Angling round-up: Close season starts on rivers

A few years ago the close season on all lakes, ponds and canals was scrapped and since then anglers have been able to enjoy all year round fishing.

At that time the powers that be decided to retain the close season on rivers and drains although there were recommendations then that it was outdated and needed to be looked at in depth.

The scrapping of the close season on lakes, ponds and canals has not be detrimental to fish and in fact fishing on canals has shown a great improvement both in numbers and quality of fish.

Perhaps the Environment Agency will look at this again but in the meantime continue to enjoy your sport on lakes, ponds and canals.

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Bathampton members are enjoying great sport on the club’s fishery at Hunstrete Lake with large carp beginning to move. Whilst multiple catches are not commonplace yet, some quality fish are being caught.

Colin Hunt knows the lake in all its moods and put his knowledge to good use resulting in two fine mirror carp weighing 25 lb 0 oz and 22 lb 0 oz.

He took his fish on popped-up Hunters RLD Squid and Cranberry Boilies.

Withy Pool is also taking its share of plaudits with several catches exceeding 100 lb. Jason Bird had a great day taking a mixed catch weighing 120 lb.

He started the day with pole fished maggots to take some nice roach and perch.

Then the carp moved in so Jason switched to sweetcorn and pellets to take 16 carp up to 12 lb. Another Bristol member Phil dark also had a great time taking 10 carp up to 12 lb on pole fished catmeat and sweetcorn.

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The big event at the week-end was the semi-=final of the Angling Times Winter League fished on the Kennet & Avon Canal between Darlington Wharf and Limpley Stoke where once again the fishing was superb.

Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG took top team honours with 30 points to qualify for the grand final with runners up Preston Innovation Thatchers who had 33 points.

Local squads Devizes AC and Sensas Avon Aquatics Bathampton failed to make the final finishing in 6th and 8th places respectively.

Individual honours went to Jason Mills of Garbolino Blackmore Vale with a skimmer catch weighing 26 lb 4 oz taken alternating with pole and waggler with red maggots and casters.

Vince Camilleri of Fox Match took runner up spot from the next peg to the winner with another skimmer catch weighing 24 lb 1 oz taken alternating with pole fished punched bread, bloodworm and red maggots.

Third prize went to Martin Price of Daiwa Gordon League with and skimmer catch boosted by an 8 lb 10 oz carp for a weight of 16 lb 13 oz taken on pole fished bloodworm.

Other placings: 4. Richard Chave Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG 15 lb 12 oz; 5. Kevin Rowles Devizes 14 lb 3 oz; 6. Andy Berntsen Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG & Gary O’Shea Preston Innovation Thatchers 12 lb 6 oz.

The midweek Open match at Ivy House Lakes produced a fairly even result although weights were below their best.

Devizes star Gary Etheridge once again showed all his skill and knowledge of the venue to carry off top prize with a mixed catch of carp, trout and skimmers weighing 27 lb 14 oz taken alternating with pole and waggler fished sweetcorn and red maggots.

Paul Conner of Ivy House rook runner up spot with another mixed catch of carp, skimmers and trout weighing 24 lb 10 oz taken on pole fished red maggots.

He was followed by Pete Neate of Holt with another mixed catch weighing 23 lb 12 oz with Dave Young of Ivy House a close up fourth with a mixed bag weighing 22 lb 10 oz.

The Wednesday Open match at Avalon Fishery produced some good sport.

Mosella star Tony Rixon again turned on the power to clinch top prize with an all carp catch weighing 120 lb 5 oz taken on waggler fished pellets for an easy win.

Nick Collier of Sarfix SW took runner up spot with another carp catch weighing 73 lb 1 oz taken on pole fished pellets. He was followed by Dean Malin of Dynamite Baits with a carp catch weighing 68 lb 8 oz with Gary Wall of Landsend fourth with another carp catch weighing 64 lb 0 oz.

Weights were below their best in the Wednesday open match at Landsend Fishery. Top Honours on the day went to Andy France of Cadbury Angling with a mainly carp catch weighing 40 lb 11 oz taken alternating with pole fished sweetcorn and red maggots.

Runner up spot went to Dave Howson of Landsend with a carp and silvers catch weighing 34 lb 15 oz taken on pole fished sweetcorn.

Anton Page of Broomhill Reds took third prize with a mixed bag weighing 28 lb 12 oz with John Jenner a close fourth with 28 lb 10 oz.

The silver fish award went to Andy Bryant of Dynamite Frys MG with a mixed catch of roach, chub and skimmers weighing 13 lb 11 oz taken on pole fished red maggots.

Competitors enjoyed good sport in the Carps AC Silver fish only match fished at Viaduct Fishery. Steve Kedge of Somerset Angling carried off top prize with a fine net of tench and skimmers weighing 63 lb 0 oz taken on long pole fished casters for a comfortable victory.

Runner up spot went to Frome matchman Andy Lloyd with another tench and skimmer catch weighing 36 lb 14 oz taken on pole fished casters. He was followed by Mark Broomsgrove of Sensas Thyers with another mixed catch weighing 34 lb 4 oz.

Other placings: 4. Graham Perkins Viaduct All Stars 32 lb 2 oz; 5. Clive Davies Frampton RBL 31 lb 5 oz; 6. Nick Collins Global Angling 28 lb 14 oz.

Fish proved harder to tempt in the Dynamite Frys MG match fished at Bullocks Farm with weights below their best.

Top honours on the day went to Gary Bedford of Sarfix SW with a carp catch weighing 34 lb 0 oz taken alternating with pole fished sweetcorn, soft pellets and red maggots.

Warren Bates of Keynsham AA took second prize with a single carp weighing 12 lb 5 oz plus silver fish for a weight of 18 lb 13 oz taken on pole fished casters.

He also took the silver fish award with a weight of 6 lb 8 oz. Pete Sivell of Dynamite Baits took third prize with a mixed catch weighing 9 lb 12 oz.

Other placings: Nigel Ratcliff Dynamite Frys MG 9 lb 8 oz; 5. John Macey Dynamite Frys MG 8 lb 10 oz; 6. Paul Cooper Dynamite Frys MG 6 lb 14 oz.

Avalon Fishery produced mixed sport in the Mosella Open match with fish feeding in pockets.

Peter Wild of Mosella SW gained a runaway win with a carp catch weighing 145 lb 10 oz taken alternating with waggler fished sweetcorn and red maggots.

Andy Palmer of Mosella Sedges clinched second spot with another carp catch weighing 87 lb 14 oz taken on pole fished sweetcorn and pellets.

He was followed by Steve Ryall of Weston-S-Mare with a carp catch weighing 41 lb 11 oz with Dave North of Bristol PSV fourth with a mixed catch weighing 36 lb 0 oz.

The silver fish prize went to Ian Jones of Avalon with a skimmer catch weighing 12 lb 12 oz.

The Wilts Angling Open match fished at Blue Circle on Wednesday found the fish hard to tempt.

Pete Neate from Holt clinched top spot with a mixed catch of carp and skimmers weighing 21 lb 4 oz taken on pole fished red maggots.

Sean Rhodes from Trowbridge took second prize with a carp catch weighing 17 lb 0 oz taken on feeder fished red maggots.

Kevin Grant from Trowbridge used identical tactics to take third prize with a mixed catch of carp and skimmers weighing 14 lb 2 oz.

Other placings: 4. Vic Abbott Trowbridge 7 lb 9 oz; 5. Ted Hulbert Melksham & Mick Gunning Trowbridge 6 lb 8 oz.

Competitors enjoyed good sport in the Avon Open match fished on Sunday on the Bristol Avon at Melksham.

John Wright from Malmesbury carried off top prize with a mixed catch of bream, carp and chub weighing 16 lb 5 oz taken on feeder fished worm for a comfortable win.

John garner from Chippenham kept up his recent good form to clinch second prize with a mixed catch of roach and chub weighing 11 lb 3 oz taken on pole fished red maggots.

Pete Townsend from Swindon took third prize with an all roach catch weighing 10 lb 4 oz taken on stick floated red maggots.

Other placings: 4. Pete Mills Melksham 9 lb 9 oz; 5. Brian derrick Yate 8 lb 6 oz; 6. Fred Parker Swindon 8 lb 4 oz.

Fish were hard to tempt in the Trowbridge match fished on Sunday on the Bristol Avon at Staverton.

Jeff Matthews from Trowbridge took top spot with an all chub catch weighing 8 lb 4 oz taken on feeder fished red maggots.

Wayne Randall from Trowbridge took second spot with a roach and small chub catch weighing 3 lb 4 oz taken on pole fished red maggots.

Third prize went to Bill Turner from Trowbridge with another roach and small chub catch weighing 2 lb 2 oz also taken on pole fished red maggots. Other placings: 4. Gerald Lugg Beckington 1 lb 14 oz; 5. Dave Baker Trowbridge 1 lb 2 oz.

It was a struggle too for the competitors in the Lavington match fished at Baldham Mill on Sunday and only five weighed in at the finish.

Kevin Moore from Devizes took top prize with a mixed catch of small roach and dace weighing just 1 lb 0 oz taken on feeder fished red maggots.

John Cooper from Lavington took second prize with a small chub catch weighing 11 oz taken on pole fished pinkies.

Chris Brown from Worton finished in third place with a dace catch weighing 3 oz. Other placings: 4. Pete Craig Potterne 2 oz; 5. Don Keates Hilperton 8 dm.

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Future events: Sunday Mar 15: Frys match at Westerleigh