MIKE Dench enjoyed a salmon fishing session on our stretch of the Ribble over the weekend that saw him lose a really good fish at the start but he was finally rewarded with a grilse of 5lbs.

His trip was slightly marred by two members who managed to ‘misplace’ the car park key that saw kind-hearted Mike make a return trip from Warrington to rescue the two embarrassed members.

A few decent barbel are showing, with Joel Rees-Jones reporting fish of 8lbs 2ozs 0drs and 8-14-0.

Neil Plunkett was looking forward to a return trip to Rixton Claypits after a couple of months’ absence and decided on a swim at the far end on the car park side where he had never fished before, with the secondary objective of being sheltered from the wind and rain.

He was not to be disappointed, although it took a couple of hours for the baiting-up to get some attention, but he left happy having caught a nice 7½lb common carp and 14 cracking bream from 2½ to 4lbs.

Eric J Smith has had a few sessions on Wide Hole of late, where he has caught perch up to and over 2lbs on lobworm.

He was pleased with himself until another angler showed him photos of stripeys from the venue around the 5lbs mark. Now there’s something to aim for!

Sunday saw him visit Cicely Mill Pool with his fishing mate Fishless Fletcher. Eric only caught three bream, but Fishless blanked and brightened up Eric’s day when he fell in!

Our disabled and over 60s match on Monday was back on the Bridgewater Canal at Acton Grange Bridge, where it was won by George Hollis with a roach and perch catch for a weight of 3lbs 6ozs 14 drs.

In the runner-up spot, less than an ounce adrift, was Lennie Dutton with a net of roach and small skimmers for 3-6-10.

Barry Chambers was the winner of our Saturday Mersey Series match with a weight of 15-5-8, which included a bonus bream of 5lbs to add to his net of roach, perch, and small chub taken on pole and maggot.

Dave Brooks was second with 13-6-0 of roach, perch, plus a couple of decent skimmer bream taken on the same tactics.

In our Sunday Mersey Series event, Martin Lenihan managed to catch exactly the same weight of fish that saw him take fourth the day before, but this time the 9-7-0 saw him take the winner’s purse.

Martin used ground bait feeder and maggot tactics. Derek Bibby was second with 7-4-0.

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

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

Results:

Disabled and over 60s: 1, George Hollis 3-6-14; 2, Lennie Dutton 3-6-10; 3, Graham Belton 2-8-13; 4, Roy Rogers 2-2-7.

Tuesday Series: 1, Ray Boden 8-3-0; 2, Derek Bibby 7-13-0; 3, Alan Smith 2-15-0; 4, Jim Gannon 2-12-0.

Saturday Series (River Mersey): 1, Barry Chambers 15-5-8; 2, Dave Brooks 13-6-0; 3, Ray Boden 12-12-0; 4, Martin Lenihan 9-7-0.

Sunday Series (River Mersey): 1, Martin Lenihan 9-7-0; 2, Derek Bibby 7-4-0; 3, Ray Boden 7-3-0; 4, Bob Clough 4-12-0.

Fixtures:

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

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

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 10am at Woodshaw Reservoir.

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