Frank Lythgoe's Warrington Anglers' Association report

MATCH maestro Ray Boden pleasure fished the Bridgewater Canal at the weekend at Boothstown with a view to getting some idea of what to expect for his coming members’ match series which starts on Saturday.

Bait was maggot which seemed to suit the resident roach, skimmers, and perch that homed in on his offerings, resulting in a net of around 11lbs.

He visited the stretch again on Tuesday morning and kicked off with a surprise bonus of three tench for about 7lbs, taken on caster, backed up by 4lbs of roach and perch on maggot and bread punch. Looks like it could be an interesting match series.

Last Saturday should have seen my mate Chris Grehan and I returning from the Edenderry Festival in Ireland with a good wedge of euros in winnings as we have done the previous two years but it was cancelled due to Covid-19.

But even more disappointed was local Warrington rod Bob Clough who really cleaned up last year by winning the event outright and an even greater pocketful of euros, but I can’t say how much as his wife always reads the Guardian.

Obviously, Bob couldn’t defend his title so without fishing in 2020 he is still the reigning Edenderry Festival Champ.

On Sunday Jim Gannon decided on a session at Appleton Reservoir where members have been enjoying a current roach bonanza.

He fished the tip ledgering at no further than 20 yards from the bank. He set up his swim with a groundbait mix and dead maggot over a bed of hemp and offered a single bronze maggot on the hook - and for a bait change, a single piece of corn.

He was more than happy with his catch of 50 to 60 chunky roach to around 10 to 12ozs.

Neil Plunkett had an enjoyable day at Rixton Claypits with a catch of seven decent bream and a tench, so thought he would give it one more bash on Monday before the magnetism of the rivers, which open for coarse fishing on the still magical 16th June, drew him away from still-water fishing.

It was busy when he arrived so with no choice in the matter, he set up his tackle in the only available swim.

After a couple of hours nobody seemed to be catching and some of the earlier anglers had already given up and left.

Neil’s method feeder tactic for bream was failing, so to avoid a blank he switched to waggler and single maggot and started catching some small roach but decided after 20 fish he’d ring the changes and try some ledgered luncheon meat down the side of the lilies.

It wasn’t long before the rod nearly disappeared and he was into something very feisty as it had him into and out of the pads, tried for the trees and bushes, but finally he slid his net under a nice common carp of 12-3-0 and his best fish of the year.

Shaun Brady rejoined Warrington Anglers’ Association last week after a long absence from the sport and looking at our list of fisheries decided for his first visit to try Appleton Reservoir.

He set up between two carp anglers on the sandbank side in the face of gale force wind and driving rain. Shaun set-up a groundbait feeder starting off with double red maggot and started to ring the changes alternating with corn which brought his best roach.

He ended his session with 20 clunking roach all around 4 to 8 ounces. He reckoned that was a bit strange getting used to things again, but he needn’t have worried as his first attempt at tying a spade-end hook was bang on though!

He now had the bug again and the next day he went to Statham Pool where he was quite happy with three skimmers and six roach taken on waggler and red maggot. Welcome back Shaun.

On Thursday Gareth Wright enjoyed his first visit to our picturesque stretch of the River Wyre at Churchtown. After two years of trying, he finally caught his first trout on a dry fly, a magical experience of which I have no doubt there will be many more.

Danny Carman sat behind two bait alarms all day at Grey Mist without a single bleep showing fish in his swim so in desperation, he set-up for a few silvers.

With 4lbs line straight through to a size 16 hook he certainly wasn’t ready when he hooked into a cracking mirror which ran him round the Mist twice before coming to the net.

At 10am there will be a work party at our Mowpin fishery at Wigan on Wednesday when our team of volunteers will be carrying out strimming, pruning, and weed removal on some of the pegs. Anyone interested in helping just turn up and the work should be over by 1pm until which time the fishery is closed.

Anyone interested in forming a fishery management volunteer group for the Association owned Wide Hole Fishery at Poynton please either ring me or drop me an email.

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street remain closed until further notice. Members renewing can put their book in an envelope with their payment, a stamped addressed envelope, and post through our HQ door where mail is dealt with daily. If you need any further information please give me a call or email.

Please keep those catch reports coming, they are all very much appreciated. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or call 01928 716238.

Fixture: Saturday: Members match, Bridgewater Canal, draw 9am on bank opposite The Moorings Pub at Boothstown