Shock as popular angling store closes its doors
TACKLE SHOP HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS
THE local angling community had a big shock last week when the biggest fishing shop in the area suddenly closed its doors.
Ultimate Direct, based at Holtonle-Clay, has now closed. This is a massive blow to anglers in the area, but more so to Simon and Mike who were employed by the firm. They turned the store around and put in so much work and effort to keep anglers in the area happy by supplying top-quality tackle.
They are now out of work and wondering what they will do next. They both loved working in the shop and are weighing up their options for the future.
The closure has in turn put pressure on the remaining shops in the area; they have to take up the slack now and the demand on the bait side will be massive.
So please be patient with the remaining shops and support them. The angling community cannot afford to lose any more.
One problem is anglers ordering items online, but if there are no local shops, what are you going to do when you want a pint of maggots? You will sometimes be pleasantly surprised that local stores can and will compete with internet prices. So instead of going online, go and talk to people in the local shops.
On to the angling and we start with the sea fishing. There were two matches last week, the first was on the Humber Bank Wall on the Courtaulds straight. Species caught were eels, flounders, pin whiting and a few better whiting.
Results: 1st, Lee Smith, 15 fish - £50; 2nd, Adie Cooper five fish - £25.
Further along, the Friends Fishing Group were on Cleethorpes Promenade and it was top all-round angler John Atkinson who had seven fish for 162cm.
The Friends club also travelled to East Halton on Wednesday, and those anglers who managed to get on the lower part of the wall seemed to do a lot better. First in was Ian Nelson with 13 fish for 249cm. He was followed by Roy Chester who had 13 fish, mainly small pin whiting. Third was Steve MacGregor with 11 fish for 162cm. Fourth was Richard Wong with 133cm.
The whiting have been starting to show and the North Wall has been the best place to go - but it is a long walk as the gate is still shut and it looks like this is a permanent arrangement, which is a shame as this time of the year it can produce some very good fishing. But it is off limits for a lot of anglers due to the walk from Fuller Street being too much.
Onto the coarse fishing and LOR AC were in action at Hollywood strip at Messingham.
Daniel Reynolds on peg 13 took the honours with a fantastic weight of 196lb 14oz - mostly on short pole tactics on pellet.
Mark York maintained his great results this season, finishing second from peg 18 catching on the waggler and short pole for 141lb 11oz.
In third place, Matt Daniel on peg 3 fished short pole tactics again - but on corn and put 138lb 6oz on the scales.
The 2021 KO final was also contested and Ric Coleman beat Ernie Armitage to become the club’s KO Champion of 2021.
Carr Lane AC finished their season off at Candy Corner. The fish left it late to turn up. The winner was
Adam Love, who had most of his fish in the last half hour. He weighed in 108lb. Then it was Ray Love who had 70lb. John Simms was third with 47lb
On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of going along and fishing the midweek match at Habrough Country Park. Tony Booth came out top from peg 21 with 45lb 4oz and second place went to Tim Goldby from peg 14 with 33lb 8oz.
Third place from peg 23 was Trev Oliver with 30lb, and fourth place went to Dave Kirk from peg 2 with 25lb 8oz. I must admit it has been a while since I was last at the fishery - it is a smashing place and well worth a visit.