MIKE Pritchard was forced to abandon his favourite peg five on the River Mersey as it was virtually unfishable due to a fallen tree that had been washed downstream and had all but blocked it completely.

However, a move to peg three saved the day when, fishing waggler and maggot, he was catching small roach, perch, chub, and hybrids virtually from the off.

A change to caster brought a better stamp of roach to around 12ozs and Mike reckoned with these he had a total catch of 18 to 20lbs.

A few new members have enquired regarding the lock situation at Fosters Pools. The situation is that, when the farmer has cattle in the field or is expecting a delivery, he substitutes our lock for his own and there is no access other than on foot for members.

It is a matter of protecting members’ cars as anyone who has had the misfortune knows that to be ‘licked’ by cows usually means an expensive respray.

There are three parking places outside the gates without obstructing the cottages opposite.

Our disabled and over 60s match on Monday was held at our Woodshaw Reservoir Fishery at Wigan, where committee member Graham Belton had an impressive win having more than 10lbs to spare over the second-placed angler.

He weighed in his catch of skimmers, roach, and crucians at 27lbs 8ozs 0drs.

Jimmy Byrne won our Saturday Mersey Series match when he put together a winning weight of 14-13-0 made up of 8-8-0 of roach plus a bonus bream of 6-5-0 taken on pole and maggot.

Joint second-placed Paul Harding and Barry Chambers both fished a groundbait feeder and maggot for 14-12-0. During the last thirty minutes of the match, Paul landed two 5lb bream and Barry fish of 3 and 4lb.

On Sunday, the Tom James Open match held on the River Mersey was won by Keith Smith with an all-roach catch taken on pole and maggot for 12-2-0.

Match organiser Ray Boden, fishing the same method, was the runner-up with 9-3-0 made up of roach plus a brace of bonus skimmers that boosted his weight.

Quite a lot of pike were striking as fish were being landed, with fish estimated at around the 10lbs mark.

I would appreciate it if more members would email me their catch reports, which are always of interest to other members when planning their next visit to our waters.

WAA headquarters at 52 Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7pm and 9pm for new members, subscriptions, night permit renewals, and any queries.

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

Results:

Disabled and over 60s: 1, Graham Belton 27-8-0; 2, Alan Pendlebury 17-14-0; 3, Alan Birchall 15-10-0; 4, John Garry 14-15-0.

Saturday Series (River Mersey): 1, Jimmy Byrne 14-13-0; 2=, Paul Harding, Barry Chambers 14-12-0; 4, Derek Bibby 10-3-0.

Sunday, Tom James Open (River Mersey): 1, Keith Smith 12-2-0; 2, Ray Boden 9-3-0; 3, Ed Frangleton 8-7-0; 4, Ade Green 8-2-0.

Fixtures:

Saturday, River Mersey Series: Draw 9am at Kingsway Allotments.

Sunday, Challenge Shield Match, River Mersey: Draw 9am at Victoria Park.

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

Tuesday, River Mersey: Draw 9am at Kingsway Allotments.