THE National Federation of Anglers' 99th conference took place in Wakefield this week.

When membership services manager Bob Clark left the federation last September many member clubs, including Lymm Angling Club, were concerned that Bob's four-year plans to keep the NFA in business would fizzle out and the federation would slip back to its old and cumbersome methods of operation.

However, at the conference my and other delegates' confidence was restored by the election of a new president and vice-president, whose views and assurances allayed many of our fears.

Long standing and respected president Ken Ball decided to stand down this year to spend more time with his family and to enjoy his fishing.

I am happy to announce that Village Pool will be reopened to gold overstamp holders on Saturday, May 1.

The venue is probably our most popular water. It was closed earlier in the year while maintenance was conducted.

Whitley Pool has awoken from its winter lethargy with tench featuring well over the weekend despite cool weather conditions.

One of the anglers taking advantage of this situation was club chairman Eddie Rothwell, whose Sunday session resulted in 15 tench, 16 roach and an uncoloured goldfish of 5lbs.

Eddie took the fish in fits and starts. His tench ranged from 2lbs to 4lbs but he was more impressed by the roach as they were all in the 7ozs to 8ozs bracket and in immaculate condition.

All of the fish were caught in about eight foot of water and they came to maggot or caster on the hook.

Another water known to perform well in the spring is Grimsditch Mill Pool, which is becoming seasonally popular again.

Bream, roach, rudd and perch have predictably continued to dominate sport with no carp reports submitted this week.

Belmont Pool has been as productive as ever with reports of multiple catches.

Small carp have been feeding the hardest, unlike last week when a lot of big fish were caught.

Abbey Lake has been producing some good roach fishing with the best bags coming to bread punch or small pieces of bread flake.

Fish have been averaging 5ozs in weight and some have been near the 1lb mark.

The inhabitant tench have not been featuring but history suggests that they will start to do so in mid-May.

I can be contacted on 411774.

Neil Jupp