22nd June 2021 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes
The 16th June which heralded the opening of the river coarse fish season has been enjoyed by many who have waited ninety days since closure on the 15th March to be able to enjoy this branch of angling again. I was amongst them, although not an early riser as there were a number of anglers already on pegs when I arrived at around 6-30am to fish the Weaver Navigation. The pegs had been overhauled and improved by our lone volunteer on this fishery who wishes to remain anonymous. I fished with this mystery man who was on the water an hour before sunrise! We both fished the same method, pole at around 10metres feeding a mix of groundbait, micro-pellets, and red maggots. I ended up with a dozen fish made up of skimmers and a couple of roach but was beaten into second place by our friend who included a decent bream and skimmers, losing a tench at the net.
Ade Green and Jim Gannon who both carry out lots of work repairing pegs and keeping the banks strimmed on the Mersey had a day off on Wednesday where Ade had thirty-eight fish mainly around 3oz but nothing big on feeder, pole, and reg maggots. Jim fished peg 34 starting his session earlier and had perch, dace, and eleven bream ranging from 4 to 6lbs on ground-bait feeder and maggot. Mike Pritchard also fished the River Mersey from peg five at Victoria Park on Saturday and caught on both waggler and ground-bait feeder tactics and maggot. He ended up with twenty-eight fish made up of 5 roach, 5 dace, 3 chub around 8oz, the remainder being perch.
Jim Griffiths fished the River Vyrnwy at Llanymynech on Friday for a few hours and was happy to report no minnows but caught twenty-one fish on trotted maggot. He had a couple of chub around 1.5lbs, the rest dace plus a small trout but lost a big brownie at the net. It was the first time he had fished the river for twenty years and commented, "It is as I remembered a stunning bit of river."
Gareth Wright enjoyed his first visit to the River Alyn catching trout, chub, and dace on the fly. Next time he reckons a shorter rod would be easier but was certainly taken with the river.
Gary Hillyer had a fantastic night session on Appleton Reservoir this last week ending up with eight carp. On Saturday new member Fero Hojo was also made up with his first tench from Grey Mist at around 4.5lbs.
Colin Wood had a cracking morning session on Worthington Lakes (number 3) on Monday ending up with nine bream and twenty-five hybrids. Three poachers were removed from this fishery last week where they had dug out pegs where there is no fishing allowed on the nature reserve bank, cut branches from surrounding trees, and even had a dog with them. I really at a loss as to why such people can even think that they are anglers. They are a disgrace to our sport!
On Wednesday three of our committee members enjoyed an overnight session on The Mount at Buckley where they all caught. Paul Rothwell had four carp and a decent bream, Andy Burrows a couple of carp and lost what he reckoned was a much bigger one when it slipped the hook (they don't count), and Jay Makin caught seven carp with the best 15lbs. Phil Brown also enjoyed his session landing a brace of carp.
Sunday saw the first Mersey Series Match of the season drawn at Mersey Walk and fished from peg 45 upwards. Phil Stevens was over the moon when he clocked up his first win on the Mersey with a weight of 13-8-0 made up of three bream, best nudging 5lbs, plus roach and perch taken on the feeder and worm. Geoff Shaw took the runner-up spot with 9-2-0 which included a bream, roach, and perch taken on pole and maggot. Twenty-two fished.
Our Disabled & Over 60's Monday match was held this week on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Billinge but despite hopes being high when members reported reasonable catches during earlier practice sessions it was entirely different on the day, although a slight improvement on the previous week. Ron Durr was the winner with 2-7-0 made up of three skimmers and small roach taken on pole and maggot. Second place went to match organiser Jimmy Byrne with a weight of 2-4-0 of roach, gudgeon, and perch taken on the pole and pinkie over groundbait. Eighteen fished.
Our WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT remains closed on Friday evenings but 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.
Catch reports from members, pics, or funny stories are always welcome. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238
Frank Lythgoe
Results:
Disabled & Over 60's
1) Ron Durr 2-7-0
2) Jimmy Byrne 2-4-0
3) Geoff Brookes 1-14-0
4) Alan Brown 1-13-0
Mersey Series
1) Phil Stevens 13-8-0
2) Geoff Shaw 9-2-0
3) Jimmy Byrne 8-3-0
4) Chris Wray 5-9-0
Coming Events:
SUNDAY:
Mersey Match Series (members only) Draw 8-45am Mersey Walk fish peg 75 back. £5 and £5 optional pool. Exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 rules apply.
MONDAY:
Disabled & Over 60's Draw 9-45am Woodshaw Reservoir. £5 all-in, exact money only, no change given. Covid-19 rules apply.