On Saturday, 23rd May 2026, Makin’s Fishery hosted the latest FishOMania qualifier, where Dale Shepherd secured his place in this year’s Grand Final after producing one of the biggest winning weights of the season.

With temperatures soaring on what was reported to be the hottest day of the year so far, many anglers expected the fishing to prove difficult. Instead, Makin’s produced a string of triple-figure catches and a remarkable winning performance from the former FishOMania finalist.

Drawn on peg 21 on Lake 2B, Dale weighed an impressive 298lb 15oz to top the standings comfortably. Like many competitors, he spent much of the day mugging carp on the long pole with pellets as the fish showed little interest in feeding. A prolific final two hours, including several key fish taken near a marginal bush, helped him secure qualification.

Andrew Mann finished second with an equally impressive 264lb 5oz from nearby peg 15. The Welsh angler combined long pole mugging tactics with a light pellet waggler to stay in contention throughout the match. The battle for third place proved incredibly close, with just 10oz separating the next two anglers. Warren Jennings claimed the final podium position with 226lb 13oz from peg 8 on Snake Lake, narrowly edging out Craig Goldstraw, who weighed 226lb 3oz from peg 4 on Lizard Lake.

Dale is no stranger to FishOMania’s biggest stage, having previously reached the Grand Final. His latest success ensures he will once again have the opportunity to compete for match fishing’s most prestigious title when the finalists return to Westwood Lakes in July.

Makin’s Fishery has built a reputation for producing exceptional weights, and this qualifier certainly lived up to expectations. Despite the challenging conditions created by the heat, anglers enjoyed some outstanding sport, with several catches comfortably exceeding the 100lb mark.

FishOMania 2026 Finalists

• Brad Lucas (2025 FishOMania Winner)
• Matt Redman
• Jake Fowles
• Jake Dye
• Chris Barley
• Jamie Hughes
• Harry Campbell
• Chris Reilly
• James Fuller
• Steve Openshaw
• Art Hilmi
• Kristian Jones
• Jordan Holloway
• Dale Shepherd

Following one of the highest-scoring qualifiers of the campaign so far, the FishOMania trail heads back to Springvale Fisheries for another sold-out qualifier on Wednesday, 27th May 2026. With Grand Final places becoming increasingly scarce, the pressure is beginning to build on those still chasing qualification.

Spectator tickets for the 2026 FishOMania Grand Final at Westwood Lakes on Saturday, 18th July 2026, are still available.

• Entry: £7.00 per person
• Group of 4: £20.00
• A service fee and £2.95 booking fee per order apply
• Parking: £7.00 per car / £10.00 per van (available when booking)

Head over to the FishOMania website to get your tickets now.