DROP-SHOTTING or jigging is catching on.

I am meeting increasing numbers of anglers fishing the method on the Bridgewater Canal, which is great to see as the cut is really underused.

Perch or pike are the target species and this past week I came across Lee Latham with his five-year-old son at Preston Brook.

Young Jay had already caught a personal best pike of just short of 7lbs the previous week on a rubber shad, and was casting effortlessly and working the soft lure with skill.

Lee ended up with a brace of pike which gave a good account of themselves on his light gear and lost an enormous perch when it was attacked by a pike on its way to the net.

I fished the Bridgewater Canal late Sunday afternoon.

Leaving my maggots in the fridge, a couple of rounds of bread were hurriedly liquidised before five minutes later – after cupping in two small pots – I was into my first roach.

It was a fish every put-in with skimmers to 1lb until the failing light ended the session.

Bites are still hard to come by on the River Mersey, not helped by hordes of cormorants that have descended on the river during the past few weeks.

On Saturday Jimmy Byrnes needed only 1-5-0, made up of a 1lb skimmer and two roach taken on a groundbait feeder and maggot, to take first place.

Sunday saw Derek Bibby take the win with 3-7-8, helped by a bonus skimmer and a dozen roach on feeder tactics.

Our disabled and over 60s match this week, fished from the Toast Rack Bridge back towards Walton Gardens, saw Lenny Dutton take the win with a cracking net of roach and skimmers for 7-8-0 taken on pole and bread punch tactics.

Memberships for 2015 were posted out this week, so should hit doormats before the weekend.

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

Our headquarters at 52 Parker Street is open for two hours every Friday from 7pm for subscriptions, new memberships, night permits and any queries.

Results:

Saturday Mersey Sweepstake: 1, Jimmy Byrne 1-5-0; 2, Alan Morris 1-2-8; 3, Derek Bibby 0-5-8.

Sunday Mersey Series: 1, Derek Bibby 3-7-0; 2, Jimmy Gannon 0-12-0; 3, Ray Boden 0-10-0.

Disabled & over 60s: 1, Lenny Dutton 7-8-0; 2, George Barber 6-8-0; 3, Jimmy Byrne 6-2-0; 4, Bud Lea 3-15-0.

Forthcoming events:

Saturday, Mersey Saturday Sweepstake: draw 9am, near iron gates at Mersey Walk.

Sunday, Mersey Sunday Series: draw 9am, near iron gates at Mersey Walk.

Monday, disabled and over 60s: draw 10am, at Walton Church. Call John Dagnall on 630765.