatch from Stoke on Trent and Gordon Bramwell from Loughborough.
Special thanks should go to South Staffs Water who hosted this event for the second time and provided a free buffet for competitors
The rod average on the day was 2.48 Best fish was caught by Andy Taylor and weighed 3lb 11.
The first 10 have likely qualified for the National Final. Positions 11 and 12 may qualify depending upon the total national entry.

1. PHIL DIXON
2. GARY OWEN
3. MARK MACLEOD
4. NICK DUNN
5. MARTIN GREATBATCH
6. ANDREW TAYLOR
7. LEE PATTEN
8. KEN MOORE
9. GORDON BRAMWELL
10. DAVE MORRIS
11. PAUL ANGELL
12. MARTIN DIXON