Fitton is top dog at Todmorden

ANGLING:

PETE Fitton claimed victory in the Todmorden AS members trophy match on the Croft fishery, where anglers took advantage of the mild conditions and posted excellent weights.

Fitton bagged 50lb of carp, which fell to long pole and pellet fished off peg 11.

Pete Mottram had to settle for second after claiming 29lb 22oz of carp, corn fished on the pole.

Third position went to Lee Cavangh, whose net of carp weighed in at 20lb 5oz, and was taken on tip and pellet and ide.



THERE is always a fantastic turn out for the Blundells Fisheries open matches, so if you win one you know you have done well.

Pete Cuniffe (Gilders) once again demonstrated that he is one of the best anglers to come out of Oldham, earning yet another victory at this venue.

His maggot and caster, fished off bottom at eight metres, accounted for 57lb 8oz of ide.

Former Oldham angler Mark Lucas came fourth (45lb 9oz).



I VISITED the Thornhill Canal near Dewsbury for an open match and found myself just out of the money, beaten by four ounces.

I started at seven metres in the deepest part of the cut and waited for 30 minutes for a bite.

Eventually I started catching small roach and followed them across the canal, feeding finely sieved liquidised bread feed and fishing a small punch on a 24 hook.

Apart from a small pike, which scattered my fish for a while, I caught reasonably well for most of the match, just having the odd blank spell to finish with 2lb 10oz with the angler to my right weighing in at 2lb 14oz.

That poor start cost me and to be honest it was my own fault because normally I would have started a few metres further out and definitely would have caught quicker. Another thing was that I always fish with a long line from pole to float, especially in clear water, but the wind was strong and perhaps I should have shortened it slightly, giving me better presentation.

I’ve just joined Trabrucco Halifax and am looking forward to fishing the Huddersfield Broad Canal Spring League with them. The team have won this league for the last few years so there’s a bit of pressure to do well.



WILL all Saddleworth and District Angling Society members please note that the annual

meeting takes place tonight at Greenfield Conservative Club (8pm).



DIGGLE AC have 30 memberships available. The club have the following waters: Tanners dam, Royal George Dam, River behind the dam, The Manns, the backwater behind the Manns.

The cost for seniors is £30 plus a £20 joining fee, juniors £20 plus £10 , OAPs £20 and a second rod £20. Anyone interested should contact Wayne Rider on (01457) 876336.



Venue Guide

Denshaw Vale – Memberships are available. Contact John on (0161) 665 1779 for details.

Ogden Reservoir – Day tickets on the bank and at Tight lines Shaw. Carp anglers are catching carp up to 16lb.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal – Day tickets on the bank. Odd carp coming out but not many fishing.

Rochdale Canal – Bread punch and caster for plenty of roach.

Bardsley Canal – Day tickets on the bank. Maggot or pinkie for small fish.

Chadderton Mill Lodge – Ide and carp feeding well with maggot or caster fished up in the water working well.

Alexandra Park Lake – Day tickets on the bank.



Diary dates

Tonight – Saddleworth and District Angling Association AGM at Greenfield Conservative Club. 8pm prompt start. Can as many members as possible please attend.

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

Every Saturday – Todmorden AS open matches on the Rochdale canal. For details contact Simon on 07896237224.

Every Sunday – Todmorden AS open matches on the Rochdale canal. For details call Frank on 07769 905319.

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

Every other Sunday - Monarch AC winter series members only matches on the club water. For further details contact Dean on (0161) 213 0539 or 07518 459714.

Anyone with any news or views on the local or national angling scene contact me on 07846 456408 or email Jan Verbruggen at

janangling@hotmail.co.uk