ON Saturday it became necessary to close Lymm Angling Association's Farm Pool due to roach being affected by what appears to be a fungal infection.

Environment Agency staff have taken water and fish samples for tests to be carried out so we are eagerly awaiting the results.

On nearby Spring Pool, on Lake Lane, the silver orfe are feeding well, with member Brian Ellis catching 16 on Friday. This followed committee member Ian Taylor's success the day before when he landed 11.

Brian pointed out that some of his fish showed early signs of them carrying spawn. Let's hope we have another successful spawning this year.

Member Alan Fleet reported a number of decent carp landed at Shakerley Mere on the weekend.

A fish of 20lbs 4ozs was the best reported with others at 19lbs, 17lbs and 16lbs. All these fish came from pegs one and two.

Ray Boden reports that Sankey Canal is fishing well. Fishing tight up against the 'stick ups' on the Cyanide stretch, Ray points out that 30lbs of tench is a reasonable target for pleasure anglers tooled up for the job.

Fisheries officer Brian Fleming watched in awe last week as a young girl, new to angling, caught fish after fish on Longbarn Pool using a five metre whip.

All her fish came to bright orange maggots. Brian pointed out that the roach and skimmers were of a good stamp, averaging 4ozs each.

Head water keeper, Derek Ormrod, took a day out of his busy schedule of work parties and took a trip down to the River Severn at Atcham.

While he did not land any barbel, he was snapped by a big, fast moving fish that could have easily been a salmon. He also managed to land a couple of decent chub of around 4lbs.

Members are reminded that Lymmvale closes today, Friday, and re-opens to members who have taken out a Lymmvale Trout season ticket on March 1.

Again this water will receive substantial stockings throughout the three and a half months of the Lymmvale trout season. There is still time for members to buy a ticket.

The next work party is scheduled for Sunday at Statham Pool. Work party volunteers are asked to bring spades, saws, hammers, etc, if they can.

Apologies to any member disturbed by the activities of the work party, but work must take place for the benefit of all members.

I can be contacted on 411774.

Neil Jupp.

Results:

Thursday's Sankey Canal Match - Cyanide Stretch: 1st, Gary Whalley, 18lb-0-0; 2, Tony Jackson, 12lb-12-0; 3, Ian Armstrong, 12lb-6-0; 4, Ray Boden (Shaw's Tackle), 8lb-0-0.

Club Winter Series - Sankey Canal: 1, Barry Holbrook, 8lb-12-0; 2, Terry Middleton, 5lb-3-0; 3, John Gambol, 4lb-11-0; 4, Eddie Philips, 2lb-15-0.

Junior Spring Series - Statham Pool: 1, Peter Stanley, 2lb-15-3; 2, Lee Voce, 1lb-13-10; 3, Ricky Young, 1lb-0-13.

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