17th March 2015 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes.
Eric Smith set himself a target this year of catching some big roach but to no avail as the specimens had so far eluded him. A trip to Little Sandiway on Sunday to try and snare some of the big silvers that reside there fared no better as he didn't see a sign of a roach all day. However the trip was not a complete failure as other species took a liking to his spodded mixture of liquidized bread, hemp, and dead maggots. Eric's first three casts produced mirror carp of 17-4-0, 12-0-0, and 17-6-0, but after thinking he was going to empty the place he didn't get a touch for the next six hours. The idea of going home to a hot meal was soon forgotten when he started to get liners, the end result was three bream all around the 7lbs mark in the next hour. All the fish were landed on a maggot feeder rig using two dead red maggots as hookbait. Eric commented, "The most impressive thing about the day was the condition of the fish, the bream looked good but the carp were stunning."
With only a couple of days to go before the Close Season Ralph Bennett decided on a trip to the River Vyrnwy at Llansantffraid and although he hadn't fished on the venue for several years it turned out to be the right choice. Alternating single or double maggot on an 18's hook fished under a red topped 5BB waggler just tripping bottom in his 5ft deep swim he soon had the dace competing for his bait. Ralph ended his visit on a high because on top of the 30 to 40 dace and grayling he caught he also landed a specimen PB chub of 5-12-0 which is a cracking fish from any river. Needless to say he had the river to himself which whilst great for anglers such as Ralph it is sad that other members don't realise what they are missing.
Neil Plunkett squeezed in a visit on Wednesday to his favourite fishery, The Mount at Buckley only to suffer his first ever blank there made worse by aggressive Canada geese attacking him on his peg and to add insult to injury his swim was plagued by suicidal moorhens attacking his bait and rig in formation dives. The following day Neil went to Grey Mist for a quick session where as luck would have it the tench were feeding and he landed half a dozen of the olive green red eyed beauties. All were over 5lbs, were in great shape, and fought like crazy. All were caught on maggot feeder tactics, double red maggot plus an artificial on the hook.
I had a walk around the Mist on Saturday before meeting up with our working party volunteers who were hard at it clearing swims, undergrowth, and litter. I bumped into an old mate of mine Vinny Edwards who was really bagging up on tench, hooking into several as I watched with envy. He even found the time to put right novice angler Sid Ryant who as a result was absolutely made up when he then started catching a few fish. Vinny ended up with around twenty plump tench all taken on feeder and maggot. Surely Grey Mist must rate amongst the best tench fisheries in the country.
Our Saturday Mersey Sweepstake was the last one until the 16th June as our rivers were closed for coarse angling on the 14th March for a period of 60 days. The river was way below form due to cold overnight rain and winner Lee Clarke was the only angler to break the 1lb barrier with 1-1-0 made up of a skimmer and a couple of small roach. He was followed by Jim Gannon who weighed 14ozs. Fish caught on maggot and groundbait feeder. Many thanks to match organiser Ray Boden for keeping the series going throughout the season.
Our Monday Disabled & Over 60's match returned to Preston Brook following the previous week's good results. Pegged from the old Neptune Moorings Club (now apartments) towards the tunnel it again turned out to be the right choice. Match winner Jimmy Byrne clocked up a winning weight of 8-5-0 made up of roach and skimmers taken on the pole and punch bread. Graham Belton drawn next to the winner was the runner-up with 7-14-0. The average weight was over 3.5lbs despite two DNW's.
On Monday our netting team were out again and stocked a mix of roach, hybrids, rudd, and skimmers into Offa's Dyke Fisheries. Now tell me you can't get a bite there!
Don't forget to visit our stand at the Northern angling Show to be held on the 28th & 29th March, see you there https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26r_-v5TCNI
Please email me your catch reports to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or you can ring me on 01928 716238. Our headquarters at 52, Parker Street are open every Friday between 7 & 9pm for subscriptions, new memberships/night permits, and any queries.
Frank Lythgoe
RESULTS:
Saturday Mersey Sweepstake
Lee Clark 1-1-0
Jim Gannon 14-0
Ade Green 11-04
Paul Harding 7-0
Disabled & Over 60's
Jimmy Byrne 8-5-0
Graham Belton 7-14-8
Bud Lea 7-0-0
George Hollis 5-14-10
COMING EVENTS:
MONDAY
Disabled & Over 60's Bridgewater Canal Draw 10am St Peters Church near Walton Arms. Contact John Dagnall 01925 630765.
Posts
