WE stocked 20 carp on Saturday, and the VS Fisheries-sourced fish were of the highest quality.

Grey Mist Mere, Moore Quarry and the small water at Sandiway received four each, while the remaining eight were put in Sandiway’s large lake.

A total of 17 weighed more than 20lbs, while the smallest was 18.5lbs.

I owe thanks to everyone that helped, and especially to seven-year-old Ben Wilcock who numbered the fish at Sandiway for photographic identification.

Some members have asked for bream and tench to be stocked at Sandiway Lakes, but the problem is sourcing home-bred fish that are cormorant-proof.

There should be some survival through natural spawning, although that depends on factors other than predation.

I visited committee member Ade Green on Tuesday afternoon at Appleton Reservoir, where he was targeting the resident roach stocks.

Using a small feeder and double-hooking with dead maggot, he had 16 roach up to 12ozs along with a brace of chunky perch around the pound mark.

Ade had earlier advised a couple of young members who were unwittingly using fixed leads.

If the line breaks, it’s almost a death sentence for fish that could become tethered – and starve to death – while towing the rig.

Our Mersey Series match on Saturday was again won by Jimmy Byrne with 5-4-0 of skimmers and roach caught on groundbait feeder and maggot.

Weights plummeted the following day when the river carried extra water, and victor Jim Gannon needed only 12 small roach – caught using groundbait feeder and punch bread – weighing 1-13-0 in total.

George Barber repeated his victory in last week’s Disabled and over 60s match, this time with an all-roach catch of 7-7-5 taken on pole and bread punch tactics.

He had more than 120 small specimens, and caught on his first put-in.

There were a few pike hooked; Alan Brown lost one, but landed another around the 6lbs mark.

However they don’t count in our fixtures.

Our association’s headquarters at Parker Street are open every Friday, between 7pm and 8.30pm, for memberships, subscriptions, night-permit renewals and any queries.

Send catch reports – they do help fellow members – by email to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or call me on 01928 716238.

Results:

Saturday, Mersey Series: 1, Jimmy Byrne 5-4-0; 2, Martin Lenihan 5-0-0; 3, Jim Gannon 4-5-0; 4, Barry Chambers 2-9-0.

Sunday, Mersey Series: 1, Jim Gannon 1-13-0; 2, Paul Hitchen 1-5-0; 3=, Roy Everson, Ray Boden 1-2-0.

Monday, Disabled and over 60s Match (Bridgewater Canal): 1, George Barber 7-7-5; 2, Derek Bibby 6-10-4; 3, Alan Brown 5-1-13; 4, Jimmy Byrne 4-14-4.

Fixtures:

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

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

Monday, Disabled and over 60’s: Draw 10am, Walton Arms.