REPORTS are very few and far between due to the preparations Lymm Angling Club members require for the forthcoming Christmas celebrations and the abysmal weather conditions.

Last week Grimsditch Mill Pool once again flooded invoking the fast response of the club's drain clearance squad, who rapidly remedied the situation by clearing the undergound culvert which is always susceptible to blockages durng periods of high rainfall.

One of the few reports received last week was one from committee members Eddie Rothwell and Peter Done, who suffered good fortune and disappointment respectively while fishing Farm Pool.

Eddie, while loose feeding small amounts of bait, started off by receiving a bite a chuck which he initially found impossible to hit. However, this soon changed to a fish a chuck following some adjustments to his rig.

Eddie stated that the secret is to try and make your bait emulate the actions of the loose feed as best you can, being aware that your shooting pattern must keep you in firm contact with the hook or the lightning quick bites will not register on your float.

Unfortunately he did not share his winning method with Peter, who did not fare as well. Usually Eddie is happy to share his methods with anyone, so I guess this was due to a bet they had made with each other.

Lymmvale continues to produce for members who specialise on this water. Mike Wilkinson points out that all is required is shelter from the wind, the perseverance to keep a steady stream of small amounts of bait going in and a waggler that can get you out four to six rod lengths.

This method, for him anyway, guarantees chub of specimen proportions, the occasional golden orfe, barbel and tench. His constant featuring in the natonal angling press is testament to his success.

Our Estate Maintenance department are at present busy preparing details of dates and venues for the work parties which commence early in the new year.

As in previous years the details will be included in the subs reminder letter, allowing members to forward plan their attendances.

This work is vital to the club, with the involvement of the members extremely important.

The waters to stay open for work party attendees have been nominated and are Whitley Pool, Lymmvale, Statham Pool, Monks Moat and Friars Pool. It is likely that increasing water levels will again be the cause of most of the work required.

I can be contacted on 411774.

Neil Jupp

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.