Three-year-old angler lands big pike in Warrington

I REALLY love ‘kids’ first catches,’ which bring back many fond memories of when I began taking my three-year old daughter fishing.

However, the undoubted star this week is Thomas Whitehead, who has been introduced to our sport by his father Garry.

Thomas, who will be three in April, was enjoying a session lure fishing on the Bridgewater Canal in Moore opposite the post office.

His dad cast in for him but Thomas was doing all the hard work of reeling in when the Savage Gear pulse-tail lure was hit by a toothy predator and it was game on.

After a few anxious minutes, the youngster saw the result of his efforts lying on the unhooking mat – his first pike, and hopefully just one of many. Well done, Thomas.

Thomas with the pike

Thomas and father Garry

New member Graeme Edwards enjoyed his first outing to a WAA fishery when he fished the River Alyn at Cooks Bridge, stating it was “the best fishing trip I’ve ever had.”

He lost count of how many grayling he caught, which included some nice specimens and his first ever trout.

John Seymour enjoyed his first trip to Appleton Reservoir where, fishing a small groundbait feeder with micro pellets and maggots added, he ended up with 14 roach, best about 12oz. Andy Corr also managed a similar catch on his session last Sunday.

On Sunday, Andy Humphreys also had a few hours on the Alyn when he ended his session with a catch of about 10 grayling, three chub and a couple of trout – the best fish of both species was around the 1lb mark. He set up a little chubber float trotting through using single or double maggot.

This week’s Mersey Match Series on Sunday was drawn on the Mersey Walk section of the river and saw Jonathan Green draw noted the bream peg number 74.

As would be expected, he fished a groundbait feeder and red maggot to secure a convincing win with a net of four bream and a few roach for a weight of 20-10-0.

Notably, it is the second-best weight of the season behind 38lbs from the very same peg.

Second-placed Bud Lea also fished a feeder for an all-roach catch for 4-7-0. Eighteen members fished.

Next week after an absolute age, the match is at Beech Road which during the match heyday was probably the second choice of canal venue.

The popular Monday disabled and over 60s match took place again this week on the Bridgewater Canal at Hough’s Bridge.

Winner George Barber – aka ‘The Breadman’ – drew next to Hough’s Bridge and fished the pole and predictably ‘the white stuff’ for an all roach catch of 5-3-0.

Neil Buist – aka ‘The Engine’ – took the runner-up spot with his net of roach and a bonus hybrid for 4-9-0.

Alan Faulkner included a perch of 2lbs taken on worm in his third placed catch. Sixteen anglers fished.

Anybody wishing to renew online should do so as soon as possible as we close this option when we start sending out the 2022 membership booklets anytime soon.

So if you cannot renew online, you know the reason. This doesn’t affect new member applications.

ALL MEMBERS, please object to the Planning Application Number 22/00034/REM. Application for the approval of reserved matters (access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale) of planning permission 20/00337/OUTEIA which has been submitted to Halton Council for the erection of 108 houses adjacent to Red Brow Lane at Daresbury.

We are not objecting to the housing development BUT what we must object to is the proposed closure of Red Brow Lane, Daresbury, which has been used by our members for access by motor vehicle to fish the Bridgewater Canal at Red Brow Underbridge for countless years.

Members can object or comment online to the closure by sending your email to dev.control@halton.gov.uk by March 3 or in writing to Halton Borough Council, Municipal Building, Kingsway, Widnes WA8 7QF.

Please make your objections as soon as possible. Many thanks everyone.

Working parties this week – Rixton Claypits, Sunday, 9am start. All members are more than welcome to attend.

Not essential but if you can throw a pair of waders in your boot just in case. Many thanks to all the volunteers who turned out to both Grey Mist and Big Sandiway last week.

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.

I really appreciate any catch reports from members, especially at this time of the year when they are understandably few and far between with there being not many anglers out fishing.

Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a call on 01928 716238

Results:

Mersey Series: 1, Jonathan Green 20-10-0; 2, Bud Lea 4-7-0; 3, Jim Gannon 3-5-0; 4, AIan Titchard 3-0-0

Disabled and over 60s (Bridgewater Canal): 1, George Barber 5-3-0; 2, Neil Buist 4-9-0; 3, Alan Faulkner 3-4-0; 4, Geoff Brooks 2-10-0

Fixtures:

Sunday, Mersey Series (members only): Draw 8.45am at Mersey Walk. Entry £5 and £5 optional pool. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 match rules apply.

Monday, disabled and over 60s, Bridgewater Canal: Draw 9.45am at Beech Road by Peg 400. £5 all-in. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 match rules apply.