Warrington Anglers Association report

LAST week it was all about youngsters’ fishing exploits.

Well this week we are at the other end of the spectrum – anglers with many years of angling experience.

Whilst the lilies were being sprayed on Tuesday at Grey Mist, I was redundant but used the time litter picking and chatting to members face-to-face, away from social media.

Having raked his peg, Paul Johnstone was on a perch every cast fishing waggler and double red maggot.

He ended his session having caught a shedful of stripeys along with a few roach plus seven small tench, which shows that the weedy conditions work for the fish and provided the cormorants keep away, this water has new blood to ensure a bright future for this popular species.

On the opposite side of the Mist, Joe Parody was set up with bite alarms and legered both fake corn and mini boilies to end his session with six tench ranging from 2lbs to 6lbs.

Another member reported three tench, with the biggest at 8lbs, and a younger member similarly reported having caught tench but was gutted having lost a decent carp at the net.

Committee member Ade Green decided on a trip to the Association stretch of the River Severn at Bicton on Monday.

The last time he was at this venue, another angler cheekily set up unbeknown to him at the downstream side of an enormous willow bush, which separated him from the mystery angler (me) who bagged up making the most of Ade’s regular feeding.

Alone on this visit with no-one taking advantage, he trotted a loafer float using maggot to catch dace, bleak and lots of chublets with the best chub at around 2lbs.

This is a picturesque stretch of the Severn and worth a visit.

The two self-declared old soldiers – or as I prefer to call them the dynamic duo of Dave Gardner and Ken Hewitt – were are out fishing again on Monday morning.

They had decided on a trip to High Legh, which turned out to be a hard session. Ken initially started with a feeder and caught nothing, he swapped onto a waggler with maggot over particle bait and caught six perch and five roach around three to 6oz.

Dave had a hard slog on a match rod with maggot for four perch and three roach and swapped to a method feeder with micro pellet and 6mm red robins on the hook.

He was snapped after a few minutes playing a fish but persevered and latched on again this time the fish straightened his hook.

Third time lucky as they say, as a nice 12-pound mirror in lovely condition finally lay in his landing net.

Our Mersey match series on Sunday was fished on the Victoria Park stretch of the river and saw Harry Billing add another win to his belt with a weight of 12-10-0 made up of roach, perch and silver bream taken on the pole and maggot with balls of groundbait added to the lose-fed maggot.

Bas Chambers took the runner-up spot with an all-roach and perch catch for 10-10-0, again pole and maggot with a spell on bolo.

With an average weight of around 5lbs with no bream, there were plenty of bites to be had and the winner could have almost come from any peg.

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

Rod Fraser was the clear winner, exactly doubling the weight of second-placed Jimmy Byrne.

Rod made the most of an end peg draw and weighed in 14-2-0 made up of three bream taken on bread punch plus roach around 4oz taken on caster.

Match organiser Jimmy drew the opposite end of the match for an all roach catch on pole and bread punch.

Please note that Pickerings Bridge car park will be closed to members and the lock changed to enable necessary works 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:

Disabled and over 60s: 1, Rod Fraser 14-2-0; 2, Jimmy Byrne 7-1- 0; 3, Geoff Brooks 4-5-0; 4, Jeff Stoll 3-12-0

Mersey Series: 1, Harry Billing 12-10-0; 2, Bas Chambers 10-10-0; 3, Jimmy Byrne 9-2-0; 4, Alan Faulkner 8-12-0

Fixtures:

Sunday, Mersey Series (members only): Draw 8.45am at Mersey Walk. Entry £5 and £5 optional pool. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 match rules apply.

Monday, disabled and over 60s, Woodshaw Reservoir: Draw 9.45am. £5 all-in. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 match rules apply.