Snowy Sutcliffe is a Christmas cracker

Angling: DESPITE the previous night’s heavy snowfall, weights were better than expected in the Mirfield Christmas match on the Broad and Mirfield Canal.

The winner, Ian Sutcliffe, had an all-perch net from a peg on the cobbles length. Craig Ellis was in the same area and targeted the canal’s big roach population with bread punch. He plundered 7lb 13oz of them for second place.


TONY Horton topped the TH open match on the Boat and Horses length of the Rochdale Canal with a cracking 6lb 6oz of bread punch-tempted roach at various lengths.

Runner-up Andy Dawson opted for bread punch as well for 4lb 7oz of roach. For more details, call Tony on 07952 521730.


THE next Twingates AC members-only individual winter league match is on Sunday, followed by matches on January 18, February 1 and 15 and March 1 and 15. To book, call in at Tight Lines, Shaw.


TANNERS Dam was hard going for the final Diggle AS Individual Winter League match. Competitors had to break the ice, and in the end only two caught. Chris Butterworth moved up to third in the league after tipping 6lb of small carp into the weighing bag.

Andrew Mitchell landed more than 20 gudgeon on the short pole and maggot to secure himself second on the day and second in the final standings.


THERE are still a couple of places left in the Todmorden AS teams-of-three series. Matches take place on Sundays, January 11, 18 and 25. These are open events. For details, contact Frank on 01706 846581 or 07769 905319.


DAVE Chadwick of Halifax Matrix was first in the Northern AA open match on the in-form Poynton length of the Macclesfield Canal. He weighed in a 5lb 14oz net, which included four big perch on chopped worm and around 1lb of small roach on bread punch. Second-placed Ken Power (Tri-Cast Highfield) got among the canal’s roach for a level 5lb on long pole and bread punch.


I FOUND the River Ribble full of fish on my latest visit. When the weather is kind and it is running at normal winter levels, big nets of roach, dace and chub are possible. There is a free stretch at Salmesbury near Preston which, on its day, can throw up nets of more than 50lb.

Simple stick float and waggler tactics with either caster and hemp or maggot as bait is the best and most enjoyable methods. I was on the Southport AS side of the river, but the water was pushing too hard and I caught only half-a-dozen perch in the 10-12oz bracket, a few dace and roach.

But on the free stretch opposite, two anglers landed decent roach at regular intervals throughout the day. One of them was a cracker at 1lb 12oz.

The only trouble with the ‘free stretch’ is that it is a fair walk from parking area, but it can be well worth it. Give it a try!



Venue Guide
Dowry Reservoir: Day tickets £5 per rod available in advance from Tight Lines, Shaw. Maximum two rods per angler. No night fishing.

Ogden Reservoir: Day tickets £5 on the bank and at Tight Lines, Shaw.

Strinesdale Reservoir: Day tickets on the bank.

Cargate Pool: Medlock Bridge AC members-only water.

Park Lake: Day tickets on the bank.

Rochdale Canal: Chadderton lengths continue to fish well, with roach feeding on bread punch.

Bardsley Canal: Day tickets on the bank.

Tanners Dam: Diggle AC members-only. Iced over at the weekend and rock-hard going. However, once the fish have got used to the cold temperature, the water should start producing good results again.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal: Day tickets on the bank £5.



Diary

Every Wednesday: Open matches on the Mirfield Canal. Draw 9am. Fishing £10am to 3pm. £13 all in on the day.

Every Wednesday: Open matches on Rhodes Lodges. Draw 9am. Fishing 10am to 3pm.

Every Saturday: Open matches on local canals. For details, contact Tony on 07952 521730.

Every Saturday: Medlock Bridge AC open matches on the Park Lake or Strinesdale Reservoir. Draw 10am at Kings Road entrance. Fish 11am to 4pm. Tickets £15 on the day. For further details, contact Darren on 07753 414838.

Every Sunday: Northern AA open matches on the Macclesfield Canal. Draw 9am. Fishing 10am to 3pm. For further details, call Albert on 0161 792 2684.

To report any news or views on the local or national angling scene, contact Jan Verbruggen on 078464 56408 or email janangling@hotmail.co.uk