Frank Lythgoe's Warrington Anglers Association column...

GREAT news that last week, following a successful fish rescue, the Environment Fishery Team released 500lbs of roach and skimmers plus a few rudd into the Trent & Mersey Canal at Northwich. Many thanks folks, much appreciated.

The only carp that I have seen reported this past week was by Grant Blochlinger, who was pleased to be ‘off the mark’ with his first carp of the year after only a brief two-hour session. Venue, not known?

Rumour has it that Big Sandiway has produced four or five carp along with some decent pike, but nothing from the adjacent smaller 17-acre fishery.

This week’s Sunday Mersey Series match was cancelled due to high river levels but is back on this coming Sunday.

On Monday, our disabled and over 60s match took place on the Bridgewater Canal pegged either side of Hough’s Bridge.

With the recent storms and highly chocolate-coloured canal, it was not too hard to predict that it would be a low weight event.

Following on from his previous week’s success, match organiser Jimmy Byrne took first place again with 14 small roach on bread for 0-13-0.

Likewise, Al Faulkner was ‘ounced-out’ again this week but hung on to his second-place win with 10 roach and a couple of perch for 0-12-0. Nine mad keen anglers fished.

HALTON PLANNING OBJECTION:

We have had several previous attempts (once by Halton Borough Council in 2002 and lately a second attempt by developers to take away use by Warrington Anglers Association members of Red Brow Lane, that gives the only reasonable access to fish the Bridgewater Canal which we have leased and enjoyed for decades.

ALL MEMBERS PLEASE REGISTER YOUR OBJECTION to this Planning Application Number 22/00034/REM. Application for the approval of reserved matters (access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale) of planning permission 20/00337/OUTEIA which has been submitted to Halton Council for the erection of 108 houses adjacent to Red Brow Lane at Daresbury.

We are not objecting to the housing development BUT what we must object to is the proposed closure of Red Brow Lane, Daresbury, which has been used by our members for access by motor vehicle to fish the Bridgewater Canal at Red Brow Underbridge for countless years.

Members can object or comment online to the closure by sending your email to dev.control@halton.gov.uk by 03.03.2022 or in writing to Halton Borough Council, Municipal Building, Kingsway, Widnes WA8 7QF.

Please make your objections as soon as possible. Many thanks everyone.

Members are advised to avoid fishing the Bridgewater Canal on Saturday between Marsland Road Bridge and Oldfield Brow Bridge at Sale, as the annual Trafford Rowing Club Head race is taking place between 6.30am and 6pm.

Many thanks to the members who turned out for the working party at Rixton Claypits on Sunday. More peg improvements to be enjoyed by our members.

Our WAA headquarters at 52 Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT remains closed on Friday evenings but members can still 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.

I really appreciate any catch reports from members, especially at this time of the year when they are understandably few and far between with there being not many anglers out fishing.

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

Results:

Disabled and over 60s (Bridgewater Canal): 1, Jimmy Byrne 0-13-0; 2, Alan Faulkner 0-12-0; 3, George Barber 0-10-0; 4, Roy Rogers 0-6-0

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, Bridgewater Canal: Draw 9.45am at Tramps Grave, Moore Village. £5 all-in. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 match rules apply.