Match Weight Record Broken for Third Time In As Many Years

Sunday 3rd August 2025 saw venue regular, Dave Bowyer, set a new match lake record on the Island pool.

Dave drew peg 14 during a club match with Wordsley Lions and fished pellet up in the water down his edge for the duration of the match to find small carp in numbers for the full five hours.

Dave was on a superb run of form here at Woodside entering this latest match with his respective club having won two consecutive Friday afternoon open matches topping some pretty stiff competition in the process. He wasted no time at all after a decent draw saw him placed in a notable area, but I don't think even Dave was expecting the days fishing that lay in wait for him.

Speaking to Dave before the weigh in, he said "I think I've got 200lb - maybe 180lb. It's going to be close [to the lake record]".

Fishery Manager Ben said "I knew as soon as Dave commented about his weight that we'd likely be looking at a new lake record on Island pool. Dave is normally pretty accurate with his weights and he had five nets in the water so I would've been shocked if he wasn't there or thereabouts with his estimation".

Sure enough, upon the scales making their way round the lake, Dave's weight was confirmed at 204-14-00, beating the previous record set by fellow Wordsley Lions rod Ken Hayes (which had stood for just over fourteen months) by a little over 26lbs.

The previous match weight record on Island pool was 178-10-00 set back in May of 2025.

Well done Dave!

Dave Bowyer with part of his incredible 204-14-00 haul from Island pool