27th June 2023 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

27^th June 2023 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

After a 4am start Garry Whitehead had a cracking four-hour session on the Weaver Navigation last weekend catching bream, roach, chub, and perch on red maggot over groundbait and pellet. He also managed to follow this up on Monday with a brief one-hour session for his son Thomas aged 4 years where the keen youngster caught his biggest perch to date plus some chunky roach using maggot and just two sections of pole…I'm sure there will be even bigger specimens before long. Trouble is that dad will need to carry a bigger size range in plastic bags 😊 … well done Thomas.

Andy Corr and his fishing mate Andy Donegan were also on the Weaver Navigation on Sunday, both enjoying another great session on our waters. Short pole, a couple of balls of dark groundbait and maggots over the top seems to work for most members who visit this easy access fishery. The float here seems to be king as I have never yet heard of anyone 'bagging-up' on other methods such as the feeder…but as there are also resident carp, I would love to be proven wrong.

Some better news of the current situation following the recent devastating River Mersey fish kill is that a few members are making 'test-visits' and reporting catches of bream and roach. Regular column contributor Mike Pritchard fished it for two hours on Saturday where he had eight bites landing three roach and a perch. He then went to Ackers Pit where he caught thirteen roach, three perch, and an eel around the 4lbs mark which took a fancy to his red maggots.

Thousands of tiny fry to be seen everywhere on the Bridgewater Canal and thankfully the River Mersey.

Our Monday Disabled & Over 60's match this week was fished on the Bridgewater Canal at Stage Lane. The winner, Alan Brown drew peg 2 in the wood where fishing pole and caster he caught a bonus bream around the 4lbs mark, a couple of skimmers, and the rest roach for a weight of 7-7-0. Alan Faulkner was the runner-up catching a nice net of small roach on pinkie from peg 16 at the opposite end of the match. Sixteen 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 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.

Please get in touch as your catch reports which are always welcome as lots of members rely on your kindly shared information for their angling visits. Email secretary@warrington-anglers.org.uk

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Disabled & Over 60's (Bridgewater Canal, Stage Lane)

1)      Alan Brown           7-7-0

2)      Al Faulkner           4-2-0

3)      Rod Fraser            2-12-0

4)      Jimmy Byrne        2-9-0

Coming Events:

SUNDAY:

River Mersey: Matches cancelled for the time being following the recent fish kill.

MONDAY:

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

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20th June 2023 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

20^th June 2023 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

The recent River Mersey fish kill reported to us by members last Wednesday was a body blow to anglers who cherished the river and supported its recovery over the past thirty years to enable it to change from an open sewer to a prolific fishery and haven for wildlife. Lots of bream, roach, perch, skimmers, pike, and eels could be seen dead or dying due to massively reduced oxygen levels. The reason given was the high temperatures and recent storms; however, the Environment Agency took samples and the results are awaited with interest.

I took a boat ride from Warrington to Woolston Weir and along the route saw lots of dead fish in the margins caught up in the branches of overhanging willows along with detritus. Strangely when I went along the original river which is now a part of the Thelwall Eyes Conservation Area there was not a single dead fish to be seen anywhere. As this is an arm of the main river one would expect the oxygen levels here would be suffering far worse than the main river where the water is continually oxygenated by Woolston Weir.

However, despite the obvious cloud of doom and gloom I have a confirmed report from an angler of fish that have been caught since the aforementioned fish deaths. Hopefully more similar good news to report next week.

Disappointing news that the stretch of the River Severn at Montford Bridge which we have rented since the 1980's has now been let to another club who apparently worked on building new pegs during the close-season despite the fact that it was still rented to ourselves at the time. Thankfully this is a very rare occurrence.

Thankfully the River Dee at Worthenbury was a different story for Anthony Rough when he paid it a visit for a three-hour evening session on Monday evening. With the river carrying extra water and some colour he loose-fed white maggot running a chubber float through his swim to catch lots of small chub to 12oz plus the occasional dace, but no grayling which the Dee is famous for. The track may be hard going but this place is magic and worth a visit…no low-slung cars but I made it once in my wife's little red Fiat 500. 😊

Brian Gibson enjoyed his Friday at Appleton Reservoir where he fished from 7am to 2pm from a swim below the wall. Using waggler tactics up in the water at around 4feet whilst loose-feeding caster I watched him for a short time catch some specimen roach and as I was moving away, he shouted that he had just landed a tench around the 4lbs mark. He went on to keep catching roach reckoning that he ended his session with ninety to a hundred, plus some chunky perch.

Tom Rutter was also made up with his catch from the same venue off a mirror carp just a midges off 19lbs which fell for a 12mm pineapple pop-up.

Our Monday Disabled & Over 60's match this week was fished on the Bridgewater Canal at Grappenhall Trees, the length where many of our junior match anglers honed their skills over many years. This week's winner, The Breadman (George Barber) drew the end peg just as you access the canal from Euclid Avenue. It didn't start well as when plumbing the depth, he found a tree snag in his swim on the offside. Bites were hard to come by despite seeing lots of fish topping further along the canal before the start of the match, however lady luck was on his side when he hooked what he thought was a snag…that was until it started to move. Result, a 4lbs beam which added to his half a dozen small roach gave him exactly 5lbs surprisingly all on bread😊 The runner-up Neil Buist aka 'The Engine' was on the adjacent peg and also included a bream which he caught on the tip on a piece of worm for a combined weight of 3-0-0. Sixteen 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 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.

Please get in touch as your catch reports which are always welcome as lots of members rely on your kindly shared information for their angling visits. Email secretary@warrington-anglers.org.uk

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Disabled & Over 60's (Bridgewater Canal, Grappenhall Trees)

1)      George Barber     5-0-0

2)      Neil Buist              3-0-0

3)      Roy Hollis              2-6-0

4)      Roy Rogers           1-12-0

Coming Events:

SUNDAY:

River Mersey: Matches cancelled for the time being following the recent fish kill.

MONDAY:

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

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13th June, 2023 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

13^th June 2023 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

Andy Corr and his fishing mate Andy Donegan had another great session at Appleton Reservoir on Sunday, they arrived at 10am and left at 4-30pm…not because they weren't catching… they had simply run out of casters. They both fished chopped worm and caster on the feeder at 25yards which saw Andy C end up with 29lbs of roach and Andy D 16lbs.

Garry Whitehead and his family enjoyed their session last week at picturesque High Legh Pools, especially Thomas aged 4 years who was quite happy watching his float go under and catching little roach and perch on maggot using just the top two sections of a pole. Evidently, he also doesn't mind holding maggots but fish are a different matter just as lots of other youngsters starting on their angling journey, its usually the protective mucus or more commonly called slime that puts them off. Well, this time dad Garry came up with a simple idea to help to overcome this common aversion, a wet plastic bag. Well done young Thomas.

James Howard has lately been spending a number of relaxing evening sessions at his favourite Ackers Pit, quite content to catch some of the decent roach we stocked earlier in the year. Method of choice was waggler and maggot. Half of the Dynamic Duo, Ken Hewitt was also out at Ackers on Monday where he reported plenty of carp cruising on the surface. He ended up with twenty or so chunky roach to around 8oz, all caught on waggler and maggot. Despite the hot weather he resisted the urge to go paddling again.

Mike Pritchard will be swapping to the Mersey for his weekly fishing session this weekend but gave me the total catch details of his nine sessions at Statham Pool during the river coarse closed season. He reports over 300 fish which included 8 small chub, two dace, a dozen rudd, skimmers and hybrids, 30 perch, the rest roach. His last visit also included an eel of 1.5lbs. Most catches on maggot but the better stamp fish mainly came on caster. Reports this past week that the venue is absolutely alive with fish.

Our Monday Disabled & Over 60's match this week was fished on the Bridgewater Canal at Agden Bridge. The previous record for a five-hour match from the canal was a 45lbs net of carp caught by Bob Roberts a good number of years ago at one of our Fur & Feather matches near Stanney Lunt Bridge. This week's winner Paul Field came very close with a cracking weight of 42lbs exactly but in only a four-hour match… another hour and who knows? However, his net of bream caught using worm and caster on the tip it is definitely a four-hour record. Match organiser Jimmy Byrne was the runner-up with 120 small roach for 4-13-0 caught fishing short pole and waggler on pinkie. Twenty-one 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 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.

Please get in touch as your catch reports which are always welcome as lots of members rely on your kindly shared information for their angling visits. Email secretary@warrington-anglers.org.uk

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Trent & Mersey Open (Saturday) Salt Barge PH, Northwich

1)      Nigel Grindley     4-9-8

2)      Lewis Breeze       3-10-8

3)      Ian Bellfield         3-9-12

4)      Steve Brookes     2-14-12 

Disabled & Over 60's (Bridgewater Canal, Agden Bridge)

1)      Paul Field           42-0-0

2)      Jimmy Byrne       4-13-0

3)      Chris Wray           4-6-0

4)      Rod Frazer           4-5-0

Coming Events:

SUNDAY:

River Mersey 1^st Association Contest. Draw Victoria Park 8-45am £10 all-in. Members only, paid up cards to be shown at draw.

MONDAY:

Disabled & Over 60's Bridgewater Canal, Grappenhall at Jacks Bench … Draw 9-45am (£5 all-in, exact money only, no change given).

 

6th June 2023 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

6^th June 2023 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

With much sadness I am reporting the passing on Sunday following a short illness of former Warrington Anglers Association committee member Irene Robinson, wife of our Chairman Dave. Our Condolences to Dave and all the family.

As many of our fisheries are seeing fish either spawning or shoaling up in readiness…anglers should not under any circumstances target spawning fish. Areas on some waters are also taped up and closed to any kind of fishing. I know that this is a difficult time to make accurate judgements but simply if fish are spawning let them get on with it.

It was the first ever visit to our High Legh fishery last week for Barry Asson and his son Sam aged 15 years where they both caught loads of small silvers and perch. Barry fished waggler over-depth with red maggot and Sam caught the same fish on a method feeder and then upped the anti when he caught a carp on double red maggot after adding a groundbait mix. He then changed to a wafter to attract a nice tench from this small but picturesque fishery. Barry commented, "The boy had to get one over on me again with the lovely carp and tench." Something then jogged my memory and I found my previous report I wrote about them dated the 19^th May 2020 when they enjoyed a session at Woodshaw Reservoir where Sam caught some nice crucians and loads of roach and rudd.  His dad Sam did catch but had to admit he was put to shame. Groundhog Day or what? 😊

Ian Millington enjoyed a nice morning's fishing on the Mount at Buckley where float-fishing on red maggots, corn, and bread he had a large catch of roach topped by a chunky mirror carp. Ian reported lots of carp moving up in the water obviously ready for spawning.

The Dynamic Duo, Ken Hewitt and Dave Gardner were also at High Legh on Monday morning where they reported the water level being slightly down but they both still caught. Ken had eight roach up to 8ozs and a perch which weighed just over 1.25lbs. Dave kicked off on the feeder and lost the first carp but ended up with a brace, best 15lbs which fell to red krill; plus, over a dozen roach and perch caught on maggot. I'll wager that Ken's pet robin he was feeding on Ackers Pit last week is missing him. 😊

Our Monday Disabled & Over 60's match this week was fished on the Bridgewater Canal at Pickerings Bridge where the winner Stu Patterson fishing pinkie had a roach catch which was boosted by a bonus bream nudging the 4lbs mark for an overall weight of 4-2-0. Ron Durr who was pegged near the bridge a few pegs away from the winner added a small bream to his net of small roach to end up exactly a pound lighter with 3-2-0 to take second place. Nineteen anglers fished.

It is intended to form a working party group to maintain pegs and tidy swims along our lengths of the River Mersey. Anybody who can spare time to help please get in touch with me and I will pass your details on to the team leader.

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 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.

Please get in touch as your catch reports which are always welcome as lots of members rely on your kindly shared information for their angling visits. Email secretary@warrington-anglers.org.uk

Frank Lythgoe

Results:

Trent & Mersey Open (Saturday) Morrisons stretch, Northwich

1)      Martin Lenihan   3-15-12

2)      Steve Brooks       2-14-12

3)      Kevin Simpson    2-10-0

4)      Jeff Stoll               2-2-12 

Disabled & Over 60's (Bridgewater Canal, Pickerings Bridge)

1)      Stu Patterson     4-2-0

2)      Ron Durr             3-2-0

3)      George Barber   2-5-0

4)      Paul Ashton       1-15-0

Coming Events:

MONDAY:

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

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