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The north-east wind, which came in the beginning of last week and kept on becoming stronger during the week, was raving the Gulf of Riga, brought concern about the possibility to hold the final competition of Mammadaba Angling Championship. The situation became more doubtful when weather forecast promised rain, but communication with participants proved that men are full of fighting spirit and excitement, and, unless blasts of wind are not dangerous to human safety, they were ready to compete. Even though, the start of the competition was planned at 7 in the morning, the fishermen were there more than hour earlier, and, equipped with headlamps, were carrying electromotors, batteries, heavy boxes with lures and equipment to their boats and were preparing for this year’s last and deciding battle. We were thrilled that the thirteen teams that were competing for the main prize were joined by six more teams to see who will be the winner of the last competition of the championship that took place in Lake Kaņieris. One of the teams applied in the last moment, on the Friday's evening. Even more optimisms was brought by the guard of Kaņieris boat house, a man who knows all about fishing – Anatolijs Jakuņins – who said that from Thursday, when waves had calmed down a bit and it was possible to use boats, men were catching large fish.

After hearing a small instruction and receiving catch sheets, the excited anglers were rushing into the lake. The six hours of competition rushed by quickly, nature was merciful to competitors, and opened the gates of rain only when boats were returning back to shore. Then began the weighing of perch, checking of pike photos that had been written down in the catch sheets, and of course – fishing stories. A team with a name “LB kam ķeras” (LB who get fish) would not represent their name if they would have returned without any fish. This time the catch was rather special, which unfortunately didn't bring any points, the lure was bitten by a large tench papa in the length of forty seven centimetres, and weighed almost two kilograms. But the third place in the competition in Kaņieris went to team “2 vīri laivā”, with Haralds Siliņš and Roberts Abrams that was ensured by two beautiful pikes, one of them was ninety centimetres long.

 

The catchers of Mammadaba record pike (from left) Haralds Siliņš and Roberts Abrams.

It also became the largest fish of this year's championship, and brought them gifts from JSC “Latvia’s State Forests”, a shop “Pie Uģa” and magazine “Copes lietas”. Four pikes that were lured into the boat gave the second place of the competition in Kaņieris to Māris Smilga and Aivars Smilga from team “Čuš”, but the winners of this competition, as it should be with a catch twice as big, became the leaders of the championship Romalds Ribuzuls and Mārtiņš Reks from “Emīlija–Talsi”.

And if the winners of the championship were clear it the moment when catch sheets were submitted, then other places were determined with big calculations, surely, there were some interesting facts. The sums of points were calculated to determine the fourth, fifth and sixth place. The highest sum of points after six competitions placed Māris Smilga and Aivars Smilga from “Čuš” into fourth place, fifth place to Aivars Līdumnieks and Kaspars Grablovskis from “Komandas”, the Olympic six was finished with Ivars Lasmanis and Haralds Viškers from “Āķis lūpā” – these teams received magazine's “Copes lietas” subscription for a year. In spite of the bad luck in previous competition, the third place in the championship was kept by Rinalds Bērziņš and Zigmārs Bērziņš from “Bērzi”, they received an accumulator provided by “Dole Marine” Ltd., but the second place and angling rods from “Salmo” Ltd. went to Māris Kārkliņš and Kristīne Āboltiņa from “Vizulīši”.

The triple winners of Mammadaba Angling Championship (from left) Romalds Ribuzuls and Mārtiņš Reks.

As it is already clear, Romalds Ribuzuls and Mārtiņš Reks from “Emīlija–Talsi” became the triple winners of Mammadaba Angling Championship. They, for their professionalism and persistence, received prizes from the main sponsor of championship – “Eholotes.lv” in collaboration with Lowrance presented them with a package of a successful fisherman, which consisted of Lowrance HOOK–4MED/HIGH/DownSkan fishfinder, Yuasa battery, suction cup kit and map of Latvia.

The gusting wind has stopped to ripple the Mammadaba flag on the pole next to boat house of Kaņieris, waves and ardour about the championship has calmed down, hopefully, they will stir up once more in even more positive atmosphere and quality in the next year’s Mammadaba Angling Championship 2017. The increasing interest of fishermen about these competitions confirms that they must continue, it was also confirmed by participants of this year's competitions when they enjoyed the delicious snacks and coffee after the competition. The marathon of six competitions, as participants say, is not easy to handle, but the formula is clear to all – if without luck today, then lucky tomorrow. Only in various conditions and in different fishing places an angler can demonstrate his skills in all its glory, surely, not without luck and participation of the mother of water. But, does a true angler fears difficulties?