29th March 2016 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

29th March 2016 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Lots of work has been going on around our fisheries over the Easter period despite the horrendous weather conditions on Monday. Our hardy band of fishery volunteers were out at Offa's Dyke where the otter deterrent fencing was checked over after a small carp around six pounds was found dead and half eaten. Mink could be the culprit so our guys in conjunction with the farmer are looking at surveillance equipment. A number of overhanging trees were trimmed on the island of pool two to improve a number of angling pegs.

At Statham Pool pathways were reinstated and the pruning of bushes to improve angler access and to give the fishery a spring makeover. Certainly our replacement truck which has a tipper back came in handy when transporting the stone and other materials.

Don't forget if you fancy getting involved in working parties simply drop into HQ on a Friday evening and have a chat with committee members or join our Warrington Anglers Volunteers on Facebook. You will meet likeminded members and I guarantee you will enjoy just getting involved.  Thanks to everyone who gave their time over the holiday period.

A number of our recently stocked carp are giving some sport at Rixton Claypits thanks to our netting team and volunteers who helped with the introductions. Although due to circumstances beyond our control only a fraction of fish intended for Phoenix Park were able to be stocked however I understand they are showing.

Just another reminder that all rivers are closed for coarse fish angling until the season opens again on the 16^th June. Any sightings of anglers coarse fishing should be reported immediately to the Environment Agency 24 hour emergency Freephone number (landlines) 0800 807060.

Apologies for the short column this week but news has been scarce. Our headquarters at 52, Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7 & 9pm for new members, subscription and night permit renewals, and any queries. Your catch reports are always welcome, email me details to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or ring me on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe 

Coming Events:

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's  Draw 10am Cliffe Lane boats.

22nd March 2016 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Column

22nd March 2016 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Trevor Poole got his last fix of river fishing when on the very last day of the coarse fishing season he ventured out on the bank for a session on the Mersey, sadly, due to the ridiculous outdated enforced closure it will be another ninety days before his next trip! Fishing the stick float and maggot it was agonisingly slow at first but thankfully the fish came on the feed in the last hour and he ended up with a nice catch of roach and hybrids.

I would remind members whether they agree with the river coarse fish season or not that it is the law and we should keep a keen eye out for poachers as this is the time when bona fide anglers are absent from the bank that the poacher scum venture out to steal fish. All sightings of coarse anglers on rivers should be reported immediately to the Environment Agency 24 hour emergency Freephone number (landlines) 0800 807060.

 Mike Dench was out on the Ribble over a week since and blanked, but he was fishing for game fish that are becoming increasing scarce. Having whipped the water to a foam casting his fly to no avail, he changed his tack this week for a spot of coarse fishing on Statham Pool. Results couldn't have been more different as new committee member Mike first fishing a pellet feeder caught half a dozen decent sized bream to 5lbs, then changing to waggler tactics and double maggot he lost count of the numbers of roach and skimmers plus a couple of bonus carp that took some time to land on his 2.5BS hook-length. The smallest was 4lbs but was dwarfed by a 14lbs mirror. Happy days.

Returning from a meeting last week I always look for anglers whenever I cross the Bridgewater and spotted two from the motorway at Preston Brook. I was soon chatting to them after checking they were members and was shown a cracking photo of a pike David Shaw had caught in January from the same area. His legered sardine resulted in the magnificent specimen that weighed 20-2-0 plus smaller fish. Always be prepared to be pleasantly surprised on the Bridgewater or in fact any of our canals which when all said and done they are massive fisheries in area terms.

I gave new member Paul Barraclough some information on our 'small' lake at Sandiway a fortnight ago but he changed his plan and opted for Woodshaw Reservoir instead.  Fishing was slow at first but along with his three companions they stuck at it and all four of them caught small roach and perch with 25 fish the best total. They were impressed with the water and the friendliness of the bailiffs (all our bailiffs are friendly) who spent time giving them tips on the fishery.

Bites were scarce on our Disabled & Over 60's match on Monday at Grappenhall trees which was dominated by larger fish. Winner George Hollis had a bonus 3lbs bream amongst his catch of small roach for a total weight of 4-3-12. Similarly the runner-up Trevor Bainbridge was more than thankful and breathed a sigh of relief when he netted a 2lbs bream that boosted his catch to 3-0-8. Please note there is no match on Easter Monday and the following week it will be drawn at 10am at Cliffe Lane boats.

Our headquarters at 52, Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7 & 9pm for new members, subscription and night permit renewals, and any queries. Your catch reports are always welcome, email me details to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or ring me on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Disabled & Over 60's (Bridgewater Canal – Houghs Bridge)

1)      George Hollis            4-12-0

2)      Trevor Bainbridge     3-0-8

3)      George Barber           1-9-0

4)      Barry Chambers        0-14-0

 

Coming Events:

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's  NO MATCH EASTER MONDAY

15th March, 2016 Warrington Anglers Guardian Column

15^th March 2016 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

The winner of the last Mersey Series match before the coarse fish close season on Monday 14^th March was Jim Gannon with a weight of 3lbs exactly. He caught three skimmers with the best around the pound mark plus twenty small roach on groundbait feeder and maggot. Jimmy Byrnes was in runner-up spot with a similar catch except he was a skimmer light and the scales stopped short at 2-8-0.

Ade Green gave up his last match on the Mersey to help our netting team with a fish removal on a pool at Christleton. As it happened he really enjoyed his away day and caught more fish than he had in the last decade. Our job was to remove carp which numbered fifty one fish ranging from 3 or 4lbs to upper doubles. All were commons except for a few mirrors and the bulk of them were destined for Phoenix Park Lake. Alas fate intervened due to seized locks at the venue and despite desperate attempts to gain access time was not on our side. Our netting team who were looking pretty jaded after a day hauling nets managed the trek from the centre to the fishery and released ten pristine commons. So access and fish welfare issues decided the new home for the fish was to be Rixton Claypits where the remaining forty one carp were released. Thanks to our netting team whose ages ranged from Herbie Savage 86years to Dean Burrows 17 years, what a cracking gang of lads.

New member Peter Goodlad enjoyed his last river outing on our stretch of the Wyre where he caught three quality chub and a flounder on legered worm.

Last week Neil Plunkett had a session on Grey Mist and managed two tench around 5lbs apiece and lost a better fish. He legered a maggot feeder and red maggot. A few carp are starting to show so if this warmer weather holds out as predicted there should be a few caught.

Our Disabled & Over 60's match on Monday turned up some half decent weights but it was either feast or famine and was mainly down to the draw bag. Derek Bibby took full advantage of a decent draw to put together a winning all roach net of 10-2-0. Keith Wernham on the next peg and following blanks in his last three outings more than made up for it taking second place with 7-4-0 of skimmers, hybrids, and roach. Most anglers fished pole with fish (if you were one of the lucky anglers) taking bread, caster, pinkie, or red maggots. Evidently in those first pegs to the right of the bridge pike were striking like crocodiles so pikers take note.

Our headquarters at 52, Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7 & 9pm for new members, subscription and night permit renewals, and any queries. Your catch reports are always welcome, email me details to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or ring me on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Mersey Sunday Series:

1)      Jim Gannon          3-0-0

2)      Jimmy Byrnes       2-8-0

3)      Ant Higham           2-3-0

4)        Al Morris               0-9-0

Disabled & Over 60's (Bridgewater Canal – Houghs Bridge)

1)      Derek Bibby          10-2-0

2)      Keith Wernham      7-4-0

3)      Ernie Lea                 5-1-0

4)      Graham Belton       5-0-14

 

 

Coming Events:

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's draw 10am Jack's Bench (Grappenhall Trees).

8th March 2016 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

8^th March 2016 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Our bailiffs report that number two lake at Worthington (Arley Reservoir) has been fishing really well for catches of up to thirty silver fish. Again Woodshaw Reservoir is also producing some reasonable roach catches to pole and pinkie with always the chance of a better fish.

A number of members trying to join our Facebook group and members page using a variety of pseudonyms. They must use the name on their membership for identification as this is a restricted group and only current members are allowed access.

Mike Pritchard fancied some fresh air on Saturday so what better excuse to get the tackle out and go fishing. He returned to the Bridgewater Canal near Houghs Bridge at Walton where he enjoyed good sport a number of weeks ago. Using his classic home-made weighted straw floats needing just a single number eight shot he kicked off his session with bread punch which brought him two tiny roach in as many casts. Changing to maggot and pinkie he had a better stamp of fish and ended up with around fifty fish for 5lbs or so.

This week's winner of our Mersey Series match was Roy Everson with twenty tiny roach for 1-3-0 that were caught on groundbait feeder and maggot tactics. In runner-up spot was Ant Higham the self-proclaimed King of the River with 1-2-8. Nothing puts these lads off their beloved Mersey but I really do hope things improve and they get a few decent catches before the season ends on the 14^th March. Best of luck guys, you deserve it.

The change of venue to Preston Brook for our Disabled & Over 60's match on Monday turned out to be a disaster as a heavy overnight frost killed sport. Lennie Dutton snared a decent bream to weigh in at 2-3-9 after which weights plummeted to second place being taken by George Barber with 0-8-3 of tiny roach. Back to the Dead Length next week.

Our headquarters at 52, Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7 & 9pm for new members, subscription and night permit renewals, and any queries. Your catch reports are always welcome, email me details to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or ring me on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Mersey Sunday Series

1)      Roy Everson         1-3-0

2)      Ant Higham          1-2-8

3)      Al Morris               0-8-0

4)      Jim Gannon          0-6-8

Disabled & Over 60's (Bridgewater Canal – Preston Brook)

1)      Lennie Dutton       2-3-9

2)      George Barber      0-8-3

3)      Graham Belton     0-7-3

4)      Jimmy Byrne         0-6-6

 

 

Coming Events:

SUNDAY:

Mersey Sunday Series draw 10am through gates Mersey Walk.

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's draw 10am Bridgewater Canal Houghs Bridge.

1st March 2016 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

1^st March 2016 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Eager new member Jan Fleming fished two venues last week starting off on Tuesday with Woodshaw Reservoir where fishing on the pole at six metres and loose-feeding maggot she caught a roach virtually every put-in. Although there was nothing to stretch her elastic to the limit it was an enjoyable afternoons sport.  Jan followed this two days later when she drove into Cheshire to try High Legh Fisheries using a different approach using a small method feeder and a groundbait/pellet mix with a short link and banded pellet. It was just short of two hours before her tip arched round and it was game on. After a nail biting moment when the fish tore off on its initial run a mirror carp of around eight to ten pounds lay in her landing net. It turned out to be her only fish of the session but a re-visit is definitely on the cards.

This week's Mersey Series was another dour affair with winner Ed Frangleton only needing 3lbs to take the main money. His catch was made up of a bonus eight ounce skimmer plus roach taken on groundbait feeder and maggot. With only two ounces separating the next three weight Jim Gannon just managed to keep ahead to take the runner-up spot with 1-2-0 of roach taken on the same method.

Last week's runner-up Graham Belton made it his first win of the year in our Disabled & Over 60's match on Monday with an all roach catch taken fishing the pole and alternating between bread and caster for a weight of 3-13-10. After this weights plummeted faster than a speeding bullet with the next three anglers tying for second place with 2ounces 12drams. They were Jimmy Byrnes, George Barber, and Barry Chambers. In fact bites were so hard to come by that only one other angler weighed in his 'net of fish'. There is a change of venue to Preston Brook for next week's match.

Our headquarters at 52, Parker Street are open as usual every Friday between 7 & 9pm for new members, subscription and night permit renewals, and any queries. Your catch reports are always welcome, email me details to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or ring me on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Sunday Mersey Series

1)      Ed Frangleton      3-0-0

2)      Jim  Gannon         1-2-0

3)      Derek Bibby          1-1-0

4)      Ant Higham           1-0-0

Disabled & Over 60's (Bridgewater Canal – Dead Length)

1)      Graham Belton      3-13-10

2)      Jimmy Byrne, George Barber, Barry Chambers 0-2-12

Coming Events:

SUNDAY:

Mersey Sunday Series draw 10am through gates Mersey Walk.

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's draw 10am Preston Brook, fish tunnel stretch.