27^th January, 2009 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

 

Whilst some were struggling for bites over the weekend Mick Cullen who is an integral part of 'Team Clampits' won the Trent & Mersey match on Sunday and was kept busy with his catch of  100 small gudgeon and roach for 3-14-11. He edged his arch rival Kev Green into second place by just over half an ounce having also beat him in a head to head from adjacent pegs only the previous day on our local winter league. I wouldn't like to predict the outcome of their next clash as Kev is an extremely accomplished match angler, so watch this space.

 

George Barber won our Disabled & Over 60's match on Monday with 7-15-0 although he only had two fish. However he put in an outstanding performance in landing the bulk of his catch, a pike of over 7.5lbs on a light match hook length. Second placed Barry Owen put a cracking all roach catch on the scales of 5-6-0. I have no doubt the 'are the pike allowed' debate will be raised at some time. Currently pike are disallowed in National Championships.

 

Chris Parker had a really good all roach catch from the Bridgewater on Saturday in our local winter league event. Chris used pole and bread punch to tempt 7-2-0 of the red finned beauties. Warrington Red took the team honours with 25 points followed by Clampits on 18.

 

Dynamic Duo Ernie Hutchinson and Dickie Wernham who are regular contributors to this column decided that last week a trip to the Trent & Mersey Canal was on the cards as there had been some good catches reported from the stretch adjacent to the Broken Cross Pub. Eagerly setting up Ernie watched in amazement as his mate suddenly executed a backwards dive into the freezing murky waters well worthy of a 9.5 for style in any Olympic event. Daring Dickie not renowned for his swimming ability surfaced in the middle of the canal and Ernie needed to enlist the help of the landlord to pull him out. After a stiff whiskey and dry off in the Broken Cross they decided to call it a day although Ernie claimed the catch of the day weighing in at 14stone 10lbs!

 

Our local bailiff on the River Dane caught the level just right last week with two chub for 4lbs each and the biggest grayling he has seen caught at well over 2lbs. the trio took legered meat. James Clayton fishing further downstream also included two chub nudging over the 4lbs mark. On Saturday most anglers caught odd fish mainly fishing a feeder.

 

Please let me have your catch reports on 01928 716238 FAX 01928713898 or e-mail frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk.

HQ Parker Street will be open on Friday evening as usual between 7 & 9-30pm for subscriptions, new members, etc.

 

Frank Lythgoe

 

Results:

Warrington Local Winter League

Individuals:

1) Chris Parker (Clampits)      7-2-0

2) John Cartwright (Saracens) 5-1-6

3) Alan Faulkener (Warr Red) 4-14-0

4) Peter Critchley                     3-14-12

    (Cheshire Angling Red)

 

Teams:

Warrington Red 25 points, Clampits 18, Cheshire Angling Red 17, Saracens 15

 

League Overall:

Warrington Red 124 points, Cheshire Red & Clampits 96, Cheshire Angling Gold 94

 

Trent & Mersey

1) Mick Cullen    3-14-11

2) Kev Green       3-14-0

3) Helen Dagnall  3-9-0

4) Lenny Dutton   2-4-9

 

Disabled & Over 60's

1) George Barber       7-15-0

2) Barry Owen           5-6-11

3) Trevor Bainbridge 2-12-10

4) Ron Durr                1-10-0

 

Coming Events:

SUNDAY

Mersey Series draw 9am Weir Lane

MONDAY

Disabled & Over 60's Draw 10-30am Stockton Heath British Legion (Contact John Dagnall at Cheshire Angling Tel 01925 635486).

20^th January  Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

 

After a period of relatively settled  weather the last few days of heavy wintry showers has been playing havoc with most of the fisheries during this past week. The rivers have been up and down with the weight of flood water and understandably fishing was affected as of course the fish are shoaled up to the detriment of anglers sport, needless to say the Mersey match was called off last Sunday due to the poor water conditions.

 

 Although the canals have been subjected to the same deluges and the fish are still shoaled up there too, they have generally fished much better both for pleasure and match anglers. The Sunday Trent & Mersey match saw Garry Mannion take an all roach catch of 6-1-0 on pole and pinkie and to prove the point second place Billy Tasker had a similar bag from the next peg.

 

 The Bridgewater gave reasonable results for the hardy Monday group when they braved the cold and rain on the first Disabled & over 60's outing since the Christmas break. Match Organiser John Dagnall said despite the weather all competitors had at least a 1lb and the craic was good!

The draw for these matches is being held at 10.15a.m each Monday at Stockton Heath Legion and tea and toast is available.

 

For members interested in targeting predatory species, fair numbers of nice pike have been caught along the Bridgewater with the Agden Old No 3 to Lymm areas proving most productive.

 

Committee member and staunch pike enthusiast Geoff Gauton went over to Ireland last Saturday, a costly exercise in itself in these `credit crunch' times for a week pike fishing. To his disgust and dismay at the time of my writing this he and his companions had only had two very small `jacks' between them. He is now proposing that winter pike fishing breaks based around the Bridgewater Canal could be the way forward!

 

Graham Poole has set his sights on a season on Sandiway in 2009 he knows how good the fishing can be so this year with a little more free time at his disposal he has already started his campaign, beginning by targeting pike on the big lake. His starter for ten was a pristine nicely marked female of 12lb.

Members are yet again requested to keep all gates locked at all times. Do please report anything untoward straight away. If you see problems don't assume someone else will report it. We would rather have five calls about the same thing than none at all.

 

 I thank the members who do get involved and help in so many ways with all sorts of issues just telling us when a sign is missing or a lock damaged or clearing up some litter is a big help in itself.

 

Please let me have your catch reports on 01928 716238 FAX 01928713898 or e-mail frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk.

HQ Parker Street will be open as usual on Friday evening between 7 & 9-30pm for subscriptions, new members, etc.

Frank Lythgoe

 

Results:

Trent & Mersey Match

1. Gary Mannion 6-1-0

2. Billy Tasker   4-8-15

3. Martin Lenihan 4-6-10

4. Neil Buist 3-6-8

 

 

Disabled & Over 60's

1) Len Dutton 3-13-0

2) George Barber 3-6-3

3) Barry Owen 3-4-2

4) Ron Durr 2-12-6

 

Coming Events:

SUNDAY

Mersey Series draw 9a m Victoria Park

MONDAY

Disabled & Over 60's draw 10.15

Stockton Heath British Legion

13^th January, 2009 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

There is only really only one word that suitably describes the fishing this past week but it is unsuitable for these hollowed pages so the word 'terrible' comes a close second best.

The results on the Mersey speak for themselves with Stu Bryant being the only person to catch a fish, a solitary roach weighing in at 3ozs.

There are various theories for the dire sport which despite the winter freezing conditions it can be said that it has never been so bad as at present. I know that a lot of fish were sluiced into the tidal reaches as a result of the prolonged flood defense works and added to this we lost several year classes in the process but one would think that some of the fish would return on high tides.

Obviously with all other waters being frozen over until this week the dreaded cormorants have also played havoc with the diminished stocks that remain. However there is some hope on the horizon as Flood Defense has promised a suitable replenishment of stocks which I will chase up.

Many thanks to the three volunteers who turned up on Saturday and removed the rubbish deposited by so called anglers at Grey Mist Mere. Without such volunteers your membership would have to be increased to pay for such pointless tasks, what a complete waste of time and effort when there is other more constructive work required around our fisheries.

Just a reminder that members must first register to access our internet member only forum.

The new memberships will be sent out towards the end of February as usual but in a different format. There will be an updated and improved separate map book which should last about four seasons with updates and a separate much thinner membership booklet with current news, rules, and any changes etc. This new idea should make it more cost effective and easier to administrate.

Don't forget if you wish to night fish now you must renew both your night permit and membership.

Please let me have your catch reports on 01928 716238 FAX 01928713898 or e-mail frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk.

HQ Parker Street will be open on Friday evening as usual between 7 & 9-30pm for subscriptions, new members, etc.

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Mersey Series

1) Stu Bryant 0-3-0

Coming Events:

SUNDAY

Mersey Series draw 9am Victoria Park

MONDAY

Disabled & Over 60's Draw 10-30am Stockton Heath British Legion (Contact John Dagnall at Cheshire Angling Tel 01925 635486).

6^th January, 2009 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

It is with great sadness that I must report that on Friday last Warrington Anglers stalwart and Vice President Ged Ashbrook passed away after a short illness. Ged was a member from early childhood and served on the committee for thirty five years in various capacities, being our Chairman for ten years until he retired in 1994. Even so he continued to retain more than a passing interest in WAA affairs and was someone who I could always call on for confidential advice. He was truly one of anglings gentlemen who I fear are a rarity nowadays. Ged leaves a widow Molly who by association has been inextricably linked to Warrington Anglers.

There will be a service followed by cremation at Warrington Crematorium at 1-30pm Thursday, 15^th January, 2009. Please no flowers by request but donations may be made to the Stroke Society or Diabetes Association.

With all of our canals and stillwater fisheries frozen solid members pinned their hopes on Sundays Mersey series to hopefully catch a few fish. Alas it was not to be and turned out to be a grueling marathon for the hardy nineteen anglers who took part. There were eleven blanks and winner Barry Chambers only needed 1-7-9 to take the money. Runner up Ste Lewis weighed in just two roach for 0-13-8. I have no doubt that they will be back this coming Sunday so let's hope the fishing improves.

Over the New Year period we have been visited by the 'litter gremlins' both at Grey Mist Mere and Rixton Claypits. To the mindless morons responsible whose disgusting habits cause problems for respectable anglers may I wish you the most miserable year imaginable.

As a result of the above we are having a litter cleanup on Saturday 10^th January so if any member fancies lending a hand meet 10am on Grey Mist car park.

We are also looking to recruit members as water keepers/bailiffs for Cicily Mill Pool and High Legh Pools. Anyone interested who fancies putting something back into your sport please email/ring me as below.

Just a reminder that members must first register to access our internet member only forum.

Please let me have your catch reports on 01928 716238 FAX 01928713898 or e-mail frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk.

HQ Parker Street will be open on Friday evening as usual between 7 & 9-30pm for subscriptions, new members, etc.

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Mersey Series

1) Barry Chambers 1-7-9

2) Steve Lewis 0-13-8

3) Ray Everson 0-7-11

Coming Events:

SUNDAY

Mersey Series draw 9am Victoria Park