The FishOMania 2026 campaign got underway on Wednesday, 1st April 2026 at Tunnel Barn Farm, and it was Matt Redman who made the perfect start, claiming the first qualification spot of the season.
Drawn on peg 14 on the House Pool, Matt put together a strong match to finish with 161lb 3oz of carp and F1s. It proved just enough to edge a tightly packed field in what turned out to be a close opening contest. Scott Doll ran him all the way from peg 10 on the New Pool, weighing 158lb 5oz. The gap between the top two was minimal, which effectively one fish making the difference. Third place went to former finalist Jason Redgrave, who weighed 148lb 15oz from peg 15 on the Top Pool. In fact, only 15lb covered the top six anglers, highlighting just how competitive the day proved across all three main lakes.
Tunnel Barn Farm once again showed why it remains one of the most important venues on the FishOMania circuit. With multiple prolific pools and a huge stock of carp and F1s, it regularly produces tight, high weight qualifiers, and this match was no different.
For Matt, the result secures his place in the 2026 FishOMania Grand Final and marks his debut appearance on the sport’s biggest stage, where a £50,000 top prize will be on offer later this summer.
FishOMania 2026 Finalists
- Brad Lucas (2025 FishOMania Winner)
- Matt Redman
The next qualifier takes place on Wednesday, 8th April 2026 at Boldings Pools near Bridgnorth, where another angler will have the chance to book their place in the final.
Spectator tickets for the 2026 FishOMania Grand Final 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.
