Conditions bite at Sparth

Angling: IT was hard going in the latest Slaithwaite Pairs League match on a wind-affected Sparth Reservoir: only one angler broke the pound barrier.

Colin Smith (Matrix Halifax) was that man, with small roach up to 2oz on the long pole and pinkie.

There was a tie for second place, with Craig Ellis (Tri-cast Calder) and Neil Burrows (Slaithwaite) both netting a total of 14oz 8drams of tiny roach on pole and bloodworm.

The top pair on the day were Keith Marshall and John Meredith, of Tri-Cast Rochdale, with 10points.

Steve Allinson and Craig Ellis, both of Tri-Cast Calder) lead the way overall with 17 points.



SEVERAL pole sections were broken and umbrellas smashed in the strong winds during the penultimate match in the Mossella Bloodworm League on the Rufford Canal.

Rob Holt, of Saints, was drawn an end peg next to a bridge and found enough shelter to present his bait well enough at nine metres. He used bread punch and bloodworm for half-a-dozen skimmers and lots of roach and perch for a 9lb 6oz 9drams net.

Runner-up Paul Smith (Tri-Cast Rochdale Black) landed bream and skimmers to 2lb, together with a dozen roach caught on bread punch and bloodworm at seven metres, for 6lb 7oz 8drams.

Tri-Cast Black clinched the team honours with 11 points, followed by Saints on 19pts.

With just one match to go, Tri-Cast Black are in pole position with nine points, from Saints (13pts) and Sensas North-West (14pts).



DAVE Holland, of Tri-Cast Highfield, won another Old Hough open on Upper Benbo, this time with 32lb 14oz. Adam Jones was second with a 19lb 9oz net.

The Old Hough sweep went to Ken Power (Tri-Cast Highfield), who enticed tench and a few bits for 5lb 13oz. Power’s grandson James Cantello was second with 4lb 15oz of silvers on maggot.



I HAD a pleasure session on the bus wash length of the Rochdale Canal. The length is deeper than most and holds a good head of tench, bream, skimmers and perch.

I started by feeding a big pot of bread at 11 metres. A 4x14 float went on to a size 18 B511 hook and I was away, with bites coming after 10 minutes.

I wrapped up the three-hour session with about 7lb of small skimmers and roach, using less than 50p of bait.



Venue Guide

Denshaw Vale: Memberships available. For further 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. Pike being catching to mid-teens.

Strinesdale Reservoir: Day tickets on the bank. Solid with fish. Maggot on the tip or pole for quality roach, skimmers and perch.

Cargate Pool: Medlock Bridge AC members-only.

Rochdale Canal: Bus wash worth a go. Bread punch for skimmers.

Bardsley Canal: Day tickets on the bank.

Alexandra Park Lake: Day tickets on the bank.

Hollingworth Lake: Day-ticket water. Bream, skimmers, roach and perch all falling to groundbait feeder and red maggot.

Tanners Dam: Diggle AC members-only. Always a few fish on this impressive water.

Peak Forest Canal: Fishing hard but a careful approach to feeding will catch you some small roach and perch. Odd skimmers showing to bread punch.



Diary

Every Sunday: Open match on Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals. Draw 9am. Fishing 10am to 3pm. Tickets are £11 all in. To book and for further details, call Albert on (0161) 792 2684. Sunday’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. No need to book.

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

Every other Sunday: Slaithwaite Individual Winter League on Sparth Reservoir. For further details, contact Neil on 07768 138147.

Sunday: Open silvers and carp match combined on Church Gardens. Tickets £15 all in. For details, contact Dave on 07879 474029.

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