ANTHONY Rough fished my favourite stretch of the River Dee at Worthenbury on Sunday.

He chose a swim I know well, where willows line the far bank.

He fished a waggler float towards the trees, loose-feeding hemp and maggots with double maggot on the hook and was into fish immediately, having a bite nearly every run down the swim.

He decided to stay in the same swim rather than his usual ‘roving the river’ and ended his session with around 11lb of small chub and dace and in such pleasant surroundings.

Neil Plunkett was let out for a couple of hours last week and nipped to Statham Pool as his nearest fishery.

He had two carp under 10lbs on a method feeder but then a cormorant appeared and understandably, the swim went suddenly quiet.

In desperation, he legered a piece of meat on a long trace to try to tempt something and then had a take which he thought was a large carp until at the net, he saw it was a large eel which was unhooked safely and returned.

I am jealous of Ken Hewitt and Dave Gardner, who seem to live a charmed life fishing it seems most days.

They braved scorching temperatures at Woodshaw Reservoir, where it was vital to set up a brolly to escape the sun’s rays.

Ken had roach, perch and a skimmer with Dave having a similar catch plus a crucian, all taken on waggler and maggot.

Ian Shaw reports a busy session on Worthington Lakes, where he reckoned that he had more than 35lbs of bream taken on feeder alternating between double white maggot and worm on the hook.

The Saturday Mersey match series fished at Mersey Walk was won this week by Jimmy Byrne, who fished a groundbait feeder and red maggot for a weight of 22lbs 13ozs 0drs. His catch included four bream to 5lbs plus skimmers.

Jim Gannon was second fishing the same method and his net included bream to 7lbs for a total of 21-6-0.

Our Sunday Mersey Series was this week fished on the Victoria Park stretch and won by Kevin Hall with 26-12-0 made up of five bream with the best at 5lbs plus skimmers taken on a groundbait feeder and maggot.

Pete Howard took the runner-up spot again with 15-5-0 of bream and skimmers on the same method.

I would ask all anglers to please steer clear of the Mersey stretch from Howley Weir to the other side of Kingsway Bridge this weekend as the rowing club is running two major events on Saturday and Sunday.

Our disabled and over 60s match on Monday saw a change of venue to the River Mersey at Kingsway Allotments but for whatever reason, results were uncharacteristically low with no bream showing up in catches.

Rod Frazer was the winner with a net of small roach and perch for 2-7-0 taken on both feeder and pole tactics but with only an ounce separating him from second-placed Jimmy Byrne, it was a close-run thing.

Needless to say the twenty anglers taking part struggled for bites.

Thanks to those members who take the trouble to send in catch reports which are really appreciated by fellow members as it helps them to know how waters are fishing and plan their outings.

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

WAA headquarters at 52 Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7pm and 9pm. New members are welcome to call in and join, current ones can renew their subscription or night permit.

Results:

Mersey Series, Saturday: 1, Jimmy Byrne 22-12-0; 2, Jim Gannon 21-6-0; 3, Derek Bibby 10-15-0; 4, Ray Boden 8-12-0.

Mersey Series, Sunday: 1, Kevin Hall 26-12-0; 2, Pete Howard 15-5-0; 3, Jimmy Byrne 14-15-0; 4, Nick Fletcher 12-8-0.

Disabled and over 60s, Sunday: 1, Rod Frazer 2-7-0; 2, Jimmy Byrne 2-6-0; 3, Trev Bainbridge 2-3-0; 4, Norman Gannon 1-14-0

Fixtures:

Saturday, Mersey Series: Draw 9am at Mersey Walk.

Sunday, Tom James Open: Draw 9am at Mersey Walk.

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