CARP are more often than not the target fish on The Mount at Buckley, but Ian Russel bucked the trend on his first visit when he fished the pole and maggot.

He only landed three fish but was more than pleased with his catch.

His only regret was that he does not carry a set of scales in his tackle box, but will in future as the fish were massive roach – the biggest he had ever caught in all his years of fishing.

Ian said they were at a guess around the 2lbs mark but he will never know. He is hoping for a repeat performance on a return visit very soon.

To set the record straight, this fishery also holds good stocks of perch, tench and bream and is an excellent general fishery.

Alan Cartledge has been trying to beat his perch PB of 1lb 12ozs 0drs for some time since he had his first specimen from the Bridgewater Canal at Dunham over two years ago.

Well, his session on Sunday saw him move along the canal to try the Oughtrington area, but after two hours with no action it wasn’t looking too hopeful.

That was until his small rubber lure was hit twice without anything on the hook, but third time lucky saw him hit the stripey he was after when he eventually slid his net under a cracking fish.

It was his only fish of the session but he added an extra pound plus to his previous best when the scales went around to 2-14-0.

Keith Starkey went to Statham Pool on Tuesday where he set his stall out for bream. After a blank period when he had doubts whether he would catch or not but Keith was rewarded with a brace of bronze beauties – not a bad size either for this pocket-sized fishery.

Our Sunday Mersey Series at Mersey Walk this week was fished in very windy conditions, making the pole almost a no-go method.

Alan Faulkner won with an all-roach catch taken on a groundbait feeder and maggot with a couple of them around the 8oz mark and a total weight of 7-0-0.

However, Jimmy Byrne – who took second place with a 5-10-0 net of roach – caught on both feeder and the pole.

Monday’s disabled and over 60s match, fished on the Dead Length and pegged from Hough’s Bridge towards the A56, saw the fish tightly shoaled.

Jimmy Byrne took the honours with 6-12-5 of roach, skimmers, and perch taken on the pole alternating between pinky and maggot. Second-placed Ron Durr wasn’t too far behind with 6-9-6.

Most anglers caught a few pounds of fish despite the usual pike action as these toothy predators searched for their protein in the roach shoals.

Keep those catch reports coming – good, bad, or indifferent – as they help fellow members to gauge how waters are fishing and to plan their outings.

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

A weigh sling was found at Grey Mist on Tuesday. Get in touch if it’s yours.

WAA headquarters at 52 Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7pm and 9pm. 2019 night permits are now available from HQ. You can no longer book on with last year’s numbers.

Results:

Mersey Series, Sunday: 1, Alan Faulkner 7-0-0; 2, Jimmy Byrne 5-10-0; 3, Jim Gannon 4-0-0; 4, Mike Dench 3-15-0.

Disabled and over 60s, Monday (Bridgewater Canal, Preston Brook): 1, Jimmy Byrne 6-12-5; 2, Ron Durr 6-9-6; 3, George Barber 6-9-12; 4, Alan Brown 5-8-6.

Fixtures:

Sunday, Mersey Series: Draw 9.45am, Mersey Walk.

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 10am, St Peters Church, Walton.