26th January 2021 Warrington Anglers Guardian Notes

26th January 2021 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Due to current weather conditions, there has still not been a lot happening due to the adverse weather, only one pike report from the mainly highly coloured Bridgewater Canal, so to help cheer everyone up during this pandemic I have again until sport improves included several reports from this same week twelve months ago on the 28th January 2020: -

Mike Dench made a spur of the moment decision on Sunday to fish our stretch of the River Ribble at Hurst Green mainly because he had a pint and a half of red maggots that needed using up in his fridge and as things turned out it was the right choice. He travelled light, setting up with an 18ft. float rod loose-feeding maggots and trotting down his swim with an Avon float set-up on 4lbs mainline to 0.10 hook length. He ended his session with nine chub that included two fish estimated at 5lbs and 6lbs which gave him a few anxious moments before they were safely in his landing net plus five small grayling and three brownies to over a pound.

Anthony Rough enjoyed a short session on The Alyn at Hope on Monday, fishing several swims, with a small stick float and loose-feeding maggots. He caught some quality trout and grayling ending up with seven grayling, the best being slightly over the pound mark, and eleven trout up to 1lb. All fish were caught on single maggot. Anthony reckoned after four blanks on the run it was a nice change to get a bend in the rod and was almost considering buying a set of golf clubs. Phew, saved by the bell!

Sunday was a blustery dull day at Appleton Reservoir when Neil Davies cast in his groundbait feeder with caster, pinkie, and sweetcorn offerings. It took over an hour before his first bite came to double maggot and most fish that followed were small. A change to a single piece of corn later in the afternoon brought a better stamp of roach.

Our Mersey Match on Sunday drawn at Mersey Walk saw Ant Higham aka King of the River repeat his winning ways of the previous week with a weight of 2-2-0 of small roach taken on feeder and maggot. Veteran match angler Derek Bibby took second place with 1-15-0.

The Disabled and Over 60's Match on the Bridgewater Canal this week was moved back to Houghs Bridge in the divine hope that there wouldn't be a repeat of last weeks poor results from the opposite end of the length where Roy Rogers only needed fifteen tiny roach to win. Well, someone was looking down kindly on them as Ron Durr caught one hundred and eight roach for a winning weight of 6-10-8. Match organiser Jimmy Byrne was second with 5-13-4.

BACK TO PRESENT DAY:  Brian Evans fished the Bridgewater Canal at Dunham on Monday with float-fished smelt but after a couple of hours without any sign of fish he was ready to call it a day when suddenly his patience was rewarded and he was into a fish. A pike of around nine pounds soon lay on his unhooking mat.  

Our WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT remains closed on Friday evenings until further notice. Members can simply post to this address or put their book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door where mail is collected and dealt with most days. Alternatively, you can post to Warrington Anglers Association PO. Box 71, Warrington WA1 1LR where mail is collected weekly. You can now renew memberships and night permits online from our Warrington Anglers Association website. It works a treat on mobile, tablet, or laptop.

I would really appreciate members to send me any of your pics, reports, or stories as at this time of the year there is not a lot happening, so good, bad, or indifferent they may help fellow members to plan any trips to the bankside. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

 

Stay safe,

Frank Lythgoe

19th January 2021 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

19th January 2021 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Due to current weather conditions, there has not been a lot happening only the occasional small fish from Woodshaw Reservoir and the Bridgewater Canal, so to help cheer everyone up I included several reports from this same week twelve months ago on the 21st January 2020: -

Despite the muddy conditions around Appleton Reservoir members are still regular visitors although wellies are an absolute necessity, better still thigh waders. Tom Lythgoe reported catching a lovely dark mirror over the weekend weighing 23lbs which he had also caught at 21lbs last year.

Clifford Buckley decided on Fosters Pools as his venue of choice this week and fished 'D' where despite the freezing temperature he managed a small 5lbs common, lost a couple of good fish, but added some roach and skimmers for an enjoyable few hours fishing.

I haven't had a report from any of our stretches of the Macclesfield Canal for what seems like an age so was pleased that Dennis Millburn had enjoyed a number of productive trips there of late, mainly catching quality roach plus some cracking perch. On Thursday he fished near the Queens Head feeding two swims with chopped worm in one and liquidised bread in the other. Bites were slow but he managed to end his session with three perch around 1.5lbs mark and eight chunky roach.

The Mersey Match on Sunday drawn at Kingsway allotments was certainly a surprise result when Ant Higham aka King of the River obliterated the opposition with a winning weight of 5-10-0 set against Roy Everson's runner-up result of 1-10-0. It seems Ant was struggling as were the rest of the field until he saw a decent sized fish swirl in the margin to his right and immediately lobbed his feeder roughly in its vicinity. He started catapulting maggots into the swim and bingo ten minutes later his tip shot round and it was fish on and a case of game over. It turned out to be a koi carp which someone had illegally released from their pond. I am reliably informed that Ade Green on the next peg was weeping and ended up coming next to last with 3oz!

Our Disabled and Over 60's Match on the Bridgewater Canal took place this week at the Walton Road Bridge stretch where Roy Rogers caught fifteen tiny roach for a weight of 0-11-10 to take his first win of 2020. George Hollis took second place with 0-9-4. Certainly, a massive fall in weights from the previous week when the lowest weight was 2-18-0, so needless to say they will be drawing back at Hough's Bridge next week.

Many thanks to the members who turned up to help with our annual top-up carp stocking last Friday where thankfully the rain held off until after the event. Some cracking fish were shared between Grey Mist, Moore Quarry, and Sandiway Lakes with the smallest at 22bs and largest at 25-8-0. Stocking photographs are currently on our members Facebook page.

BACK TO PRESENT DAY:

Last week Tim Poulter fished the Dead Length on the Bridgewater Canal using float fished smelt and ended up with one pike landed and one lost. Certainly, from his pic it looked in great condition. Mike Pritchard ventured out for the first time since Christmas on the same length of the canal, targeting roach and perch using pinkie but after trying a few swims he had to come to terms with his first dry net for some considerable time. However, he did report seeing other anglers catch several pike.

Our volunteers have been carrying out some work on the Appleton Reservoir car park which will be re-stoned once the bramble and self-seeded saplings have been removed. However, members are reminded that they MUST ONLY park on the car park and not on the roadside or private property. Failure to do so will put your membership in jeopardy. If you cannot access the car park go and fish another one of our waters.

Because of this horrible virus our WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT will remain closed on Friday evenings until further notice. Members can simply post to this address or put their book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door where mail is collected and dealt with most days. Alternatively, you can post to Warrington Anglers Association PO. Box 71, Warrington WA1 1LR where mail is collected weekly. You can now renew memberships and night permits online from our Warrington Anglers Association website. It works a treat on mobile, tablet, or laptop.

Please note that the option for online renewals only will be temporarily suspended for a few weeks around the end of the month to allow us time to post out the new memberships.

Don't forget to send me any of your reports or stories as at this time of the year there is not a lot happening, so good, bad, or indifferent they will help fellow members to plan any trips to the bankside. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

 

Stay safe,

Frank Lythgoe

Virus-free. www.avg.com

12th January 2021 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

12^th January 2021 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Due to recent fishery freeze-ups there has not been a lot happening only the occasional small roach and perch reported so I thought to cheer everyone up I would have a look at what I wrote this same week twelve months ago on the 14^th January:-

On Saturday Simon Oldfield and his step-daughter Ella Reynolds had an enjoyable afternoons fishing at Ackers Pit. They finished up with nine feisty carp taken on pole and maggot tactics with member Martin James accompanied by his young daughters on hand with the landing net and top advice. Simon who relinquished his membership seventeen years ago commented, "Feels good to be back." Let's hope it is one of many such sessions.

Last week Stuart Peters had both a day off work and some left-over bait so decided on a trip to the Ribble to kick-off 2020 following his year-end successful trip to this venue. Sport was a little slower this time and bites few and far between but he still managed a cracking brace of barbel of 9-2-0 and 9-6-0, his first chub off the stretch weighing 4.5lbs, and a brace of grayling around a pound which made his 150mile round trip worthwhile.

The Mersey Match on Sunday was another low weight affair which was not really unexpected under the river conditions. Dave Hill was the winner needing only 11oz of small roach caught on groundbait feeder and maggot. Ray Boden took second place with 5oz.

Our Disabled and Over 60's Match on the Bridgewater Canal took place this week at the Hough's Bridge stretch where Ray Boden drew a peg adjacent the Walton Gardens entrance where he fished the pole using maggot and pinkie. It seems that punched bread attracted lots of small roach whereas the better sized fish preferred a live bait and a bit of movement in the deeply coloured water.  Ray had 2lbs to spare over second placed Jimmy Byrne when his net of all roach sent the scale pointer to 10-8-8 for a decisive win. Jimmy drew in the middle of the length and fished the same method for 8-3-10. Fifteen fished the four-hour match and 2-18-0 was the lowest weight.

The Bridgewater Canal matches at Boothstown have been put on hold for the time being so watch this space for when they are back on the calendar.

BACK TO PRESENT DAY:

My wife and I visited High Legh Fisheries on Friday breaking holes in the marginal ice to allow the gasses from rotting leaves to escape. All went well and there were only a few pegs to clear so I decided to clear a large branch with my chainsaw that was blocking the gate. Unfortunately, I failed to hear the cries for help from 'she who must be obeyed' above the noise when she evidently slipped into the freezing water up to her backside. I was absolutely gutted that I had missed the phone footage when she appeared in front of me dripping wet and covered in mud😊

Because of this horrible virus our WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT will remain closed on Friday evenings until further notice. Members can simply post to this address or put their book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door where mail is collected and dealt with most days. Alternatively, you can post to Warrington Anglers Association PO. Box 71, Warrington WA1 1LR where mail is collected weekly. You can now renew memberships and night permits online from our Warrington Anglers Association website. It works a treat on mobile, tablet, or laptop.

Don't forget to keep those reports coming as at this time of the year there is not a lot happening, so good, bad, or indifferent they will help fellow members to plan any trips to the bankside. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

 

Stay safe,

Frank Lythgoe

5th January 2021 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

5th January 2021 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

With most fisheries suffering from freeze-ups since new year it was nice to hear via the rumour mill that 'the big one' came out at Moore Quarry on New Years Eve. I don't know if it was before or after the bewitching hour but irrespective it is close enough to be a cracking start to 2021.

At least the River Mersey was fishable despite a couple of high tides and carrying plenty of colour. On Sunday committee member Ade Green needed to escape from his home 'work environment' for an essential trip to the river for a short session and some fresh air. Despite the fact that he only had one bite it was a pleasant day and at least he could watch Jimmy Byrne and Alan Faulkner catching on the opposite bank. Alan had seventeen roach fishing a small groundbait feeder, 2ft tail, with a small hook and single maggot and Jimmy nine fish. Certainly better than watching repeats on the TV.

With the vast majority of the Bridgewater covered in ice and matches cancelled a few of the Disabled & Over 60's regulars were out over the weekend making the most of it being virtually ice free on the Dead-length. There were a few 'icebergs' drifting through swims but nevertheless Ray Boden and Ron Durr managed a few roach.

On Sunday Appleton Reservoir was mainly carrying a sheet of ice but a couple of areas were kept free by members of the public feeding the waterfowl. I did see one hardy member wearing the brightest set of orange-coloured waterproofs fishing from the sandbank. I don't know if he caught but he definitely wasn't a poacher!

Whilst on the subject of Appleton Reservoir members should note that whether you are fishing or just visiting this water you must only park on our locked car park. If it there are no available places, I am afraid you must either visit another fishery or go home. A few members have been getting the club a bad name by parking on private drives which not only could see them losing their club membership but also getting their vehicle clamped by understandably irate residents. Be warned!

 HOT OFF THE PRESS: We have been informed this evening by our governing body The Angling Trust that the Government has taken the decision that fishing in England will not be permitted from midnight tonight (Tuesday 5^th January 2021) during this current national lockdown period. Whilst this is disappointing news anglers must respect these rules which have been put in place to help save lives and support the NHS. These are difficult times for us all but I am sure our members will recognise that as a consequence all our fisheries are closed to members residing in England until we receive new guidance from The Angling Trust. We are currently not sure what the situation is in Wales but will let members residing there know of any Welsh Government announcements/updates.

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT will remain closed on Friday evenings until further notice. Members can simply post to this address or put their book or request in an envelope with their payment, a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door where mail is collected and dealt with most days. Alternatively, you can post to Warrington Anglers Association PO. Box 71, Warrington WA1 1LR where mail is collected weekly. New memberships, Renewals and night permits are also available online from Warrington Anglers Association website. If you need any further information please give me a call or email as below.

At this time of the year with less anglers out on the banks and sport slowing as we edge towards the winter period, I really need your catch reports. They are all very much appreciated by fellow members. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe