MATTY Carter has been catching well from the dam end at Appleton Reservoir and reports landing 11 carp on Saturday while losing nine others.

I chatted to him there on Sunday when he caught 10 fish, the best weighing 18lbs. All were landed and weighed, or photographed, safely at the bottom of the wall.

Matty is taking advantage of the fact that ducks are fed by members of the public from this area and naturally, that’s where a good number of carp hang out.

He keeps it simple, floater fishing using mixer biscuits and with the layout on the fishery, the method does not interfere with other members bottom fishing from other areas of the reservoir.

Tom O’Connell, fishing nearby, caught a single carp but the consensus was that it was the best-looking one.

However all the fish we introduced from the ocean have come on leaps and bounds.

One note of warning that members must park sensibly in the car park provided and not on the road.

We are keeping a close watch on the Sankey St Helens Canal at Carterhouse that is presently covered in duckweed due to interruption in flow by the Runcorn/Widnes bridge works.

Halton Council are very supportive, but it’s ironic that there has been precisely zero reaction from the ‘bridge management’ who assured me at the outset that there would not be any detriment to what was an excellent fishery, now a shadow of its former self.

With this Saturday heralding the start of the river coarse fishing season, the first Mersey match takes place, draw 9am at Mersey Walk.

I have no doubt that members will be visiting a number of our river venues, so I would really appreciate some catch report info.

I never miss an opportunity to put out word that this 90-day closure is now outdated and an absolute waste of time and effort by both club and Environment Agency bailiffs, who are already overstretched. Members fishing help to deter the poachers.

This week, our disabled and over 60s match was fished on the Bridgewater Canal at Pickering’s Bridge and Jimmy Byrne, who picked up some coin at the Irish Angling Festivals last week, added to it with a win on his return with a weight of 4lbs 11ozs 0drs of small roach taken on the pole alternating between punch bread and pinkie.

Vice-president Geoff Brooks was in the frame again in second place with 3-6-10.

Your catch reports are always welcome, but more importantly it is nice to let follow members know how waters are fishing.

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

Our association headquarters at 52 Parker Street are open as usual every Friday, between 7pm and 9pm, for 2018 night-permits, membership-renewals, subscriptions and any queries.

Results:

Monday, disabled and over 60s: 1, Jimmy Byrne 4-11-0; 2, Geoff Brooks 3-6-10; 3, Ron Durr 3-1-0; 4, Graham Belton 2-15-8.

Fixtures:

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 10am at Trent & Mersey Canal, Billinge.