As I’ve acknowledged many times before, fisherman always have a confidence within them that simply says, it will only be a matter of time before a ‘bonus’ fish will show up.
On our local Leeds Liverpool canal, anglers are always thinking this way, carefully honing a peg throughout a session, to be certainly expecting a better quality of roach to be showing up, especially during the latter stages of the match or a session.
No matter what we are fishing for, by building – or should we say priming – a peg, the outcome will generally be positive as the fish simply become more and more confident as the session progresses.
These thoughts, even in the depth of winter, came to mind offering some advice this weekend to friends with the fishing being really difficult. Where one should be going is a question many will be asking themselves.
In general locally, the ‘cut’ has been ridiculously hard this month on many lengths, as roach in particular have simply not fed, resulting in very low weights as Sunday’s open clearly identified.
With that however, there’s always going to be a winner and even given a disastrous day put before many a keen rod turning out, with just perch showing throughout the match length, on the L&DAA it was very close at the top.
Warrington’s Paul Kennils made the trip over to Lydiate worthwhile though, even though the fishing was extremely tough.
With nothing showing on the bread, Kennils – like many who know the moods of the cut – made a worm approach work to entice a number of small perch that totalled 2.6.0, enough to take the top honours.
Thornton’s Paul Charnock, in a tight one, also put 2.4.0 of perch on the scales for second place and, with a weight that totally underlined the testing conditions and also adding a couple of other small perch on the scales, Steve Wilson’s 0.8.0 took third.
As they say in match fishing, sometimes it just isn’t about big weights.
On the club scene, catching up with the hardened winter anglers of the Alliance &Leicester AC, Mike Crombleholme dobbed bread successfully from a fancied peg chosen on the day’s ‘Rover’ for a total 43.9.0 which took the overall honours.
This one on the club’s own water, Chapel, saw John Watson take 33.12.0 for second place and Ian Pritchard’s 19.15.0 also good enough for third and precious club points.
On the commercial scene over at Downholland’s Mescar fishery, Kirkby’s Colin Taylor had a great day’s fishing as he took the top spot amongst an experienced field from all over Merseyside.
This one, on the complex’s marine lake, saw a tight match between Mersey Dockers Rod Taylor and clubmate Colin Craven.
Taylor, with carp to 9lb from peg 12 on feeder and pole, edged Craven with another superb Winter 67.10.0. Craven on peg 10 nearby took a close 66.6.0.
Dave Ball, also with the Dockers, took a creditable 53.4.0 for third.
Rounding off the frame in fourth place was Kirkby’s Ian Cowie with a very close 53.2.0.
