Frank Lythgoe’s Warrington Anglers’ Association column 2023

SIMON Oldfield was juggling family commitments and deciding whether or not to try to fit in an evening session on Appleton Reservoir.

Well, his wife’s encouraging remark that he should go - as within 20 minutes he would catch - decided it for him.

So, a possible two-hour session was on the cards and on arrival he hurriedly set up a white pop-up over a small PVA bag of pellets.

I have no doubt that you have already guessed it… within her predicted 20 minutes he was rewarded with a mirror weighing in at 17lbs 9ozs 0drs.

The moral is that it sometimes pays to listen to your wife.

Simon Oldfield with the mirror carp he caught (Image: Contributed)

Adam Donne reports that a couple of regulars have been fishing almost daily at Cicily Mill Pool and been catching bream, tench and roach. Adam’s small but select team of volunteers who have been rebuilding pegs and other bank works along with the recent stocking have more than helped to attract the interest.

Declan Rourke has been giving Grey Mist some attention this year but on a recent visit he found that he was short on bait so fed sparingly with a handful of pellets.

It turned out he needn’t have worried as a mirror carp weighing in at 18-11-0 took a liking to his Vital Baits 18mm boilie (scroll to the top for the picture). Happy days.

It is always uplifting to see three generations of a family involved in our wonderful sport of angling.

On this occasion the venue was Statham Pool where despite conditions being rather muddy and bites few and far between it didn’t deter the Walton family who were fishing the venue for the first time.

Four-year-old Harper Walton was also being introduced to the sport by her father Michael and her grandfather Peter. Maggots didn’t deter this youngster!

Best fish went to gramps, a common carp of 8 to 9lbs.

Harper Walton, aged four, with her grandfather Peter and the common carp he caught at Statham Pool (Image: Contributed)

Harper Walton, aged four, with her father Michael and grandfather Peter at Statham Pool (Image: Contributed)

Mike Pritchard fished on the field side of the pool and reports catching around 20 roach, two perch, and a tiny chub which had obviously come from the feeder stream. He caught on maggot and pinkie mainly plus a couple on caster.

Ian Doyle spent a few hours on the river Alyn just over a week ago and caught some small but very welcome brownies along with a number of grayling. The latter hadn’t obviously grasped the concept of the coarse fish closed season. All fell to Ian’s small home-tied gold headed hairs ear.

Our Monday Disabled and Over 60s match this week was fished on the Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook and definitely fished much better than the previous week with The Breadman (George Barber) being the winner from peg 10.

It’s obviously no secret what bait he used, although rumour has it that he has lately been using a different baker’s product to tempt his net of roach and a small skimmer for a weight 4-4-0.

The runner-up Alan Brown was the second angler to weigh his catch and looked like the favourite when his similar catch hit the scales at 4-0-8. Alan also tried pinkie but bread won the day. Seventeen anglers fished.

Warrington Tackle & Guns closure announcement last week has now been reversed with a new owner now taking over this week. I am sure that you all wish them every success.

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 shared information for their angling visits. Email secretary@warrington-anglers.org.uk

Results: Trent & Mersey Open (Saturday), Farm Road: 1 Steve Brookes 0-13-0; 2 Jimmy Byrne 0-7-12; 3 Tony Carr 0-6-12. Disabled and Over 60s match, Bridgewater Canal: 1 George Barber 4-4-0; 2 Alan Brown 4-0-8; 3 Al Faulkener 3-6-0; 4 Neil Buist 3-5-5.

Fixture: Monday: Disabled and Over 60s, Bridgewater Canal, Pickerings Bridge, draw 9.45am (£5 all-in, no change given).