DAVE Gardner and his mate Ken Hewitt ventured out to one of their favourite Warrington Anglers’ fisheries, Woodshaw Reservoir at Wigan.

What a cracking day it was with the sun shining and a nice warm breeze made even better by them managing to meet up with the local volunteer team, sadly though missing Barry Walsh who passed away recently.

They fished a morning session until 1pm with Ken starting off with the pole but after struggling for a bite he set up a match rod and, using maggot, ended up with five roach from 4 to 12ozs.

Dave float-fished maggot for a tally of 18 roach, nine perch and a small chub. Changing over to a method feeder and pellet, he added two bream and a small carp around the 4lb mark.

Regular column contributor Neil Plunkett has coined a new phrase for his catch from Rixton Claypits on Tuesday – an ‘embarrassment of bream.’

He had the fishery completely to himself and for the first hour during early morning there was nothing moving as he tried the waggler, resulting in a solitary roach.

He decided to search around with a method feeder, using both corn or meat and eventually he found what he was looking for. It was then a bream in the landing net every 10 minutes or so.

He even managed to squeeze in a nice tench well over 4lbs before he ended his session when he had caught his 24th bream. The fish ranged from 2½lbs with a few around the 4lbs mark. Embarrassment indeed!

Brian Davies reported an enjoyable three-hour session at Statham Pool where, after baiting his swim with groundbait and micro-pellet with a few grains of corn in the mix, he was soon into a carp but it slipped the hook at the net.

Fishing a waggler and corn he made no mistake over his next fish, another carp around 6lbs. Three more carp came to the net, the best he reckoned being 8lbs.

This week’s Sunday Mersey Match Series was fished on the Victoria Park stretch and saw joint match organiser Alan Faulkner the winner by a very healthy margin with a weight of 11lbs 10ozs 0drs.

Alan fished the pole and maggot at 12 metres for most of the time accounting for around 10lbs of roach but a change to the tip added a bonus 1lb skimmer plus perch towards the end.

Ray Boden fished pole and maggot for a net of roach and perch to take second place with 6-6-0. Twenty-one anglers fished.

Our Disabled and Over 60s Monday match this week was on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Billinge and saw Stu Patterson, who drew Whatcroft Wide, the winner with a weight of 6-3-0.

Following an absence Stu made his comeback on the pole, alternating between maggot and caster for a net of perch and roach.

His biggest perch weighed 2lbs and along with a roach of 1-2-0 definitely were a welcome bonus.

Dave Howard was the runner-up with the same mix of roach and perch but minus any specimens with 5-3-0. Eighteen anglers fished.

Time is running out for payment of your 2021 subscriptions. Anybody wishing to renew should do so as soon as possible at any of the fishing shop outlets advertised in their membership booklet or online from our homepage.

Our WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT remain closed on Friday evenings 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 Stu Patterson 6-3-0; 2 Dave Howard 5-3-0; 3 Jimmy Byrne 5-1-0; 4 Alan Brown 3-15-0.

Mersey Series Match: 1 Alan Faulkner 11-10-0; 2 Ray Boden 6-6-0; 3 Roy Everson 5-8-0; 4 Martin Lenihan 5-6-0.

Fixtures (exact money only, Covid-19 rules apply): Sunday: Mersey Series match (members only): Draw 8.45am, Mersey Walk. Entry £5 and £5 optional pool. Monday: Disabled and Over 60s, Bridgewater Canal, Hough’s Bridge, draw 9.45am, £5 all-in.