Lennie leads the way on Boarshaw

Angling: CONDITIONS were freezing for the Bank Holiday Monday open on the Boarshaw length of the Rochdale Canal.

The fish didn’t play ball, with only the odd big tench making up most nets.

Winner Lennie Fosdyke, of Fisherman’s Way, had two tench on chopped worm and caster tight to the far bank reeds for a level 5lb.

Simon Walton, the runner-up, weighed a small perch, roach and a single tench for 4lb 13oz, but also lost a match-winning tench in the last 10 minutes of the match.

Joe Lawrence, in third place, had a solitary tench of 4lb, also on worm and caster.

Martin Taylor (Trabrucco Halifax) was fourth with a few bits and a tench for 3lb 13oz.

But he was also kicking himself after losing a big tench which could have won him the match.


WEIGHTS improved for the latest Medlock Bridge AC open on the Park Lake.
Bob Harrison netted plenty of small skimmers, two tench around the 1lb 8oz mark and a 2lb 8oz carp for a match-winning 14lb 2oz.

Organiser Darren Webb (Medlock Bridge AC) was second on the day with 13lb 2oz.

Runner-up Steve Hall was third with pellet and chopped worm fished at 11 metres for a level 8lb of skimmers.



THE Failsworth length of the Rochdale Canal is the venue for an open match tomorrow.
The draw is at 9am, with fishing from 10am to 3pm.



A REMINDER that Environmental Agency licences have run out.

They are available from the counter at Post Offices.

With no price increase this season, a coarse licence for seniors is £27.

I took part in a practice open match on the Huddersfield Canal for a four-man team event on Sunday week.

Drawn next to a wide on the incinerator length, I used groundbait and pinkie for two good roach around the eight-ounce mark, although I didn’t land either as a pike snatched both of them off the hook.

I set up a heavy rig for the pike with a big lobworm. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a touch and decided to concentrate on a decent pot of chopped worm and caster on a decent-sized worm on the hook.

I only had one bite, but it was a tench of 2lb 8oz which clinched the section and £30!


Venue Guide
Denshaw Vale: Memberships available. For details, contact John on (0161) 665 1779.

Ogden Reservoir: Day tickets on the bank and at Tight Lines, Shaw. Bream not switched on yet. Carp and pike anglers are getting the odd big fish.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal: Day tickets on the bank.

Rochdale Canal: Fished hard at the weekend with only big tench showing. Worm and caster tight across are the best bet for these specimens. A few roach caught, although not many anglers are targeting them.

Bardsley Canal: Day tickets on the bank. Pleasure anglers catching silvers on maggot.

Chadderton Mill Lodge: Ide feeding freely with any bait fished up in the water. Double-figure carp also feeding.

Alexandra Park Lake: Day tickets on the bank. Pellet for skimmers. Roach and chub to maggot. Fish switched on and some good sport on this cracking water.


Diary Dates
Starting on Sunday: Northern AA individual Canal Championships on the Boarshaw lengths of the Rochdale Canal. For further details, contact Albert on (0161) 792 2684.

Monarch AC: Members-only matches on club water. For details, contact Dean on (0161) 213 0539 or 07518 459714.

Every Saturday: Medlock Bridge AC open match on the Park Lake. Draw 10am at Kings Road. Fishing 11am to 4pm. For further details, contact Darren on 07753 414838.

Every Sunday: Todmorden AS open matches on the Rochdale Canal. For details, call Frank on 07769 905319.

Every Thursday, starting April 19: Tameside Federation members-only matches on Stonepits. Draw 9.30am. Fishing 10.15am to 3.15pm. Pools are £5 on the day.

Friday, April 27: Todmorden AS Junior matches on Ramsden Wood.

To report any news or views on the local or national angling scene, contact Jan on 07846 456408 or email janangling@hotmail.co.uk