PHIL Brown fished a Sunday morning session at Grey Mist on Sunday when, starting off with a method feeder, he landed one tench and lost one.

He changed over to float tactics and had a shed-full of quality roach to just over the pound mark plus tench all taken on corn. I reckon that not many anglers target the roach on this fishery.

Anthony Rough was back on the Dee – this time at Shocklach where he reports lots of dace which just kept feeding, plus grayling and perch.

He commented, “a lovely few hours on the centre pin.”

Following a recent brief introduction to river fishing after a work party on our stretch of the Dee at Worthenbury, I predicted that we had a new river convert in committee member Any Burrows when he landed his first chub.

I wish I had put money on it for he was back up there on Sunday with the excuse of putting up a sign on the stile that we built but just happened to have his tackle and some bread with him.

Thanks Andy, I’m glad you enjoyed catching the dace and chub that you reckoned was even bigger than your two-litre flask.

Andy Corr pole-fished the Bridgewater Canal at Grappenhall on Sunday, where he reported loads of fish topping but slow going. He ended up with a brace of bream plus roach and perch.

The other end of the canal at Boothstown was entirely different with no fish showing during Stuart Simms’ drop-shotting session.

But little wonder the silvers were keeping their heads down as he landed three perch to around 1½lbs topped by a pike of over 10lbs.

Stuart Roberts had a go on our stretch of the Weaver Navigation last Thursday and despite the direction of flow changing, he set up a stick-float to run through about a rod length out but had most of his fish at around six metres.

He finished up with around 16lbs. The majority were bream, best 2lbs, plus a few roach, perch and rudd, a single dace and a surprise small tench.

I called up on Sunday to find Ian Green about to end his session a very happy man. I saw his cracking 30lb-plus net of bream, skimmers, roach, rudd and perch all caught using the tried and tested method of pole-fished maggot and caster with groundbait at around 10 metres.

A few pegs away I caught up with a blast from the past Tony Allen, who 30-plus years ago ran the fishing shop on Gainsborough Road with his brother Brian.

He had been experimenting with different methods but still had around 10lbs of fish.

Our Mersey match series on Sunday was fished on the Mersey Walk stretch of the river and for the first time this season, only an ounce separated the first two anglers but saw Ade Green take the winner’s purse with a weight of 11lbs exactly.

He started off on feeder and worm tactics and landed a bonus bream of 6½lbs and half a dozen skimmers but snapped off on a decent fish. He added a few roach when things went quiet and he swapped over to pole and maggot.

Eddie Frangleton took second place with only two fish, but they were bream taken on feeder and worm which sent the scales needle round to 10-15-0.

Our disabled and over 60s Monday match was fished this week on the Bridgewater Canal at Pickerings Bridge.

It was hard going but local rod George ‘The Breadman’ Barber repeated his winning performance of the previous week with 3lbs exactly made up of small roach on his secret bait. Rumour has it that he is sponsored by Warburtons.

Terry Dunn was the runner-up with 2-14-0 of bream and small roach.

Working parties this week – Sunday 12noon at Moore Quarry and Tuesday 10am at Grey Mist. All welcome.

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:

Disabled and over 60s: 1, George Barber 3-0-0; 2, Terry Dunn 2-14-0; 3, Jimmy Byrne 2-12-0; 4, George Hollis 2-4-0

Sid Jones Open Mersey match: 1, Ade Green 11-0-0; 2, Eddie Frangleton 10-15-0; 3, Ray Boden 10-8-0; 4, Steve Lewis 10-0-0

Fixtures:

Sunday, Briers Cup Open Mersey Match: Draw 8.45am at Victoria Park. Non-members £5 peg fee. £5 optional pool. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 rules apply.

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Draw 9.45am at Bridgewater Canal, Pickerings Bridge. £5 all-in. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 rules apply.