All’s well on the Welland again after dismal period

Over the past few years there can be little doubt that the Old Nene at March has become the top winter venue in East Anglia.

Consistent weights of roach, skimmers and at times tench has ensured anglers from all over the country still try and get onto at least a couple of the popular winter open matches.

The River Welland through Spalding used to be its equal but after a dismal period where it would seem fluctuating water levels moved the shoal so froach around and perhaps even out of the length at times, anglers eventually turned their backs on it.

Thankfully though conditions have changed this year with much more water through the length.

And when match organisers Wayne Swinscoe and Roy Whincup plucked up the courage to put a pairs series on to the Welland there have been some some startling weight so froach, proving once again that you can never write a venue off no matter how bad we think it may be fishing.

That’s food for thought on the likes of the River Nene too by the way. It’s not been match fished for several years now, yet I am convinced there is still a massive head of fish in some sections and would comfortably hold matches once again if someone was brave enough to give it a go.

Last weekend round two of the Maver Bait Tech Pairs event on the Welland through Spalding produced some outstanding weights.

Out in front with a fantastic 35lb 4oz net of roach was Rob Wootton. He fished on the rushes towards the town bridge end and took fish to a pound on bread punch.

Wisbech rod Martin Roper came in second with 33lb 4oz followed by match organiser Wayne Swinscoe with 30lb 12oz.

On the pairs front it was Chris Jenkinson and Swinscoe, who won with an excellent combined weight of 57lb 8oz.

Result: 1 R. Wootton, 35lb 4oz; 2 M. Roper, 33lb 4oz; 3 W. Swinscoe, 30lb 12oz; 4 R. Whincup, 29lb 5oz; 5 L. Darler, 27lb 13oz; 6 A. Bates, 27lb 12oz. Pairs: 1 W. Swinscoe and C. Jenkinson 57lb 8oz.

Deeping St James AC held their Cyril Newman Cup match at Deeping Roadside on Sunday but found that the fish had moved from the favoured area around the road bridge.

Starting the new year in fine style was Ray Torringtonon peg four. He caught roach steadily through out them atchon bread punch over liquidised bread but switched to worm later in the match to take some quality bonus perch to finish with 10lb ½ oz.

Second from unfancied peg eight was long- serving club member Mick Wright, who fished bread punch on the whip to take 7lb 7oz of roach. Third from the top end by High Locks on peg 24 was Roger Biddle with 5lb 4oz of roach and dace.

Next week’s match will be the fourth round of the Deeping Individual League Series scheduled for the River Nene at Wansford subject to river conditions. Decoy Lakes Open Results

Tuesday, Willow Lake: 1 N. Baxter, 54lb 10oz; 2 A. Leathers, 48lb 1oz; 3 J. Richardson, 43lb 15oz;

Saturday, Beastie Lake: 1 B. Mason, 65lb 3oz; 2 S. Freeman, 56lb 13oz; 3 M. Freeman, 47lb 5oz;

Sunday, Beastie Lake: 1 S. Freeman, 92lb 14oz; 2 MFreeman, 50lb; 3 D Proud, 47lb 2oz.

Rob Wootton caught a fantastic 35lb of roach.