I MENTIONED in last week’s column that there were good numbers of pike that had moved in on the shoals of small silver fish between Houghs and Walton bridges.

Well, Dave Higgins followed this up and, fishing soft lures on a light drop-shot rod, he managed three of these toothy predators.

There were no record breakers, with the biggest at 11lbs 2ozs 0drs, but they made his visit on a cold frosty morning worth the effort.

Mike Pritchard fished the same area targeting the roach and caught mainly smaller fish with a few better specimens when he changed to caster. Pike were continuously attacking his keepnet after an easy feed, so much so that a pike angler obliged and caught a pike alongside the net!

A move to the Trent & Mersey Canal at School Road saw Lennie Dutton chalk up a win with a net of small roach for 3-9-0.

Famous for his end peg draws, Lennie fished pole and punch. Second-placed Jimmy Byrne caught a bonus perch well over a pound to which he added some small roach.

Somehow last week, my reported Mersey results went awry and several angler’s efforts went unreported, including this Sunday’s winner Ade Green.

In less than ideal angling conditions when bites were hard to come by, he managed to winkle out 1-3-0 of tiny roach and a small skimmer using a groundbait feeder and maggot….when the going gets tough the tough get going, or something like that.

In joint-second were Ant Higham, aka ‘the King,’ and Roy Everson with 1-2-0.

Members Tom Fahey and Jeff Cropper have volunteered to collate all cormorant sightings on Warrington Anglers waters with the intention that, where there is a problem and all other measures fail, they can submit an application for control measures.

It is vitally important that members report every sighting by text to 07538 494353, which is solely for recording cormorant numbers.

It would be ideal if members put this number in their phones. Anglers should be aware that noisy scaring measures may be employed where required.

WAA headquarters at 52 Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7pm and 8.30pm for new members, subscriptions, 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, Lennie Dutton 3-9-0; 2, Jimmy Byrne 3-0-0; 3, Ronnie Durr 2-5-12; 4, George Barber 2-4-6.

Sunday Mersey Series: 1, Ade Green 1-3-0; 2=, Ant Higham/Roy Everson 1-2-0; 4, Ray Boden 0-9-0.

Fixtures:

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

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 10am at Bridgewater Canal, Houghs Bridge.