All’s well for canal king Dave

ANGLING:

DAVE Wells enchanced his record on the North-West canal scene with victory in the latest Todmorden AS Saturday Open match.

Battling against the elements on the lorry park section of the Rochdale Canal, he bagged a match-winning 4lb 5oz.

Drawn on peg two at the road bridge, Wells kicked off with bread punch for small roach, before he switched to caster for several good roach.

It was a case of what might have been for runner-up Martin Taylor (4lb 3oz), who was situated just a few pegs away from Wells.

After targeting bits early on, he changed to caster three-quarters across for some good roach. However, he lost two big specimens which cost him victory.

Dave Holland used squatt and pinkie at various lengths for small roach and a third-placed effort of 3lb 8oz 8drams.

The Todmorden AS Open match on the Derdale length of the Rochdale Canal went to Steve Broadbent, who had 4lb 8oz of roach and perch on pole-fished caster.

Simon Walton, in second, had 3lb 15oz of roach on bread punch and caster, while Tom Barlow’s 3lb 10oz of roach was good enough for third.



DAVE White showed his class with another win in the Monarch AC Winter League match on the club water.

He used pole, caster and pellet for 8lb 10oz of chub, ide and skimmers. Pete Molloy, in second place, opted for maggot, which accounted for 8lb 1oz of ide and roach. Third-best Malc Kershaw had 7lb 9oz of chub and ide on worm.



STEVE Hall clinched top honours in the latest Bradshaw Fisheries Open match thanks to chopped worm and caster attracting 15lb 8oz of roach, chub and skimmers. Pete Cuniffe used pole and caster for 10lb 4oz of silvers and second place.



TODMORDEN AS memberships are now available. Senior subcriptions have gone up to £46 which includes a £10 entry fee, but when you work out the cost per week, it is still great value for money.

Junior fees are £10, with women’s, senior citizens at £24 and at intermediates at £24.

Todmorden members can also enjoy some cracking waters.

They are —

Rochdale canal (Lock 13 Callis to Lock 51 at Manchester Road, Castleton); New Mill Dam; Portsmouth Reservoir; River Calder; Cliviger ponds; Grove Fishery; Croft Head Fishery; Lower Town House Fishery; Ramsden Wood Fishery.

The club also boasts an excellent match calendar, with regular Saturday and Sunday opens on a variety of waters. Memberships can be purchased at Tight Lines, Shaw, apart from disabled subscriptions. They can be obtained by obtaining a BDB 384 from Warbreck House, Blackpool.

For further information on Todmorden AS, contact A Crossley on (01706) 816319.



Venue Guide

Denshaw Vale: Silvers always willing to feed, even in the colder months. Memberships are available. For details, contact John on (0161) 665 1779.

Ogden Reservoir: Despite the colder weather the fish are feeding. The tip with red maggot or worm is attracting good bream. The float and maggot is okay for roach, but the tip is best in the wind. Day tickets available on bank and at Tight Lines.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal: Greenfield length for small fish to punch and pinkie. Odd better fish on caster.

Rochdale Canal: Rochdale end fishing well, with double figure nets of roach and skimmers. Chadderton section for the odd bream and plenty of roach. Bread punch over liquidised bread is the best bait, but a few fish are falling to caster and red maggot.

Chadderton Mill Lodge: This fishery catches the wind, so it can be a bit hairy using the pole. Plenty of fish still feeding.

Park Lake: Use Maggot, although chopped worm will also work. Day tickets available on the bank.



Diary Dates

Sunday: Todmorden AS grand Christmas match on Croft and Townhouse Fisheries. Draw up to 9am at the Falcon Hotel, Littleborough. Fishing 10am to 1pm.

Every other Sunday: Chadderton Mill AC Winter League. Draw 9am on the bank.

Monarch AC: Winter series members-only matches on the club water. For further details, contact Dean on (0161) 213 0539 or 07518 459714.

Every Saturday: Todmorden AS open matches on various lengths of the Rochdale canal. To book, contact Simon on 07896 237224. Tomorrow’s match is on the Gordon Riggs lengths. Draw 9am.

Every Sunday: Pilsworth Fishery open matches. Draw 10am in the car park.

To report any news or views on the local or national angling scene, contact Jan Verrbruggen on 07846 456408.