Frank Lythgoe’s Warrington Anglers Association column…

LAST week, David Tasker stepped it up with a stronger set-up after four blank sessions whilst using light gear on the Bridgewater Canal.

And bingo, it worked when he landed a beautifully marked pike from the Preston Brook stretch.

In the heat of the moment coupled with his concern about fish welfare, it wasn’t weighed but the size alone was enough for David to recognise it as his new PB.

The successful method was a Fox 10cm roach lure fished close to the margin whilst walking the bank…as a form of exercise, it doesn’t get much better!

At the other end of the Bridgewater in the Spud Wood stretch at Agden, a lively jack pike took his lure and saved what was looking like being a blank for Paul Knowles.

Still targeting predators, Chris Taylor braved the colder mornings of this past week on a ‘perch hunt’ and was rewarded for his efforts with a couple of his target stripeys.

Wide Hole at Poynton is usually a summer fishery but Ed Warwick decided the location suited his first foray into dead-baiting for pike.

He float-fished smelt over depth and was more than made up when he ended up his session with three fish, the best he reckons was around 10lbs – worth a visit.

The Sunday Mersey Series this week was fished this week upstream of Mersey Walk and Ray Boden was the clear winner with a weight of 12-11-0.

He caught mainly on the pole and maggot and a few on the tip for a net of roach and perch from end peg 59.

Next door on peg 58, Ant Higham – aka ‘The King of the River’ – took second place with a similar catch taken on bolognese and maggot for 9-10-0.

The river fished well so let’s hope the predicted colder weather doesn’t impact too much on next week’s match. Thirteen members fished.

Our disabled and over 60s fished their Monday match this week on the Bridgewater Canal at Walton, where winner Jimmy Byrne, drawing peg 14, fished the pole and alternated between bread punch pinkie to put together a net of 60 small roach and perch for a weight of 3-8-0.

Runner-up Paul Ashton drew next door on end peg 15 catching a similar mix of fish for 2-10-0. Fifteen anglers fished.

A reminder folks that the Christmas Prize Match is next week on December 12.

Our headquarters at 52 Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT remains closed on Friday evenings. Members can simply post to this address or put their membership 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.

Come on folks – please get in touch as your catch reports are especially welcome at this time of the year as sport slows and not as many of you on the banks.

Lots of members rely on your shared information for their angling visits. Email secretary@Warrington-anglers.org.uk

Results:

Mersey Series: 1, Ray Boden 12-11-0; 2, Ant Higham 9-10-0; 3, Jimmy Byrne 7-14-0; 4, Roy Everson 7-11-0

Disabled and over 60s: 1, Jimmy Byrne 3-8-0; 2, Paul Ashton 2-10-0; 3, Ron Durr 1-14-0; 4, Neil Buist 1-11-0

Fixtures:

Sunday, Members Mersey Series: Draw 8.45am at Mersey Walk, peg 75 back

Monday, disabled and over 60s Christmas Prize match, Bridgewater Canal: Draw 9.45am at Walton Church. £5 all-in. Exact money only, no change given