Match Fishing editor Tom Scholey takes a look at a very special range of rods, Daiwa’s Airity X45s.
I must admit to being massively sceptical when I was asked to consider the possibility that a rod might actually be ‘better’ than Daiwa’s Tournament range.
I love these rods and have been steadily building a collection when my budget has allowed. Indeed, I have written on these pages before about how I consider the 10ft Tournament to be the nicest rod of its kind that I have ever used.
Our editorial assistant, Jake Fowles, takes Middy’s new Xtreme M3 out to test it. Can it really handle a No30 elastic?
When I arrived in the DHP offices to find the Middy Xtreme M3 pole sat on my desk I wasn’t too sure what expect. A pole rated to a No30 elastic (I wasn’t aware elastics went that strong), dubbed the ‘Animal Tamer’. I almost certainly expected a near-unusable piece of kit.
Angler's Name
Weight (lbs/oz)
Peg # / Lake
Adam Richards (Browning)
198-13-00
26 (Meadow)
Frankie Gianoncelli (Preston Innovations / Sonu Baits)
151-07-00
16 (Meadow)
Matthew Dawes (Drennan North West)
150-02-00
21 (Meadow)
Paul Blinkhorn
130-09-00
7 (Meadow)
Dan Hull (Dynamite Baits)
130-08-00
23 (Bridge)
James Howarth (Tri-cast Highfield)
122-14-00
10 (Meadow)
Connor Barlow
119-01-00
42 (Meadow)
Jordan Holloway
114-00-00
1 (Meadow)
Ninety eight (98) anglers attended the second and final Mega Match This qualifier event at Heronbrook Fisheries of the 2016 campaign. Conditions on the day were ideal with temperatures remaining mild coupled with plenty of cloud cover. Fishing on the day was, as per usual, of a high standard with very little separating second place through to eighth place. It was Meadow that produced the majority of the top weights on the day with the winner, Adam Richards, leaving the rest of the field trailing in his wake.
The MAM series of matches, organised by David Marshall, was started to enabled anglers of all levels to compete together. Ten qualifying matches have been fished around England with winners from the 5 peg sections earning a place in the final. The 2016 competition has been supported by some of the best UK anglers. 53 anglers fished the final at Tunnel Barn Farm on 23 July with a total prize pool of £2800 and a top prize of £1500.