Your complete guide to the 2017 Fish O' Mania final + free tickets!

WHERE AND WHEN?
This Saturday July 8, the Sky TV cameras and crowds descend on Cudmore Fisheries for the Fish O’Mania XXIV final, to see who will depart £50,000 richer.
Twenty-five qualifiers will line up on Arena Pool at the Staffordshire fishery for five hours in what will be a new look final. More anglers are competing than ever before and you’d be hard-pushed to pick a winner.

HOW CAN I WATCH?
LOCATION: Cudmore Fishery, Pleck Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 5HW
T: +44 (0)1782 680919 W: www.cudmorefisheries.co.uk
Get your FREE final entry tickets HERE

To watch from home, tune in to Sky Sports 3 from 12pm

WHO SHOULD I PUT MY MONEY ON?
Check out the current best odds HERE
The finalists, in the order they qualified...

Steve Jackson
Qualified at: Bait-TechViaduct Fishery
We say: A former champion and a veteran of the competition with several finals under his belt. Steve likes fishing for big carp but will the mixed small fish stock of Arena suit him?

Steve Openshaw
Qualified at: Heronbrook Fisheries
We say: Steve is a prolific open match winner in the North West and is very good at fishing worms and casters, which are likely to be the dominant baits. Could be dangerous.

Paul Blinkhorn
Qualified at: Tunnel Barn Farm
We say: Another North West angler who likes to fish with natural baits. Has been close to qualifying several times before and will be keen to put the 'blinkers' on and do well.

Richard Chapman
Qualified at: Coleman’s Cottage Fishery
We say: Richard is by his own admission an outside bet who is usually behind a camera photographing Jamie Hughes or Andy May at the event. Can he cause a major upset?

Bob Giles
Qualified at: Bait-Tech Viaduct Fishery
We say: Bob was the most relieved angler in Fish O' history when he qualified as one of his keepnets was disqualified, with 90lb of carp in it. He won by 1lb! Can his luck last at Cudmore?

Andy Power
Qualified at: Preston Woodland View
We say: Andy is one of the best young anglers in the UK and no stranger to this match. He'll be keen to use his experience to make a serious impression this year, definitely one to watch.

Tony Curd
Qualified at: Monk Lakes
We say: This is Tony's third final, a very aggressive big-weight angler who could do well if the lake fishes well. Sources tell us that Tony has been catching plenty of fish in practice.

Andy Adams
Qualified at: Barford Lakes
We say: This is Andy's first big final and another outside bet. Will the East Midlands man be in the mix with past champions and England internationals?

Colin Scott
Qualified at: Partridge Lakes
We say: Colin is an angler who is very good at fishing with light tackle and negative feeding so the fishing on Arena should suit him. A dark horse who is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Jason Redgrave
Qualified at: Guru Makins
We say: Jason does well on carp lakes in the Midlands but can he fine down his tactics enough to pose a threat on Arena? The Maver Gold man will certainly be going for it.

Adam Richards
Qualified at: Tunnel Barn Farm
We say: Now in his third final, Adam is a very quick angler when he's on fish and has been a bank runner here too. A recent neck injury may cause a problem so he'll be hoping to fully recover in time.

Ross Harold
Qualified at: Monk Lakes
We say: A very underrated angler, Ross was third in last year's final and was a front runner all match. He definitely had the method sorted and with similar fishing expected, is well worth a punt

Jamie Hughes
Qualified at: Lakeview Fishery
We say: The twice Fish O' champion is always a major threat and knows exactly what the score is on Arena. It's a question of whether you can find him at odds high enough to warrant your hard-earned!

Steve Barraclough
Qualified at: Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery
We say: Steve is back on the big match scene again and is a very capable angler on a mixed fishery like this, where silver fish and F1s are expected. Worth a shout.

Lee Kerry
Qualified at: Garbolino Lindholme Lakes
We say: Lee has been in exceptional form this year in England and Ireland, in our opinion one of the finest all-rounders going. The fishing will suit him down to the ground, definitely worth a few quid.

Steve Cooke:
Qualified at: Messingham Sands
We say: Veteran Steve just cannot stop qualifying for the final. He's hoping to do better than his last appearance here however, when he blanked. Plenty of experience of the big occasion.

Jason Collins
Qualified at: Coleman’s Cottage Fishery
We say: Jason was a finalist in 2016 and did well. He'll be formulating a similar plan together with good friend and fellow finalist Ross Harold. One to keep an eye on.

Lee Bennett
Qualified at: Oaks Lakes
We say: Lee will be hoping to keep his cool in his first major final. He'll have good support in the form of his brother, top matchman Andy, who was bank runner for last year's winner Andy May.

Ben Sharp
Qualified at: Bag ‘Em Baits Larford Lakes
We say: A former Maver Match This finalist too, Ben definitely knows how to win matches. Will he have enough in the can to conquer Cudmore?

Chris Weeder Junior
Qualified at: Preston Boldings Pools
We say: Chris isn't actually a junior. He shares the same name as his dad who also goes fishing! Makes his debut in the final and could do well if the fish come up-in-the-water.

Keith Pentland
Qualified at: Woodland Lakes
We say: Another debutant, Keith likes to catch mirror and common carp at Woodland Lakes, Thirsk. If big fish feed he could cause an upset but it's likely to be small fish match.

Steve Hamilton
Qualified at: Partridge Lakes
We say: Steve is made up just to get to the final and his family have 'Team Hammy' clothing and hats made up, ready for the day. He has the support but will he have the tactics?

Dave Roberts
Qualified at: Garbolino Lindholme
We say: A former finalist with plenty of pedigree, Dave has a habit of delivering in qualifiers but can he go a stage further and win? Definitely has the potential.

Markus Billen
Qualified at: Germany
We say: The German angler is a long shot but stranger things have happened. Last year the Dutch angler who won the international event would have won the main thing too with his catch!

EXPERT'S VIEW
2016 Champion Andy May
“It’ll be hard fishing. Five or six pegs will be brilliant and the rest will struggle in terms of an outright win, although there will be bites for everyone because the stocking of the lake hasn’t altered from last year. That means small F1s, ide, skimmers and tench and the odd big carp. I’d say pegs 1-10 on the day will be good.

"However, eight pegs are not in use so I don’t know how these will balance themselves out. If there aren’t blockers fishing then the end pegs could well be brilliant! There will be a lot of technical work to keep several lines on the go with light lines and small hooks. I think chopped worm and caster will be the baits most in evidence on the day.

“In terms of who will win it, I’d have a few quid on William Raison. Not only is he an excellent angler, but he’s also got knowledge of fishing the lake and the fishing will suit him. That said, Jamie Hughes, Lee Kerry, Adam Richards and Andy Power are all outstanding as well! So much will depend on who draws where, and also what the weather is like."