Bradford bags Monarch prize

Angling: MONARCH AC’s match on their club water saw Craig Bradford emerge victorious.

Using pole and maggot, he accounted for 13lb 9oz of carp and ide to deny Ivan Ditchfield, who opted for the pole and caster for 7lb 6oz of ide and bits.


PETE Jackson, using maggot, won the Socials AC members match on Tyle Lodge.
He tipped the scales at 7lb 2oz, which included 50 roach, ide and skimmers.

Steve Hamer was some way adrift in second place. He had 4lb 3oz of pinkie, tempted by small roach.


MY trip to the freezing cold River Dane in Davenham was disappointing. Despite travelling light and switching pegs, the fish weren’t feeding and after three hours I called it a day.
I found Tanners Dam - a Diggle AC water - frozen 24 hours later. When I arrived one angler was still waiting for his first bite.

I decided on a wand, tiny groundbait feeder and maggot on the hook as the wind was gusty and cold.

It didn’t matter! I had bites at every put in, with hand-sized skimmers, small chub and roach, before the wind died down.

A switch to the pole and maggot also attracted a bite every time — I had roach, small chub and skimmers, though I was starting to miss more than I hit.

But a change to a 20s rather than a 24s hook did the trick: I finished an excellent session with at least 10lbs.


MICK Hargreaves topped an open match on the Boarshaw length of the Rochdale Canal.
He had a 2lb 10oz catch of small roach on bread punch down his peg.

Derek Walker, situated next to the winner, had a skimmer and some bits on caster and bread punch for 1lb 5oz.


A SESSION on Fir Tree Fishery in Wigan started slowly, but after an hour my peg was full of small skimmers.
I pinpointed two areas with micro pellets and maggots at 13 and seven metres. I caught a skimmer with every put-in on maggot and also had four ghost carp, 30 roach and 40 skimmers.


SADDLEWORTH and District Angling Society (SADAS) have rearranged some of their members-only matches on Eagle Mill Dam.
The new dates are May 19, June 23, August 4 and September 22 (all Sundays). Draws at 8.30am. Fishing 9.30am to 2.30pm.


Venue Guide
Denshaw Vale: Memberships are available. For further details, contact John on 665 1779.

Dowry Reservoir: Day tickets available from Tight Lines in Shaw and Sheddings Angling.

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

Strinesdale Reservoir: Day tickets on the bank.

Cargate pool: Medlock Bridge AC members-only water.

Rochdale Canal: Fished hard at Boarshaw on Sunday but pleasure anglers catching big skimmers, bream and tench from the bus garage length at Firwood Park, Chadderton.

Bardsley Canal: Day tickets on the bank.

Alexandra Park Lake: Day tickets on the bank. Bronze maggot for roach, chub, skimmers and perch.

Hollingworth Lake: Groundbait feeder and red maggot/pinkie on the hook for bites off small roach.

Tanners Dam: Diggle AC members-only. Fish feeding well. A little knock-up was won with more than 20lb of carp and skimmers.


Diary Dates
Tonight: Saddleworth and District Angling Society annual meeting at Greenfield Conservative Club, Chew Valley Road (8pm).

Every Saturday: Open matches on local canals. Draw 9am. Fishing 10am to 3pm. To book and for further details, contact John on 07801 276059.

Sunday, March 24: Todmorden AS members-only match on Townhouse Fishery. To book and for further details, telephone Paul on (01706) 639373 or Rob on 07775 625088.

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