VISITORS to Woodshaw Reservoir cannot failed to be impressed with what they find thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

Dave Gardner and his fishing companion Ken Hewitt are among them after returning last week to enjoy a cracking morning in pleasant surroundings.

The latter's tally was 18 perch, a bream, and a half-dozen or so of roach taken mostly on maggot.

His friend landed 30 perch of the same stamp, two crucians - the best a shade over 2lbs - chub and a bream taken on maggot, meat and, perhaps strangest of all, blackberry.

Martin Kettle drew on successful methods from the past, fishing a whip to hand, loose-feeding maggots to win our Mersey Series match on Saturday with a weight of 14-2-5.

He added a bonus bream of 6lbs to a mixed net of roach and perch.

Second-placed Chris Wray, by contrast, fished a more traditional way with a groundbait feeder and maggots to put14-8-0 on the scales.

Weights were better the next day during our rod-only match at Mersey Walk, where Steve Brooks fished my favourite method – the stick-float – to win with 17-4-0 of roach, perch, and skimmers taken on maggot.

Jimmy Byrne was the runner-up with 15-9-0, and a similar mix of fish taken on groundbait feeder and maggot.

Our disabled and over 60s match was fished on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Billinge, where Jimmy Byrne put together a net of roach and perch for a winning weight of 8-3-4.

He fished the pole at 11 metres, alternating between pinkie and caster, for a better stamp of fish.

Rod Frazer took second place with 7-6-8.

There was good news this week when the rain restored water levels on the Bridgewater Canal almost back to normal, which meant that the feed from the canal to Ackers Pit is flowing again.

I'd like to say thanks to the guys that manned the pump in the interim to keep fresh water going in.

Cicely Mill Pool still remains closed, and we are looking at High Legh Fishery which may be closed if there is no improvement to its algae problem.

Keep sending your catch reports - fellow members appreciate knowing how waters are fishing - by email to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or call me on 01928 716238.

Our headquarters on Parker Street are open every Friday, between 7pm and 9pm, for night-permits, membership renewals, subscriptions and queries.

Results

Mersey Series, Saturday: 1, Martin Kettle 14-2-5; 2, Chris Wray 13-8-0; 3, Jimmy Byrne 13-0-0; 4, Alan Birchall 10-0-0.

Rod-only Match, Sunday: 1, Steve Brooks 17-4-0; 2, Jimmy Byrne 15-9-0; 3, Derek Bibby 13-5-0; 4, Neil Davies 12-6-0.

Disabled and over 60s, Monday: 1, Jimmy Byrne 8-3-4; 2, Rod Frazer 7-6-0; 3, George Barber 6-1-0; 4, Geoff Brooks 5-8-0.

Fixtures

Saturday, Mersey Series: Draw 9am, Kingsway Allotments.

Sunday, Mersey Series: Draw 9am, Victoria Park.

Monday, Disabled and over 60s: Draw 10am, Trent & Mersey Canal.