Frank Lythgoe’s Warrington Anglers’ Association column…

HEARTY congratulations to Warringtonian and WAA member Helen Dagnall, the winner of the 29th Women’s Coarse Angling World Championship which took place at Canal Dunavac Apatin in Serbia over the weekend.

She has won the team event with England before, but this is the first time winning the individual prize in 23 years of contesting the worlds.

Her overall winning weight over the two days was 17.480g. The England team finished sixth.

Wayne Murphy had a nice two-day session on Small Sandiway, landing a common and a mirror carp but lost two in the weed.

Equally happy with only one carp was David Snape, who fished at Rixton Claypits for the first time. Following a 7am start, nothing happened until around 4pm when his reel suddenly screamed off resulting in a lovely unmarked common in the landing net. Bait was a 16mm Manila boilie.

Stuart Roberts decided to give High Legh Pool a try on Friday, having never fished there before, and decided to go down the caster and hemp route for tench but what followed was a bite every chuck from small roach.

The more he fed the more bubbles erupted - the source was eventually revealed when he landed a couple of carp around the 5lb mark and lost two. A return visit is on the cards.

Stuart Peters had a couple of hours to fill on Saturday so a quick trip to the River Alyn was in order as he also had some old bait to use…shame to waste it.

Armed with his trusty 13ft Daiwa Connoisseur rod, a bait apron, maggots, and hemp it wasn’t too long before he found the fish.

Stuart could see grayling striking and after a few missed bites started to get nearly one a chuck. A thoroughly enjoyable session in peaceful surroundings.

Urgent members update: Warrington Anglers’ Association Committee have reached the decision to ban the use of the OMC Magic Twig self-hooking device with immediate effect on any of our waters. This is due to concerns of the possibility of fish becoming tethered in weedy conditions.

Our Monday Disabled & Over 60’s match was fished on our Woodshaw Reservoir fishery at Wigan. The winner, Harry Billing, drew peg two in the first section which produced the three of the four best weights, although it appears that Woodshaw didn’t fish to expectations.

He caught small roach and skimmers on maggot and pinkie to which he added a bonus crucian for a weight of 6lbs 7ozs 3drs. Barry Chambers, who was only three pegs from the winner, held on to his previous week’s runner-up position with a net of two crucians caught on caster and the rest roach on maggot for 5-5-4. An even better turnout this week with twenty-seven anglers at the draw.

Our Mersey Series members’ match took place on Sunday along the Victoria Park stretch of the Mersey.

Unlike the previous week, the bream were back feeding again and Ade Green, who fished a groundbait feeder and double red maggot, got among them with a net of three decent bream, skimmers, roach, and perch for a cracking winning weight of 22-6-0.

Jimmy Byrne took second place, also fishing on a feeder and maggot to include two bream along with 40 roach and perch for 13-9-0.

Ant Higham took the third place with 9-0-0. Thirteen 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 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.

Your catch reports are always welcome as lots of members rely on your shared information for their angling visits. Email secretary@warrington-anglers.org.uk

Results: Mersey Series Members Match: 1 Ade Green 22-6-0; 2 Jimmy Byrne 13-9-0; 3 Ant Higham 9-0-0; 4 Roy Everson 8-9-0. Disabled & Over 60’s (Woodshaw Reservoir): 1 Harry Billing 6-7-3; 2 Barry Chambers 5-5-4; 3 Jonny Johnson 4-13-4; 4 Al Faulkner 4-4-9.

Fixtures: Sunday: River Mersey Match (members only), draw Victoria Park, 8.45am £10 all-in. Monday: Disabled & Over 60’s, Bridgewater Canal, Stage Lane car park, draw 9.45am (£5 all-in).