Hamer lodges winning catch

ANGLING: SOCIALS AC fished their latest match on Tyle Lodge and it was a cracker, with winner Steve Hamer putting 27lb 5oz on the scales with swimfeeder and maggot cast tight to the island tempting bream, roach and carp.



Aaron Wilson fished long pole and worm, catching ide, bream and carp that together weighed 23lb 2oz in a match hampered by strong winds and driving rain.



CHURCH Gardens is fishing well at the moment, with last Sunday’s match won by Jason Wirral with 41lb 8oz of carp taken on pellet waggler. That eased Chris Durrant into second with 31lb 12oz of carp and skimmers, followed by Chris Butterworth in third with 23lb 4oz of carp and skimmers.

Dave Machin topped the silvers match with 13lb 12oz of skimmers taken on pole and pellet, pushing Ian Cox into second with his waggler and maggot approach tempting 13lb of silvers.



FAILSWORTH-based Dave Eastwood took first place in the Eight Bells AC ‘knock-up’ on Bradshaw number nine pool with a superb 107lb 1oz of mainly carp. Second was Steve Brookes with 59lb 15oz.



SLAITHWAITE and District are running a five-match individual winter series on Sparth Reservoir starting on Sunday, January 12, and running every fortnight. The best four results will count towards the league. Contact Neil on 07768 138147 for more details.



Harold Garside has passed awy at the age of 83. Harold was one of Oldham’s angling stalwarts and put thousands of hours into organising angling in the Oldham borough and surrounding areas.

Harold was one of the founder members of Border Anglers and Naturalists, started in 1972, and was also secretary of the Oldham and District Angling Association in 1975 when it had 14 clubs with more than a thousand members. Harold was made a life member of the association in 1985.



ALL Todmorden AS members should note that on January 6 to 13, several lengths of the Rochdale Canal in Littleborough will be drained for maintenance. Fish will be moved up and down the lengths.

The square pool will not be drained in February, as originally thought, but the level of the canal will be dropped to 600mm to allow the top gates on the dead length to be replaced.



VENUE GUIDE

Denshaw Vale – Memberships available. For details contact John on 665 1779.

Dowry Reservoir – Day tickets available from Sheddings Angling.

Ogden Reservoir – Day tickets on the bank and at Tight Lines, Shaw. Good pike fishing at this time of year. Plenty of silvers and bream to be caught, as well as some massive perch.

Strinesdale Reservoir – Day tickets on the bank. Plenty of chub, skimmers, roach and perch. The tip and maggot are worth a go, although chopped worm in the feeder and worm on the hook is also a good method.

Cargate Pool – Medlock Bridge AC members-only water.

Rochdale Canal – Spinning for pike and perch is a great method at this time of year.

Bardsley Canal – Day tickets on the bank.

Alexandra Park Lake – Day tickets on the bank. Matches are finished now so pleasure anglers only venturing out. Pegs either side of the footbridge are the best for plenty of small perch.

Hollingworth Lake – Open to the elements but find yourself a sheltered spot and you’ll catch on the tip and maggot.

Tanner’s Dam – Diggle AC members only. Deeper pegs produce decent nets of silvers and carp.

Peak Forest Canal – Swing bridge length fished hard last week with just a few fish caught.



DIARY

Every Sunday – open match on Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals. Draw 9am, fishing 10am to 3pm. Tickets are £11 all in. For details call Albert on 0161 792 2684. This weekend’s match is on the High Lane length of the Macclesfield canal.

Every Sunday – open matches on Old Hough Farm Fishery. Draw at 8.45am. Just turn up on the day.

Every Saturday – open matches on local canals. Draw 9am, fishing 10am to 3pm. Contact John on 07801 276059.

Every other Sunday – Slaithwaite individual winter league on Sparth Reservoir. Contact Neil on 07768 138147.

Sunday, January 5 – Open match on Leigh Canal. Contact Danny on 07917 120464.

Sunday, January 5 – Open match on Church Gardens. Tickets £15 all in. Contact Chris on 07852 934750.

Wednesday, January 15 – Monarch AC AGM at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Royton precinct (7.30pm start). Members please bring key. If no key pay £2 for new key as new lock is being fitted.