Big catches

Reports from top events

HIS weekend sees the Angling Trust Winter League Final taking place on Decoy Lakes and the Fenland drains system in East Anglia – and the competing teams will have learned plenty from recent big matches held on all the included venues.

Decoy looks like being typical winter carp fishing, featuring big weights off noted pegs.

On the Drains, it’s ‘roach soup’ in some spots but there should be bites for all.

The big Drennan-backed Winter League at Decoy ended in overall victory for the consistent Jon Whincup, the best of three anglers on seven points. Ian Frith won the last match from Beastie Lake with 99-8-0 of carp and F1s while the day before, the open was topped by venue regular Richard Bond on 164-12-0 from Cedar Lake. Martin Howard took second on 132-6-0 from Horseshoe Lake.

Solid roach weights decided the latest round of the HAJAC League on the drains, with Dave Tebbitt taking 18-5-0 and Graham Welton 18-2-0 from the 20ft Drain near March. A host of anglers practising for the big final included England man Sean Ashby, coming in third.

Several other leagues drew to a close. New England Feeder man Lee Kerry enjoyed a win double by sealing the Garbolino Jon Whincup, Decoy Winter League victor. Lindholme Lakes Natural Baits title before moving on to Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery to take the Preston Innovations Feedermasters Winter Pairs title with his partner Will Freeman.

Meanwhile, the Guru quartet were celebrating after finally lifting the big Tunnel Barn Farm Teams of Four title at the Warwickshire water. Their 684 point tally put them well in front of runners-up Maver Gold Dynamite Baits Oak and they also had the top three individuals on the day. However, the fishing wasn’t Decoy is in good form for the Angling Trust Winter League Final. this good for everyone. Ferry Meadows Lakes served up another disaster for the Colmic Golden Rod Angling Championships qualifier.

Just one angler, Lee Jones, caught, his 3oz roach seeing him into the final as the remaining two places had to be drawn for!The news was much the same on the Calder & Hebble Canal at Dewsbury for the final round of the Thornhill Pairs. Tim Noon and Andy Turner tied for first place with just 5oz apiece, Tim taking just two perch while Andy had three roach on bloodworm.