Frank Lythgoe’s Warrington Anglers Association column

DAVE Connor reported an enjoyable Wednesday session on The Mount where on his first visit, he fished the pole alternating between double red maggot and caster for a cracking catch of over 30 roach to around a pound plus a tench.

He played a carp for ages but just when he thought he was winning, the fish had other ideas and snapped him.

Our Wigan bailiff team report that, despite being a small fishery, Mowpin is producing single figure carp, crucians, and small rudd.

Local angler Chris Roberts can personally back this up as on Thursday he fished pole and maggot for five carp – best around 6lbs – and a crucian plus plenty of small rudd.

Although on this fishery youngsters need to be a member accompanied by an adult member from the same household, they can take one aged 12 years or under to our Woodshaw Reservoir fishery on a one-to-one basis for free.

Sport there may be a bit patchy at present but roach and skimmers usually oblige.

Mike Pritchard went for his usual Saturday session on the Mersey, setting up on peg 6 where he initially struggled with only a few roach and perch so he moved down a couple of pegs and started catching immediately.

The river was carrying a tinge of colour and he fished waggler close in alternating between maggot and caster to end up with over thirty roach and perch plus a skimmer.

Our Sunday Mersey match series was drawn this week at Victoria Park and fished downstream of peg 34.

Local rod Jimmy Byrne, who is rarely out of the prizes, was the winner with 8lbs 13ozs 0drs of roach and perch.

He started on bolo loose-feeding maggot but after an hour and a half bites slowed and a change to the tip and groundbait feeder saw him start catching again.

He added a bonus skimmer of 1½lbs and more roach and perch and a late change back to bolo brought a few more and 50-plus fish overall.

Second-placed Ray Boden had the same mix of fish, a few on the pole, but caught his fish mainly on the feeder and maggot for a weight of 6-3-0.

This week, our disabled and over 60s Monday match on the Trent & Mersey Canal saw local angler Rod Fraser the winner with 6-2-0 of roach and perch plus a solitary skimmer taken on pole and maggot.

Match organiser Jimmy Byrne was the runner-up and not too far behind the winner with a similar catch taken on maggot or caster for a weight of 5-14-14. Seventeen anglers fished.

WAA headquarters at 52 Parker Street remain closed on Friday evenings until further notice.

Members renewing can simply put their book or request in an envelope with their payment, a stamped addressed envelope and post it through our HQ door where mail is collected and dealt with most days.

If you need any further information please give me a call or email as below.

Please keep those catch reports coming; they are all very much appreciated by fellow members. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a call on 01928 716238.

Results:

Mersey Match Series: 1, Jimmy Byrne 8-13-0; 2, Ray Boden 6-3-0; 3, Alan Faulkner 6-2-0; 4, Jim Gannon 5-6-0

Monday, disabled and over 60s: 1, Rod Fraser 6-2-0; 2, Jimmy Byrne 5-14-14; 3, George Hollis 5-11-6; 4, Alan Brown 4-8-10

Fixtures:

Sunday, Mersey Pairs Match: Members only (23 pegs) MUST BOOK ON. Draw 9am at Mersey Walk. £5 pool or £10 all-in plus £2 pairs entry, no coins and exact money only.

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 9.45am at Bridgewater Canal, Daresbury Labs Peg 144. £5 all-in, no coins and exact money only.