Pennine joy for Boyden

ANGLING: BOYDEN Koupynicki, of Fox Match Black, and John Leeds went fish-for-fish in the opening Pennine Teams of Four Winter League on the Hebden Bridge lengths of the Rochdale Canal.

And it was Koupynicki who got the nod in a tight finish thanks to an 8lb 5oz 8drams net of roach and skimmer on bread punch down the middle and three-quarters across.

Using similar tactics Leeds, of TRI-CAST Rochdale Blue, had an almost identical catch to the winner of 7lb 13oz.

Roger Priestley (Fox Match Red) was third with 6lb 5oz 8drams, while Stuart Campbell claimed fourth with 5lb 12oz.

On the team front, TRI-CAST Rochdale Blue dominated proceedings with 33 points, from TRI-CAST Rochdale Black and Fox Match Black, who tied on 29 points.


CHADDERTON Mill Lodge was in good form for an open match although, with anglers needing to break the ice, it was no surprise that the heady weights of summer were a distant memory.

Still, there were plenty of fish caught with Ian Cox (Stalybridge) taking first place.

He had a 3lb carp and 11 skimmers taken on an eight-metre pole and red maggot for a level 9lb.

Peg 13 was lucky for Ivan Ditchfield, who also bagged a carp and plenty of skimmers for a second-best 7lb 14oz.

Ashton-under-Lyne postman Dave Machin targeted the venue’s carp with his pellet approach working to the tune of three specimens and a 6lb 8oz haul.

Machin was drawn on peg 16, where he concentrated on an area in front of the tins to take fish around the 2lb mark.


SUNDAY’S Chadderton Mill AC members only Winter League match on the club water is definitely on.

AN ANGLING club in Manchester had to break the ice to save their fish stocks from dying from trapped gases.

The worrying aspect about this story is that one of the anglers actually got into the water to break the ice and collapsed due to the freezing conditions.

I must say, while I can understand the club’s predicament, caution should always be heeded.

Many years ago and well before commercial fisheries were the norm, anglers were often seen sitting on the ice on canals up and down the country fishing winter league matches.

Indeed, I did it myself but, looking back, I should have known better.

It was not just the anglers who were putting themselves at risk but what example did it set any children who were watching.


Venue Guide

Huddersfield Narrow Canal: Canal is free of ice so is fishable, but don’t expect too much as the water will need a week or two to get over melting ice. Spinning for pike still a good choice.

Rochdale Canal: Bread punch and flouro pinkie will again tempt fish to feed. Take it easy with the amount you put in, but pegs near locks at Boarshaw and Slattocks sure to give reasonable sport. Broadgate okay for small fish to bread punch down the track.

Chadderton Mill Lodge: This venue was still iced up last week, but should be clear by the weekend. Expect carp and ide to feed with maggot on the deck the best method. Pegs 12, 13, 14 and 15 are most consistent at this time of the year.

Hollingworth Lake: Pike anglers are out this week, with deadbaits the most common method. Some anglers spinning. There are some massive perch in this water and spinning is a cracking method to tempt them.


Diary Dates

Every Saturday — Open matches on Meermoor Fisheries.

Every Sunday — Albert Morris open matches on canals throughout the north west. For information, contact Albert on (0161) 792 2684. £11 all in on the day.

Every other Sunday — Monarch AC members matches on the club water. For further details, contact Craig on 07916 923890.

Sundays — Chadderton Mill AC winter league matches on Chadderton Mill Lodge. For further details, contact Lee on 07522 156978.

Email any news or views on the local or national angling scene to foldgr@ntlworld.com or contact Jan Verbruggen on 07846456408.