22nd December 2009 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

 

For the better part of a week many of our stillwater venues have been covered by a layer of ice in the arctic conditions that seem to have brought some parts of the country to a standstill. However it would take more than Jack Frost can throw at them to stop some of our members from enjoying their sport as they simply turned their attentions to our river fisheries.

 

Ian Jones did a spot of pike fishing on the Alyn/ Dee confluence not really expecting to get any takes but was pleasantly surprised by a brace of fish weighing in at 12-8-0 topped by a beautifully marked specimen of 17-0-0. Both fish fell to sprat.

 

Locally the Mersey is still fishable although sport at our regular Sunday match was decidedly slow with Gary Mannion needing only 2-1-12 to take the top spot. He was closely followed by Roy Everson only 12drams light with 2-1-0 and in third place match regular Jeff Shaw put 1-10-11 on the scales to get in the frame.

 

I don't know how our two venue Sunday pairs event will fare on the as I have no doubt that there will be a lot of snow melt water from the higher reaches of the Mersey  and as I write there is still ice on most of the canal with only small areas of open water.

 

May I take this opportunity to thank those members who have contributed to this column over the past year and to wish both them, our members, and those who follow this weekly missive a very merry Christmas.

 

Please keep sending in your catch reports as they help both fellow members and your management committee in their continuous fishery evaluation. Tel. 01928 716238 FAX 01928713898 or e-mail frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk.

HQ Parker Street is closed over the Christmas New Year period but will be open again on Friday evening 8^th January 2010 between 7 & 9-30pm for subscriptions, new members, etc. In the meanwhile new memberships can be purchased from any of our tackle shop outlets (see our website for your nearest).

 

Frank Lythgoe

 

Results:

Mersey Series

1) Gary Mannion     2-1-12

2) Roy Everson        2-1-0

3) Jeff Shaw             1-10-11

 

Coming Events:

SUNDAY

Members Pairs Event (Ticket Only from Cheshire Angling)

MONDAY  4^th January

Disabled & Over 60's

Draw 10-30am Stockton Heath British Legion

(Contact John Dagnall 01925 635486)

 

 

 

15th December 2009 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

 

The Mersey was only slightly better for the Christmas Fur & Feather match after the dryer weather but still not back on good form.  However I am very pleased to say Disabled & Over 60's match organiser John Dagnall showed the way, on only his second cast he had a nice bream about 1.5lb the rest of his net was made up of small roach and skimmers. It was not the same story unfortunately for all competitors as there were several `dry' nets.

 

 The Monday Disabled & over 60's match went without a hitch with a full turn out and fair catches throughout and as usual a prize for everyone who took part. Many thanks to all who helped out with both matches and especially to Paul Harding who was out at the crack of dawn on Sunday morning before the Mersey match clearing flood debris from in front of pegs.

There were some prizes un-claimed after the Mersey F&F match which can be collected from Cheshire Angling before 24th December. Any not picked up by that time will be raffled off on the 27^th December Pairs match and proceeds donated to the WAA junior fund.

 

The tickets for the Pairs match will be on sale at Cheshire Angling from  Thursday 17^th price £16 per pair all in (one to fish on the Bridgewater Canal and the other to fish on the Mersey). This will also accommodate mixed junior and senior pairs so that the junior member can fish the canal and the senior can fish the River. The draw is at Stockton Heath British Legion 8.30am and tea and toast will be available from 8am.

 

There are still plenty of pike being caught on the Bridgewater canal and our bailiff Ron Williams tells me that there were five anglers down at the river Dane on both Saturday and Sunday  but only small chub and dace were caught. The recent flood waters have scoured out quite a few willow bushes and given the river a real good clear out so there may be some good sport to be had over the holiday period for members with new `Christmas presents' to try out!

 

There have been rumors and much speculation circulating recently that night fishing arrangements are to be changed at Sandiway.  The WAA management committee as always is looking at every fishery and periodically such issues are looked at and perceived problems considered.

Just to set the record straight at the present time there is no plan to change anything. If in the future there is a problem it will be re assessed and addressed.

 

This is why members' reports and input are appreciated and we are grateful to those who take the time to send in their catch reports and observations they are really useful to both other members and your management committee in their continuous fishery evaluation. Tel. 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.

 

Lynda Lythgoe

 

Results:

 

Mersey Fur & Feather

 

1) John Dagnall 3-12-4

2) Mike Dench 3-2-7

3) Steve Lewis 2-10-10

4) Bob Clough 2-6-12

 

Disabled & over 6o's Fur & Feather

1) Stan Deakin 3-9-9

2) Alan Brown 2-0-0

3) John Sharp 1-14-12

4) Lennie Dutton 1-10-6

 

Coming Events:

SUNDAY

Mersey Series draw 9 am Weir Lane

 

MONDAY

Disabled & Over 60's

Draw 10-30am Stockton Heath British Legion

(Contact John Dagnall 01925 635486)

 

8th December 2009 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

 

The Mersey had improved slightly last Sunday and catches improved marginally however the weather forecast predicts a dry spell during the next few days continuing over the weekend. So all being well it should be perfect for the Fur & Feather with good catches too.

 

Thanks must go to Dot and John and Helen Dagnall who have done all the `shopping' for prizes for both of the Fur & Feather matches, I know from experience it is not an easy task especially when you need to spread the cash as far as possible in order so that every competitor gets a prize.

So a big thank you is also due to the members who have very kindly donated prizes when in some cases they are not even fishing. It is great to have such very generous support for these events.

 

The river Dee has been fishing well when members have been able to get to the banks with good nets of roach and dace coming out. Just a note of caution and this is important a member kindly reported that when he went for a look at the Dee at Worthenbury on 3^rd December when the river was still well up the path has been damaged during the recent floods. The damage is towards the end of the track approx 25m before the gate to the WAA parking. There was so much water still on the path it was impossible to see he grounded his 4x4 in a huge hole fortunately there was no damage to his vehicle but it would probably have been a different story for a `normal' car.

 

The Bridgewater is still fishing well with some nice roach catches and perch to 1lb plus being caught in matches.  It is particularly good at this time of year for  the predator anglers young Tim Poulter is still putting into practice what he learned at the recent PAC teach in he had another three pike around the 6lb mark just wobbling deadbaits close in between Grappenhall and Lymm.

 

Another member hooked what his mate referred to as just a `baby' although it was giving a fair account of itself. "Just bring it into the side and I will unhook it in the water" he was instructed.

His mate got down on the bank ready to do just that however when he actually saw the `babies teeth' at close range he had a change of heart and decided to net the fin perfect 19lb 6oz pike  instead.

Still close to home some illegal pegs and platforms have appeared on the off side of the Sankey canal between the canal and the railway members must not attempt to fish from them there is absolutely no fishing allowed from anywhere but the towpath side this is part of the conditions of our lease agreement none member fishing there are poaching the EA and British Railway police have been informed.

 

For members who would like to take part the Mersey Fur & Feather tickets are still a few left on sale at Cheshire Angling on production of your membership card. Price £8 all in.

Many thanks to those members who take the time to send in their catch reports as they are really useful to both other members and your management committee in their continuous fishery evaluation. Tel. 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.

 

Lynda Lythgoe

Results:

Warrington Local League

1) Graham Belton 6-3-0

2) David Brookes 5-10-0

3) Ian Morrison 4-3-0

 

Teams on the day

1) Assi 21pts

2) Joint Cheshire Angling Gold & Warrington Red 20pts

 

Overall position

 1) Warrington Red

2) Cheshire Angling Gold

3) Black Claggers

 

Mersey Series

1) Eddie Frangleton 5-1-0

2) Paul Harding 4-3-0

3) Antony Higham 2-0-0

 

Trent & Mersey Open

1) Ged Martin 12-10-0

2) Steve Knowles 12-9-0

3) Martin Taylor

 

Disabled & over 6o's

1) Harry Morris 2-7-5

2) Dave Blears 1-14-3

3) Stan Charnock 1-10-2

4) Lennie Dutton 1-5-2

 

Coming Events:

SUNDAY

Mersey Series

 Fur & Feather Match. Ticket only

draw 8 30 am Victoria Park  Presentation Stockton Heath Legion

MONDAY

Disabled & Over 60's Fur & Feather Match. Ticket only

Draw 9-30am Stockton Heath British Legion

(Contact John Dagnall 01925 635486)

 

 

 

1^st December 2009 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

 

The Trent & Mersey Canal has suddenly found some form providing pleasure anglers with excellent catches of roach and bream. George Hollis fished a sheltered peg behind ICI works over the weekend and had a fish every put in on pole and bread punch. The Saturday match saw anglers needing double figures to get in the first three with the winner, John Brogden putting a mixed net of 19-8-0 on the scales for a well deserved win.

  

Our regular River Mersey event was really hard with Anthony Higham taking the honours making it three wins out four in the past month with 1-7-0. Members will need to get some practice in on this venue for the forthcoming Fur & Feather and Pairs events. I reckon that as regards the latter good points on here will be decisive. Vice President, Geoff Brooks won our Disabled and over 60's match on the Bridgewater Canal, almost doubling the next weight with a mixed net for 6-6-0.

 

Pike can be a nuisance at times as they attack and occasionally rip keepnets in their efforts to get at the fish inside. This week however the tables were turned as Michael Pritchard steadily catching roach on pinkie from his favourite Cliffe Lane peg heard a commotion at his net and as is the norm gave it a shake to scare off the marauder. When this failed he put his landing net in for extra persuasion but soon realised that the predator was entangled by its razor sharp teeth so scooped at what he thought was a small jack only to be met with a dead weight. Two hands on the job and more effort and a surprised fin perfect 14lbs plus pike lay on the grass. Michael released the fish several pegs away and carried on catching.

 

In a joint venture with our partners Stockton Heath Parish Council our volunteers have this past week repaired eroded bank at Ackers Pit. It looks a bit stark at the moment but aquatic planting initiated by the Environment Agency is ongoing and will eventually mask the harshness of the timber and improve habitat. On dry land we have already been successful in obtaining a Green Machine Grant of £451 which enabled us to plant lots of bluebells, foxgloves, yellow flag iris, primrose, wild garlic, marsh marigold, and honeysuckle with the aid of our small but dedicated band of angler/council volunteers who are determined that Ackers will remain a green oasis for all who visit.

 

For members who would like to take part the Mersey Fur & Feather tickets are on sale at Cheshire Angling on production of your membership card. Price £8 all in.

 

Many thanks to those members who take the time to send in their catch reports as they are really useful to both other members and your management committee in their continuous fishery evaluation. Tel. 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) Anthony Higham   1-7-0

2) Jim Byrne              1-5-0

3) Paul Harding         1-0-5

 

Disabled & over 6o's

1) Geoff Brooks      6-6-0

2) Dave Blears        3-12-6

3) Trev Bainbridge 2-14-0

4) Ron Durr             2-5-9

 

Trent & Mersey

1) John Brogden     19-8-0

2) Graham Beeton   12-5-0

3) Ken Power          12-0-0

4) Harry Morris         9-3-0

5) John Andrews      8-14-0

 

Coming Events:

SUNDAY

Mersey Series draw 9a m Weir Lane

MONDAY

Disabled & Over 60's Draw 10-30am Stockton Heath British Legion

(Contact John Dagnall 01925 635486)