Frank Lythgoe’s Warrington Anglers’ Association column...

DARREN Smith was about to call it a day at Appleton Reservoir.

There had been nothing doing, but out of the blue the Gods smiled down on him and he was suddenly playing a decent fish.

After a few heart-stopping moments, a mirror carp was safely in his landing net which turned out to be a new PB weighing exactly 25lbs.

The fish was caught on a small wafter fed using a PVA bag.

The same day, the perch maestro Michael White was out again working his magic on the Bridgewater Canal with his usual lures.

He landed a stripey which he reckoned to have caught four times over the past three years in roughly the same area. Its weight had varied from nearing 3lbs to the current of just under 2lbs 5ozs 0drs.

Tim Poulter ventured to the Bridgewater Canal to add to his past weeks’ piking action. Despite hooking five pike each one refused to cooperate, result 5-0. However, not one to accept defeat, Tim sopped off at Statham Pool on his way home for a last-ditch effort and was rewarded with a 3lb jack.

Dave Gardner and Ken Hewitt have been on their travels again, this time to the Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook, taking advantage of the protection offered by the M6 motorway bridge in the predicted inclement weather.

Ken, still happy following his recent win of a Korda goody bag in a competition on our Facebook group set-up a pole and maggot at 7metres. He ended up with a catch of perch ranging from a couple of ounces to around a 1.5lbs, losing a bigger one at the net, plus three roach.

Dave, using both a waggler and method feeder, had four roach, one over a pound.

Following an abortive trip to Grey Mist Mere on Thursday which unusually saw a full car park and most pegs taken, Neil Plunkett ventured out again the following day to one of his other favourite venues, Rixton Claypits, where he had the place to himself.

Fishing feeder tactics with frozen sweetcorn as bait he landed six decent sized bream plus a surprise jack pike which took his feeder on the retrieve.

Added to this and taken on waggler, same bait plus maggot he caught roach and perch to end his session with a bonus tench of 5lbs.

Neil said: “All that close to home, sat in the sunshine and silence, what a great water.”

Sunday saw a welcome return of our River Mersey Series due to higher water levels helping to ensure selected pegs were suitable to fish following the damage to Howley weir which is currently awaiting repair.

Harry Billing made peg 57 pay with a catch of quality roach, skimmers, and hybrids taken on the pole for a winning weight of 24-11-0.

Second placed Ray Boden wasn’t too far behind with a weight of 23-5-0 of bream and roach taken mainly on the tip.

Only nine members fished due to other commitments but after these weights I rather think that more will be tuning out for the next match at Victoria Park.

The Disabled & Over 60s fished their Monday match this week on the Bridgewater Canal at Walton.

Chris Wray was the winner with a net of quality roach and perch caught on pole-fished worm and caster for a weight of 5-11-0.

Paul Ashton took second place helped by a bonus bream of 2.5lbs which, added to his catch of roach and perch, gave him a total of 5-6-5. Catches along the match were mainly roach and perch. Fifteen anglers fished.

Our WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT remains closed 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 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.

Your catch reports are welcomed as many members rely on your shared information for their visits to the bankside. Email secretary@Warrington-anglers.org.uk

Results: Mersey Series: 1 Harry Billing 24-11-0; 2 Ray Boden 23-5-0; 3 Jimmy Byrne 14-3-0; 4 Bud Lea 9-8-0. Disabled & Over 60s: 1 Chris Wray 5-11-0; 2 Paul Ashton 5-6-5; 3 Alan Faulkner/George Barber 4-2-0.