Frank Lythgoe’s Warrington Anglers’ Association column

MARLEY Preston enjoyed a session on Grey Mist on Monday when although the target carp did not show he managed a couple of decent sized tench.

The following morning, the 11-year-old left his home at 5.30am hoping to return to the peg he had baited-up the previous evening. Unfortunately this was not to be and undeterred he set up in another peg.

As luck happened it turned out to be the right move when he eventually slid his net under his first ever carp from the Mist.

It weighed 22lbs 8ozs 0drs and fell for one of Marley’s home-made boilies.

There was a bit of history involved as it turned out to be the same peg that his dad Mark had also caught his first Mist carp as a youngster.

George Denzel enjoyed a cracking bream session at Arley Reservoir with a catch of 16 bronze beauties, the best around 3.5lbs plus half a dozen chunky roach. He fished a block-end feeder packed with sweetcorn with a single piece on the hook.

Mike Pritchard, on his regular Saturday session on the Mersey near Victoria Park, ended up with a catch of 48 fish taken on maggot or caster. It was a species mix of dace, hybrids, roach, perch, and two chub around the 12ozs mark all taken on waggler tactics.

Bob Clough was the winner of our Mersey Challenge Shield Match on Sunday and with higher water levels resulting from early morning heavy rain he drew in a deeper area with less flow.

Fishing a groundbait feeder with maggot and worm he had a bream of around 2lbs plus perch and roach but he sealed his win near the end of the match when a drop-back bite resulted in a 5lb bream bringing his weight total to 9-13-0.

Jimmy Byrne was the runner-up with six skimmer bream plus 20 roach and perch for a weight of 6-13-0 taken on groundbait feeder and maggot fished on the 12m pole line.

Eighteen anglers fished and the top four weights came from consecutive pegs downwards from the winner on peg 31.

Our Disabled & Over 60s Monday match was fished this week on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Billinge. Bas Chambers was the winner with 4-11-0 made up of around 60 roach and perch taken on the pole with caster and maggot.

George Hollis took second place with 3-12-0 and a same mix of fish. Twenty anglers fished.

A few members seem to think that it is ok to either visit our fisheries or indeed fish when not in possession of their membership licence booklet and yet surprisingly in the case of the latter they always remember to bring their tackle and bait.

Also a few members ignore the requirement to validate their issued licence by gluing their current signed photograph on the rear inside cover. The licence is the only proof of membership acceptable to our bailiffs. There are no valid excuses for rule breakers.

Please note that Pickerings Bridge car park will be closed to members and the lock changed to enable necessary works to take place.

Our WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT remains closed but members can 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 call 01928 716238.

Results:

Disabled & Over 60s: 1 Bas Chambers 4-11-0; 2 George Hollis 3-12- 0; 3 Jimmy Byrne 3-11-0; 4 Alan Brown 3-4-0. Mersey Series Match: 1 Bob Clough 9-13-0; 2 Jimmy Byrne 6-13-0; 3 Ade Green 6-3-0; 4 Dave Hill 5-2-0.

Fixtures (Covid-19 match rules apply, exact money only):

Sunday: Rod Only Match, River Mersey (members only): Draw 8.45am, Mersey Walk, pegs 45-75. Entry £5 and £5 optional pool.

Monday: Disabled & Over 60s, Bridgewater Canal at Delph Lane, peg 101, draw 9.45am, £5 all-in.