THE Warrington Anglers' Association management committee decided on Monday night that conditions are now favourable enough to re-open all the closed fisheries from one hour before sunrise today, Thursday.

Despite the joint efforts of CEFAS and the Environment Agency laboratory at Brampton we are no wiser as to the identity of the virus, so I would ask anglers to report any fish deaths or anything that they think is suspicious.

The Environment Agency advice is that anglers should ensure they dry their nets and unhooking mats before use on our fisheries.

The good news is that not all the carp in the Bridgewater Canal succumbed to the mystery virus.

Chris Barrow reported a beautifully conditioned 12lb common from the Moore area on sweetcorn. Please send more reports so that we can assess stocks.

New member Chris Stowell set his stall out for pike on the same fishery at Agden. He was rewarded with a pike of 17lbs that took legered lamphrey.

The River Wyre is getting more popular with several reports this week. Adrian Howard opted for stick float and maggot, and moved swims to find the fish.

He had a succession of small chub and dace topped by two decent chub of 4lbs 4ozs 0drms and 4-8-0, which gave one hell of a fight and are the largest he has caught using that method to date.

Steve Bewes free-lined cheese paste and lobworm and caught five decent chub, lots of chublets and a pan-sized flounder, which devoured his lobworm offering.

The River Ribble at Hurst Green is on form with another report of an almost all-barbel catch by member Ian Buxton.

Ian fished a maggot feeder with three maggots on a 14s hook to take fish of varying sizes steadily all day.

The best weighed in at 7-2-0 but he lost several larger specimens. These fish should really pack on weight if members switch to high protein baits.

Well done to our team after their success in the first match of the Mid-Cheshire Winter League. The result is even more pleasing because several of the team members were youngsters from our intermediate team. Andrew Lewis and Ian Morrison both came second in their sections.

Contact me with any catch reports on 01928 716238, fax 01928 713898 or e-mail frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk. HQ Parker Street will be open as usual tomorrow, Friday, between 7pm and 9.30pm for subscriptions and new members.

Frank Lythgoe

Results: Mersey Series: 1, Paul Healey 4-4-0; 2, Ian Roberts 4-0-0; 3, Steve Leyland 3-2-1; 4, Roy Everton 2-14-0; 4, Jeff Shaw 2-14-0. Disabled and Over 60s: 1, Brian Pilkington 4-9-0; 2, Keith Tyrebuck 4-0-1; 3, Ray Bowden 3-0-1; 4, Harry Newton 2-15-9. Mid-Cheshire Winter League: 1, Warrington 60pts; 2, Tri-cast Highfield 55pts; 3, Trafford Angling 51pts.

Forthcoming Events: Saturday: Harold Parker Shield, draw on bank in Cliffe Lane (pegs 621-650). Sunday: Mersey Series, draw 9am in Weir Lane. Monday: Disabled and Over 60s, draw 10.15am at Star Inn.