THE Bridgewater Canal has been in good form and the skimmers and bream have been showing in numbers in matches as well as during pleasure sessions.

Jeff Claire sorted out a few bigger skimmers on sweetcorn in his net of roach and skimmers in Warrington Anglers' Association's Disabled and Over 60s match on Monday.

Second-placed Dougie Thom had all his roach and skimmers on caster.

The canal is really worth a visit and veteran Bridgewater Canal fan Brian Barber was pleased with his almost all-perch catch.

He said he couldn't go wrong and it was 'a bite a chuck', with some good stamp perch among them.

The Howleston match on Grey Mist Mere was a bit light on competitors but the ones who made it enjoyed some good sport.

Winner Aaron Brown included a nice tench weighing 2lbs 15ozs in his mixed catch but second-placed Tom Shingler went for quality and placed a 6-1-0 tench on the scales.

The anglers had a good day and had a nice bonus when the carp lads and bailiff kindly boosted the prize money with generous donations.

The Mist is fishing well and Thomas Graham had a large mirror carp weighing in at 26lbs. There are also plenty of tench and roach being caught.

Rixton Clay Pits is still suffering from high water levels, making some pegs unfishable.

On a sour note, the bailiff had to clear up two bin sacks of litter and barbecue debris from a peg where some anglers had been bivvied up.

That is unacceptable behaviour but, judging by reports, those people were poachers and not anglers.

I sincerely hope so because we do not want members like that in our association.

A working party on the River Mersey has been organised for Saturday on the River Mersey to get the banks and pegs in order before the start of the new season.

If you can spare a few hours, Jeff Shaw will be pleased to see you at Weir Lane at 10am.

Let me have your 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.

Lynda Lythgoe

Results: Disabled and Over 60s: 1, Jeff Clare 8-14-0; 2, Dougie Thom 6-14-0; 3, Barry Owen 5-4-11; 4, Ken Graham 3-11-0. Squad Fund Match: 1, Gary Mannion 5-6-0; 2, George Hollis 4-8-0; 3, Paul Healey 3-13-0; 4, Chris Francis 3-6-0. Minnows: 1, Ben Pike 3-8-12; 2, Jack Impey 3-1-10; 3, Stuart Wright 1-3-0. Juniors: 1, Mike Chung 1-4-0; 2, Jake Fowles 0-15-10; 3, Jamie Hirst 0-15-4. Howleston Cup: 1, Aaron Brown 7-8-7; 2, Tom Shingler 6-1-0; 3, Jon Andrews 4-14-0; 4, Josh Plumb 4-13-0. Woodshaw Junior Series: 1, Craig McIlwaine 5-5-0; 2, Mike Chung 5-4-0; 3, Michael Rudd 4-3-0; 4, Bev Connell 3-5-4.

Forthcoming events: Today, Thursday: Minnows, draw 6pm on bank opposite Euclid Avenue; Juniors/Intermediates, draw 6pm at Grappenhall Bridge. Monday: Disabled and Over 60s, draw 10am at Star Inn; Junior Series at Woodshaw Reservoir from 5.30pm, draw on bank. Tuesday: Squad Fund Match, draw 5.30pm on bank at Hill Top Road.