GOOD news for members of Warrington Anglers' Association this week is the acquisition of another short stretch of the River Mersey.

It starts at the Woolston Waste Disposal Site and continues up and downstream to link in with our existing stretches.

Granted the banks are overgrown but if you want to be among the first to christen a virgin fishery on your doorstep and don't mind clearing a swim just go for it and let me know what you catch.

Unfortunately, you only have a couple of weeks to put it to the test as the coarse close season on rivers is almost upon us.

Ernie Hutchinson and Dickie Wernham found the resident roach population in a feeding mood on the Macclesfield Canal at Congleton over the weekend.

Both caught quality roach from 8ozs to almost the 1lb mark on loose-fed caster. The fact a boat turned around in their swim didn't make any difference to their catch rate.

The Bridgewater Canal at Broadheath basin produced some decent pleasure catches over the weekend with Graham Willen reporting a catch of 11 bream averaging around the 3lbs mark and one specimen which he weighed at 5lbs 13ozs 0drms. His catch also included eight skimmers which all fell for legered flake over a bed of liquidised bread.

However, the Warrington Local Winter League at Grappenhall was a struggle for some despite the reasonable weights of the top individuals which were led by our chairman Chris Grehan with 6-14-0, consisting of a few roach and perch and several bream. Steve Lewis wasn't far behind with a similar catch with 6-9-0.

The final match of the Warrington Junior Winter Series on Saturday couldn't have been any closer, ending up with Mike Chung and Luke Bowden on equal 17 overall points followed by Jake Fowles on 18. All the keen youngsters who fished the series in all weathers are a credit to our sport and are the future of angling.

A worrying incident has been reported by one of our members who spotted a man on the opposite side of the Bridgewater Canal armed with a spear and stalking fish.

There was only one parking place nearby, with just one car.

This happened on our stretch at Leigh where it is crossed by the East Lancashire Road. Full details have been passed to the police at Leigh. I would ask members to be extra vigilant.

The 2008 membership books have now been sent out to members, therefore the 2007 issue is now invalid and members must pay their new subscription before they can fish our waters.

If anyone has not yet received theirs, contact me immediately.

Let me have your catch reports on 01928 716238, fax 01928713898 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 memberships.

Results: Warrington Local Winter League: Individuals: 1, Chris Grehan 6-14-0; 2, Steve Lewis 6-9-0; 3, Kevin Green 5-14-0; 4, Graham Belton 5-1-0. Teams on day: 1, Monk Sports 25pts; 2, Cheshire Angling Red 24pts; 3, Warrington Gold 19pts. League overall: 1, Warrington Gold 193pts; 2, Warrington Red 192pts; 3, Monk Sports 187pts; 4, Cheshire Angling Gold 162pts.

Mersey Winter Series: 1, Anthony Higham 3-9-0; 2, Jim Byrne 3-0-7; 3, Barry Chambers 2-14-12; 4, Harry Morris 2-11-5.

Disabled and Over 60s: 1, Brian Aspinall 2-14-0; 2, Brian Pilkington 2-13-12; 3, Ron Durr 2-11-8; 4, Dougie Thom 2-9-0.

Forthcoming events: Sunday, Mersey series, draw 9am at Weir Lane. Monday: Disabled and Over 60s, draw at 10.30am at Star Inn.