WADE ON WATER with Richard Wade

ANDY Findley qualified for next year’s Lychomania final after winning Lychgate Fisheries Wednesday open contest.

“The Fin” fished a method feeder to catch 45lb 9oz of mainly carp. Rich Wells came second with a 38lb 6oz catch of carp on pole fished corn. Paul Bates finished third with a 36lb 2oz catch.

Mill Street Motors’ Darren Walters won the latest Summer League fixture held at Makins Fishery. Drawn on Lake Two Darren made a slow start on a feeder. A change to the pole produced some fish, but a switch to the margins made all the difference as he had some big carp throughout the last hour to finish with a match winning 162lb 12oz.

Tuesday’s Shackerstone members evening match was fished along the Poplars length where Nuneaton tackle dealer Keith Brown recorded his first win on the Ashby Canal. Fishing bread punch, Keith landed 2lb 5oz of small roach. Alan Dixon finished second with a 2lb 1oz catch of small fish while Dave “Pondy” Harbottle also made a rare visit to the prize list with a 2lb catch. Leading the series after three matches is Rob Bream with 17 points.

There was yet another big turnout for Wednesday’s Maynes Lakes open match, resulting in all three Lakes being used. Leading the way was Darryl Moore who caught steadily from the start to win with a 49lb 12oz catch. Results; Pool One; First; Ian Haddon with 30lb 4oz. Pool Two; First Darryl Moore. Pool Three; First: Dale Arms with 37lb.

Clive Oliver recorded his first ever win at Higham Lane Fishery when he took the honours in the Wednesday open. Clive float fished bread to land 38lb 7oz of carp, the biggest weighed 13lb 8oz. Dave Hurlston fished a feeder to finish second with 34lb 11oz. Jim Spradbury came third with a 32lb 9oz catch.

Measham’s Wednesday evening match on the canal was fished along the Green Lane section near Snarestone. Pete Allwood landed a big tench and some small fish to win with 5b 6oz. John Gamble had a similar catch that weighed 5lb 3oz for second place with Terry Smith finishing third with 3lb 7oz of small bream. Matt Hodgetts leads the series with 55 points. The club’s Walters Shield match on Sunday was also fished along Green Lane, but didn’t fish as expected with Ian Plant and Geoff Taylor finishing equal first with just 14oz. Doug Dimbleby and Kev Milne also shared second place with both weighing 13oz.

Steady Eddie Sharrad landed a 9lb carp on the whistle to snatch a win in Thursday’s Higham Lane Fisheries open match. Eddie feeder fished to finish with 58lb 11oz. Runner-up Dave Hurlston on the next peg also had a last minute carp but that weighed less than a pound. Dave finished with a 56lb catch. Andy Stewart came third with 41lb 9oz.

Local anglers fishing with the Coventry based Plough Angling Club have enjoyed a good start in the first two matches. In the first match of the new series on the club’s own length of the river Avon around Ryton upon Dunsmore, Barwell’s Colin “Peck” Saunders took the honours with a 28lb 11oz catch of mainly chub. Ted Howard finished second with 12lb while Hinckley’s Mark Chinn finished third with 8lb 8oz. In the second match Ted Howard won with another chub catch weighing 26lb 11oz. Colin Saunders finished second with 18lb with George Howe taking third place with 8lb 8oz. Anyone intrested in joining this club either for matches or as a pleasure angler, should contact Ian Stringfellow on 07914 954168.

Mill on the Soar’s Tuesday open match was won by Mick Linnett with a 47lb 4oz catch of carp and bream. Tom Watt finished second with 31lb 4oz. Gary Smith came third with 24lb 14oz.

One of the Hinckley area’s best known and well liked anglers Barry Bennett passed away last week after a short illness. Barry had organised countless matches over the years and had more recently been running two matches a week at Brookfields Stoke Golding water. Anglers fishing Sunday’s Brookfield contest held a two minute silence before the start. Barry was a true legend among local match anglers and will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. Our deepest sympathy goes to his family.

Higham Lane Fishery have an open match every Wednesday evening. draw 5.30pm. Measham Angling Club have an open match on the canal every Wednesday, evening. Draw 5.30pm at the Globe Inn, Snarestone. Higham Lane Fishery have an open match on Thursday, draw 9am. Lychgate Fisheries have open matches/ Lychomania qualifiers on Saturday, draw 9.15am and on Sunday, draw noon. Brookfield have an open match on Sunday, draw 9am. Measham Angling Club hold the Lambels Memorial match on Sunday. This will be fished on the Coventry Canal at Alvecote. Draw in the Sam Barlow Pub at 8am. Mill on the Soar have an open match every Tuesday, draw 8.30am. Shackerstone have a members canal match every Tuesday evening. Draw 5.45pm on Station Bridge. Maynes Lakes have an open match every Wednesday, draw 10am. Lychgate Fisheries have an open/Lychomania qualifier every Wednesday, draw 9am.