Cold comfort for Cavanagh

THE first of the Todmorden AS matches fished on Croft Head saw anglers spending up to two hours breaking the ice before starting to fish.

And, looking at the weights, I bet they wished they hadn’t bothered.

Winner was Lee Cavanagh with 1lb 10oz of roach taken on pole-fished maggot. Nick Andrew was second with a similar net of 1lb 8oz, while postman Wayne Richmond was third with a small-fish net that tipped the scales at 1lb 7oz, followed by Dave Howarth’s 1lb 6oz.

Despite the recent problems, Todmorden have a cracking list of waters to fish offering value for money.

These include the Rochdale Canal (Lock 13 Callis to Lock 51 Castleton Manchester Road), New Mill Dam, Portsmouth Reservoir, River Calder at Todmorden, Cliviger Ponds, Grove Fishery, Croft Head Fishery, Lower Town House Fishery (all Littleborough) and Ramsden Wood Fishery.

Day tickets are available in advance from the local shops for Grove Fishery, Cliviger and the Rochdale Canal at £5 a day.

Disabled licences are not sold at tackle shops but concessions at £17 can be obtained with a DBD 384 from Warbreck House, Blackpool. After completing the form you can send it with a cheque, payable to Todmorden Angling Society, plus a S.A.E to Mr Crossley, 296 Bacup Road, Cloughfoot, Todmorden, OL14 HL.

For details on this or any membership enquiries phone 01706 816319.


ROUNDS for the disabled angler.co.uk championships have now been announced with six eliminators and a pairs match.

The top five go through to the final that is being fished in September. The northern leg is still to be finalised. For details ring John Buxton on 01327 351780.

n A SURPRISING rule change for all angling internationals being fished from this year on is that anglers can only fish for countries that they were born or reside in.

In the past, if an angler had ancestry in a country they could fish for them. That will affect the Scotland team especially as several English anglers presently fish for them.


DIARY DATES

February 22 – Todmorden AS members match on Croft Fishery. To book on ring 01706 840590.

Tuesday, March 3 – Twingates AC AGM at Crompton Cricket Club, Glebe Street, Shaw. The meeting starts at 8pm.

Wednesday March 4 – Chadderton Mill AC AGM at the Dog Inn, Block Lane, Chadderton. The meeting starts at 7pm.

Anyone with views or news on the local or national angling scene email me at foldgr@ntlworld.com or call me on 07846 456408.