Carp catch puts Peter in command

Angling: CARP was the order of the day for Peter Mottram, who landed the latest Todmorden AS members match on Townhouse Fishery. Using pole, tip and corn on the hook, he tipped the scales at 18lb 13oz.

Runner-up Craig Howarth also had carp, as well as bream, on the pole and pellet in a 17lb 12oz bag.

PRETTY decent — that was my first match at Fir Tree Fishery. I partnered Richard Lofthouse in the pairs event on two lakes, one of which harboured mainly silverfish, the other carp.

I was on peg five — a poor draw in what proved a really peggy match.

Starting on maggot over pellet at 11 metres, I struggled and even a switch to pellet after half an hour didn’t work.

Later and in a bid to induce some bites, I put a peg 14 metres down the side of a reedbed. That was fruitless too, while those anglers on the favoured pegs were scooping a fish-a-chuck!

At the finish I managed four small carp, two decent skimmers and a few roach for 7lb 5oz.

With my peg neighbours weighing in 1lb 5oz and 4lb 2oz, I didn’t feel too bad.

Peg two emerged victorious with 25lb 12oz of skimmers on pellet at seven metres.

Second was peg 12 with 25lb of mainly skimmers on pole and maggot over pellet, followed by peg 19 with 15lb. Peg 10 weighed in 10lb, followed by me in fifth.

Lofthouse was the runner-up on the other lake, thanks to a 16lb 15oz net of skimmers and roach.

The two weights got us joint third.



IN a two-hour pleasure session on the Rochdale Canal, I managed around four pounds of hand-sized skimmers and roach.
I opted for bread punch with a small cup of liquidised bread at seven metres. Bites came within 10 minutes and I caught steadily throughout as I fed just another ball of liquidised bread on the hour.

Most lengths of the canal are free, though Heywood and District Angling Society has taken over the fishing rights of some lengths, from the motorway at Castleton to Boarshaw Bridge.

They charge £2 for a day ticket — great value. Anyone interested in joining the Heywood club should contact Jim on 07905 906261.

THE Saddleworth and District Angling Society (SADAS) has rearranged some of its members-only matches on Eagle Mill Dam. New dates are May 19; June 23; August 4; September 22.

All matches are on Sundays. Draw 8.30am. Fishing 9.30am to 2.30pm.


Venue Guide
Denshaw Vale: Memberships are available. Despite freezing conditions, fish are still feeding. Bream and carp have started to show, with pellets and maggot working best. Details from John on 665 1779.

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

Ogden Reservoir: When the warmer conditions eventually arrive, expect good nets of roach, bream as well as the odd carp and pike. Day tickets on the bank and at Tight Lines in Shaw.

Strinesdale Reservoir: Day tickets on the bank.

Cargate pool: Medlock Bridge AC members-only water.

Rochdale Canal: Pleasure weights to 30lb on the length behind the bus wash near Firwood Park. Bread punch and caster catching roach, skimmers, bream and tench. Fish to 3lb are showing.

Bardsley Canal: Day tickets on the bank.

Alexandra Park Lake: Day tickets on the bank. Very few anglers fishing this water, but that will change once the weather warms up. This venue is full of fish.

Hollingworth Lake: Can be good fishing when on form. Tip tactics work well for skimmers, roach and perch. Red maggots the best bait, although a worm will also get you bites.

Tanners Dam: Diggle AC members-only venue. Plenty of fish feeding, with bronze maggot working well for roach, skimmers and small chub. Carp starting to feed.


Diary Dates
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: Todmorden AS members-only match on Croft Fishery. To book and for further details, tele phone Paul on (01706) 639373 or Rob on 07775 625088.

Report angling news or views to Jan at: janangling@hotmail.co.uk.