Frank Lythgoe's Warrington Anglers Association column

AFTER a three-month closure, June 16 is a date many members have been waiting for – the opening of the river coarse fish season.

Quite a number of anglers have been in touch enquiring about river venues so best of luck to you all (myself included). Any reports will be welcome.

Michael White – one of our dedicated band of volunteers bailiffs – managed a few visits to the Bridgewater Canal this past week, where he seems to have the uncanny knack when lure fishing to attract really quality perch.

On Monday this week, he was out again and you guessed it, another striped beauty lay in his landing net.

Certainly, the amount of small silver fish in the canal at present will ensure that this continues.

Robert Mcvinnie enjoyed his session on Grey Mist last weekend landing five tench, the best two were equal at 6lbs 4ozs 0drs apiece.

Good to see a size variation of smaller fish showing, with Ade Green reporting ‘baby tench’ amongst his catch.

Mike Dabek fished his first session on High Legh Fishery on Saturday and was happy with his catch of newly stocked feisty perch and a hard fighting mirror carp.

Thank you Mike for your hard work as part of the team that brought this fishery back into use following the fish kill due to de-oxygenation as a result of rotting leaves.

Andy Corr was back on Appleton Reservoir on Friday where he was rewarded with a cracking mixed net of roach and perch. The carp are back on the feed after spawning on this fishery.

Paul Edwards fished at Sandiway Small Lake on Saturday and reports catching three common carp, the biggest 15lbs plus a 4lbs tench.

Another member landed a carp of 24lbs during his session. Plenty of fish moving all over the lake.

Ian James fished Cicely Mill on Friday and reports a catch of seven tench, roach and a solitary bream all taken on a small method feeder and double red maggot fished close-in.

The best tench he reckoned was around 4lbs with the bream 2lbs.

Our disabled and over 60s Monday match was held this week on the Bridgewater Canal at Daresbury Laboratories and it was more or less a repeat of the previous weeks, with match organiser Jimmy Byrne again the winner.

He fished the pole and pinkie over groundbait to tempt a pound skimmer plus 30 really tiny roach and a silver bream for 2-1-0.

Mike Worley took second place with 1-9-0 and 15 anglers fished.

On the other side of Keckwick Bridge and only a few pegs away from the match, a pleasure angler would have easily won the event with a surprise tench estimated at 4.5 to 5lbs.

Thanks to members who have abided by the closed-off spawning areas on various fisheries this past week or so. This week as from publication of this column all are now open again.

There are a couple of pegs closed on Sandiway where work is taking place and one with a nesting swan.

The carp and bream were spawning at Statham Pool on Tuesday, ideally as it is a small water and difficult to close off areas it should be avoided for a few days.

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

Alternatively, you can post to Warrington Anglers Association PO. Box 71, Warrington WA1 1LR where mail is collected weekly.

Catch reports from members, pics or funny stories are always welcome. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a call on 01928 716238.

Results:

Monday, disabled and overs 60s: 1, Jimmy Byrne 2-1-0; 2, Mike Worley 1-9-0; 3, George Barber 1-2-0; 4, Neil Buist 0-12-0

Fixtures:

Sunday, Mersey Match series (members only): Draw 8.45am at Mersey Walk, fish peg 45up. £5 and £5 optional pool. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 rules apply.

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 9.45am at Trent & Mersey Canal, Billinge. £5 all-in. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 rules apply.