25th October 2022 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

25^th October 2022 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

On Wednesday at Appleton Reservoir Darren Smith with nothing happening was just about to call it a day when out of the blue the Gods smiled down on him and he was suddenly playing a decent fish. After a few heart stopping moments, a mirror carp was safely in his landing net which turned out to be a new PB weighing exactly 25lbs. The fish was caught on a small wafter fed using a PVA bag.

The same day The Perch Maestro aka Michael White was out again working his magic on the Bridgewater Canal with his usual lures when he landed a stripey which he reconned to have caught four times over the past three years in roughly the same area. Its weight had varied from nearing 3lbs to the current of just under 2-5-0.

Wednesday for some reason seems to have been one of those days as Tim Poulter who ventured out to the Bridgewater Canal to add to his past weeks piking action. Sadly, despite hooking five pike each one refused to cooperate, result 5-nil. However not one to accept defeat Tim sopped off at Statham Pool on his way home for a last-ditch effort and was rewarded with a 3lbs jack. At least it wasn't a blank.

Dave Gardner and Ken Hewitt aka the Dynamic Duo have been on their travels again, this time to the Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook, taking advantage of the protection offered by the M6 motorway bridge in the predicted inclement weather. Ken, still happy following his recent win of a Korda goody bag in a competition on our Facebook group set-up a pole and maggot at 7metres. He ended up with a catch of perch ranging for a couple of ounces to around a 1.5lbs, losing a bigger one at the net, plus three roach. Dave using both a waggler and method feeder had four roach, one over a pound. Ken obviously is keeping a tight grip on his luck!

Following an abortive trip to Grey Mist Mere on Thursday which unusually saw a full car park and most pegs taken Neil Plunkett undeterred ventured out again the following day. This time to one of his other favourite venues, Rixton Claypits which saw him with the place completely to himself. Fishing feeder tactics with frozen sweetcorn as bait he landed six decent sized bream plus a surprise jack pike which took his feeder on the retrieve. Added to this and taken on waggler, same bait plus maggot he caught roach and perch to end his session with a bonus tench of 5lbs. Neil commented, "All that close to home, sat in the sunshine and silence, what a great water."

Sunday saw a welcome return of our River Mersey Series due to higher water levels helping to ensure selected pegs were suitable to fish following the damage to Howley weir which is currently awaiting repair. Harry Billing made peg 57 pay with a catch of quality roach, skimmers, and hybrids taken on the pole for a winning weight of 24-11-0. Second placed Ray Boden wasn't too far behind with a weight of 23-5-0 of bream and roach taken mainly on the tip. Only nine members fished due to other commitments but after these weights I rather think that more will be tuning out for the next match at Victoria Park.

The Disabled & Over 60's fished their Monday match this week on the Bridgewater Canal at Walton and saw Chris Wray the winner with a net of quality roach and perch caught on pole fished worm and caster for a weight of 5-11-0. Paul Ashton took second place helped by a bonus bream of 2.5lbs which added to his catch of roach and perch gave him a total of 5-6-5. Catches along the match were mainly roach and perch. Fifteen anglers 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 membership book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT 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.

Your catch reports are more than welcome as many members rely on your shared information for their visits to the bankside. Email secretary@Warrington-anglers.org.uk

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Mersey Series:

1)      Harry Billing    24-11-0

2)      Ray Boden       23-5-0

3)      Jimmy Byrne   14-3-0

4)      Bud Lea              9-8-0

Disabled & Over 60's:

1)       Chris Wray       5-11-0

2)      Paul Ashton      5-6-5

3)      Alan Faulkner/George Barber 4-2-0

Coming Events:

SUNDAY:

Members Mersey Series draw 8-45am Victoria Park peg 34 down.

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's Match Bridgewater Canal. Draw 9-45am Daresbury Labs. (£5 all-in, exact money only, no change given).

18th October 2022 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

18^th October 2022 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

One of our volunteer bailiffs Michael White does a cracking job, but he can also catch fish, especially specimen perch from the Bridgewater Canal. An evening session this past week saw him land three such fish, all over 3lbs apiece which for many anglers including myself were the fish of a lifetime. Using FFS stick and skirted Kraken lures he reckons that once he casts to a shoal and is lucky enough to hook a fish the remainder scatter and its onwards to find another shoal in the autumn clear water conditions.

Steven McCarthy was certainly enjoying his day session on Wednesday at our popular Grey Mist Mere fishery when I chatted to him on the bank. He had already landed a 16lbs mirror and 25lbs common carp along with three tench, best 7lbs. All were tempted using strawberry boilies.

Tim Poulter had a good start to his first pike session of the year when first visiting Rixton Claypits he caught three jack-pike and then still looking for more action went to the Bridgewater Canal at Walton to end his day on a high note with another pike landed successfully. Jonny Hughes also enjoyed a sunny morning's pike fishing at Rixton again being rewarded with a pike for his efforts, certainly worth a visit. On Sunday Paul Knowles also enjoyed his first pike foray of the year on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Barnton. Fishing with sardine he was rewarded with a lovely looking pike.

The Disabled & Over 60's fished their Monday match this week on the Bridgewater Canal at Moore and saw Alan Faulkner improve his last week's fourth place result with a win, weighing in a mixed net of roach and perch for 5-8-0. Alan had a bite every put-in for the first 1.5hours of the match, mainly roach on bread punch and the occasional perch when he swapped to pinkie.  It was a close-run thing as second placed Alan Brown was only 2oz short with his weight of 5-6-0. Catches along the match were mainly roach and perch with a few bonus skimmers for the luckier anglers. Pinkie was the bait of the day with a few like the winner catching on bread punch. Thirteen anglers fished.

Thanks to all volunteers who turned out for working parties this past week at Phoenix Park Lake which saw two pegs fully refurbished, at Rixton amongst other work a really big snag was removed, and some tree branch trimming took place at Statham Pool. Anybody wishing to volunteer please get in touch or simply turn up at advertised work parties and you will be made very welcome.

One thing that really gets to our bailiffs and volunteers are the so-called anglers who leave litter; OK they are in a minority but their disregard for their surroundings reflects on the decent majority. So, a reminder of Rule 13. No tents, fires, disposable barbeques, single use bottles, or cans/tins/plastic packaging etc are allowed on our fisheries. It is simple really; purchase and use re-usable containers they are cheap as chips. You have been warned!

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 membership book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT 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.

Your catch reports are more than welcome as many members rely on your shared information for their visits to the bankside. Email secretary@Warrington-anglers.org.uk

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Disabled & Over 60's:

1)       Alan Faulkner    5-8-0

2)      Alan Brown        5-6-0

3)      Bob Fitzpatrick  4-11-0

4)      Alan Clarke/Jeff Stoll    4-2-0

Coming Events:

SUNDAY:

Members Mersey Series draw 8-45am Mersey Walk peg 75 down.

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's Match Bridgewater Canal. Draw 9-45am Walton Church (£5 all-in, exact money only, no change given).

11th October 2022 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

11^th October 2022 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Last week Neil Plunkett ended a short holiday break at Hay on Wye with a productive five-hour session on our river stretch catching six roach, six chub, and six barbel (sign of the devil or what). All were caught on the feeder fishing the river as it fined down after heavy rain and using pellet or corn as hook baits. Neil commented, "Fantastic sport and a kingfisher zooming up and down in front of me as I fished. Bliss!!!!"

On Monday Anthony Rough had a short but enjoyably productive afternoon session on the River Alyn at Rossett where trotting with maggots he landed a dozen or so grayling. Tim Poulter also reported brilliant sport on the same venue over a week ago using the same method. He caught over thirty grayling with the best approaching the 2lbs mark along with dace, trout (one looked like a sea-trout around 2lbs), and a single chub.

Dave Tomkinson aka The Tench Whisperer was back at Grey mist last Thursday and within ten minutes had landed a cracking male of 8-9-0. Dave ended his session with fourteen tench down to around 3lbs but the first fish of the day was still the heaviest specimen. He fed sweetcorn and hemp along with almost a kilo of 10mm boilies.

The last time Andy Corr fished on the Trent & Mersey Canal was over twenty years ago on a winter league. No such pressure last weekend when he set up for his first ever pleasure session at Barton Basin fishing on the pole at 11metres with bread punch. The end result was around a hundred fish, the better stamp roach and skimmers moving onto his bait during the last hour. He tried worm before he packed up for the day and caught skimmers and quality perch fished over his punch line. All in all, loads of bites on a picturesque canal.

Paul Dewhurst had a trip out to the Macclesfield Canal at Astbury this week, an hour's drive, but as he said, "Well worth it." Fishing across he caught quality roach and hybrids on chopped worm and numerous ruffe and perch when using the same method down the track (middle). Three of the perch were around the pound mark topped by the last fish of the day at 1-8-0.

Anyone looking for some pike action as the temperatures drop try the Bridgewater Canal where Steve Simpson fishing a replica pike lure landed three, best around 12lbs from Broadheath. Jacks showing at Rixton.

The Disabled & Over 60's fished their Monday match this week on the Bridgewater Canal at Hill Top Road. The canal was losing its colour, possibly due to the reduction in boat traffic and some anglers struggled for bites. Not so Stu Patterson who was pegged near the bus stop and reportedly fished pinkie throughout for a decisive win with his weight of 10-3-0. Stu was catching roach but enjoyed a really busy spell during which he hooked five bream and landed four. Second placed Mike Worley also had a bonus bream which along with a four roach gave him a weight of 3-11-0. Seventeen anglers 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 membership book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT 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.

Your catch reports are more than welcome as many members rely on your shared information for their visits to the bankside. Email secretary@Warrington-anglers.org.uk

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Disabled & Over 60's:

1)       Stu Patterson 10-3-0

2)      Mike Worley      5-12-0

3)      Peter Jones        2-11-0

4)      Alan Faulkner    4-10-0

Coming Events:

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's Match Bridgewater Canal. Draw 9-45am Tramp Grave, Moore (£5 all-in, exact money only, no change given).

4th October 2022 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

4^th October 2022 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Last weekend Garry Whitehead was enjoying a family morning outing on the Bridgewater Canal and as a bonus managed to also neatly slot in a few hours pike fishing. Presenting a smelt on float tackle he was rewarded with a really well marked pike of 9lbs being joined in the photo by his son Thomas aged 3.5years. He is just taking his first steps as an angler and enjoys reeling in his dad's pike lures …. Believe me it won't be too long before the competing starts …. "Have you not caught anything yet dad?"

Gary Chadwick who I reported in my previous column/blog enjoying a cracking session at Astbury on the Macclesfield Canal has changed his venue for this week's catch report to the Trent & Mersey Canal at Little Leigh. He chose to fish the 'stick-ups' using his favoured method of worm down the track. The result despite blustery windy conditions was a very productive morning session with forty perch up to 1lb and a dozen quality roach. Some members are certainly missing out as our canal fisheries are all worth a try and can produce some surprising results.

Dave Gardner and Ken Hewitt aka The Dynamic Duo were out on the Bridgewater Canal last week, no fantastic catches, Dave seven roach and perch and ken in second place with a brace of each, but nevertheless as Ken commented "A lovely day for maggot drowning."

A few members seem to be having difficulty opening some of our high security locks on a number of our fisheries only for when we visit and check find that they open perfectly well and just need a little patience as brute force does not work. On Tuesday after complaints Andy Burrows and I went to Sandiway and we opened every lock without difficulty. We replaced two which although they opened were stiff and someone had mistakenly oiled their workings. Please do not do this as it creates more problems than it solves.

The Disabled & Over 60's were out on their Monday match on the Bridgewater Canal at Walton this week and thankfully saw much better weights. The winner Alan Faulkner put together put together a net of roach and perch up to 6oz on bread with, pinkie and maggot for a weight of 6-8-0. Both Al and second placed George Barber (The Breadman) were pegged either side of Walton Bridge with George on the Moore side. He fished the pole 2/3rds across using 'the white stuff' and worm for a similar catch plus a 12oz plus hybrid for 5-12-0 and nearly doubling his winning weight of the previous week. It was also a better turn-out with sixteen anglers on the bank.

The volunteers who turned out for the working Party last weekend at Sandiway Lakes built a cracking peg and approach path which saw the Secrets swim on the small lake reopened after being closed three years ago due to higher water levels. Well done everyone. Whilst there I heard rumours of some nice carp being caught. Enjoy.

A set of car keys were lost by a member at Moore Quarry …. any angler finding them please let me know asap.

Just a reminder that members have not yet paid their 2022 subscription and intending to retain their membership should not leave it too late. Don't forget you can renew at any of our tackle shop outlets or online from our website homepage.

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 membership book or request in an envelope with their payment and a stamped addressed envelope, through our HQ door at 52, Parker Street, Warrington WA1 1LT 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.

Your catch reports are more than welcome as many members rely on your shared information for their visits to the bankside. Email secretary@Warrington-anglers.org.uk

Frank Lythgoe

Result:

Disabled & Over 60's:

1)       Alan Faulkner    6-8-0

2)      George Barber   5-12-0

3)      Stu Patterson      4-13-0

4)      Jeff Stoll/Alan Brown 4-10-0

Coming Events:

SUNDAY:

Our Mersey matches are still on hold at the present time due to the current river conditions and we are hoping that Peel Ports will soon fix or blank off the damaged gate at Howley weir.

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's Match Bridgewater Canal. Draw 9-45am Hill Top Road (£5 all-in, exact money only, no change given).