A thin covering of ice on the Bridgewater Canal at the start of the Warrington AA Open didn’t hamper the matchmen but the fish were slow and organiser Steve Conroy (Keenets NW) only needed 3lb 6oz for a win.
He “paper pegged” the match at Preston Brook then attacked the canal with punch bread and liquidised groundbait at five and 10 metres and altogether caught 130 tiny roach.
The Meadow View Fishery sweepstake took place on Thrush Pool and in first place was Les Mottishead (Guilder’s Tackle) with 15lb 8oz.
He was on an end peg, number 13, and managed to take 15lb 8oz of small carp on a 12 metre pole and caster as the ice encroached and spread in the cold afternoon.
Waggler-fished caster produced a winning 17lb 10oz for Keith Smith in Saturday’s Brookside Open on Linear Pool.
It was unusual to see a matchman tackling the popular lake with anything other pole gear and especially when he turned up trumps by catching carp to 2lb on pellet bait.
Dave Houghton, Leisure Angling, Liverpool – 0151 734 2344
E-mail: houghtonde@aol.com
