FEAST OR FAMINE

With pleasure catches for Warrington Anglers' Association members of 30lbs plus on the cards and fish to 3lbs it doesn't take many to make this weight.

To illustrate the feast or famine situation with this species in the Monday Disabled and Over 60s match only one bream was caught, roach making up all the top weights barring one. But, in last week's National Squad match, a net of bream sent the scale to 19lbs and the winner, John Cheetham, lost five decent fish.

Sandiway Small Lake is still 'tench Elderado' according to member Bernie Crawford after his first visit to the fishery. Bernie reckons he easily made the magic ton after hectic sport with fish averaging two to 2.5lbs. The best fish went to 4lbs but he lost several larger specimens.

Bonus mint conditioned roach averaging 10ozs going to 1.5lbs also helped to make this a 'red letter day'.

Vin Clayton fished the same venue and started with tench until the bream moved in where he landed five around the 5lbs mark on sweetcorn and running line tactics plus a decent sized chub. The carp fraternity are secretive about the large lake but a 22-8-0 mirror has been out this week.

Mike Pritchard and his father Ronald fished the Dee at the confluence with the Alyn on Sunday and were rewarded with only a few small dace.

After a change of venue to the River Gowy, fishing downstream of the Nags Head, they rescued the day's sport with roach and perch around 10ozs plus Ronald had a perch over 2lbs. Gudgeon, a few dace and small brown trout kept the float going under. Loose fed bronze maggot fished with a small waggler did the trick in the low flow conditions.

Balderstone is still in the news and producing some barbel to 7lbs. Don't forget this is a member's only water with no day tickets. Members are authorised to challenge any person fishing and do the necessary.

At Bicton, blanks were the order of the day last weekend when barbel failed to feed. There is no pollution and the water is fine, incidently this venue holds double figure fish with good numbers recorded over 12lbs.

Good reports from Four Crosses where Alan Singleton changed his swim and his luck when a 400 yard trek with his tackle placed him on a swim which yielded two barbel, 5lbs and 6lbs, a chub of 4lbs, and 11 grayling with the best about 1.5lbs. A small swim feeder and triple white maggot on the hook was the successful method. This Association owned venue rarely features in reports but is worth a visit.

HQ Parker Street is open on Friday night for subscriptions, new members, or a chat. I can be contacted on 01928 716238, fax 713898.

Frank Lythgoe

RESULTS:

Disabled & Over 60's

1) Vin Walsh 4-12-0

2) Brian Pilkington 4-3-6

3) Derek Royal 3-5-2

4) Doug Thom

Dave Noble 2-12-12

Police Summer Series:

Juniors

1st - Lee Andrews 3-7-12

2nd - Ben Tyler 2-1-9

3rd - Liam Welsh 2-0-6

Intermediate - Craig Lowndes 2-8-11

WAA Juniors Summer Series:

Minnows

1st - Joe Dagnall 2-3-10

2nd - Jamie Hirst 1-10-9

3rd - Robert Conroy 1-6-15

Juniors

1st - Paul Savage 1-15-0

2nd - Richard Hines 1-14-0

3rd - Neil Jones 1-11-8

Intermediate - Craig Lowndes 2-9-0

Nat West Trophy (Ackers Pits)

Overall Result:

1) Dale Lowndes 12-14-9

2) Robert Conroy 7-13-3

3) Neil Jones 6-7-3

4) Ashley Robinson 4-7-4

Cup Winners

Juniors under 10years:

1.. Robert Conroy 7-13-3

2.. Ricky Hines 2-15-0

Over 10 years:

Dale Lowndes 12-14-9

Neil Jones 6-7-3

COMING EVENTS:

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's Draw 10-30am Star Inn ( pegs 578-621)

TUESDAY:

Senior Sweepstake Draw 5-30pm Acton Grange Br (pegs 208-256)

Ladies Summer Series Draw 5-30pm on bank Statham (pegs 789-819)

WEDESDAY:

National Squad Fund Match draw 3pm Thelwall Steps (pegs 690-730)

Police Young Angler (Series) draw 6pm on bank Moore Br. (pegs 168-207)

THURSDAY:

Intermediate/Junior/Minnows Series: Draw 6pm on bank Euclid Ave (pegs 550-588)

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.