ALL anglers should hurry to ensure that they have their say regarding adding fish-eating birds – notably cormorants and goosanders – to the General Licence.

That would mean we can be more able to protect our valuable fish stocks from the growing numbers of these birds that are having a devastating effect on our fisheries.

This is possibly the only chance for anglers to have their say and make a real difference, so do it now as you must complete the survey before December 5.

All you need to do is go onto the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website and search for the Wild Birds General Licence Survey.

If anyone is looking to either join Warrington Anglers Association now or purchase one as a Christmas present for someone, the best time is after December 1 for the 2020 membership.

You can either call to our office at 52 Parker Street on a Friday evening between 7pm and 8.30pm or join online. If you let us know, we will post those intended as Xmas presents to the purchaser.

Our Christmas prize Mersey match took place on Sunday at Mersey Walk and the result produced what is believed to be Warrington Anglers Association’s oldest ever match winner.

Regular Mersey and canal match attendee Stan Charnock, 84, fished his favourite quiver tip method with a groundbait feeder and maggot for a decisive win, with three roach and a bonus bream which sent the scales round to 6lbs 5ozs 0drs. Second-placed Roy Everson put together an all-roach catch caught on both groundbait feeder and maggot and Bolognese for a winning weight of 3-11-0.

Twenty-one anglers took part in this WAA-sponsored event but special thanks go to Ade Green for ensuring that there were ample prizes to go around and nobody left empty-handed.

Our Monday disabled and over 60s match was on the Bridgewater Canal this week at Preston Brook and was a real struggle for bites.

Keith Dentith was the winner with a small roach and perch catch for a weight of 0-12-2. Jimmy Byrne was second with 0-7-4.

It is the Dead Length next week where fish annually shoal up for the winter so hopefully, we should see some better results.

This is the time of year when there is a vast reduction of anglers on the banks so I would really welcome any catch reports – good, bad, or indifferent – as these help fellow members to know how waters are fishing and plan their outings.

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

Fixtures:

Sunday, Mersey match series: Draw 9am at Victoria Park

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 10am at Bridgewater Canal, Moore Boats