26th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

26^th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

 Members are still reporting good catches around our waters beginning with match stalwarts Steve Brookes and Rod Frazer who fished Appleton Reservoir on Wednesday when Steve had seventy roach up to a 1lb taken on groundbait feeder and pole tactics whilst Rod caught 105 roach all on the feeder. They used maggots with groundbait laced with casters and hemp in the feeder. Bites were savage as soon as the feeder hit the bottom and on the-drop when Rod switched to the pole. The roach were in immaculate condition …. it doesn't get better than that. To cap it all they also recovered a member's lost bib & brace and wellies.

If this isn't a great advert and encouragement for parents to take their children fishing I don't know what is…as last week we welcomed Dawn and Mark Preston back to Warrington Anglers along with their young family, Marley 10 years, Leon 9, Jaxon 6, and Shae 5. Dawn reported that they had a belting start when Leon and herself caught two nice mirrors out of High Legh on Friday and typically as is the case with many anglers started bragging as Mark hadn't had at any carp at that point. He soon put that right with a lovely common out of Grey Mist 15-8-0 on Sunday and then followed it up with a nice mirror of 13-5-0 the next day at Rixton. The boys had six bream between them, although as Dawn said, "a bit slimy for my liking, but as long as they are catching, I am happy. We are loving it even more after being cooped up for so long, we will never take fishing for granted again."

Terry Felton had a very pleasurable six hour session at Rixton Clay Pits this past week where he caught thirteen bream on quiver-tipped sweetcorn, all over 3lb. The fish were in excellent condition with the exception of one specimen. Terry also had a surprise bonus pike about 3 -4 lb, which took his sweetcorn bait as he reeled in.

Anthony Quinn fished a very weedy Cicily Mill Pool on Thursday and as he was landing a carp, he ended up with another in the net. Love is a powerful stimulant!  Our bailiffs are looking to be closing pegs where the fish are actively spawning around our fisheries and in any case a caring angler would never target spawning fish whether the swim was closed or not.

Karl McArdle has just re-joined Warrington Anglers Association after a twenty-five-year absence and decided on Grey Mist on Thursday for his first session. His visit was christened with a grass carp of 26-3-0. Which to my knowledge is the only one in the Mist.

Michael White had his first carp over 20lbs from Rixton Claypits last week soon followed by another stunning looking fish.

By comparison on a much bigger fishery, our Association owned 53 acre Sandiway lake our bailiff Andrew Hewson although targeting carp was more than happy with four tench to 8-12-0 to which he added a cracking specimen bream of 11lbs. I am reliably informed that at least fourteen carp to 33lbs came out over a four- day period.

Last weekend Andrew Spears braved the high winds when others were cancelling their sessions and fished an overnight session on the smaller Sandiway (17.5 acre) lake.  Unfortunately, he blanked but his mate Phil Worby kicked off his first fishing trip since 'lock-down' with a 7lb Bream, followed by a 25lb Mirror and later topped by a 26-2-0 common. Despite water levels being high and a lot of pegs underwater they were both pleased to be back on the bank fishing.

New members Martin Cockcroft and his brother Steve christened their first visit to one of our fisheries at Woodshaw Reservoir in Wigan. They were kept busy with 120fish between them, mainly roach and skimmers, but a handful of decent crucians. They would have liked more but who wouldn't. Having said that they are now working their way around all our fisheries with Rixton next.

Lucas Procec had an unforgettable day on his first visit to Appleton Reservoir when he smashed his personal best no less than three times. It was his first fishing trip since October last year and started catching roach from the off but they were not his intended target. But after two hours things fell into place and he landed a 25lb mirror carp eclipsing his previous PB of 18lb. Three hours later he was sliding his landing net under another mirror carp, this time 26lb. This was followed minutes later by a 16lbs mirror but the best one came at the end of his session with a cracking 27lb leather carp which he battled with for 15 minutes until it finally lay safely in the net. So, four carp and about 3lb of decent roach all in all a fantastic day. 

A few members have sussed that I have a Facebook account and are regularly 'asking to be my friend' …..well to put matters straight I do not use it, well maybe infrequently to answer something brought to my attention within my family, in fact twice so far this year. So, please don't think I am a miserable ignorant so and so when I completely ignore such requests, I am in fact extremely friendly and gregarious but just do not have the time to do Facebook.  

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street remain closed on Friday evenings until further notice. Members renewing can simply put their book in an envelope with their payment, a stamped addressed envelope, and post through our HQ door where mail is collected and dealt with daily. If you need any further information please give me a call or email as below.

Please keep those catch reports coming they are all very much appreciated. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe

19th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

19^th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Since we opened up our waters at 6am last Wednesday morning the catch reports coming from members have been fantastic with plenty of sport from most fisheries. Also, I would like to say that I am proud of our members who have his week shown our sport of angling in the best light during these difficult times.

Dave Griffiths took his son Matty on his first ever coarse fishing trip last Wednesday to Ackers Pit. He was bubbling over with excitement when they arrived to set-up at 6-30am on what was a lovely still morning. As they put down their gear a carp exploded out of the water in front of him and the youngster's excitement went up to another level. Dave set him up with a self-cocking float, a small shot, and sweetcorn presented on a size 14's hook. He missed his first fish but it wasn't long before his float slid under and the rod buckled, it was fish-on. After a heart stopping adrenalin packed ten minutes the carp was safely in the landing net. Matty was now a self-confessed angler, he was hooked. They finished their session in the late afternoon and had seven carp between them with Matty possibly earning a drop in his pocket money as he beat his dad and had the biggest fish to boot.

Committee member Phil Higgins also enjoyed a similar Wednesday session on Ackers and ended up with ten carp all caught in the margins alternating between bread or pepperoni on the hook. They ranged from 4lbs to 13lbs.

Wednesday the 13^th must indeed have been a lucky day across the board as Sam Asson aged 12 years thoroughly enjoyed his session at Woodshaw Reservoir accompanied by his dad Barry. Sam set-up with a waggler 6inches over depth and fished double frozen red maggot in the margin where he caught some nice crucians and loads of roach and rudd.  His dad Sam did catch but had to admit he was put to shame, but nevertheless proud of his son.

Phil Brown fished Appleton Reservoir on Friday morning and ended up with a shed-full of quality roach, a tench, and a single carp around the twenty mark.  All caught on float-fished sweetcorn. Mike Pryer also had cracking roach sport and ended up with about 30lbs plus a decent tench. He fished waggler two rods out alternating between red maggot and corn over a bed of hemp. His mate Steve Draper fished the same method but towards the end of the session fancied a change and cast out a carp rod loaded with a white boilie at the business end. A few minutes later he had a run and thought he was into a carp which to his surprise turned out to be an eel of 3lbs.

Our head bailiff Jay Makin didn't get much sleep on Saturday during his overnighter on Grey Mist when he ended up with thirteen tench up to 7.5lbs. A few carp have been reported and bailiff Trevor Royle landed a cracking mirror on Tuesday morning. The biggest fish I have heard about is a 27lb Moore Quarry mirror although I have no doubt there have been few out of Sandiway Lake. Chris Smith had his first fish of the day from the big lake, an 8-2-0 tench caught using spam and fake corn.

Gary Mason caught over thirty crucians from Woodshaw on the first day of opening on prawns but the following day could only manage two. Jack Hart also bagged up with crucians again on a sea-bait, this time it was mussels.

Anthony Rough enjoyed his first outing since lock-down on The Mount at Buckley with a catch of quality roach and a bonus carp. They all took a fancy to his pearl barley bait. Don't forget this fishery at the moment is restricted to those members on the Welsh side of 'the border' under the current Covid-19 regulations in Wales.

 

If anyone found a bib & brace along with a pair of neoprene wellies at Appleton Reservoir please give me a call as I have found the owner.

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street remains closed on Friday evenings until further notice. If you need any further information please give me a call or email as below.

Please keep those catch reports coming they are all very much appreciated. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe

Covid-19 News update.

13th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Covid-19 Fishery News Update.

The Angling Trust has confirmed today that night fishing is allowed.

Please keep safe.

Kind Regards,

Frank

12th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

12^th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

WARRINGTON ANGLERS ASSOCIATION COVID-19 UPDATE 12^TH MAY 2020

Dear members, thank you to all those who have continued to support the club throughout these difficult times and have remained patient, whilst we navigate through the minefield of getting our members back on the bank, safely and responsibly. As we have said, none of this has been straight forward and there are still many grey areas, which will mean we could see further changes to what is set out below. 

Angling will now be allowed from 6am Wednesday 13^th May on all waters

Following a meeting with Welsh Ministers this morning Angler's in Wales can now go fishing. There are further details to follow later but initially this will be 'local fishing' and maintaining social distancing.

We are awaiting further details but our Welsh Fisheries such as The Mount and Offa's Dyke will be open for members on Wednesday subject to the Welsh 'local fishing' conditions and those regarding night fishing from my original post.

Also, more good news: Worthington and Appleton Reservoirs are also open for fishing tomorrow.

Please note Adlington is closed as always until the 16th June 2020 also the main car park may not be open until Friday so members desperate to fish must use the lay-bye parking up from the Kilhey Court Hotel.

The following conditions apply to all waters:

• Members must ensure that they comply with all Covid-19 social distancing and hygiene regulations. 
• When handling our locks, anglers MUST either wear new gloves, antibac before and after handling, or use hand sanitiser (again before and after handling) for your safety and other members. We will not tolerate any of these disposable items being left behind, any member found discarding gloves/ wipes on waters will lose their license with immediate effect.
• Keepnets are NOT allowed on any waters.
• You must be in possession of a paid-up membership card to show to bailiffs.
•  

Due to Safeguarding issues junior anglers must adhere to the following:

• On waters where there is public access, e.g. Bridgewater Canal, they must be accompanied by an adult from the same household, in accordance with Government Guidelines.
• On private waters where there is no public access, e.g. Grey Mist, the accompanying adult must be a WAA paid up adult member, again from the same household.

 

Night Fishing from Thu 14^th May *This is to allow for further clarification*

Night fishing seems to be the greyest area within angling currently and as such, our stance could change at any point. As it stands, Night fishing WILL be allowed, but as there are lots of members on 'Furlough Leave' there will be increased bookings. So, initially in the interests of fair play and to give everyone a chance to fish the changes are: 

 

• Single nights on all night permit fisheries which are open, with the exception of Big Sandiway which is reduced to two nights. 
• Current rule applies that you must be off the water by 12noon following your night session. 
• Only one-night permit booking, per member, per week until things settle down. 
• Members must have a confirmed booking before proceeding to a water for a night session. 
• All bookings strictly by TEXT only between 9am and 6pm from 13/5/2020, night fishing to commence from 14^th subject to change. 
• Bookings no more than 3 days ahead.
• As things could change at any point, we will have an updated voicemail message on the night permit phone with regards to that night's bookings. If you have successfully booked on for that night, please check before setting off to fish. Voicemails will not be picked up, so please do not leave any on there, it is purely to keep members updated and to save any wasted journeys.:

Again, thank you for your support. I sincerely hope that all members of the club will make us proud and stick to all the guidelines the government and Welsh Assembly have laid out during these difficult times. We are fortunate to be able to get out and enjoy our sport, please let's all act as ambassadors and act responsibly. 

At this juncture I really would like to thank all our bailiffs for their efforts and also members who have kept their eye on our waters and informed the club of poaching incidents during fishery closures.  There will be more hard work to come for our bailiffs now we will be fishing again. Please give them your full support and cooperation.

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street remains closed on Friday evenings until further notice. If you need any further information please give me a call or email as below.

Now fishing is allowed again I look forward once again to your catch reports to share with follow members. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe

5th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

5^th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

From my Guardian archive reports: -

This same week in 2019 when things were normal and everyone could go fishing Ian Millington reckoned that the Mount at Buckley is a brilliant place to fish, no doubt borne out by his morning session on Friday when he had a mixed catch of silvers, a bream, and a tench, losing a better one when it snagged-up. All fell to either corn or red maggot. He was back again on Sunday but tried the smaller back lake where he included a decent bream and a small carp in his catch. Thanks to those members who are openly sharing their experiences with fellow anglers to help make both existing members and newcomers fishing experiences more productive.

Phil Brown had a busy day session at Appleton Reservoir on Thursday fishing with his mate Jess Steele catching eight carp that included three twenties, but Jess landed the biggest at 25lbs. A few nice carp reported from Grey Mist and Appleton Reservoir over the Bank Holiday weekend with also a fair amount of tench action from the Mist. Ian Simpkin had eight in a session with the best a 7lbs 12ozs specimen caught on double red maggot using a small groundbait feeder.

Going back even further in time to this week in 2001 Mike Timson reported that carp were on the feed at Grey Mist Mere where he had enjoyed two good sessions, the first saw him net thirteen carp, all doubles, with the best a mirror of 17lbs. His next outing tally was seven carp with the best another mirror of 16lbs.John Phoenix also reported he had a mirror of 17lbs.Good catches of tench to meat in the margins.

The same week saw an explosion of quality roach being caught at Cicily Mill Pool which were taking any bait thrown at them and averaged 6 to 8ozs with occasional fish to just over a pound. I managed (yes it was me) a short session on Thursday and fed a few grains of sweetcorn every other cast for a succession of tench to 3.5lbs and a few decent roach.  I tried cubed meat over the corn and still had a fish almost every put-in. The new pegs have made a massive improvement to fishing comfort, thanks to all concerned who give up their fishing for the benefit of others.

The tench were ravenous on Sandiway small lake and taking a variety of baits, maggot, caster, corn, and meat. Although pegs are flooded anglers consider the effort worthwhile, and two members have even constructed several new pegs. Any method, pole, feeder or slider is bringing results, including a few quality roach and rudd. The large lake is still producing better quality tench in the 6 to 7lbs range.

Our senior match squad won the Drennan Division One League both on the day and overall on Sunday 6^th May 2001. It was neck and neck with Little Lever but we won on weight when both teams had tied on points at the final match. Team member, Grant Evans won the top angler in the league with 56 points out of a possible 60.

Back to present day and members are ringing me with very encouraging reports of lots of fish around our waters that they have spotted on their 'exercise activities'.  However, the poachers who are stealing the fishing rights that our members pay for and who think that the Covid-19 'No angling' does not apply to them are still appearing on our fisheries. I interrupted this column at 8-10pm this evening to report to the police two such chancers on Phoenix Park Lake. I hope they were prosecuted. Thanks to the decent law-abiding member who rang in the information.

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street remains closed on Friday evenings until further notice. If you need any further information please give me a call or email as below.

Due our fishery closures any of your notable past catches or amusing angling stories are welcome. They will hopefully surprise or entertain fellow members whilst the country is in lock-down. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe

Match Results: 5/5/2001

Andrew Davies Memorial Match Series Final (5/5/2001) Bridgewater Canal, Ditchfield Br.

1)      Dale Lowndes      9-4-4

2)      Andrew Caldwell 3-11-5

3)      Paul Savage          1-5-3

4)      Chris Harding       1-0-2

Overall Points:

1)      Dale Lowndes         8 points

2)      Andrew Caldwell 10

3)      Neil Jones              13

Winner on the day and overall Dale Lowndes fished pole and caster for a small carp and skimmers.