29 Dec 2010. WAA Weekly Report

I have received a number of phone calls this last few days from members who are anxious to get fishing again, the queries normally take the form of, "Is Moore Quarry etc still frozen over?" And the answer is at this moment that the majority of our fisheries are still in this unfishable state with the exception of a few small areas on the Bridgewater Canal which are really little more than holes kept ice free by ducks or where some warmer water from a drain flows into the fishery.

Even our stretches of the Weaver have an icy lid on them so really you are looking locally at the River Mersey or further afield the Severn, Dee, and their tributaries.

However Chris Giblin was out two days before Christmas on the Mersey near to Kingsway Bridge in the hopes of a run from a pike or two. After four moves and no action his slider fished sprat twitched several times, he struck, and it was fish on. After a five minute fight a superbly marked pike lay in his landing net which weighed in at 15-8-0 and a new personal best. To quote Chris, "My water bottle froze solid but it was well worth braving the cold."

On Christmas Eve Chris Moulton, a regular contributor to this column also tried his luck on the Mersey after hearing of the previous capture. Fishing a similar method he ended his session also with a personal best pike of 15-6-0 from the same area of the river.  

Obviously a mad keen young angler, on Tuesday this week Chris Giblin was back on the river again and after an over eager strike which resulted in a missed fish he dropped his sprat bait back into the same spot and it was attacked immediately resulting in a chubby pike of 9-8-5 which lay sulking on his unhooking mat.

Please keep sending in your catch reports whatever they are, good, bad, or indifferent, as they are invaluable. Contact me either by phone Tel 01928 716238 or email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk.

HQ Parker Street is now closed until after the New Year but is open as usual between 7 & 8.30pm on Friday, 7th January 2011. New memberships can still also be purchased from Baileys Tackle, Cheshire Angling, and Challinors Sports in Warrington or at our other depots as listed on our website www.warrington-anglers.org.uk.

I wish you all a Happy New Year

Frank Lythgoe

21 Dec 2010. WAA Weekly Report

You know it is really cold when the Manchester Ship Canal is covered in ice and with the Mersey water temperature at a possible record low it is understandable that not many anglers have been on the bankside.

However on Sunday that did not deter Paul Harding who is one of the most knowledgeable anglers who fanatically fishes this river every week. Deciding on Mersey Walk where he had seen a few fish rising he introduced a small amount of liquidised bread and ended his short session with three roach, not a record catch but when there is little else being caught it is at least encouraging.

A few pike anglers are also out and about  and although there is not much action save for a reported small six pounder, at least if you cannot live without your fishing fix you can wet a line with a remote chance of  some success.

Brian Stoll visited the small ice free area of the Bridgewater Canal at Moore where I reported last week that large numbers of ducks have made it fishable. He was rewarded with eight roach taken on punch bread.

Our website forum will be down during the Christmas/New Year holiday during which our web designer will be undertaking some welcome enhancement work to the site. Access to the other areas should be unaffected.

Catch reports are few and far between but whatever they are, good, bad, or indifferent, please send them as they are invaluable. Contact me either by phone Tel 01928 716238 or email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk.

HQ Parker Street is now closed over Christmas and New Year but is open as usual between 7 & 8.30pm on Friday, 7^th January 2011. New memberships can still also be purchased from Baileys Tackle, Cheshire Angling, and Challinors Sports in Warrington or at our other depots as listed on our website www.warrington-anglers.org.uk. We are now accepting new members for 2011 and they won't need to pay again until 2012 and can fish immediately on joining.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Frank Lythgoe

14^th December 2010 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian.

Please note that due to the current and forecast weather conditions it has been decided to postpone both the Mersey and Disabled & Over 60's Fur and Feather matches until it improves. The bottom line is that anglers would prefer to fish for the wealth of prizes rather than have a raffle in a car park, and of course in the bargain have a chance of a few fish.

The Mersey is currently full of freezing snow melt water and regular anglers who have tried sessions have not had a bite. With this in mind Sunday's regular match was cancelled and transferred to the Bridgewater where after some searching a small ice free area was found in Moore which had been kept free due to the high numbers of ducks.

Thirteen fished with most searching out tiny perch and catching them on small pieces of worm but Bob Clough aka single shot had only three fish in his net with 40minutes to go. Despite managing to fit in a sponsored walk he was importantly back on his peg for this vital time slot when the roach switched on to his liquidised bread. He walked the match with 2-10-0 well clear of Cheshire Angling rod Helen Dagnall on 1-6-11 comprised of 30 tiny perch.

Ron Williams our River Dane bailiff reports that anglers are catching the odd grayling to maggot. I would have thought that the chub would now be showing but hey, it can only improve.

John Lawless had a visit to the River Alyn on Monday and changing swims it was third time lucky when he finally found the fish which were tightly shoaled. He ended his session with fifteen grayling taken on quiver tipped yellow maggot presented on a small link-leger.

Christmas present dilemma?  Problem solved. We are now accepting new members for 2011 and they won't need to pay again until 2012 and can fish immediately on joining. Memberships can be purchased from Baileys Tackle, Cheshire Angling, and Challinors Sports in Warrington, our HQ at 52, Parker Street on a Friday evening between 7 and 8-30pm or via Paypal on our website address below. Other depots further afield are on our website.

I realise that at present catch reports are few and far between but whatever they are please send them as they are invaluable to both your fellow members and your committee. Contact me either by phone Tel 01928 716238 or HQ Parker Street is open as usual on Friday evening between 7 & 8.30pm for subscriptions, night permits, and new memberships (these can also be purchased from any of our tackle shop outlets listed on our website www.warrington-anglers.org.uk

Frank Lythgoe

 

RESULTS:

Mersey Series  Match transfered to Bridgewater Canal please  see results above.

 Disabled & Over 60's (Cancelled)

Cancelled

 

HOPEFUL COMING EVENTS:  Please note all fixtures weather permitting.

 

SUNDAY:  River Mersey Series draw 9am at Victoria Park

 

MONDAY: Disabled & Over 60's draw 10-30a m Stockton Heath British Legion. Contact John Dagnall first on 01925 635486.

7^th December 2010 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian.

As the arctic conditions continue the twelve hardy anglers who fished our weekly Mersey match had a collective blank. The upshot was that they had to draw for the prize money with 'Flagger' coming first out of the bag, followed by Bud Lee, and (walk on water) Ray Boden third. I think that this is the first time in our long history of fishing Mersey contests that no anglers have caught fish. One thing for sure is that it can only improve.

We have decided to close Grey Mist Mere in the interests of safety after reports of persons throwing wood and debris onto the ice, but worst of all some idiots have been walking across the ice. This is just sheer stupidity and could result in either themselves or others going to their rescue losing their lives.

On our rivers our bailiff from Hay on Wye reports this week that despite the ice-flows coming down river the conditions are just right for grayling fishing. Several members are fishing every weekend with outstanding results despite the weather. Chub over 7lbs plus grayling to 1.5lbs are on the cards.

For anyone with an angler in the family who is not already a WAA member we are now accepting new members for 2011. They can be purchased from Baileys Tackle, Cheshire Angling, and Challinors Sports in Warrington, our HQ at 52, Parker Street on a Friday evening between 7 and 8-30pm or via Paypal on our website address below. Other depots further afield are on our website. Present problem solved and they won't need to pay again until 2012.

 Keep sending in your catch reports as they are invaluable to both your fellow members and your committee. Contact me either by phone Tel 01928 716238 or email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk.

HQ Parker Street is open as usual on Friday evening between 7 & 8.30pm for subscriptions, night permits, and new memberships (these can also be purchased from any of our tackle shop outlets listed on our website www.warrington-anglers.org.uk

Frank Lythgoe

 

RESULTS:

Mersey Series (All 12 anglers blanked)

Disabled & Over 60's

Cancelled

 

COMING EVENTS:  Please note all fixtures weather permitting.

 

SUNDAY:  River Mersey Series   draw 9am at Victoria Park

 

MONDAY: Disabled & Over 60's (Fur & Feather) draw 10-30a m Stockton Heath British Legion. Contact John Dagnall first on 01925 635486.

NB If the freeze-up continues the scheduled Fur & Feather match will be fished the following Monday, or the next etc until conditions are suitable.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Due to unforeseen circumstances our Mersey Fur & Feather has been put back to our reserve date of Sunday, 19^th December 2010.