Perfect Pete bags brace of victories

Angling: MAGGOT and groundbait helped Pete Johnson clinch the Old Hough open on Upper Benbo Lake.

Fishing down the track and tight across at 14 metres, he tempted 40lb 15oz. Gareth Gibbons was second with his 39lb 12oz, which also fell to maggot right across against the island.

Johnson added to his wins column by taking the open event on Big Max Lake.

He boasted 35lb 15oz of carp and silvers using dead red maggot with a method feeder. Chris Shaw was next best with 23lb 9oz after choosing almost identical tactics, but adding micro pellets in his feed.



DAVE White claimed the latest Twingates AC pensioners and disabled match on the club water.

He weighed in 11lb 12oz of carp and silvers on maggot and pellet using the long pole from peg 22.

Geoff Ogden is enjoying a cracking season, and he was joint second with a level 5lb, alongside G White.



After tomorrow, rivers are closed until June 16. That must be gutting for those who are fond of running-water angling as, for the majority of this winter, most rivers have been unfishable because of heavy rain. I drove over the River Ribble at the Tickled Trout and it looked superb.

I haven’t been able to fish the venue this season and will now have to wait until next winter.



SIXTEEN teams battled in the Wigan Teams of Four League on the Burscough length of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal — and Maver NW were dominant.

Leading the way for Maver was individual winner, Todmorden-based Roger Priestley, who produced a fantastic performance to tempt a 8lb 4oz net of roach, skimmers and perch taken on bread, caster and worm.

He was followed by Carl Whalley’s 6lb 8oz of roach and skimmers on bread and caster.



IN a pleasure session on the Hopwood Arms length of the Rochdale Canal, I bagged-up on bread punch.

I had a fish almost every put-in, with roach to four ounces falling to some left-over liquidised bread.

One medium pot of “liccy” at nine metres was all I used and, along with 4mm punch on a 20’s B511, 7mm hooklength and a 4x12 float, it makes for a balanced set-up.

Thirty roach in under two hours is good going anywhere. Great fishing for just a £3 day-ticket on the bank.



THE next Todmorden AS match is at Townhouse on Sunday. To book, contact Chris Lett on 07818 444543.





VENUE GUIDE

Denshaw Vale: Memberships are available. For further 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: Peggy at the moment as the roach get ready to spawn, but pick the right peg and a great day’s fishing is still to be had. Pegs behind the Hopwood Arms always good for a few fish.

Bardsley Canal: Day tickets on the bank.

Alexandra Park Lake: Day tickets on the bank.

Hollingworth Lake: Day ticket water. Feeder tactics for roach and skimmers.

Tanners Dam: Diggle AC members-only. Solid with fish. Double figure nets are common.

Peak Forest Canal: Quiet at the moment, although pegs on Dunkirk Lane always seem to produce. Bread punch working well for roach.



DIARY

Every Sunday: Open match on Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals. Draw 9am. Fishing 10am to 3pm. Tickets are £11 all in. To book and for further details, call Albert on (0161) 792 2684. Sunday’s match is on the High Lane length of the Macclesfield Canal.

Every Sunday: Open matches on Old Hough Farm Fishery. Draw 8.45am. Turn up on the day. No need to book.

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 other Sunday: Slaithwaite Individual Winter League on Sparth Reservoir. For further details, contact Neil on 07768 138147.

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