GREAT news for Warrington Anglers' Association's river angler members this week.

The association are now the owners of a stretch of the River Wye at Hay-on-Wye.

Members now have the opportunity to fish an entirely different river system that currently offers good chub and barbel fishing, not forgetting our game anglers who can now target a species previously unavailable in our present range of fisheries - the shad.

Add to that the possibility of the regeneration of what was once the finest salmon river in the country and the future looks promising. Details will be out shortly.

Members William Stewart and his son Bill stuck it out in the rain on Sunday at Cicily Mill Pool and were rewarded with plenty of action, catching tench to 4lbs and crucians to 2lbs.

As a bonus, Bill also had a common carp of 7lbs with all fish caught on float in the margins. The water level was up slightly, to 10ins below the platforms.

I thought I had seen some decent sized eels when we drained Ackers Pit but they were dwarfed by the 7lbs 2ozs specimen caught by member Gary Byrne on Grey Mist last week. There were no dead baits involved as this massive fish fell to just plain and simple boilie.

Steve Hammond had a cracking short session at our Wide Hole fishery at Higher Poynton, where he presented float-fished corn over depth to catch bream up to 5lbs in weight.

The fish were soon on to his loose fed sweetcorn offerings and he ended his two-hour afternoon stint with 10 fish.

Peter Comer kindly responded to my plea for more information on carp captures from the large lake at Sandiway with the report of a 25lbs mirror caught last week.

With the photographs he took of both sides of the fish we can now establish the important issue of its growth rate.

Don't forget, that information is vital if you want further stocks in the fishery.

For the record, Peter used some old rock hard boilies, which he had to steam to be able to use them.

On the Bridgewater Canal, John Taylor enjoyed a busy session on Sunday catching roach, rudd, perch, gudgeon and plenty of skimmer bream. All were taken on maggot at Grappenhall.

Let me have your catch reports on 01928 716238, fax 01928 713898 or e-mail frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk.

HQ Parker Street will be open as usual tomorrow, Friday, between 7pm and 9.30pm for subscriptions and new memberships.

Results: Lower Kersall Open on Bridgewater Canal at Kellogg's: 1, John Walker (Little Lever) 18-10-0; 2, John Pimblott (Little Lever) 16-1-0; 3, Simon Nicholls (Saints) 14-7-0; 4, Dave Holland (Tricast) 12-6-0. Disabled and Over 60s: 1, Ray Bowden 5-0-5; 2, Jeff Clare 4-13-0; 3, John Dagnall 4-8-0; 4, Ron Dare 4-6-0.

Forthcoming events: Thursday: Junior/Minnows Summer Series, draw 6pm at Euclid Avenue (pegs 558-588). Saturday: Centenary Open, pegs 670 to 720, to book on contact Chris Grehan on 635373. Sunday: Lower Kersal Open, Bridgewater Canal at Manchester, to book on contact Albert Morris on 0161 7922684. Monday: Disabled and Over 60s, draw 10.30am, Star Inn, pegs 363 to 403.