Saturday, 28th June saw the Golden Reel qualifier series return to Barston Lakes, where a strong field of hopefuls lined the banks of the popular Midlands venue. With just a few final places left up for grabs, all eyes were on the draw, and it was Phil Canning who made the most of a flyer to book his spot at Larford.
Drawn on the renowned peg 124, widely regarded as the best on the lake, Phil put in a composed performance to top the field with 179lb 2oz. Fishing tight to the reeds to his right, he fed 8mm pellets and presented a method feeder over the top, a tactic that brought quick rewards in the early stages. After a productive start, the middle of the match proved more challenging, with bites slowing. However, a strong final ninety minutes saw Phil put a crucial run of fish together to seal the win and punch his ticket to the Grand Final in September.
This will mark Phil’s third appearance in a Golden Reel final. He came close to glory in last year’s event, winning his section but losing some big fish that may have cost him the title. This time, he’ll be hoping it’s third time lucky.
Runner-up Sam Collett weighed in 148lb from peg 24 to secure a semi-final place. Steve Cooke was third with 112lb 2oz from peg 53 but had already qualified, meaning fourth-placed Chris Pavlou, who recorded 98lb 14oz from peg 12, claimed the final semi-final spot.
Congratulations to Phil Canning, who has booked his place at Larford Lakes for September’s Grand Final. Below is the complete list of the 17 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
- Colin Scott
- Mikey Williams
- Jimmy Brooks
- Jamie Hughes
- Jordan Holloway
- Mark Griffiths
- Phil Canning
The next Golden Reel qualifier will occur on Wednesday, 16th July at the Glebe in Peckleton. Tickets for all remaining Golden Reel qualifiers are available at GoldenReelAngling.co.uk and cost £50.