Frank Lythgoe's Warrington Anglers' Association column 2023

FISHING around our waters is definitely improving this week.

Garry Whitehead had a very productive four-hour roach session at Appleton Reservoir from a peg near ‘the beach’.

He fished both feeder and pole tactics with groundbait and maggot, catching some cracking roach on single or double offerings.

He reckons that, overall, the pole won the day.

Garry Whitehead with his catch of roach from Appleton Reservoir (Image: Contributed)

After packing up, however, and weighing up the possibility of a brief lure session on the Bridgewater Cana,l he calculated that there was a usable 30minutes of light remaining…the temptation was too great.

So, he stopped off on the Bridgewater Canal at Moore on his way home as he always has his lure rod ready and waiting stashed in his car boot. The result was, within six minutes of casting in, he was into a fish and landed a superb looking pike (See picture at the top of the page). Now fulfilled and with dusk approaching Garry continued on home for his evening meal.

Harper Walton, 4, made her debut in my column last week when she was being introduced to our sport by her dad Michael and her grandfather Peter. Well, she is back again this week after her very first night fishing expedition.

Accompanied by her dad, they bivvied-up at Rixton Clay Pits, the youngster insisting on taking everything but the kitchen sink!

Harper Walton, 4, with a Rixton Clay Pits bream (Image: Contributed)

Despite there being lots of carp on the surface on arrival none were feeding and they ended up with half a dozen bream to around 4lbs, which fell to pop-ups, plus roach and a single perch caught on maggots that had been carefully selected for their colour by Harper. Happy memories for them both.

On Sunday James Howard set up two rods at Phoenix Park, one with a small maggot feeder and double maggot on the hook and the other a groundbait feeder and worm, but with no sign of action he reeled in the latter and concentrated on the maggot rig.

It was the right decision resulting in a very enjoyable day’s session because he ended up with five tench and a new PB at 5.74lbs.

James Howard with his personal best tench caught at Phoenix Park Lake (Image: Contributed)

Keith Starkey, one of our regular volunteers at working parties, enjoyed a day off and fished Grey Mist.

He ended up with three tench caught using a hybrid feeder using 8mm Red Robin pellets. There was some interest on his carp rod offering 12mm pop-ups but none came to anything.

Mike Pritchard was back on Statham Pool again on Saturday, this time increasing his catch to over 60 roach, two hybrids, and a small chub mainly caught on maggot and pinkie with a few better stamp fish taken on hemp and caster.

The only other angler on the fishery caught a 15lb mirror carp and a bream.

The pegs were definitely more comfortable having been re-stoned by our volunteers over the weekend.

Jimmy Byrne enjoyed a morning session away from the match scene at Cicily Mill Pool where he reports a catch of over 50 fish, six rudd, a perch, with the rest being roach, although one tench stretched his elastic to limit before bidding farewell. All were caught on pole at 10 metres on single maggot.

Our Monday Disabled & Over 60s match this week was fished on the Bridgewater Canal at Pickerings Bridge.

The winner was Pete Jones with a weight of 2-1-0 made up of 25 small roach caught using bread-punch.

Only an ounce separated the next three anglers with match organiser Jimmy Byrne just managing to stay ahead, taking the runner-up spot with a catch of 12 roach and four perch for 1-10-0. Sixteen anglers fished.

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 (Saturday) Farm Road: 1 Stuart Phipps 4-6-0; 2 Dave Hodson 3-12-0; 3 Steve Brookes 3-6-0; 4 Jimmy Byrne 2-5-0. Disabled & Over 60s match, Bridgewater Canal, Pickerings Bridge: 1 Pete Jones 2-1-0; 2 Jimmy Byrne 1-10-0; 3 Bud Lea 1-9-8; 4 George Barber 1-9-0.

Fixtures: Monday: Disabled & Over 60s match, Woodshaw Reservoir, draw 9.45am (£5 all-in, exact money only).