Holland stars at Sycamore

Angling:


DAVE Holland, of Tri-Cast Highfield, has been in superb form on Sycamore Fisheries.

He made it three wins from his last four visits, despite first having to break the ice.

He landed skimmers to 4oz as well as small ide and odd chub and bream for a match-winning 7lb 14oz.

Paul Marsh, in second place, had a level 6lb.



ON a freezing snow-hit Hilltop Reservoir, Keith Henighan won the latest Slaithwaite AS open.

The Tri-Cast Calder rod had 4lb 3oz of roach to 6oz on maggot over groundbait and blood worm at 10 metres.

Second place went to team-mate Craig Ellis, with his 3lb 8oz also made up of roach around the 6oz mark.



THE Park Lake was rock-hard for the Medlock Bridge AC open.

With just minutes to go, Mick Tighe was the only catcher thanks to a couple of small perch and was on course to pick up £120 in pools.

But he was pipped at the post by Pete Cuniffe, who netted a last-minute chub of 1lb and collected the lion’s share of the money.



MICK Hargreaves claimed victory in the Saturday open on the Macclesfield Canal at Chapel-on-le-Frith.

He had a 1lb 13oz net made up of small perch and roach on chopped worm and bread punch.

Jeff Dawson was second with lots of tiny bread punch-taken roach — he tipped the scales at 1lb 7oz.



I ENDURED a nightmare in the Trabrucco Halifax team Christmas match on the Mirfield Canal.

The 20 of the squad who turned up thought we would get a decent day’s fishing.

But we reckoned without “Santa Day” — barges full of children rgularly went up and down the canal and aft five hours without a single bite, I packed up.

More than half the field failed to register a bite and Chris Brierley needed just two perch for 3lb 5oz to emerge victorious.



THE Todmorden AS Christmas match, which took place on Croft and Townhouse fisheries, went to Steve Hamer.

He landed two carp on Croft, weighing in at 15lb 8oz.

Runner-up John Mellor had a couple of carp on Townhouse, which tipped the scales at 14lb 7oz



VENUE GUIDE

Denshaw Vale: Memberships are available. For further details, contact John on 665 1779.

Dowry Reservoir: Day tickets available from Tight Lines in Shaw and Sheddings Angling.

Ogden Reservoir: Day tickets on the bank and at Tight Lines, Shaw.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal: Day tickets on the bank. Fished hard for most of the year but some decent fish coming from near Standedge Tunnel length. Be prepared to break the ice.

Strinesdale Reservoir: Roach and chub were feeding before freeze. Day tickets on the bank.

Cargate Pool: Fish are feeding, but it is rock-hard.

Rochdale Canal: Iced over in most parts although only thin. Breaking the ice will not put off the fish. Feed sparingly by cup. Bread punch for roach and skimmers.

Bardsley Canal: Day tickets on the bank.

Alexandra Park Lake: Day tickets on the bank. Hard, although that should not put off anglers. Best bait is maggot for roach, chub and skimmers, although chopped worm might be worth a go.

Hollingworth Lake: Part frozen at the weekend, but most of water is open. Wrap up as the venue is open to the elements. Small groundbait feeder and red maggot or worm for roach and decent perch.



Diary Dates

Sunday: Todmorden AS Open match on the Rochdale Canal at Smithybridge. For details, contact Frank on 07769 905319 or to book, text with name, please. Draw 9am at Mr Thomas café.

Every Saturday: Open matches on local canals. Draw 9am. Fishing 10am to 3pm. To book and for further details, contact John on 07801 276059.

Every Thursday: Tameside Federation members-only matches on Stonepits. Draw 9.30am. Fishing 10.15am to 3.15pm. Pools are £5 on the day.

To report any news or views on the local or national angling scene, contact Jan Verbruggen on 07846 456408 or janangling@hotmail.co.uk