Open and shut case for Tony

Angling: THE B and J Open was fished on a patchy Broadgate length of the Rochdale Canal where Tony Horton won with 5lb 12oz of roach and skimmers, taken on pole and bread punch.

There was a drop to the next weight as Newhey-based Simon Walton (Halifax Matrix) caught small roach on bread punch, fished in various areas of his peg, to weigh in 2lb 12oz and net himself second place.


AN Old Hough Farm open match was won by Pete Johnson with 24lb 6oz, followed by James Cantello

(Tri-Cast Highfield) with a 22lb 13oz net of carp and f1s which fell to dobbed bread.

Cantello was also third in another match at the same venue with 31lb 8oz.

In a third Old Hough Farm open, Failsworth-based Ken Power (Tri-Cast Highfield) reached the frame with maggot fished tight across to an island working well as he netted 12lb 10oz of small skimmers and ide.



PETE Mottram bounced back to form in the Todmorden AS match on Townhouse with his 37lb 2oz catch made up of carp taken on the pole, tip, pellet and bread.

Lee Cavanagh was second with another all-carp catch weighing 20lb 9oz, with tip and pellet the successful method.



SATURDAY’S Partridge Lakes Open on Covey Canal was won by Steve Openshaw with corn and

pellet fished down the middle at six metres working to the tune of 92lb 2oz of f1s and carp. Chadderton angler John Jones used maggot under the footbridge at 13 metres to catch carp and f1s for a second-placed 55lb 9oz.



JOHN Nugent (Ashton Angling) was the winner of the Brookside Open with his 92lb 2oz net made up of carp and f1s taken on pellet to beat Tom Barlow (57lb 6oz) into second.



I FISHED the 50-peg Gratton Shield match on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Parbold, where expectations were high as both the previous opens had fished well for roach.

Unfortunately, a strong-pulling canal and a heavy downpour dampened the results, with Geoff Dawes needing just 5lb 13oz to win.

Dawes caught seven skimmers and some good roach in the first hour on bread punch which was enough for him to pick up the top prize of £250.

Runner-up Shaun Paddon (Tricast Highfield) also caught skimmers, weighing in 3lb 10oz of them on bread punch fished down the middle to pick up £170.

I was fifth overall, just out of the money, with 2lb 4oz 8drams.



TODMORDEN AS are restocking several of their waters on March 26 with f1s and bream.

Waters being stocked include Portsmouth Reservoir, New Mill Dam, Ramsden Wood, Croft, Townhouse, Grove and Cliviger.

Members should note that no keepnets are allowed for a month after restocking, apart from in official Todmorden AS matches.



Venue Guide

Denshaw Vale – Memberships available. For details, contact John on 665 1779.

Dowry Reservoir – Day tickets available from Sheddings Angling.

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

Strinesdale Reservoir – Day tickets on the bank.

Cargate Pool – Medlock Bridge AC members-only water.

Rochdale Canal – Hard at weekend and very patchy. Bread punch fished at nine metres will catch you fish.

Bardsley Canal – Day tickets on the bank.

Alexandra Park Lake – Day tickets on the bank.

Hollingworth Lake – Day ticket water. Swimfeeder and maggot for bream, roach and perch.

Tanners Dam – Diggle AC members only. Always good for silvers and carp.

Peak Forest Canal – Fishing poorly at the moment.



Diary

Every Sunday – open match on Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals. Draw 9am, fishing 10am to 3pm. Tickets cost £11 all-in. To book and for further details call Albert on 0161 792 2684. This Sunday’s match is on the High Lane length of the Macclesfield Canal.

Every Sunday – Open matches on Old Hough Farm Fishery. Draw at 8.45am. Turn up on the day.

Every Saturday – Open matches on local canals. Draw 9am, fishing 10am to 3pm. To book and for further details, contact John on 07801276059.

Every other Sunday - Slaithwaite individual winter league on Sparth Reservoir. For more details, contact Neil on 07768 138147.

Every other Sunday, with next match this Sunday – Open silvers and carp match combined on Church Gardens. Tickets £15 all in. Contact Dave on 07879 474029.

Sunday, March 16 - Todmorden AS match on Townhouse. To book, contact Chris Lett on 07818 444543.