League joy for dazzler Darren

Angling: BLUE skies greeted anglers in the final round of the Mossella Bloodworm League on the Rufford Canal.

Fishing was peggy though, with some dry nets and others fishing well. Victory went to individual league winner Darren Shaw (Maver Red), who had bream to 3lb and a few skimmers on bloodworm and bread punch over a pint of joker at 10 metres.

Steve Wilson, in second place, returned another net of skimmers on bread punch at 11 metres for 14lb 14oz 4drams.

The leading team on the day were Maver Red. They almost swept the board with three section winners and two of the top three overall. But the league honours went to Tri-Cast Black (16pts), who edged Saints and Maver Black by a point.



PETE Johnson was first in the Thursday Old Hough Farm open on Upper Benbo. On a sheltered swim under the bridge, he caught 32lb 9oz of f1s and carp.

Runner-up Dave Holland (Tri-Cast Highfield) bagged 22lb 2oz of carp on bread and corn.



CHRIS Durrant topped the latest of the Church Garden open matches with 41lb 14oz of pellet-tempted carp.

He was followed by Graham Mitchell (GTI Gilders), who had an 18lb 10oz net of skimmers on pole and maggot. He was first overall in the Silvers match.



I TOOK part in a match on the Crooke length of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Wigan.

It was hard going with the winner returning 3lb and the runner-up 2lb. I was second in my section with 16 roach for 1lb 6oz. I would have been in the frame but for losing a skimmer at 10 metres!

In a two-hour pleasure session on the Firwood Park length of the Rochdale Canal, I caught small roach every put in for 40-fish weighing in at 2lbs.

I used bread punch on a 22’s B511 to 0.6mm hooklength, while a 4x12 bazzerla float completed the set-up.



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. Plenty of pike being caught on deadbaits.

Strinesdale Reservoir: Day tickets on the bank. Open to the elements so pick your day on this prolific venue which is stuffed with big roach, perch, chub and skimmers.

Cargate Pool: Medlock Bridge AC members-only water.

Rochdale Canal: Behin Firtwood worth a try with smaller roach feeding. Odd skimmers still coming out.

Bardsley Canal: Day tickets on the bank.

Alexandra Park Lake: Day tickets on the bank.

Hollingworth Lake: Day-ticket water. Full of pike and worth a cast with spinning. A good chance of catching a big perch, too.

Tanners Dam: Diggle AC members-only. Tip or pole with maggot will catch fish.

Peak Forest Canal: Pick your days on this temperamental water.



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. Just turn up on the day as 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.

Every other Sunday with the next match on February 16: Open silvers and carp match

combined on Church Gardens. Tickets £15 all in. Contact Dave on 07879 474029.

To report any news or views on the local or national angling scene, contact 07846456408

or email Jan Verbruggen at janangling@hotmail.co.uk.