The 10th Golden Reel qualifier of the year was held at Hayfield Lakes in Doncaster on Sunday, 18th May. Kieran Marsden secured his spot in the 2025 Grand Final after a dominant display to win the match by 21lb.
Perfect Draw Sets the Stage
Kieran drew end peg 39 on Island Lake and immediately took advantage of the favourable conditions to secure a match-winning 198lb 1oz. As a result, he booked his place in the £50,000 Golden Reel Grand Final at Larford Lakes later this year. To begin with, the wind was blowing directly into his peg, which gave him a strong start. He quickly put 40–50lb in the net by fishing a short pole line with hard pellets. As the match progressed, he transitioned to longer lines, which helped maintain a steady run of bites during the middle stages. Then, with around 90 minutes to go, Marsden made a crucial switch to his left-hand margin.
From that point on, the swim came alive. Fishing down the edge proved to be the turning point, and he enjoyed a frantic final spell that ultimately secured the win. All in all, it was a well-timed and tactically sound performance from the North West angler.
Mark Griffiths secured second place with 177lb 12oz from peg 36 on Island Lake, while Craig Jones claimed third with 158lb 7oz from peg 45. Both anglers have now earned their places in this year’s Golden Reel semi-final.
It’s a well-deserved result for the Matrix and Sonubaits-backed angler, who has been knocking on the door with several near misses in recent weeks. Already no stranger to major finals, this latest qualification confirms his status as one of the most consistent performers on the circuit. Speaking after the match, Kieran said:
I can’t wait for this one. Larford is an unreal venue and the final’s on the Speci Lake—it’s going to be brilliant.
Congratulations to Kieran Marsden, who becomes the 10th angler to qualify for the 2025 Golden Reel Grand Final. With the Golden Reel campaign heating up, Marsden’s name joins a growing list of elite finalists, all set to battle it out for one of match fishing’s biggest prizes. Below is the complete list of the 10 anglers who have qualified for this year’s Golden Reel Grand Final so far:
Golden Reel 2025 Finalists
- Andy Power
- Kristian Jones
- Dale Shepherd
- Ryan Laycock
- Adam Richards
- Simon Skelton
- Neil Colcombe
- Sam Brown
- Danny Squire
- Kieran Marsden
The next Golden Reel qualifier takes place on Saturday, 24th May at Partridge Lakes in Warrington. Tickets for all Golden Reel qualifiers are available at GoldenReelAngling.co.uk and cost £50.