IT is with sadness that I report the death of Dot Dagnall, who for many years was a cornerstone of the Cheshire Anglers shop at Latchford.

Dot was, to say the least, a character who was always up for a laugh, in fact I am smiling to myself as I am typing as happy thoughts of her and her mannerisms flash through my mind.

I spoke with her daughter Helen a few days ago, and as we chatted about her mum we both ended up laughing which is just what Dot would have wanted.

It goes without saying that our thoughts at this time go out to husband John, and children Mike, Anthony, and Helen.

Dot’s funeral will take place at Walton Lea on Friday, February 3, at 12.20pm. Family flowers only, donations to Diabetes UK.

Just a reminder to members, especially those who have promised to send in catch shots or fishery photographs, I need them in soon in order to sort them for our display boards. They will be used at The Northern Angling Show on the weekend of April 1.

If pictures of juniors are sent, I will need a brief letter (email) of authority from their parent or guardian. Also, everyone please include your phone number in case I need to ask for more detail. Many thanks in anticipation.

Mike Pritchard just cannot keep away from the Bridgewater Canal! Undeterred by the recent frosts, he set up by Walton Gardens Bridge and spent an hour using waggler and pinkie without even a touch. His bait, however, attracted every duck in the vicinity.

So, a move further up and a change to more sparingly fed caster resulted in some quality roach but only a solitary perch.

Many thanks to the members who turned up last Sunday for the working party at the Mount Fishery, Buckley, where overgrown and dangerous tree branches were removed to create much-improved access to pegs.

Our bailiff Brian Jones informed me there had been a few good catches of roach lately, although the same pegs did not produce every time. Well, that’s fishing at the time of the year when sport can be extremely slow.

Our Mersey Sunday Series was another hard match this week due to the heavy frosts (a good enough excuse anyway) but veteran ‘Mersey man’ Paul Harding got his head down using groundbait feeder and maggot to win with a net of fifteen small roach for a weight of 1lb 8ozs 8drs.

His fishing mate Ant Higham (aka King of the river) was second with 1-4-2 using the same tactics. It may have been grim but at least every angler caught but those bites are hard to hit.

Our Monday Disabled and Over 60s match on the Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook was pegged in two sections, one to the left of Waters Meet and the other towards the A56, and it turned out to be a match of two halves.

Whilst only ounces came from the seemingly tastier pegs to the left, those fishing the other section enjoyed some good sport.

Stu Patterson won with 6-1-8 of roach and perch taken on the pole, alternating between bread punch and pinkie. Local Preston Brookite George Barber stuck to his favourite bread punch throughout for an all-roach net of 4-4-6.

WAA Headquarters at 52 Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7 and 9pm for new members, subscriptions, night permit renewals, and any queries.

Please email catch details to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a call on 01928 716238.

Results:

Mersey Sunday Series: 1, Paul Harding 1-8-8; 2, Ant Higham 1-4-2: 3, Roy Everson 1-3-12; 4, Bob Clough 1-3-4.

Disabled and Over 60s (Bridgewater Canal): 1, Stu Patterson 6-1-8; 2, George Barber 4-4-6; 3, Keith Wernham 3-9-8; 4, Ron Durr 3-0-0.

Fixtures:

Sunday, Mersey Series: Draw 9am at Kingsway Allotments.

Monday, Disabled and Over 60s (Bridgewater Canal): Draw 10am at Houghs Bridge.