Frank Lythgoe’s Warrington Anglers’ Association column 2023

GOOD Friday on Grey Mist was an enjoyable session for John Hamilton.

The weather was quite agreeable and he even surprisingly ended up with a touch of sun tan; but to get to the nitty gritty, the best part was when he landed a nice mirror carp weighing in at 24lbs 3ozs 0drs taken on sticky Krill.

John Hamilton with his Grey Mist mirror carp (Image: Contributed)

James Howard managed to fit in a couple of hours at Phoenix Park.

Fishing on the venue for the first time, he set up a feeder with red maggot on the hook.

He was almost caught unawares as suddenly his rod lurched forward but his lightening reaction soon saw him playing a decent fish which turned out to be a nice-looking tench, just a smidgen under 5lbs at 4.98. James hooked into another decent sized fish but the fish shed the hook at the net.

Gary Chadwick had suffered two recent blanks but this week on the Bridgewater he reports having a decent afternoon’s fishing at Agden. He ended up with 30 bits and a bream.

Ian McIntyre also was quite pleased with his short session on the canal at Lymm Village where although there were quite a few boats the fish were still feeding. He fished pole and pinkie for a net of small roach and two bonus perch of well over a pound which both stretched his elastic when he offered double pinkie.

Ackers Pit has been fishing well, producing some decent catches of roach since our recent stocking introduction of roach, perch and a few bream.

However, I had asked regular contributor to this column Mike Pritchard to ditch his weekly Bridgewater Canal Saturday session and try his homemade waggler tactics out on Ackers.

Well, he won’t be listening to me again anytime soon as evidently only days before his session the colour had suddenly dropped out of the water making it crystal clear…not the best conditions on such a shallow fishery.

Mike tried two swims, the first produced a perch and a roach, the second a solitary roach!

He did speak to another member who was intending to fish who told him that he had caught 50 roach on Thursday but seeing how clear the water had turned in two days coupled with Mike’s result had decided to give it a miss.

Member Ste Daley offered an inquisitive robin some of his maggots and the brave little thing was happy to oblige (Image: Contributed)

The Monday Disabled and Over 60s match this week was fished on our Woodshaw Reservoir Fishery, and with bites being rather scarce Jeff Stoll, who drew peg one, was the easy winner with 5-3-2 made up of three crucians plus roach, all caught on pole and maggot.

He almost doubled the weight of second-placed Mike Worley who weighed a net of small roach plus a bonus crucian, all on pinkie for a weight of 2-9-12. Fifteen anglers fished.

Warrington Tackle & Guns has announced on Facebook this week that they have made the decision to close the shop down and will be running a ‘closing down sale’ over the next 2-3 weeks.

After looking after angler’s tackle and bait needs in Warrington for the past 21 years they will definitely be sorely missed. Our grateful thanks for all their support to WAA and our members over that time and best wishes to Andy, Bernard, Helen, and Stu.

Our WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street, Warrington, WA1 1LT, remains closed on Friday evenings but members can simply post to this address or put their membership book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door where mail is collected and dealt with most days. Alternatively, you can post to Warrington Anglers Association, PO. Box 71, Warrington WA1 1LR where mail is collected weekly.

Your catch reports are always welcome as lots of members rely on your kindly shared information for their angling visits. Email secretary@warrington-anglers.org.uk

Results:

Trent & Mersey Open, Billinge: 1 Stuart Phipps 3-13-12; 2 Steve Brookes 3-11-0; 3 Jimmy Byrne 2-12-12; 4 Martin Kettle 2-8-12

Disabled & Over 60’s (Bridgewater Canal): 1 Jeff Stoll 5-3-2; 2 Mike Worley 2-9-12; 3 George Hillis 1-14-6; 4 Ron Durr 1-13-6

Fixtures:

Monday: Disabled and Over 60s, Bridgewater Canal, Preston Brook: Park under motorway bridge, draw 9.45am, £5 all-in, exact money only).