King Cuniffe reigns again at Blundells

Angling:

PETE Cuniffe has a super record on Blundells Fishery, where he has scored numerous victories and placings over the last few years.

So it was no surprise that in the recent 41-peg open match fished on all the complex’s lakes, the Gilders rod won again with his 39lb 3oz catch of ide and two decent-sized carp falling to caster, fished at six and 14 metres.

Second-placed Alan Clancy landed 29lb 5oz, while Lee Thornton (29lb) was third.



THE Lees family have a liking for Heron Brook Fishery, and it was Andy (Gilders) who took second place in the opening round of the individual winter league with his pole and pellet approach tempting 77lb 4oz of f1s.

In the second round, Andy’s mum and tackle dealer Pam (Gilders) also managed runners-up spot, this time with a maggot-based 70lb 14oz of f1s and carp. Her biggest specimen was a 12lb carp.



MICK McDermott was fourth in the 50-peg Carr Mill Dam open match, with his 4lb 1oz net including small skimmers and roach which fell to the tip and maggot.



WHEREVER Pete Humphries goes, he seems to be in the money and this week was no exception as he took first place in the Partridge Lakes open fished on Covey Canal. Humphries used white maggot at three metres, netting himself 66lb of ide, carp and f1s.



FORMER Oldham angler Mark Lucas is having his best season for a long time and his record on Blundells Fishery is particularly impressive. In the latest match there, Lucas caught carp and f1s on pellet at eight metres.



CENTURIAN AC’s presentation will be held at Springbank Bowling Club, Chadderton, on Thursday, February 2 (8pm).

Members note that this is their last chance to pay subs.



THE Todmorden AS teams-of-three winter league, fished on the Rochdale Canal, saw most pegs frozen over and very few fish feeding.

Dave Brierley wasn’t moaning, though, as his plum draw at the back of the garden centre produced four skimmers taken on caster, weighing in at 3lb 2oz.

Dave Bradley used bread punch to catch more than 200 tiny roach for 2lb 13oz and second spot.

Maver NWwon the team prize with 42 points, followed by Tri-cast Rochdale on 38 and Maver NW Blue with 37.



DREW behind the Range at Firgrove and found myself in between Paul Booth and last week’s winner, Alan Crook.

Booth and I were struggling to break the ice, but a kind gesture from Crook saw him clear it for both of us. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got because five hours later, and not a fish between us, we were packing up. Never mind, there’s always this week and the last match in the series.



JAMES Cantello (Tri-Cast Highfield), the grandson of well-known Failsworth angler Ken Power, is making a name for himself with some good wins, including the Northern AA open match fished on the Miners Arms length of the Macclesfield Canal.

Drawn in the little wood, Cantello decided on a big-fish-or-bust approach and it worked well with two perch around the 1lb 12oz bracket and some daddy ruffe making up his winning 4lb 5oz catch.

That beat Joe Lawrence, who had a surprise 2lb 9oz tench falling for caster and worm fished over chopped worm and caster feed.



Venue Guide

Denshaw Vale: Membership is available. Contact John on (0161) 665 1779 for details.

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

Huddersfield Narrow Canal: Day tickets on the bank.

Rochdale Canal: Freezing conditions at the weekend had the fish shoaling up tightly. Not much caught from the open pegs, while pegs with a little cover produced a few fish. Bread punch and caster the only baits worth considering.

Bardsley Canal: Anglers catching up to a few dozen roach at the weekend, with maggot the best bait. But bread punch definitely worth a try and chopped worm will get you perch.

Chadderton Mill Lodge: No matter what the weather is, this fishery guarantees bites. Double-figure nets from most pegs. Red maggot the best bait for ide and carp.

Park Lake: Day tickets on the bank.



Diary Dates

Every Sunday: Northern AA open matches on the Macclesfield Canal. For further details, contact Albert on (0161) 792 2684.

Sunday: Final round of the teams-of-three winter series fished on the Rochdale Canal, £15 pools and day ticket per match. For more details, contact Simon on 0789 6237224.

Every Saturday: Todmorden AS open matches on the Rochdale Canal. For details, contact Simon on 0789 6237224.

Every Sunday: Todmorden AS open matches on Rochdale Canal. For details, call Frank on 0776 9905319.

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 Verbruggen on 0784 6456408 or email janangling@hotmail.co.uk