Frank Lythgoe’s Warrington Anglers Association column…

WHEN Andy Humphreys went to Phoenix Park Lake on Wednesday morning, he reported that the tench were bubbling like crazy as they were feeding in the silt.

But try as he might, Andy couldn’t get a bite on large baits and a heavier rig so he switched to a light rig and maggots for the last couple of hours and was pleased to catch plenty of silvers, but the inevitable happened and he was smashed up by a tench.

Gary Whitehead enjoyed a few hours on the Weaver Navigation on Thursday morning and enjoyed a nice catch of bream and roach fishing maggot of the bottom over hemp and groundbait.

I really cannot understand why more members don’t give this stretch a try as they are comfortable pegs and you can actually park your car by where you are fishing.

Trevor Gray enjoyed a cracking four-hour session on Woodshaw Reservoir on Wednesday last, practicing no doubt for Monday’s match on the fishery.

He caught 30 crucian carp, some of which were hybrids to 3lbs with the best true crucian at around 1½lbs.

He gave his home-made special paste a miss and all were caught on pole and banded pellet whilst feeding with micro-pellets. Sadly the magic didn’t show upon match day, but that’s fishing.

Dean Loftus was on the venue the following day and reported ‘a ton of silvers, skimmers, perch, and a few crucians.’

Our Mersey match series was fished on the Mersey Walk stretch of the river on Sunday and saw Harry Billing drop to second place, this week ousted out by Bob Clough with 7lbs 7ozs 0drs of roach and perch taken on both pole and bolo with maggot and groundbait.

Close behind, Harry was in the runner-up position with exactly 7-0-0.

The river was very low and probably as a result no bream appeared in catches – just the odd small skimmer. Twenty-one anglers fished.

Monday’s disabled and over 60s match was fished this week at our Association-owned Woodshaw Reservoir fishery at Wigan, before which the members held a minute’s silence for Barrie Walsh, who recently passed away.

Barrie was a valued member of the small team of dedicated volunteers who for many years have maintained this fishery and other local waters to an excellent standard.

Local rod Alan Birchall was the winner with a weight of 9-0-0 caught from peg 11. His net was made up of skimmers on pole-fished pellet plus roach on caster.

Second-placed Alan Brown drew peg 12 and caught a bonus bream of 2lbs plus to which he added roach and perch. Nineteen anglers fished.

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, Alan Birchall 9-0-0; 2, Alan Brown 8-8- 0; 3, Jimmy Byrne 8-3-0; 4, John Ashwin 7-13-0

Mersey Series match: 1, Bob Clough 7-7-0; 2, Harry Billing 7-0-0; 3, Alan Faulkner 6-12-0; 4, Jeff Shaw 6-8-0

Fixtures:

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

Monday, disabled and over 60s: Bridgewater Canal at Daresbury Labs Bridge, Peg 144. Draw 9.45am. £5 all-in. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 rules apply.