A top Norfolk angler is bidding for a tasty cash prize of �30,000 on Saturday.

Unless the winner happens to be an unscrupulous bank boss, a creative book keeper in the underworld or a captain of industry residing on some distant island, this sum may be regarded as a life changer.

But our man Warren Martin from Lyng near East Dereham is a 36-year-old quantity surveyor who will be pitting his match angling skills against 15 other competitors in the Fish 'O' Mania final staged on the Cudmore Fishery at Whitmore, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

This week the Barford Tackle/Sensas sponsored ace who missed qualification at Barford but then came through days later with 178lb 11oz at Messingham Sands in Lincolnshire was assessing his chances.

As his current records suggest there are no doubts he can cast a professional eye over the water to judge the worth of his swim. He established a Barford match record in recent years by filling four keep nets of carp and last year he lifted the Angling Times Norfolk County Individual Championship. This term he is out in front again with 193 points so far.

'I've taken a few days holiday and put in several hours of practice here. Results have been disappointing not only for me but every other angler out here bidding for the title.

'Because of the threat of thunder storms aerators have been running day and night to maintain oxygen levels in the water. This appears to have upset the fish and my top catch so far has been about 35lb and that's better than most I've seen.'

With only 15 opponents to overcome on Saturday our county representative makes it clear he's in it to win it.

'I hope the weather conditions become more favourable but the luck of the draw is the big factor between winning and losing,' he reflected.

So, it's fingers crossed for Warren Martin whose progress may be followed live on Sky Sports One.

Back in the Broads the second round of the Norwich and District League sprung a surprise with the river Thurne producing the top two catches. Mike Browne of Wymondham won with 34lb and Chris Collins, Angling Direct Sonu was runner up with 31lb 13oz both catches from the Womack Dyke end of Cold Harbour. Wymondham's Albert Farrow was third with 25lb 6oz from the river Bure and James Parnell, PW Angling was fourth with 23lb 1oz from the Thurne. On the teams sheet Angling Direct Sonu headed division A with 35 points and PW Angling division B with 34.

In Saturday's Nisa Feeder League on the river Yare a huge flood tide clashed with flood water coming down raising water levels by half a metre and over topping some banks.

Paul Abbott (Deben) won at peg 22 with 32lb 12oz of bream followed by Doug Botley (DAIWA AD) with 30lb 6oz from peg 24.

On the match lakes a series of three figure returns were posted the heaviest on the open circuit was 170lb 5oz for David Cooper of Norwich, winner at the Railway.

At club level top bag was taken by Mark Girling who won the Codgers at Colton with 186lb 13oz.

On the big fish scene carp of the week was a Taswood common of 35lb 9oz for Kirk Graham of Lowestoft with numerous others in the twenties for Norwich regulars Julian Miller, Lee Woodcock, Matt Arthurton, Fred Feathers, Peter Cooper and Dave Roberts and Kevin Smith of Lingwood.

Great chub fishing in the river Wensum where Norwich rod, Phil Spinks, of Avenue Angling heaved out a beauty of 6lb 15oz.