OUR PICK OF THE WEEK

BANNISTER HOUSE FISHERY (SUN) New Canal (30 pegs)

The sun was shining high in the sky during this contest, and that switched the fish on to the feed. Matthew Ruddy needed an impressive 141-12-0 to win. Drawn on peg 51, the Mosella North West angler fished pellet shallow across to the far bank and put plenty of carp to 8lb into his nets. Mark Halliwell was only a couple of decent fish behind, though, on 131-0-0.

BLUNDELLS FISHERY (SUN) All lakes rover (50 pegs)

Pine Lake produced the top two anglers, with Alan Howarth’s 147-9-0 netful proving to be the pick of the bunch. Fishing pellet both on the feeder to the far bank and pole in open water and down the edge, the Leigh Tackle & Bait maestro caught carp to 12lb from peg 61. Just a few swims away, on peg 65, was Lee Clancy, who used the waggler shallow with pellet hookbaits for 118-4-0.

HAMPTON SPRINGS FISHERY OVER 55s (TUES) Rock, Long Island & Meadow Pools (33 pegs)

There were no huge weights on the day, but the fish were well spread out and a few bites were enjoyed by most entrants. But there has to be a winner and on the day that was John Annesley, who tipped 72-0-0 on to the scales. He used corn at 12m and in the edge for carp to double figures and a few silvers to see off the threat from John Cheetham, who landed 60-13-0.

MAVER MEGA MATCH THIS (SAT) Partridge Lakes (120 pegs)

The venue was in stunning form for this big event, and the top six all needed over 100lb to frame. At the end of the thrilling contest it was Andy Bailey who was cracking the celebratory champagne open after he took 155-5-0 to win the match and book his place in the final. Having finished second and third in previous heats, he went one better from peg 121 on the Covey Canal Lakes, using caster shallow at 6m for F1s to 3lb. Kieran Marsdon was unlucky not to take the victory and finished up on 152-13-0.

MIRFIELD AC (SUN) Aire & Calder Canal, Heck (25 pegs)

A bonus perch for Stan Haigh proved crucial at the weigh-in as he defeated all his rivals with 14-10-0. The Anglers World Holidays angler used maggot over groundbait at 13m from peg 51 and caught plenty of roach before the 2lb predator took the bait. That fish made the difference between him and second-placed Keith Hobson, who brought 14-3-0 to the scales.

NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS AA SPRING LEAGUE RND 2 (SUN) Sankey Canal, Upper Pound (30 pegs)

A single ounce split the leading two men, with Danny Sixsmith edging the verdict. The champion was stationed on peg 61, where he used the pole with pinkie and maggot for 6-7-0 of roach, perch and small skimmers. Dave Boyle was on the next peg and used the same attack for 6-6-0.

PARTRIDGE LAKES (SUN) Covey Canal Lakes (71 pegs)

Worm and caster presented shallow proved to be the top tactic on the day as they both used it to great effect. At the end of an intense battle it was Graham Raysdale who came out on top, using the deadly baits from peg 4 for 127-11-0. Ellis Leigh was on peg 25 and wasn’t far behind the champion on 124-9-0.

THE OAKS LAKES (SUN) Ash, Beech, Sycamore (40 pegs)

Andy Nelson gave his rivals a masterclass in shallow fishing as he worked his way to 200-2-0. Pellet presented just 1ft beneath the surface soon had the carp in peg 9 on Sycamore Pool swirling, with fish to 5lb falling to his hard pellet hookbaits. James Woodrow also boosted the contents of his wallet after his 182-12-0 haul helped him secure second spot.

ST HELENS AA (MON) Carr Mill Dam (21 pegs)

The venue’s silverfish are well and truly out of their winter slumber, as the top two showed. Ged Rigby, drawn on peg 90, used a groundbait feeder with red maggot for a winning 33-14-0 of skimmers and bream. Dennis Knight was well away from the champion, but still had plenty of bites and finished runner-up with 23-0-0 from peg 154.

WOODLAND LAKES (SAT) Skylark, Partridge, Curlew & Wagtail Lakes (43 pegs)

Dean Smith gave nobody else a chance as he bagged an untouchable 208-0-0. Plenty of big carp were in the mood for a feast in peg 33 on Skylark Lake. He picked them off one at a time on the long pole and pellet and Method feeder. Maver Dynamite’s Macauley Pearson was way off that pace and slotted into the runner-up position with 128-8-0.