THE Trent and Mersey Canal is not at its best but Saltersford basin is producing plenty of roach in the 5 to 6oz range on the tip and red maggot.

Large perch to 2lbs reported from Acton Bridge on worm. Decent perch also showing up in match catches from the Bridgewater Canal. Most fish seem to be tightly shoaled with bream to 3lbs taking caster or bread and pinkie or squat for small roach, perch, and gudgeon. Alan Edwards reported the best pike, a fish of 14lbs taken on a plug.

Junior Match Squad member Steven Hirst showed how good Ackers Pit can fish if you match the conditions. Presenting double white pinkie at only five metres he ended his session with 80 roach to 10ozs plus a bonus tench which was weighed and witnessed at 5-5-0. He landed the fish on 22s hook to 1.4lbs line, the largest tench I can remember from the venue.

Two thousand small mirror carp will be helping to boost sport at Moore Quarry. Their survival rate will be dependent on the cormorant numbers. Water levels are back to March levels after intensive pumping operations.

The highly coloured water at Astle Pool is offering the roach some cover from marauding pike and encouraging them to feed. Plenty of fish around 3ozs being caught on maggot.

The large lake at Sandiway produced a fully scaled mirror of 14lbs. Bream starting to feed on the small lake. Bob Edgley had six fish averaging 4lbs, two tench, and a massive perch, well over 2-8-0. He pole-fished worm and caster at 11 metres.

Last Wednesday Barry Robinson made his first visit to WAA waters count at Grey Mist Mere when his birdseed and scopex whisky flavoured boilie was taken by a mirror carp of 23-12-0. Phil Brown had mirror carp of 24-14-0 and 15-8-0 on his Saturday night session. Despite the high water there are still good numbers of upper doubles being caught.

HQ Parker Street is open Friday night for subscriptions, new members, or a chat and to catch. I can be contacted on 01928 716238, fax 713898.

Frank Lythgoe

Results: Junior Winter Series (Grappenhall) Minnows:1, Lee Andrews 1-14-15; 2, Richard Lenihan 0-11-8; 3, Jamie Hirst 0-6-10.

Juniors: 1, Neil Jones 3-2-2; 2, Dale Lowndes 1-6-5; 3, Richard Hines 1-5-0.

Final Series Results: Minnows: 1, Jamie Hirst 12 pts; 2, Lee Andrews 13;3, Richard Lenihan 20.

Juniors: 1, Andy Webb 12; 2, Andy Caldwell 15; 3, Dale Lowndes 19.

Disabled & Over 60s; 1, John Hall 9-7-13; 2, Ray Bowden 2-10-0; 3, Roy Whitfield 2-9-4; 4, Brian Pilkington 2-7-0.

Coming events: Saturday: Senior Series Open, draw 11am Star Inn (pegs 741-861).

Sunday: Mersey Match, draw 9-30am Weir Lane.

Monday: Disabled & Over 60s, draw 10.15am Grappenhall Sports Club (pegs 235-275)

Wednesday: National Squad Fund Match, draw 11am Star Inn (pegs 810-840); Fly-tying class at HQ Parker Street 7pm every Wednesday.