Five-year-old enjoys first ever angling trip

MONDAY saw another youngster Jacob Harrison – aged five – introduced for the very first time to our wonderful sport of angling.

His grandfather Paul Knowles chose the Bridgewater Canal at Grappenhall Trees for this taster session, which I am certain has lasting memories for many of our members.

Paul set him up with a rod and reel, light float with a size 18’s hook and a bait-box of red maggot and Jacob was on the way to becoming an angler.

His concentration was certainly impressive even with his improvised ‘fishing seat,’ which I understand will soon be replaced by a pucca job thanks to the kindness of one of our members.

Jacob’s all-perch catch plus a bonus 2lbs bream all caught at the bottom of the nearside shelf will be a lifetime memory.

Five-year-old Jacob Harrison on his first ever angling trip

Come on grandads, dads, mums, uncles, aunts, big brothers, etc – if you take a youngster fishing you are not only helping to save them from the ‘long thumb syndrome’ but introducing them to an outdoor sport that everyone can enjoy which could be a lifetime interest.

Anthony Rough enjoyed his visit to Worthenbury Brook on Sunday and, fishing a stick-float and maggot, had a bite every run down his swim catching dace solidly for two hours.

He decided that a return to his van for a cup of tea was in order only to find that seemingly every cow in the district had surrounded his peg. The joys of fishing.

The following day after first after sorting out some swimmers at The Mount, he managed to slot in a short two-hour session. Anthony fished up in the water loose-feeding maggot and caught steadily with mostly roach and the odd perch.

Bill Banks fishing a small groundbait feeder with sweetcorn and red maggot on Arley Reservoir, one of the three Worthington Lakes enjoyed a nice catch of 18 bream to 3.5lbs plus a few decent roach over a pound.

He had fish on both corn and double maggot and lost a hard-fighting carp that slipped the hook at the net.

Ian Swain fancied some river fishing and decided a visit to our stretch of the River Severn at Bicton was in order.

He agreed with me that it was indeed wild fishing with no manicured pegs as he had to bash his way through the bankside vegetation before he started fishing.

But it was definitely worth the effort as fishing two rods – one a feeder with meat and corn and the other close in with stick-float and maggot – his inside swim produced dace, roach, and small chub throughout.

As it was time to call it a day, his tip rod registered his first bite of the day, a chub of around 4lbs, so as you would he had a ‘last cast’ while he tackled down his other rod. The result was three more chub and a good days’ fishing.

Thanks to our working party volunteers who were out on the Mount this weekend repairing steps down to the pegs and the team at Woodshaw Reservoir, who aside from mowing/strimming have hatched a plan to re-proof the leaking roof of their container. Volunteers are always welcome.

A number of members were caught by our bailiffs in the past week with alcohol and tins in their possession.

All I will say is that ignorance of the rules is no excuse so read your membership book and adhere to the rules and conditions that you signed up to on joining or risk losing your membership.

The Sunday Mersey Match (Challenge Shield) was fished this week at Victoria Park and was won by Jimmy Byrne, who made the most of an end-peg draw with an all-pole caught net of perch and roach on maggot for a weight of 13lbs 11ozs 0drs.

Ray Boden also fished pole and maggot to take second place with 8-13-0. Numbers taking part were down this week to 14 due to holidays.

The Bridgewater Canal at Pickerings Bridge was the venue for our disabled and over 60s match this week.

On-form Ray Boden, who fished the pole and pinkie, was the winner with a net of roach and perch for a weight of 4-8-8. George Hollis was the runner-up with 3-6-0. Nineteen fished.

WAA headquarters at 52 Parker Street remains closed on Friday evenings until further notice. Members renewing can simply put their book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope, and post it through our HQ door, where mail is collected and dealt with most days.

If you need any further information, please give me a call or email as below.

Please keep those catch reports coming – they are all very much appreciated by fellow members. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a call on 01928 716238.

Results

Sunday, Mersey Series: 1, Jimmy Byrne 13-11-0; 2, Ray Boden 8-13-0; 3, Jeff Shaw 7-11-0; 4, Derek Bibby 6-9-0

Monday, disabled and over 60s (Woodshaw Reservoir): 1, Ray Boden 4-8-8; 2, George Hollis 3-6-0; 3, Rod Fraser 3-1-0; 4, Ron Durr 3-0-2

Fixtures

Sunday, Mersey Series: members only (28 pegs) MUST BOOK ON. Draw 9am at Mersey Walk (Please note, £5 pool or £10 all-in. No coins and exact money. No change given)

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 9.45am at Trent & Mersey Canal, Billinge (Please note, £5 all-in. No coins, exact money. No change given)