12th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

12^th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

WARRINGTON ANGLERS ASSOCIATION COVID-19 UPDATE 12^TH MAY 2020

Dear members, thank you to all those who have continued to support the club throughout these difficult times and have remained patient, whilst we navigate through the minefield of getting our members back on the bank, safely and responsibly. As we have said, none of this has been straight forward and there are still many grey areas, which will mean we could see further changes to what is set out below. 

Angling will now be allowed from 6am Wednesday 13^th May on all waters

Following a meeting with Welsh Ministers this morning Angler's in Wales can now go fishing. There are further details to follow later but initially this will be 'local fishing' and maintaining social distancing.

We are awaiting further details but our Welsh Fisheries such as The Mount and Offa's Dyke will be open for members on Wednesday subject to the Welsh 'local fishing' conditions and those regarding night fishing from my original post.

Also, more good news: Worthington and Appleton Reservoirs are also open for fishing tomorrow.

Please note Adlington is closed as always until the 16th June 2020 also the main car park may not be open until Friday so members desperate to fish must use the lay-bye parking up from the Kilhey Court Hotel.

The following conditions 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 are NOT allowed on any waters.
• 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 from Thu 14^th May *This is to allow for further clarification*

Night fishing seems to be the greyest area within angling currently and as such, our stance could change at any point. As it stands, Night fishing WILL be allowed, but as there are lots of members on 'Furlough Leave' there will be increased bookings. So, initially in the interests of fair play and to give everyone a chance to fish the changes are: 

 

• Single nights on all night permit fisheries which are open, with the exception of 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 from 13/5/2020, night fishing to commence from 14^th subject to change. 
• Bookings no more than 3 days ahead.
• As things could change at any point, we will have an updated voicemail message on the night permit phone with regards to that night's bookings. If you have successfully booked on for that night, please check before setting off to fish. Voicemails will not be picked up, so please do not leave any on there, it is purely to keep members updated and to save any wasted journeys.:

Again, 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 and Welsh Assembly 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. 

At this juncture I really would like to thank all our bailiffs for their efforts and also members who have kept their eye on our waters and informed the club of poaching incidents during fishery closures.  There will be more hard work to come for our bailiffs now we will be fishing again. Please give them your full support and cooperation.

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street remains closed on Friday evenings until further notice. If you need any further information please give me a call or email as below.

Now fishing is allowed again I look forward once again to your catch reports to share with follow members. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe

5th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

5^th May 2020 Warrington Anglers Association Guardian Notes

From my Guardian archive reports: -

This same week in 2019 when things were normal and everyone could go fishing Ian Millington reckoned that the Mount at Buckley is a brilliant place to fish, no doubt borne out by his morning session on Friday when he had a mixed catch of silvers, a bream, and a tench, losing a better one when it snagged-up. All fell to either corn or red maggot. He was back again on Sunday but tried the smaller back lake where he included a decent bream and a small carp in his catch. Thanks to those members who are openly sharing their experiences with fellow anglers to help make both existing members and newcomers fishing experiences more productive.

Phil Brown had a busy day session at Appleton Reservoir on Thursday fishing with his mate Jess Steele catching eight carp that included three twenties, but Jess landed the biggest at 25lbs. A few nice carp reported from Grey Mist and Appleton Reservoir over the Bank Holiday weekend with also a fair amount of tench action from the Mist. Ian Simpkin had eight in a session with the best a 7lbs 12ozs specimen caught on double red maggot using a small groundbait feeder.

Going back even further in time to this week in 2001 Mike Timson reported that carp were on the feed at Grey Mist Mere where he had enjoyed two good sessions, the first saw him net thirteen carp, all doubles, with the best a mirror of 17lbs. His next outing tally was seven carp with the best another mirror of 16lbs.John Phoenix also reported he had a mirror of 17lbs.Good catches of tench to meat in the margins.

The same week saw an explosion of quality roach being caught at Cicily Mill Pool which were taking any bait thrown at them and averaged 6 to 8ozs with occasional fish to just over a pound. I managed (yes it was me) a short session on Thursday and fed a few grains of sweetcorn every other cast for a succession of tench to 3.5lbs and a few decent roach.  I tried cubed meat over the corn and still had a fish almost every put-in. The new pegs have made a massive improvement to fishing comfort, thanks to all concerned who give up their fishing for the benefit of others.

The tench were ravenous on Sandiway small lake and taking a variety of baits, maggot, caster, corn, and meat. Although pegs are flooded anglers consider the effort worthwhile, and two members have even constructed several new pegs. Any method, pole, feeder or slider is bringing results, including a few quality roach and rudd. The large lake is still producing better quality tench in the 6 to 7lbs range.

Our senior match squad won the Drennan Division One League both on the day and overall on Sunday 6^th May 2001. It was neck and neck with Little Lever but we won on weight when both teams had tied on points at the final match. Team member, Grant Evans won the top angler in the league with 56 points out of a possible 60.

Back to present day and members are ringing me with very encouraging reports of lots of fish around our waters that they have spotted on their 'exercise activities'.  However, the poachers who are stealing the fishing rights that our members pay for and who think that the Covid-19 'No angling' does not apply to them are still appearing on our fisheries. I interrupted this column at 8-10pm this evening to report to the police two such chancers on Phoenix Park Lake. I hope they were prosecuted. Thanks to the decent law-abiding member who rang in the information.

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street remains closed on Friday evenings until further notice. If you need any further information please give me a call or email as below.

Due our fishery closures any of your notable past catches or amusing angling stories are welcome. They will hopefully surprise or entertain fellow members whilst the country is in lock-down. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a ring on 01928 716238.

Frank Lythgoe

Match Results: 5/5/2001

Andrew Davies Memorial Match Series Final (5/5/2001) Bridgewater Canal, Ditchfield Br.

1)      Dale Lowndes      9-4-4

2)      Andrew Caldwell 3-11-5

3)      Paul Savage          1-5-3

4)      Chris Harding       1-0-2

Overall Points:

1)      Dale Lowndes         8 points

2)      Andrew Caldwell 10

3)      Neil Jones              13

Winner on the day and overall Dale Lowndes fished pole and caster for a small carp and skimmers.