JOHN McIvor took his grandchildren – six-year-old Tilly and Archie, aged nine – on their first fishing trip this week.

He picked a fish-packed stretch of the River Alyn, where they trotted down a stick float with maggot at the business end.

Both were thrilled to catch grayling and trout to 1lb, and will no doubt always remember their introduction to our sport.

Meanwhile Neil Plunkett has set himself two new challenges this year; fly fishing, and trying to catch a river barbel, but success has so far evaded him on both counts.

On a trip to the Mount for a much-needed spot of therapy, he reports a haul of five carp between 5 and 8lbs, three tench, a bream and a cracking roach over 1½lbs.

Andy Baker and his dad, Eric, fished our stretch of the River Derwent at Darley Abbey for the first time.

He used a method feeder and double red maggot to catch decent-sized brown and rainbow trout, dace, and grayling while Eric netted a similar amount after choosing a pole and loose-fed maggot.

However his set-up was smashed following a brief encounter with a big fish!

“It was definitely worth the drive - we’ll be going again,” said Andy afterwards.

Connor Croston won a barbecue match that followed the conclusion of the Junior Woodshaw Reservoir Series with the lowest weight of all the previous rounds.

Weights were down this week in our popular disabled and over 60s match at Preston Brook, which was won by Jimmy Byrne who netted 3-6-8 of small skimmers and roach.

Martin Lenihan registered a first win of the season in our Saturday Mersey Series, fishing the pole using maggot to finish with a net of roach and perch for 8-14-0.

Neil Buist claimed the individual prize in the Challenge Shield on Sunday, fishing both the pole and tip to net two bonus skimmer bream that boosted his catch to 10-8-0.

E-mail catch reports to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or call me on 01928 716238.

Headquarters at 52 Parker Street are open every Friday, from 7pm, for subscriptions, memberships, night permits and any queries.

n Results: Mersey Saturday Series: 1, Martin Lenihan 8-14-0; 2, Ray Boden 8-1-0; 3, Jimmy Byrne 6-6-0; 4, Derek Bibby 4-14-0.

Challenge Shield (Mersey): 1, Neil Buist 10-8-0; 2, Ray Boden 9-0-0; 3, Martin Lenihan 5-12-0; 4, Dave Hill 4-14-0.

Disabled and over 60s: 1, Jimmy Byrne 3-6-8; 2, Lenny Dutton 2-1-8; 3, G Barber 1-13-10; 4, John Dagnall 1-10-8.

Woodshaw Junior Series: 1, Connor Croston 2-10-0; 2, James Brown 1-9-0; 3, Megan Connell 1-8-0; 4, Jack Winstanley 1-7-0.

n Fixtures: Saturday, Mersey Saturday Series: draw 9am, Mersey Walk.

Sunday, Mersey Match (rod only): draw 9am, Victoria Park.

Monday, disabled and over 60s (Bridgewater Canal): draw 10am, at Pickering’s Bridge.