Frank Lythgoe’s weekly Warrington Anglers’ Association column

WITH the ongoing fisheries closure and UK lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing, these fishing reports come from my archives.

This same week in 2019 when things were normal and everyone could go fishing Ian Millington reckoned that the Mount at Buckley was a brilliant place to fish, no doubt borne out by his morning session when he had a mixed catch of silvers, a bream, and a tench, losing a better one when it snagged-up.

All fell to either corn or red maggot. He was back again two days later but tried the smaller back lake where he included a decent bream and a small carp in his catch.

Also back then, Phil Brown had a busy day session at Appleton Reservoir fishing with his mate Jess Steele catching eight carp that included three 20s, but Jess landed the biggest at 25lbs.

A few nice carp were reported from Grey Mist and Appleton Reservoir over the bank holiday weekend with also a fair amount of tench action from the Mist.

Ian Simpkin had eight in a session with the best a 7lb 12oz specimen caught on double red maggot using a small groundbait feeder.

Going back even further in time to this week in 2001 Mike Timson reported that carp were on the feed at Grey Mist where he had enjoyed two good sessions.

The first saw him net 13 carp, all doubles, with the best a mirror of 17lbs. His next outing tally was seven carp with the best another mirror of 16lbs.

John Phoenix also reported he had a mirror of 17lbs.

The same week saw an explosion of quality roach being caught at Cicily Mill Pool which were taking any bait thrown at them and averaged 6 to 8ozs with occasional fish to just over a pound.

I managed a short sessionand fed a few grains of sweetcorn every other cast for a succession of tench to 3.5lbs and a few decent roach.

I tried cubed meat over the corn and still had a fish almost every put-in.

The tench were ravenous on Sandiway small lake and taking a variety of baits, maggot, caster, corn, and meat. Although pegs were flooded anglers considered the effort worthwhile, and two members even constructed several new pegs.

Any method, pole, feeder or slider was bringing results, including a few quality roach and rudd.

The large lake was sproducing better quality tench in the 6 to 7lbs range.

Our senior match squad won the Drennan Division One League both on the day and overall on May 6, 2001.

It was neck and neck with Little Lever but we won on weight when both teams had tied on points at the final match. Team member, Grant Evans won the top angler in the league with 56 points out of a possible 60.

Back to present day and members are ringing me with very encouraging reports of lots of fish around our waters that they have spotted on their ‘exercise activities’.

However, the poachers who are stealing the fishing rights that our members pay for and who think that the Covid-19 ‘No angling’ does not apply to them are still appearing on our fisheries.

I interrupted writing this column to report to the police two such chancers on Phoenix Park Lake.

I hope they were prosecuted. Thanks to the decent law-abiding member who rang in the information.

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street remains closed on Friday evenings until further notice. If you need any further information please give me a call or email as below.

Due to our fishery closures any of your notable past catches or amusing angling stories are welcome. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.