ERIC Smith decided to give Cicely Mill a try for the first time last week.

His first trip on Thursday was more of a fact finding mission, but it still produced three nice crucian carp all around the 1-12-0 mark.

The next day after a 7am start Eric initially putdown a bed of hemp and fished a double hook rig with corn on one hook and double red maggot on the other using a maggot feeder.

The day ended with a 4lb bream, a 3.5lb tench, and 13 crucians between 1-10-0 and 1-15-0. Eric commented: “This is the best catch of quality crucians I have had in 50 years angling.”

On Sunday, Tony Rough fished our stretch of the River Dee at Shocklach and chose a gravel bar swim using a wire stemmed Avon float trotting down and loose-feeding maggots.

He started his session with a sea-trout followed by a solitary dace and went on to catch 20 grayling to 1.25lbs. The Dee has to be simply the best river in Europe for this species and well worth a visit.

Our Saturday Mersey Series saw much lower weights than normal but veteran match ace Jimmy Byrne led the field with 4-9-8 of roach and perch followed by Paul Harding on 4-7-0.

Bob Clough made it two wins on the run at Sunday's Mersey match which saw both end pegs produce the goods leaving most of the other anglers struggling for bites.

Bob drew end peg 34 and after catching a few bits on the tip switched to the pole which proved to be the winning method.

He put 7-11-0 on the scales, closely followed by Martin Lenihan on the other end peg 17 who also favoured the pole and ended just 5 ounces short on 7-6-0 to take second place.   

The Bank Holiday Special Match appeared to have been fished on a different river judging by the weights recorded.

Martin stole the show with a magnificent net of bream, skimmers and roach for 17-7-0 taken fishing both the tip and pole methods.

Northwich’s Rod Fraser was second with an all roach catch of 12-6-0 taken on the pole.

Our Disabled and Over 60s match was fished on the Bridgewater Canal at Keckwick and saw Jeff Clare win with some plump roach taken on pellet and maggot for 5-11-0.

Graham Belton took second place with 3-9-6 but some struggled to find the fish. The old maxim, if they are not in front of you, you can’t catch them, certainly rang true.

The working party on Saturday at Grey Mist Mere cleared more weed and although it seems a daunting task some pegs are now fishable and also nutrients are being removed from the water.

It is not all about weed as there are plenty of other jobs that need doing. Another one is organised for Sunday, September 7.

Keep catch reports coming on 01928 716238 or email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk. HQ 52, Parker Street open 7pm to 9pm on Friday.

Results: Mersey Saturday Sweepstake: 1, Jimmy Byrne 4-9-8; 2, Paul Harding 4-7-0; 3, Derek Bibby 4-1-8; 4, Jim Shaw 3-6-0. Mersey Sunday Series: 1, Bob Clough 7-11-0; 2, Martin Lenihan 7-6-0; 3, Karl Guy 4-11-0; 4, Arthur Plumb 4-0-0. Bank Holiday Mersey Special: 1, Martin Lenihan 17-7-0; 2, Rod Fraser 12-6-0; 3, Paul Harding 11-12-0; 4, Derek Bibby 7-10-0. Disabled and Over 60s: 1, Jeff Clare 5-11-0; 2, Graham Belton 3-9-6; 3, Ron Durr 2-14-0; 4, Keith Wernham 2-9-0.

Forthcoming Events: Saturday: Mersey Sweep, draw 9am on the bank at the Kingsway North Allotments, contact Ray on 07790317714. Sunday: Sunday Mersey Series, draw 9am through the gates at Mersey Walk (fish 42 up). Monday: Disabled and Over 60s (Bridgewater), draw 10am at Star Inn, Statham. Contact John Dagnall 01925 635486. Harold Smith Cup (Juniors - River Mersey), draw 6pm Victoria Park. Contact Helen Dagnall 01925 635486