ANDY Smith, in his third year as a member, went to Association-owned Woodshaw Reservoir for a short morning session.

He caught skimmer after skimmer towards the middle of the lake but fed a handful of maggots down the margin planning to have the last hour on the pole.

However, the two or three sizeable bream he saw moving in almost immediately on the bait proved too tempting and he wound in immediately.

Andy quite literally dropped a piece of corn at his rod top with the result that half a dozen bream, all around 3lbs, came one after the other.

Andy commented, “Fantastic fishing, and again need to express my admiration for the work the bailiffs do, the place was absolutely spotless.”

Neil Buck reports some decent catches of chub to over 3lbs from the tiny River Wyre at Garstang. This fishery, which has mostly steep banks, is worth a visit and members can enjoy decent sport on either the stick-float or feeder tactics.

Aside from chub, the fishery holds some decent bream and perch plus the odd chance of game fish. Parking is easy as well.

Our disabled and over 60s match on Monday was fished this week on the Mersey at Victoria Park, but bites were scarce and finicky for most anglers.

Match veteran Jimmy Byrne had a comfortable buffer of 2lbs over second-placed Roy Rogers and weighed 5lbs 2ozs 0drs against Roy’s 3-2-0.

Both anglers fished the tip on maggot feeder. Pegs one to eight had the best results, but the low weights didn’t take the edge of the competitive spirit of this popular and friendly match series.

Match organiser Ray Boden was well clear of the field in our Mersey Saturday Series, where he weighed in a nice net of 30 small bream, roach, perch, and chub taken on pole and maggot tactics for 10-2-0.

Second-placed Dave Brooks fished the same method catching roach and perch for a net of 7-13-0.

The Mersey Sunday Series was won by Jim Gannon with 7-8-0 of skimmers, roach, and perch taken on groundbait feeder bread punch, and maggot.

Match organiser Ray Boden was in the runner-up spot with 5-3-0 caught on his favourite pole tactics and maggot.

Increasing numbers of parent members are taking advantage of the free fishing available for children aged under 12 on the four designated fisheries.

This is great for the future of our sport and from personal experience, there is nothing nicer than seeing the beaming smile and excitement of the first catch.

WAA headquarters at 52 Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7p 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:

Disabled and over 60s: 1, Jimmy Byrne 5-2-0; 2, Roy Rogers 3-2-0; 3, Alan Brown 2-6—0; 4, John Dagnall 2-4-0.

Saturday Series, River Mersey: 1, Ray Boden 10-2-0; 2, Dave Brooks 7-13-0; 3, Jim Gannon 6-10-0; 4, Jimmy Byrne 5-10-0.

Sunday Series, River Mersey: 1, Jim Gannon 7-8-0; 2, Ray Boden 5-3-0; 3, Ade Green 2-14-0; 4, Ant Higham 2-7-0.

Fixtures:

Saturday, River Mersey: Draw 9am at Kingsway allotments.

Sunday, River Mersey: Draw 9am at Victoria Park.

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 10am at Grantham’s Bridge, Stage Lane.

Tuesday, River Mersey: Draw 9am at Kingsway allotments.