Frank Lythgoe's weekly Warrington Anglers' Association column

THE 16th of June is still a magic date for many anglers.

After a 90-day closure for ‘spawning’ the rivers reopened for coarse fishing on Tuesday.

Martin James went to the River Dane at Holmes Chapel for a couple of hours in the afternoon, where, fishing ledgered bread crust, he christened the new season with a nice chub, caught another, and missed a few bites.

Scott Roberts reckoned that he had “not a great day” on the Ribble with five small chub on maggot with a good few eels. No bites on pellet or meat but plenty of big fish rising during the day.

The Mersey in Warrington was quite busy with 18 anglers spread between Mersey Walk and Howley and all reportedly catching roach, skimmers, and bream.

I managed a ‘blank’ on the Weaver Navigation but it was great to escape from my keyboard and phone for a couple of hours. I hope the two members who came on as I was leaving fared better.

Keith Starkey had a really good morning on Grey Mist on Monday when he set up for tench, fishing pellets on both rods to 7lb hook lengths and size 16 hooks. The result was four tench landed and one managed to slip the hook.

Committee member Phil Higgins did an overnight session on the fishery and despite having to put up with an electrical storm and torrential rain he managed three carp, the best at 25lbs. Lots of fish were crashing about in the margins.

Bryan White was happy with his session on the Mist last Friday when he set his stall out for tench.

He only caught one fish all day but it wasn’t a tench, instead a mirror carp weighing 22lbs! It was Bryan’s first carp from the Mist and smashed his previous best by 10lbs.

Neil Buist targeted the roach at Appleton Reservoir and set up his platform on the old boathouse swim.

He fished a groundbait feeder laced with caster, hemp, and dead maggots with two reds on the hook.

He hooked a roach on his first cast and never stopped catching fish ranging from 3ozs to 1lb. He reckoned that he had 50 to 60lbs during his five-and-a-half-hour session and that ‘The Res’ is the best roach fishing for miles.

Ken Hewitt and Dave Gardner fished at Woodshaw Reservoir twice this week.

On the first visit they both blanked but undeterred and knowing the potential of this fishery they returned. Ken had nine roach to 12ozs, a perch, a brace of small commons, and three crucians, all taken on double red maggot.

His mate Dave ended up with 11 roach, five bream, four crucians, and a small carp.

Lee Perrett had a session on The Mount at Buckley on Monday and caught five carp with the best at 15lbs. Don’t forget that at present you must live within Wales and not travel more than five miles to fish The Mount.

Michael Loughton fished Phoenix Park Lake on Tuesday and landed a trio of nice bream although local pundits reckon that the fishery holds much bigger specimens.

It offers great all-round sport and attracts a lot of members who care passionately about the fishery. Ian Dobbs reported a catch there of six tench and a bonus carp caught on corn.

Mark Shaw reckons he had a ‘daft’ couple of hours at Ackers Pit where on his first visit to the fishery this year he landed three carp and lost three.

The first match since the Covid-19 lockdown took place on Saturday on the Bridgewater Canal at Boothstown. Jimmy Byrne was the winner with 6-0-0 of roach and perch on pole and maggot.

Second-placed Bob Campbell fished punch and hemp for an all roach catch for 5-1-0.

Still looking for anyone interested in forming a fishery management volunteer group for the Association owned Wide Hole Fishery at Poynton. We have already had two volunteers so you won’t be alone.

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 collected and dealt with daily.

If you need any further information or have a catch report for this column email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or call me on 01928 716238.

Results: Bridgewater Canal, Boothstown: 1, Jimmy Byrne 6-0-0; 2, Bob Campbell 5-1-0; 3, Jeff Shaw 3-9-0; 4, Neil Buist 1-1-0.

Fixtures: Saturday: Members Match, Bridgewater Canal, draw 9am on bank opposite The Moorings Pub at Boothstown.

Sunday: Mersey Members Match (23 pegs), draw 9am, Victoria Park (Note £5 pool or £10 all-in, no coins, no change given). Monday: Disabled and Over 60s, Bridgewater Canal, draw 9.45am, Delph Lane, Keckwick (£5 all-in, no coins, no change given).