Frank Lythgoe’s Warrington Anglers Association column

NEIL Plunkett emailed me just after 2pm on Friday having just arrived home from what he described as ‘a great session at Rixton’.

He fished a method feeder and micro-pellets with either meat or corn wafters on the hook.

Neil decided to call it a day when he’d netted his 16th bream but then a couple of members stopped to chat and another couple of fish came along – he ended up with 18 bream for around 50-60 lbs of fish.

He commented, “All that, plus the nice scenery and the comic antics of the bird life, a great day at a lovely venue.”

Andy Smith doesn’t email often – having been a member for a few years now and mostly fishing at our Woodshaw Reservoir, which he reckons is a remarkably well-looked after water, and I can’t argue with that, he fished at Mowpin on Saturday.

He had the place to himself and was more than happy to report that, ‘you can catch as many rudd as you like before becoming bored.’

Andy added a handful of decent perch and new for him and totally making his day were three chub under a pound.

His comment really touched me with, “Catching chub might be routine for some of you guys, but I can't tell you how happy I am to get one myself.”

Andy Corr had a cracking session on our Association-owned Wide Hole at Poynton on Sunday when fishing a quiver-tip and maggot, he ended up with a net of 24 skimmers and bream for just over 40lbs.

The fish were so tightly shoaled that his mate on the next peg struggled and only caught two fish. Sometimes our sport can be so cruel!

New member Joe Grier, in his second week since joining Warrington Anglers Association, had a great evening session at Grey Mist when targeting the tench he was over the moon to land three crackers at 6-5-0, 6-7-0, and a new PB at 6-12-0 – all took red maggot popped-up on a heli-rig.

He was back again on Monday evening after these green red-eyed monsters (his words, not mine) when he caught two tench and even managed to nudge his PB up an ounce with one of 12-13-0.

In a three-hour session on Monday evening, Garry Whitehead had a good net of roach from Appleton Reservoir.

He fished a 4gm float with 1.5lb BS hook-length accompanied by a pint of maggots. Simple fishing on a pleasant sunny evening.

Our disabled and over 60s Monday match was held this week on the Bridgewater Canal at Stage Lane.

Bread is the elixir of life, well it is according to ‘The Breadman’ – namely George Barber who it is said by some to be too ‘careful’ to buy maggots – but that aside he clocked up another clear win this week on the white stuff.

Drawn by the wood, he fished pole and bread punch accompanied by his secret liquidised feed preparation which resulted in a net of roach for a weight of 5-10-0.

George Hollis took the runner-up spot from the adjacent peg, which was helped by a bonus bream caught early doors plus roach for 4-2-0 taken alternating between bread and maggot. Nineteen anglers turned out.

Despite trying our best by altering our AGM from the usual date in March to May, the Covid-19 restrictions unfortunately do not allow it to take place.

Our WAA headquarters at 52 Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT remains closed on Friday evenings but members can simply post to this address or put their book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope through our HQ door, where mail is collected and dealt with most days.

Alternatively, you can post to Warrington Anglers Association, PO. Box 71, Warrington WA1 1LR where mail is collected weekly.

Catch reports from members, pics or funny stories are always welcome. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a call on 01928 716238.

Results:

Monday, disabled and over 60s: 1, George Barber 5-10-0; 2, George Hollis 4-2-0; 3, Rod Fraser 2-2-0; 4, Roy Hollis 2-1-0

Fixtures:

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 9.45am at Bridgewater Canal, Preston Brook under motorway bridge, peg 1. £5 all-in. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 rules apply