Frank Lythgoe's Warrington Anglers' Association column

MEMBERS have been targeting pike or perch on various lengths of the Bridgewater Canal.

Trevor Baker had caught a few small perch drop-shotting in Lymm village and on his last cast he thought he had hooked into a small pike but was really pleased when he slid his net under a perch around 1lb 5ozs.

Another member has spent some time on the canal near Daresbury over the last couple of weeks.

After a few jacks, he had a pike on Saturday that went bang on 13lbs. All were caught using sea dead-baits (a mix of types).

Renowned local match angler Steve Brookes and his mate Rod Fraser had a fantastic session on Appleton Reservoir catching over 40lbs of prime roach, up to llb in size, between them.

Steve was outclassed when Rod took the honours with 25lb to his 18lb.

Maggot and groundbait feeder on a short chuck off the dam wall was the location.

Tom O’Connell sent in a cracking report of an eight carp catch from Appleton reservoir during the first week in November.

Well, he has only gone and done it again when he fished a night session, again catching eight fish (must be his lucky number).

He arrived for an 8am start but the peg he wanted was in use so patience being one of his virtues he waited and finally started fishing around 3.30pm. Tom baited up with six middy spods of Cheshire particles and within 20 minutes he had the first fish; and it carried on from there.

After every fish he put in two more spods of bait. He fished solid bags over the particles and one of the fish in the pictures he included he had caught a couple of weeks ago at 28lbs.

Following the reports from Mersey regulars who had been out on the river last week catching plenty of roach during their sessions, unfortunately it wasn’t the case on Sunday’s return to match fishing after lockdown.

Jimmy Byrne’s practice sessions paid off as by the narrowest of margins he was the winner with 2-9-0 of small roach caught on feeder and maggot. On the adjacent peg Neil Buist took second place, just an ounce adrift fishing the same method.

Match organiser Ade Green could have kicked himself as after struggling for bites and just a few fish in the net he changed tactics to fishing close in during the last 40 minutes and reckoned he put well over a pound in his net.

Our Disabled & Over 60’s match held the following day on the Bridgewater Canal at Hough’s Bridge fared slightly better with match organiser Jimmy Byrne putting together a net of mainly small roach caught on bread punch plus a few better stamp caster fish for a weight of 4-12-0, earning him his second win in as many days and he almost doubled the weight of second placed Ron Durr.

For you ‘pikers’ there was plenty of predator presence with Alan Clarke playing one for five minutes…. pike don’t count in matches.

Member can now renew memberships and obtain night permits online from our website. New joining members can also purchase night permits as part of their package.

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT remains closed.. Members can post to this address or put their book or request in an envelope with their payment, a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door where mail is collected and dealt with most days.

At this time of the year with less anglers out on the banks and sport slowing as we edge towards the winter period, I really need your catch reports. They are all very much appreciated by fellow members. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

Results: Mersey Series: 1 Jimmy Byrne 2-9-0; 2 Neil Buist 2-8-0; 3 Dave Hill 2-6-0; 4 Nick Roberts 2-2-0.

Disabled & Over 60s: 1 Jimmy Byrne 4-12-0; 2 Ron Durr 2-11-0; 3 Richard Baker 2-6-0; 4 Bob Fitzpatrick 2-1-0.

Fixtures: Sunday: Mersey Match (members only), draw 9am, Victoria Park (£5 pool or £10 all-in, no coins, no change given). Monday: Disabled & Over 60s match, Bridgewater Canal, draw 9.45am at Hough’s Bridge. (£5 all-in, no coins, no change given).