THIS week's fabulous weather temperatures will have no doubt encouraged anglers, including members of Lymm Angling club, to sort out their tackle and consider a first trip of the year.

This is a beautiful time of year to be out, with trees breaking into bud and early blossom breaking out, heralding the onset of spring with a blaze of colour and sweet fragrances.

The burst of activity is mirrored in the depths of our fisheries, with all sorts of natural foods bursting into life for the fish.

The fly fisherman makes the most of this by imitating this natural food, cleverly trickling their quarry with all sorts of artificial flies, ranging from bottom hatching larvae to fully-developed flies that lie on the surface film, just like the real thing.

Coarse anglers can also make the most of the emerging natural food, although it is very difficult to find baits that imitate them.

Nevertheless, it does help to know the habits of some of these creatures, as it could help in bait selection in terms of size and depth at which to fish.

As you can imagine, it would be pointless fishing hard on the bottom if the fish were up in the water feeding on, let's say, a daphnia cloud at mid-depth.

Around the waters, fishing is generally improving and for those who do not have an overstamp Grimsditch Mill, Farm and Founders Pools are producing some really nice bags of fish.

The recently-stocked tench in Farm Pool are now featuring in some catches, while carp continue to provide good action at Founders.

Night permit holders are reminded that they need to book on to Founders Pool for a night session. That can be done by using the number for night bookings as printed on the 2007 rule card.

It will be Jimmy Ashall who will make the booking for you and not Paul Rylance as printed.

Those with overstamps are enjoying the action on Lymmvale and Belmont Pool, while Statham Pool is now a very good option with the dropping of the water levels.

If you do choose Statham Pool for a trip, my tip is to choose a swim, which must be on the farm side, and throw small amounts of maggots or pinkies in at regular intervals, perhaps every two minutes.

Maintain this for 20 minutes or so and see if fish begin to swirl as the bait hits the water.

If they do, you are in for an action-filled session with the fish intercepting the bait in the first foot or two, including your hook baits.

Beware, the bites you are likely to get using this method will be lightning-fast, and you will have to adjust and fine-tune your rigs and tackle in order to be able to hit them.

All sorts of fish can be caught using this method, including bream of 4lbs and large roach, perch and small chub.

I can be contacted on 411774 but be prepared to leave a message.