OUR PICK OF THE WEEK
BLUNDELL’S FISHERY ROVER (SUN) All lakes (19 pegs)
Despite the thaw, this was a desperately hard match with nobody managing double figures. Top spot went to Mark Hassall. The Stalybridge Angling Supplies man returned 9-12-0, made up of skimmers and a couple of F1s on breadpunch at 18m from peg 63 on Pine Pool. Lee Riley and Rob Parker shared second with 9-10-0. Lee took roach, ide and small skimmers on maggot fished at 16m from peg 33 on West Lodge, while Rob, at peg 11 on Trio Pool, opted for pellet to take a few F1s.
Result: 1 M Hassall, Stalybridge Angling Supplies, 9-12-0; jt2 L Riley, Bait-Tech and 2 R Parker, Warrington Tackle & Guns, both 9-10-0; 4 D Williams, Warrington Tackle & Guns, 9-3-0; 5 M Harrison, TRAC MG, 6-7-0; 6 S Avison, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 5-0-0.
BRIDGNORTH AS (SUN) River Severn, Bridgnorth (23 pegs)
Chub decided the honours on a cold river with snow melt going into it. Brian Preece snared four fish to 5lb for 12-12-0 and victory off peg 79 as he fished bread feeder tactics. Runner-up Tim Banks netted a trio of chub on the same approach from peg 77 to weigh in a level 9-0-0.
Result: 1 B Preece, Bridgnorth AS, 12-12-0; 2 T Banks, Bridgnorth AS, 9-0-0; 3 J Williams, Kidderminster DAA, 5-0-0; 4 P Stacey, Bridgnorth AS, 4-10-0.
DAIWA GORDON LEAGUE CIPS RULES LEAGUE (SUN) Gloucester Canal, Permali – Rea (32 pegs)
Total weight was needed to decide the overall winner of this league – and Daiwa Gordon League man Ruben Guerra had 33-10-0 in the bag to win easily from Chris Jones as both men finished with 27 points. Chris did win the day individually. The Tri-Cast Weston Team Wales rod caught 10-12-0 of skimmers from peg 45 at Hempsted Bend, fishing bloodworm over joker and groundbait at 13m. The same approach on peg 48 saw Troy Weaver come second with 10-10-0 of skimmers.
Result: 1 C Jones, Tri-Cast Weston Team Wales, 10-12-0; 2 T Weaver, Daiwa Gordon League, 10-10-0; 3 I Leach, Tri-Cast Weston Team Wales, 9-15-0; 4 M Brush, Daiwa Gordon League, 2-10-0; 5 J Smith, Gloucester Angling Centre, 1-14-0; 6 S Geens, Sensas Starlets, 1-12-0.
Final league: 1 R Guerra, Daiwa Gordon League, 27pts (33-10-0); 2 C Jones, Tri-Cast Weston Team Wales, 27 (16-7-0); 3 M Treasure, Daiwa Gordon League, 25 (14-7-0); 4 M Brush, Daiwa Gordon League, 25 (11-13-0); 5 N Evans, Daiwa Gordon League, 23 (5-7-0); 6 S Williams, Sensas Lobby’s Tackle, 23 (4-14-0).
GOLD VALLEY LAKES (SUN) Gold Lake (20 pegs)
A single fish took this open for Drennan Bordon Angling’s Dave Lewis. He banked a carp on Method feeder and pellet off peg 45 to weigh in 12-10-0. That left Perry Stone in second with 8-12-0. He went for silver fish with cage feeder and maggot or pinkie to net small skimmers.
Result: 1 D Lewis, Drennan Bordon Angling, 12-10-0; 2 P Stone, Cresta/Gamakatsu, 8-12-0; 3 G Barbato, Guildford Bait-Tech, 6-0-0; 4 D Carter, Guildford Bait-Tech, 4-12-0; 5 P Arnold, Fishermans Cabin, 3-4-0; 6 G Myles, Newbury, 3-0-0.
MAINLINE BAITS COLEMAN’S COTTAGE FISHERY SPRING LEAGUE (SUN) Stepfield, Wood, Copse & Pathfield Lakes (40 pegs)
The weather meant a reduced attendance for this latest leg, and on-site tackle shop boss Paul Chambers easily took the honours. He put together 76-8-0 of carp and F1s from peg 15 on Copse Lake, fishing maggot and breadpunch at 12m. Adrift on 33-8-0 was runner-up Jamie Thompson, who drew peg 9
on Wood Lake.
Result: 1 P Chambers, Sensas Coleman’s Bait & Tackle, 76-8-0; 2 J Thompson, Cross Drove, 33-8-0; 3 R Heath, Chestnut Pool, 29-8-0; 4 S Colclough, Browning, 28-0-0.
NORTHALLERTON DAC (SUN) River Swale, Scruton & Morton (26 pegs)
Given the state of the river, this open produced some stunning leading weights. Aireborough rod Pete Miller won from his peg at Morton railway bridge with a bumper 74-0-0 of chub to 4lb on waggler and maggot tactics. Lee Furness gave him a good run for his money at Scruton, with 60-2-0 of chub on Bolo rod and maggot fished down the middle of the river.
Result: 1 P Miller, Aireborough, 74-0-0; 2 L Furness, Selby, 60-2-0; 3 F Hardcastle, DH Angling, 43-11-0; 4 P Bendelow, Woodland Tackle, 17-0-0.
PARTRIDGE LAKES (SAT) Covey Canal Lakes (26 pegs)
The snow and ice failed to stop 26 diehards turning out on Saturday, but the fishing was understandably rock hard. Jason Berry led the way with 18-6-0 of F1s from peg 111 on Canal 5, where he caught on maggot at 11m. Identical tactics on peg 107 of the same lake saw Phil Walsh into second spot with 12-0-0 of F1s.
Result: 1 J Berry, Wigan Angling Centre, 18-6-0; 2 P Walsh, Ashton Angling Supplies, 12-0-0; 3 S Carroll, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 9-9-0; 4 P Jones, St Helens Angling, 8-13-0; 5 B Brander, Warrington Tackle & Guns, 8-11-0; 6 T Turner, Rays Tackle, 6-9-0.
PARTRIDGE LAKES (SUN) Covey Canal Lakes (56 pegs)
Numbers improved for Sunday but, sadly, the fishing didn’t, as just 24-0-0 won the day for Gary McClelland. He drew peg 79 on Canal 4 and caught F1s fishing maggot down the middle at 7m. Second-placed Paul Coyle, at peg 10 on Canal 1, went long down the peg at 16m with maggot to net F1s, plus a brace of bonus carp, for 19-6-0.
Result: 1 G McClelland, Partridge Lakes, 24-0-0; 2 P Coyle, Preston Innovations, 19-6-0; 3 N Haymes, Maver NW, 14-12-0; jt4 P Lord, Tight Lines and N Butterworth, Warrington Tackle & Guns, both 13-14-0; 6 C Mayor, Drennan NW, 12-10-0.
STARLETS PACKINGTON SOMERS VETS (TUES) Molands Mere Pool (20 pegs)
Just before the big freeze hit, this Veterans match went ahead, but it was one to forget for many. Bob Calcott won with just 6-8-0 from peg 23. Maggot at 12m gave him a trio of F1s to keep Andy Saunders at bay as he banked 4-4-0 from peg 12.
Result: 1 B Calcott, Packington Vets, 6-8-0; 2 A Saunders, Packington Vets, 4-4-0; 3 E Keene, COVPAC, 3-9-0; 4 R Savage, Lane’s Bait, 3-8-0.