Frank Lythgoe’s Warrington Anglers Association column…

A REPORT of cracking pike catches from Big Sandiway a couple of weeks ago when Graham Lane and Mike Williams – both fishing dead baits – kicked off their session at 6am.

By the end of the day, they had landed seven fish between them with two or three evading capture.

Mike ended up with the biggest at 15lbs-plus but Graham wasn’t far behind with a beautifully marked fish of 14lbs.

Mike Williams with his pike catch

Mike Williams with his pike catch

One of the fish, a seven-pounder, had almost become a meal for a much larger fish as it had several serious bite marks.

How big do they go in the lake is the burning question as there is a plentiful supply of silvers to keep up their growth rate.

This time of the year is loved by anglers targeting both perch and pike and a member trying his luck at Wide Hole last week struggled with just small perch.

But within 10 minutes of casting into the main run of the canal, a few better quality perch started to show resulting in some half-decent stripeys in his landing net.

With the river running at a fair pace, the Mersey match on Sunday was another one where bites were in short supply.

After a few weeks out of the frame, match organiser Jimmy Byrne was more than happy to clock up another win with a net of 30 roach plus a few perch for a weight of 5-1-0. They were all caught using on a small groundbait feeder and red maggot at a distance of 15 metres.

Steve Lewis was in second place fishing the same method with 20 roach for 2-14-0. Seventeen anglers fished.

Please note there is no match next Sunday but it has been rearranged for Tuesday, December 28.

Our Monday disabled and over 60s match took place this week on the Bridgewater Canal at Houghs Bridge. The canal had lost a lot of its colour so there were expectations that a few more bites were on the cards.

John Ashwin took his first win of the year with a net of roach for 2-12-0, the best few fish coming in the last hour using both bread and pinkie.

Alan Brown was the runner-up with 2-3-0. Fifteen anglers fished.

Both working parties last week at Sandiway Lakes and Rixton Claypits saw valuable improvements carried out by our small bands of volunteers for the benefit of their fellow members.

It would be nice if a few new faces came forward and helped. It may be stating the obvious, but the work would be done so much quicker and I’m betting that anyone volunteering would enjoy all the banter and camaraderie.

We are looking to carry out improvements to car parking and pegs at Wide Hole so if anyone feels that they can help with the works, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

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/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 at this time of the year are especially welcome. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a call on 01928 716238

Results:

Disabled and over 60s: 1, John Ashwin 2-12-0; 2, Alan Brown 2-3-0; 3, Ron Durr 1-14-0; 4, George Barber 1-13-0

Mersey Series: 1, Jimmy Byrne 5-1-0; 2, Steve Lewis 2-14-0; 3, Bud Lea 1-11-0; 4, Ray Boden 1-5-0

Fixtures:

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

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