WEATHERWISE it could not have been better for anglers at the weekend and Lymm Angling Club's waters fished steady.

The usual favourite waters had a lot of attention from members taking advantage of the last couple of days of the season.

With the majority of waters closed, an emphasis can now be put on their maintenance. Most work is as a result of the rising water levels, putting nearly all the pegs on Village and Whitley Pools under water.

The work required to remedy this situation is substantial and a special effort will be necessary to address the situation and that is where members can play their part by attending work parties.

Day ticket waters, which stay open all year, have improved markedly. The Sankey Canal is producing some nice roach, perch and bream, with the switching on of this water's famous tench population eagerley awaited.

Lymm Dam is again bouncing back from the latest period of high colour due to heavy rain and will continue to improve if the weather can stay settled. Pike action has also stepped up a gear with the improvement of water conditions.

Abbey Lake at Orrell continues to fish well with quality roach feeding. Bread punch, casters, pinkies and brandlings are the baits scoring best at the moment.

The Old Quay Canal is a little temperamental at the moment with anglers either enjoying a feast or enduring a famine. Worms are scoring best for the bigger fish, including perch up to 1lb.

Grimsditch Mill Pool is producing plenty of skimmers and rudd with evidence of carp becoming active.

On the red overstamp waters, Whitley Pool has begun to display its head of ghost and koi carp. The coming to the surface of these fish is usually a prelude to them beginning to feed in earnest. Meanwhile it is the smaller fish which are providing the action. Fish very close in on this water.

Farm Pool is fishing very well, although sport is a little slow on Spring Pool despite the increased action from the silver orfe.

On the trout scene, sport remains hectic on Lymmvale with the rod average remaining high at 9.75. Action is a little more sedate at nearby Bentley Trout Pool, although the fish in this little 'put and take' go to 5lbs.

This week's work party in set for 9am on Sunday at Lymm Dam, meeting at the roadside by the dam wall.

I can be contacted on 411774.

Neil Jupp

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