I START my first column with an ongoing issue regarding the Sankey Canal at Carterhouse.

The canal is slowly losing water now that Fiddlers Ferry power station has been decommissioned and is no longer pumping water in. This has affected the canal from the back of Fiddlers Ferry down to Spike Island.

Halton Borough Council and other agencies are dealing with the situation. Warrington Anglers have liaised with all concerned and we are awaiting health checks.

Moving fish without these checks could be fatal to any fishery. It only takes one diseased fish.

Warrington Anglers do not condone the movement of fish without the permission of the association and doing so would result in that person/member being reported to the authorities and expelled from the club.

Andrew Burrows, our new treasurer, took time out from his busy schedule to spend an overnight session on Appleton Reservoir with his wingman and head bailiff James Makin.

True to form, before setting up they both set about checking the lake, tidying a small amount of litter and trimming back overgrown branches.

They finally finished setting up and settled in for the night. Well, they were rewarded for their efforts when Andrew slipped his net under a new personal best mirror carp of 27lbs known as ‘2 scale’ and also a 4lb tench for good measure.

Successful method was a hair-rigged yellow pop-up on a size 10 hook using a heli rig over a bed of corn and chopped worm. James was reduced to photographer.

Ken Hewitt and travelling companion Dave Gardner were once again out on Woodshaw lake this week. Ken had 17 fish in total, 14 roach and three perch, while Dave caught five roach, two perch around the 1lb mark and a 3lb carp. Seven-metre whip and float was the best method.

Daniel Stewart decided this week that a trip to the Ribble was in order so starting at our downstream limit using Toby and spinner lures, he concentrated on the shallower and faster swims and pools to try and avoid the course fish.

Despite his efforts nothing graced the landing net, so a trip over the hill to the other side opposite Marls Wood saw him bumping into another member just packing up who had managed a brace of brown trout. They both agreed that the river needed a good flush through.

On a trip up to Big Sandiway I bumped into a member who was fishing the caravan swim. He had been on for the night and was fishing for tench. Now although a tench had not paid him a visit he was more than happy with the 37.5lb mirror carp that he had landed that morning.

He was fishing 2lb test curve rods with inline maggot feeder and a worm hook bait over a bed of particles at 36 metres. He says it put up quite a battle on his lighter gear.

Just a note to members fishing the Sandiway complex, access is only via Nova Scotia Lane and not through the farms.

Our disabled and over 60s match was at Preston Brook where Bob Fitz just edged out Alan Faulkner by 3ozs, both having caught a bream and silvers to notch up his first win of the year. George Barber was a close third with 20 silver bream and roach. Fifteen fished.

Our WAA Headquarters remains closed on Friday evenings but members can simply post to the address or put their membership book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT 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 would welcome any info of your visits/catches from any of our fisheries. Many members rely on your shared information for their visits to the bankside. Email secretary@Warrington-anglers.org.uk

Results: Disabled & Over 60s, Bridgewater Canal: 1 Bob Fitz 4-1-0; 2 A Faulkner 3-14-4; 3 G Barber 3-8-1.

Fixtures: Monday: Disabled & Over 60s match, Trent and Mersey Canal at Farm Road near Broken Cross, draw 9.45am, £5 all-in, no change given.