Chill factor is not welcome

The recent cold and unsettled weather may be responsible for a notable drop in catches across the district, along with fewer anglers taking to the bank. Prior to the bitterly cold northerly winds, the Canterbury & District Angling Association’s Match Group Cup was fished at Brook Lake, Minster. Twenty anglers took part in overcast conditions with a light north-easterly breeze. The match fished well, with skimmer bream, roach, perch and a solitary tench caught.

The 2021 cup was lifted by Steve West, with 26lb 4oz of mostly skimmers to 1lb 8oz, caught on the pole at 13 metres using pellet. Second place was secured by John Lovett with 16lb 7oz of mostly roach, caught on the waggler and maggot baits. Ian Ritchie was third with 14lb 4oz of pole-caught roach and skimmers. In fourth was Alan Smith with 12lb, which included a 3lb tench.

Top junior was Phoenix Minter, with 5lb 6oz of polecaught roach.

Pike fishing has also been affected, with only three small fish reported by the 11 anglers who fished this season’s Cooke Pike Cup at Fordwich and Trenley Lakes in sunny and sometimes warm conditions.

Dan Boden caught the best fish of 5lb 10oz to secure the cup. He chose to rove around the lakes with lures. Ajackpikeof3lb6oz gave Nick Tedder second place. Winner of the junior competition was Harlee Collins, with a scrappy 3lb 6oz pike. Collins also used lures and roved around. Just prior to the downturn in catches, although feeder and float fishing was not fruitful at Stonar Lake, a few carp anglers fared well. Most especially Nicholas Sargeant, who landed an impressive haul of 27 carp. Four of those were more than 20lb with Sargeant’s best a 26lb 12oz mirror followed by a 23lb 8oz common and mirrors of 22lb 3oz and 21lb 4oz.

Some of the senior members of the CDAA hold unofficial matches and in their most recent outing to Grove Ferry, J Wigston topped the bill with 12lb 15oz, ahead of K Cunningham with 11lb 6oz and Alan Cain with 10lb 4oz. The Canterbury & District Angling Association has membership vacancies. For further details see the association’s website www. cdaa.co.uk or telephone 01227 710830 during office hours.