All set for another cracking campaign

Angling: THIS Sunday is the first day proper of the season and despite fishing for over 40 years, the feeling of excitement and anticipation hasn’t subsided!

My day is scheduled to be on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Slaithwaite, and though not the most prestigious match or surroundings, there is something different once the season starts.

I feel this season is going to be a cracker; the warm weather recently has thrown up some amazing sights of fish spawning.

For me the season will see some travelling as my team – Trabucco Halifax – compete in the Division One National on the Trent and Mersey Canal after gaining promotion on the Keadby Canal.


SUNDAY’S J & B open match on the Boat and Horses length of the Rochdale Canal was a frustrating one as there were thousands of fish on the surface but few feeding - the hot sunny weather saw them more interested in sunbathing!
Winner Joe Lawrence took the main money with a 5lb tench and 1lb of bits that weighed in at 6lb 5oz.

Mark Webb (Saints) made it a profitable weekend following his win in the Park Lake open. He had a second in this with a tench and a few tiny roach and rudd that weighed 4lb 4oz, beating John Walker (Little Lever AS) on the next peg with a smaller tench and some nice rudd for 3lb 4oz.

Section winners were Steve Clegg (Saints, 1lb 11oz) and former England international Alan McAtee (TRI-CAST) with 1lb of silvers.


STEVE Hall continued his great run with a win in the Medlock Bridge AC Monday match on the Park Lake.
Drawn on peg 24, Hall fished chopped worm and caster, netting himself 10lb of good skimmers and chub, before a switch to pellet continued his catching rate to finish with 25lb 13oz.

Tom Brown was second with pole and maggot fished up in the water at his peg 28 working well for 15lb 11oz of chub, skimmers and the odd roach. Section winners were Paul Cunliffe with 12lb 2oz and Pete Cuniffe (13lb 2oz).

Hall also took first place in the Diggle AC Tuesday evening match fished on Tanners Dam with an outstanding 39lb 13oz net that was made up of three carp and 25lb of silvers that fell to chopped worm and caster.

That was before a switch to pellet on another line saw him continue to catch decent stamp fish.

Organiser Dave Machin (Fibrecare) took second with three carp and 15lb of silvers taken on meat and pellet for 20lb 13oz.



SATURDAY’S Medlock Bridge AC open match on the Park lake saw Mark Webb record a comfortable win with his pole, waggler and maggot approach tempting 29lb 12oz of chub and perch to almost 2lb.
Webb’s travelling partner Steve Clegg (Saints) took second with skimmers, chub and roach falling to pole and maggot fished on the drop weighing in a super 25lb 14oz.


MATCH-winner Mick Diskin fished maggot up in the water to take the Socials AC match fished on an impressive Tyle Lodge.
Diskin caught throughout the match, finishing with 32lb 7oz of silvers that pushed Craig Bradford into second with his peg behind the island producing 28lb 6oz of carp, ide and bream.


DAVE Jones topped the weights in the Monarch AC Thursday evening match fished on the club lodge, with pole fished pellets producing a 24lb 11oz catch of skimmers and crucians.
Dave Ireland was again second with chub and roach weighing in at 23lb 12oz.


VENUE GUIDE
Denshaw Vale – Memberships available. Fishing well for all species. For further details contact John on 665 1779.

Dowry Reservoir – Day tickets available from Sheddings Angling. Big fish being caught on this water.

Ogden Reservoir – Day tickets on the bank and at Tight Lines, Shaw. Warm weather has encouraged the bream to spawn that should have finished now and the fish should be to start feeding.

Strinesdale Reservoir – Day tickets on the bank. Maggot and caster for roach and skimmers.

Cargate pool – Medlock Bridge AC members-only water.

Rochdale Canal – Fished hard at the weekend as the scorching hot weather conditions and result was dire. Should settle down again with cloudier weather conditions.

Bardsley Canal – Day tickets on the bank.

Alexandra Park Lake – Day tickets on the bank, while 30lb plus of skimmers won Saturday’s match and backing weights are good. Whatever you put on the hook will catch you fish on this prolific water.

Hollingworth Lake – Warm weather has got the bream and skimmers feeding.

Tanners Dam - Looks like the fish have finished spawning and are making up for lost time.


DIARY DATES
Every Tuesday – Diggle AC matches on Tanners Dam. Draw 5pm. Fish until dusk. £10 all-in. Contact Dave on 07879 474029.

Every Saturday – Medlock Bridge AC open matches on the Park lake. Draw at 10am, fishing 11am to 4pm. Tickets £15 all-in. Contact Darren on 07753 414838.

Every Monday – Medlock Bridge AC open matches on the Park lake. For details contact Darren on 07753 414838.

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 Townhouse Fishery. To book, phone Paul on 01706 639373 or Rob on 07775 625088.

Anyone with any news or views on the local angling scene, contact Jan Verbruggen on 07846 456408 or email him at: janangling@hotmail.co.uk