23rd June 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

23rd June 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Wez Lawton took Tommy, his seven-year-old son fishing for the very first time on Sunday to Ackers Pit. Armed with only a 4m whip and pint of maggots the youngster was a natural as he caught a total of eighteen roach, four perch, three tench, and a crucian carp. He was so made up he didn't want to go home and absolutely loved it! Another confirmed angler for life.

Last Friday Garry Finn took his 14-year-old son Kian for a session at Grey Mist and although there were not many fish caught but they still reckoned it was a great day. Between them there were three missed runs with Garry landing an eel but Kian was more than happy with his new PB tench of 7-10-0.

As the only member booked on Appleton Reservoir for the night on Sunday Ed Nelson had the pick of the swims. Nocturnal swans swimming constantly through his lines kept him awake, so it was nice to get an actual run at 4am to land a lovely 25lb carp followed by two further fish of 20 and 21lbs.

Andy Beddeson had a good morning last weekend on Arley the middle reservoir at Worthington. He fished on the sandbank where he caught twenty-five bream from 2.5lb to 5lb all fell to ledgered worm tipped with caster.

After blanking on the weaver on opening day Andy Humphreys was back on Saturday morning for another go, still no roach but plenty of skimmers, bream, plus a couple of perch and rudd. I was also tempted on Monday to have another go after a similar opening day blank. As I was setting up on the same peg another member turned up and plonked himself down on the next swim. Both of us caught, bream, rudd, some clonking roach, plus a couple of perch and the other angler included a small chub in his catch. Easy fishing at five metres using the remixed groundbait and maggots left over from the 16^th. The wife says I'm tight but I had a feeling that the fish wouldn't mind….as usual I was right😊

Paul Roberts reports catching loads of roach from the Bridgewater Canal during an evening session last week at Lymm. All caught on maggot. Michael White targeted the canals perch but couldn't get near the big ones with smaller fish on sentry duty. He commented, "Don't need to be massive when they look so good."

Andy Corr had a cracking day with plenty of crucians and a couple of bream from Woodshaw Reservoir last week. He fished a head of worm over casters. Jim Scattergood also enjoyed a crucian session on this picturesque Association owned fishery on the pole but using his own concoction of a crushed pellet mixed paste.

Mike Pritchard made his first visit to the Mersey since coarse fishing opened again on 16^th June and went for the easily accessible peg 3. He caught fish close in on the waggler and also on the tip he ended up with thirty fish mainly roach but included four perch, two chub, and four dace. He lost a big fish that nearly snatched the rod off his rest. Baits were maggot and pinkie.

The Sunday Mersey event took place on the Victoria Park length and saw Bob Campbell the winner with 5-6-0 of small skimmers and roach taken on stick-float and maggot. Jim Gannon took second place fishing the tip and groundbait feeder for a weight of 4-13-0.

Eighteen anglers turned out for the first Disabled and Over 60's match on the Bridgewater Canal at Keckwick since angling was allowed once more after the Covid-19 lockdown. Everyone brought the right money…a five-pound note (no change given) which was sealed in a tub until next week and money from a float used for an enveloped pay-out. Alan Brown won with 3-12-0 of small skimmers and roach followed in second place by Bas Chambers pegged at the opposite end of the match with 3-5-10 of roach plus a bream of around 2lbs. The result could have been so different as he lost a much bigger bream but lost fish don't count!

Still looking for anyone interested in forming a fishery management volunteer group for the Association owned Wide Hole Fishery at Poynton, we have already had four volunteers so you won't be alone. Please either ring me or drop me an email.

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

 

RESULTS:

Sunday Mersey Series:

1)      Bob Campbell 5-6-0

2)      Jim Gannon    4-13-0

3)      Jimmy Byrne  4-6-0

4)      Ade Green      3-13-0

Monday Disabled & Over 60's:

1)       Alan Brown     3-12-0

2)      Bas Chambers 3-5-10

3)      Ron Durr          3-0-0

4)      Derek Bibby     2-15-0

COMING EVENTS:

SUNDAY

Mersey Members Match (23 pegs) Draw 9am Mersey Walk pegs 45 upwards (Please Note £5 pool or £10 all-in, no coins and exact money…no change given).

MONDAY

Disabled & Over 60's Bridgewater Canal, draw 9-45am Pickerings Bridge. (Please Note £5 all-in, no coins, exact money….no change given).

16th June 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

16th June 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

The 16^th June is still a magic date for many anglers when following a ninety-day closure for 'spawning' the rivers re-opened for coarse fishing on Tuesday. Martin James went to the River Dane at Holmes Chapel for a couple of hours in the afternoon where fishing ledgered bread crust he christened the new season with a nice chub, caught another, and missed a few bites. Scott Roberts reckoned that he had "not a great day" on the Ribble with five small chub on maggot with a good few Eels. No bites on pellet or meat but plenty of big fish rising during the day. The Mersey in Warrington was quite busy with eighteen anglers spread between Mersey Walk and Howley and all reportedly catching roach, skimmers, and bream. I managed a 'blank' on the Weaver Navigation but it was great to escape from my keyboard and phone for a couple of hours. I hope the two members who came on as I was leaving fared better😊

Keith Starkey had a really good morning on Grey Mist on Monday where he set-up for tench, fishing pellets on both rods to 7lb hook lengths and size 16 hooks. The result was four tench landed and one managed to slip the hook. Committee member Phil Higgins did an overnight session on the fishery that night and despite having to put up with an electrical storm and torrential rain he managed three carp, the best at 25lbs.  Lots of fish crashing about in the margins. Bryan White was happy with his session on the Mist last Friday where he set his stall out for tench. He only caught one fish all day but it wasn't a tench, instead a mirror carp weighing 22lb!  It was Bryan's first carp from the Mist and smashed his previous PB by 10lb. 

Neil Buist aka Ivor the Engine to those that know him targeted the roach at Appleton Reservoir last week and set-up his platform on the old boathouse swim. He fished a groundbait feeder laced with caster, hemp, and dead maggots with two reds on the hook. He hooked a roach on his first cast and never stopped catching fish ranging from 3oz to 1lb. He reckoned that he had 50 to 60lbs during his five-and-a-half-hour session and that 'The Res' is the best roach fishing for miles.

Ken Hewitt and Dave Gardner fished at Woodshaw Reservoir twice this week. On the first visit they both blanked but undeterred knowing the potential of this fishery they returned on Friday. Ken had nine roach to 12oz, a perch, a brace of small commons, and three crucians, all taken on double red maggot. His mate Dave ended up with eleven roach, five bream, four crucians, and a small carp.

Lee Perrett had a session on The Mount at Buckley on Monday and caught five carp with the best at 15lbs. Don't forget that at present you must live within Wales at present and not travel more than five miles to fish.

Michael Loughton fished Phoenix Park Lake on Tuesday and landed a trio of nice bream although local pundits reckon that the fishery holds much bigger specimens. It offers great all-round sport and attracts a lot of members who care passionately about the fishery. Ian Dobbs reported a catch there of six tench and a bonus carp caught on corn.

Mark Shaw reckons he had a 'daft' couple of hours at Ackers Pit where on his first visit to the fishery this year he landed three carp and lost three.  

The first match since the Covid-19 lockdown took place last Saturday on the Bridgewater Canal at Boothstown saw Jimmy Byrne as the winner with 6-0-0 of roach and perch on pole and maggot. Second placed Bob Campbell fished punch and hemp for an all roach catch for 5-1-0.

 
Still looking for anyone interested in forming a fishery management volunteer group for the Association owned Wide Hole Fishery at Poynton, we have already had two volunteers so you won't be alone. Please either ring me or drop me an email.

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

 

RESULTS:

Bridgewater Canal, Boothstown

1)      Jimmy Byrne   6-0-0

2)      Bob Campbell 5-1-0

3)      Jeff Shaw         3-9-0

4)      Neil Buist         1-1-0

COMING EVENTS:

SATURDAY

Members Match Bridgewater Canal, draw 9am on bank opposite The Moorings Pub at Boothstown

SUNDAY

Mersey Members Match (23 pegs) Draw 9am Victoria Park (Please Note £5 pool or £10 all-in, no coins and exact money…no change given).

MONDAY

Disabled & Over 60's Bridgewater Canal, draw 9-45am Delph Lane, Keckwick. (Please Note £5 all-in, no coins, exact money….no change given).

9th June 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

9th June 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Last Saturday should have seen my mate Chris Grehan and I returning from the Edenderry Festival in Ireland with a good wedge of euros in winnings as we have done the previous two years but it was cancelled due to Covid-19.  But even more disappointed was local Warrington rod Bob Clough who really cleaned up last year by winning the event outright and an even a greater pocketful of euros, but I can't say how much as his wife always reads the Guardian. Obviously, Bob couldn't defend his title so without fishing in 2020 he is still the reigning Edenderry Festival Champ.

Local match maestro Ray Boden pleasure fished the Bridgewater this weekend at Boothstown with a view to getting some idea of what to expect for his coming members match series which starts on Saturday. Bait was maggot which seemed to suit the resident roach, skimmers, and perch that homed in on his offerings resulting in a net of around 11lbs. He visited the stretch again on Tuesday morning and kicked off with a surprise bonus of three tench for about seven pounds taken on caster backed up by four pounds of roach and perch on maggot and bread punch. Looks like it could be an interesting match series.

On Sunday Jim Gannon decided on a session at Appleton Reservoir where members have been enjoying a current roach bonanza. He fished the tip ledgering at no further than twenty yards from the bank. He set up his swim with a groundbait mix and dead maggot over a bed of hemp and offered a single bronze maggot on the hook and for a bait change a single piece of corn He was more than happy with his catch of fifty to sixty chunky roach to around 10 to 12oz.

Neil Plunkett had an enjoyable day at Rixton Claypits last week with a catch of seven decent bream and a tench, so thought he thought that he would  give it one more bash on Monday before the magnetism of the rivers which open for coarse fishing on the still magical 16^th June drew him away from still-water fishing. It was busy when he got arrived so with no choice in the matter, he set up his tackle in the only available swim. After a couple of hours and nobody seemed to be catching some of the earlier anglers had already given up and left.  Neil's method feeder tactic for bream was failing, so to avoid a blank he switched to waggler and single maggot and started catching some small roach but decided after twenty fish he'd ring the changes and try some ledgered luncheon meat down the side of the lilies. It wasn't long before the rod nearly disappeared and he was into something very feisty as it had him into and out of the pads, tried for the trees and bushes, but finally he slid his net under a nice common of 12-3-0 and his best fish of the year.

Shaun Brady re-joined Warrington Anglers Association last week after a long absence from the sport and looking at our list of fisheries decided for his first visit to try Appleton reservoir last Friday. He set up between two carp anglers on the sand bank side in the face of gale force wind and driving rain. Shaun set-up a groundbait feeder starting off with double red maggot and started to ring the changes alternating with corn which brought his best roach. He ended his session with twenty clunking roach all around 4 to 8 ounces. He reckoned that was a bit strange getting used to things again, but he needn't have worried as his first attempt at tying a spade end hook was bang on though! He now had the bug again and the next day he went to Statham Pool Statham pool where he was quite happy with three skimmers and six roach taken on waggler and red maggot. Welcome back Shaun.

On Thursday Gareth Wright enjoyed his very first visit to our picturesque stretch of the River Wyre at Churchtown which will be memorable in more ways than one. After two years trying, he finally caught his first trout on a dry fly, a magical experience of which I have no doubt there will be many more.

Danny Carman sat behind two silent bait alarms all day at Grey Mist without as much as a single bleep showing fish in his swim so in desperation, he set-up for a few silvers. With 4lbs straight through to a size sixteen hook he certainly wasn't ready when he hooked into a cracking mirror which ran him round the Mist twice before coming to the net.

 

At 10am there will be a work party at our Mowpin fishery at Wigan on Wednesday 17^th June when out team of volunteers will be carrying out strimming, pruning, and weed removal on some of the pegs. Anyone interested in helping just turn up and the work should be over by 1pm until which time the fishery is closed.

Anyone interested in forming a fishery management volunteer group for the Association owned Wide Hole Fishery at Poynton please either ring me or drop me an email.

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

 

Coming Events:

SATURDAY

Members Match Bridgewater Canal, draw 9am on bank opposite The Moorings Pub at Boothstown

2/6/2020  COVID-19 UPDATE

Dear members,

The following conditions still 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 may now be used subject to where permitted by our fishery rules, however members should consider in the interest of fish welfare in warm weather and lower oxygen conditions the need to retain fish for lengthy periods.

· 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 

As there are lots of members on 'Furlough Leave' there will be increased bookings. So,  in the interests of fair play and to give everyone a chance to fish the changes are:

· Single nights on all night permit fisheries, with the exception of Worthington Lakes two nights 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.

· Bookings no more than 3 days ahead.

. Conditions for fishing vary in Wales, currently night fishing is not allowed. Fishing is  still only in your local area and anglers must not travel into Wales from England. All social distancing rules and sanitising rules apply.

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 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.

Stay safe,

Frank  

2nd June 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

2^nd June 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Ian Kennedy fished Woodshaw Reservoir for the first time on Sunday and enjoyed his session during which he had some nice fish including some feisty brown goldfish, crucians, and skimmers. Ste Winstanley also fished at the same time and commented that it was a good morning as we all caught fish, and the sun, plus had a good laugh. "As always Woodshaw is in great condition. Hats off to the bailiffs for still looking after the place to their high standards."

Joel messenger took his youngsters for a session on the Bridgewater Canal last week where using 3 metre whips on single maggot produced a dozen roach and a bonus bream of 2-10-0. The canal is one of the designated waters where an adult member can introduce children to the sport of angling for free. There is also Ackers Pit, Woodshaw Reservoir, and Offa's Dyke. So, to any of our adult members, mums, dads, grandads, uncles etc who can find time to introduce a child to angling fill your boots as this young generation is the future of our sport. Also don't underestimate the educational value of time spent on the bankside.

Our head bailiff Jay Makin had a break from his duties on Saturday when he fished an overnight session with follow committee members Paul Rothwell and Andy Burrows. Jay had carp of 17-5-0 and 19-2-0 both caught over a bed of particles with krill on the business end plus a brace of tench around the 5lbs mark. Paul also caught a brace of each despite having both his and Andrews swims wiped out by an ignorant swimmer who blatantly swam across where they were fishing oblivious to the possibility of tangling up with lines and hooks.

You don't need to catch to enjoy our sport as Martin James reported following his session on the Mist where despite no fish for his efforts he just enjoyed the experience of dawn breaking over the water, sitting behind his rods waiting and hoping , watching a woodpecker collect food for its chicks, the aquatic underwater life roaming over discarded hookbaits, and shoals of tiny roach and perch being chased by tiny pike.

Phil Lacey had more luck on this fishery last week when he settled into one of the few remaining pegs where he saw plenty of carp cruising on the surface and obvious spawning happening in the lilies. Coupled with the pleasant surroundings on this urban fishery and the fact that he landed a cracking tench which sent the scales needle round to 8-10-0 beating his PB by 2oz. It was an enjoyable trip.

Sandiway Large Lake saw our bailiff Andrew Hewson in action again this week where carp and tench have been feeding well, he had three tench to 7-4-0.  Best carp reported prior to spawning was 34lbs. Some areas are closed to angling where spawning is taking place.

Our volunteers were out on Moore Quarry on Tuesday evening mowing, strimming, trimming overhanging branches, and repairing pegs, good job guys and if anyone fancies helping out in the future don't be shy join our volunteers Facebook group or contact me and I will pass on your details.

Keepnets are now allowed on our waters subject to where permitted by our fishery rules, however members should consider in the interests of fish welfare that in this warm weather, lower oxygen conditions, and with the fact that having recently spawned or about to do so members should not retain  fish unnecessarily.  Members are also reminded that our bailiffs may close certain areas if spawning is taking place and in any case no angler worth his salt would target fish in such circumstances.

Please note that when members are fishing or visiting Appleton Reservoir parking is strictly in our locked car parks only.  

Anyone interested in forming a fishery management volunteer group for the Association owned Wide Hole Fishery at Poynton please either ring me or drop me an email.

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