Peg draw vital in winter months

Angling: WINTER match fishing is all about drawing the right peg and making the most of it.

Recent matches underlined this, as some anglers bagged fish and others failed to get a bite.

In the Wigan AA open on the Burscough length of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, anglers on the first 10 pegs enjoyed the best weights. Winner John Leeds (Tri-Cast Rochdale) had a flying start and weighed in 6lb 7oz 8drams.

Travelling partner and the most in-form angler on the North-West canal circuit, Dave Wells (Tri-Cast Rochdale), was second with a big bream around the 3lb mark added to a decent net of roach and smaller skimmers together weighing 6lb 7oz.



WAKEFIELD AC’s open match saw a quality field turn up on the Calder and Hebble Canal at Calder Grove, where the previous week the lowest winning section weight was 5lb 5oz.

Due to melting snow the fish shoaled up and more than two thirds of the anglers didn’t get a bite.

Owen Taylor (Maver NW) wasn’t complaining as he caught a good roach every put-in on caster at 11 metres to tip the scales at 21lb 15oz.

Next came Steve Allinson (Tri-Cast Calder) and he, too, got among the canal’s ravenous roach, also fishing caster to weigh in 19lb 4oz.



Alan Price (Tight Lines, Shaw) has just returned to match fishing after a long lay-off, but he has been quickly getting up to speed. His 11lb 6oz of roach netted him fifth place and a share of the prize money.

Amazingly, 23 anglers failed to land a bite.



FIFTH round of the Twingates AC individual winter league on the club waters saw Richard Griffiths (Tight Lines, Shaw) land pole position with his short pole and maggot approach tempting 2lb 15oz of carp. Steve Baines was second with 1lb 10oz.



CHADDERTON angler John Jones (Garbolino Elton) is enjoying a cracking season, which continued in the Partridge Lakes open on Covey Canals five and six with 43lb 15oz of f1 hybrids and small mirror carp.

Lee Kavanagh (Tri-Cast Rochdale) was second with 37lb 6oz.



Diary

Sunday - Northern AA match on the Macclesfield Canal. Draw 9am, fishing 10am to 3pm.

Thursday, February – Cairo AC annual meeting at the Greenacres public house. Start 8.30pm. Everybody welcome.

Every Wednesday - Open matches on the Mirfield Canal, draw 9am. Fish 10am to 3pm. £13 all-in on the day.

Every Wednesday - Open matches on Rhodes Lodges. Draw 9am. Fish 10am to 3pm.

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.

Sundays, February 15, March 1 and 15 - Twingates AC members-only matches. Draw 9am, pools £10 all-in. To book, call at Tight Lines, Shaw.

Sunday - Todmorden AS trophy match. Club membership available from Tight Lines, Shaw, Rochdale Angling Centre and A and A Supplies, Littleborough. Seniors £47, juniors £11, concessions £25. Day tickets on Grove Lodge, Cliviger Fishery and Rochdale Canal £5. Tickets must be bought before fishing - any angler not doing so will have to pay £10 on the bank.

Tomorrow - TH open match on Morrisons length of the Rochdale Canal. Call Tony on 0795 2521730.

To report any news or views on the local or national angling scene, contact Jan Verbruggen on 07846 456408 or email

janangling@hotmail.co.uk