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ANGLING

All the up-to-date news from the Boston and District angling scene

With Barry Mallett

Angling news for week ending December 31, 2005

Only the die-hards brave elements

Very little happened anywhere over the festive holiday period, as the atrocious conditions prevented all but a few real die-hards from venturing out onto riverbanks.

At present we see much improvement in the weather but melt waters will, I'm sure, keep any catches on the thin side for a few days to come, even if conditions do not deteriorate over the next few days. Barely 10 hardy souls turned out for the post Christmas open match on the West Fen Drain last Tuesday week, and not surprising as they had to endure zero temperatures for much of the day.

Combined with low and clear water conditions it came as no real shock that fish were even more tightly shoaled than previous as only four of those managed to trouble the scales. Those that did catch enjoyed the day as many good roach fell to the pole and breadpunch and Keith Dobson ran out a comfortable winner beating second placed Alec Rawlings by nigh on 3lbs. Results: 1 Keith Dobson 14lbs 6ozs; 2 Alec Rawlings 11lbs 9ozs; 3 Don Green 9lbs 10ozs; 4 Rob Smith 7lbs 11ozs.

Following on from this the weather actually took a turn for the worse and having already cancelled the annual “Dads and Lads” match at Moon Lake, Thursday morning saw just four turn out for this rearranged fixture as they travelled to fish the River Welland in Spalding town centre. Such was the air temperature that elastic was almost permanently frozen inside pole sections but still did not prevent some superb roach around the pound mark from being taken and Dave Rance ended the day with around 7lbs of fish.

All that remain now is a reminder to Boston and District Angling Association members that the annual meeting will take place on Tuesday February 7 at the Mayflower Sports and Social Club, Rosebery Avenue. To this end, nominations for committee and for that matter any proposals for addition or amendment to the association’s rules, should forwarded to the general secretary Barbara Clifton and arrive no later than Monday January 9.

Angling news for week ending Sunday December 18, 2005

Harper is runaway winner

Ice affected a lot of local waters over the weekend of December 17 and 18. This meant local match men had to look further afield for their sport.

The RAF Coningsby club had another match on Tuesday. Steve Harper was the runaway winner, almost doubling the weight of second placed Phil Foster with Paul Coombes and Al Dyer taking close order in third. Most of those in the latter pegs achieved success with the usual pole and punch tactics but it was noticeable that those in the earlier pegs resorted to either pinky, caster or chopped worm to take double figure nets of perch. Results: 1 Steve Harper 22lbs 8ozs peg 28; 2 Phil Foster 11lbs 15ozs peg 23; equal 3 Paul Coombes and Al Dyer 11lbs 7ozs pegs 26 and 32.

Saturday’s Kings Arms open match at Kirkstead was really a grueller for most, as fish could only be tempted before the sun was well up, and later on the way down. Not too many fish to be had but what were on offer were mainly superb roach approaching the pound mark. Les Smith needed just seven such specimens from the end peg 6 to win the match Comfortably with a level 6lbs, followed by Nick McQuiston from the other end peg -7 also with a level 4lbs. Results: 1 Les Smith Lincoln 6lbs peg 6; 2 Nick McQuiston Lincoln 4lbs peg -7; 3 Dave Bontoft 3lbs 5ozs peg -1; 4 Trevor Ogilvie 3lbs peg -6.

The Lincoln fur and feather attracted just 24 runners to an icy Upper Witham in the Dixon St area running up towards Firth Road. This latter end proved to be the place to be drawn as all top six prize winners came from these last six pegs. At that very end peg Nathan Zamzynski employed pole and punch to deadly effect as he won at a canter with well over 2lbs to spare.

In turn that second placed man, in the shape of John Turner, also had a similar margin ahead of third placed Paul Wilson but after Keith Hall weights plummeted to the ounces category as Howard Kaye needed just 11 to hold onto sixth spot. Results: 1 Nathan Zamzynski, Lincoln Whisby, 8lbs 8ozs; 2 John Turner, Lincoln Whisby, 5lbs 13ozs; 3 Paul Wilson, Lincoln, 3lbs 15ozs; 4 Keith Hall, Lincoln Castings, 3lbs 5ozs; 5 Dave Starkey, Lincoln, 15ozs; 6 Howard Kaye 11ozs.

Not that Howard would be too worried as he recorded his fourth straight win in all competitions on the Foss Dyke Canal this season. This one being in the Fossdyke league, the day before, a mixed bag of small roach, skimmers and a couple of perch doing the trick this time around. Results: 1 Howard Kaye, Lincoln Whisby, 5lbs 1oz; 2 Graham Bunnage, Lincs County, 3lbs 15ozs; 3 Wayne Smith, Lincoln, 1lb 15½ozs.

Fishtoft AC travelled to the River Bain at Coningsby to find open water on Sunday but even here fish seemed to be tightly shoaled as only the first three pegs managed to trouble the scales. Jerry Clifton emerged the easy winner with a few small roach to the pole and punch, which left Ernie Heseltine nearly two pounds behind in second and Nick Mummery with mere ounces in third. Results: 1 Jerry Clifton 4lbs 9ozs; 2 Ernie Heseltine 2lbs 10½ozs; 3 Nick Mummery 9½ozs. The club’s next match is scheduled for Sunday January 1 but given the day, will not take place unless sufficient numbers contact organiser Mark Cook. Meet at Sluice Bridge 8 am.

Finally, and importantly, an amendment to the Christmas match reported on in the column below. I somehow managed to omit Alec Rawlings’ weight of 15lbs 2ozs from the prize list that placed him in fourth position behind Bob Nudd. Full amended result should therefore read: 1 Barry Wigginton 24lbs; 2 Ben Brighton 21lbs 9ozs; 3 Bob Nudd 18lbs 12½ozs; 4 Alec Rawlings 15lbs 2ozs; 5 Mick Stephens 14lbs 11ozs; 6 Stan Mee 13lbs 10ozs.

Angling news for week ending Sunday December 11, 2005

Travelling pair take top two spots

The continuing dry weather meant that local waters were at a touch lower level than last weekend. Fish normally shoal up tightly under these conditions, which is borne out by those pegs on the Pound length and running up to Kirkstead Bridge.

Strange to tell, though, both the midweek and Saturday matches proved that the roach had actually spread out a little and now cover the first five pegs, at least, on the Pound. Bourne MG anglers continue their raids on this venue and both Rob Johnson and travelling companion Lee Klimczuk took the top two places from adjacent pegs 2 and 3, Rob the man to emerge top dog.

The result did nothing to alter the final placings as a third place to go with three wins and a second ensured a series win for Lincoln’s Les Smith, with best five results to count he totalled just five points. Organiser Ron Chambers held on to second place, being tied with veteran Maurice Thacker on eight points, Dave ‘Bomber’ Bontoft taking fourth with nine points. Results: 1 Rob Johnson, Bourne MG, 8lbs 1oz; 2 Lee Klimczuk, Bourne MG, 7lbs 11ozs; 3 Les Smith, Lincoln, 6lbs 10ozs; 4 Malc Green, 5lbs 8ozs. Overall: 1 Les Smith 5 pts, equal 2 Ron Chambers and Maurice Thacker 8 pts, 4 Dave Bontoft 9pts.

It was something of a different story on Saturday as weights crept up into double figures. And despite a gaggle of good nets from the minus pegs, Mr Bontoft held sway from peg one with nearly a stone of roach and skimmers. Dave Edwards and Tom Rowe were the only others in the same street but Andy Scott and Ian Turner brought home good backing weights for their minor places. Results: 1 Dave Bontoft, Southrey, 13lbs 14ozs; 2 Dave Edwards, Sheffield, 13lbs 7ozs; 3 Tom Rowe, Lincoln, 13lbs 1oz; 4 Andy Scott, Harlequins, 10lbs 12ozs; 5 Ian Turner, Worksop, 10lbs 6ozs.

The Boston Christmas Benevolent match looks to be far and away the best match on paper but with nigh 60 anglers to cater for, the match last Sunday was split between the Sibsey Trader and West Fen Drains. This was done to try and provide decent fishing for all involved but, I suppose, we all know it was doomed to failure from the outset, despite an extensive tour around the drains during midweek.

All the best weights, by the proverbial mile, were taken from the West Fen Drain in Frithville. Even here the early pegs at the Boston end of the village were a real struggle until a few fish moved into the area in the last half hour. A battle royal developed over the last five pegs at the bridge end and all involved had a few hundred small roach between them, mainly to pole and punch. At one stage it looked has though world champion Bob Nudd had made it no contest, but at the end of the day he could not deny Fishtoft AC angler Ben Brighton his second place and even more so, the outstanding victory gained by Newark’s Barry Wigginton.

Barry clinched the winner’s spoils with 2½lbs to spare and was followed home by other local anglers such as Mick Stephens and John Kadzionis who gave a good account of themselves from nearby pegs. As mentioned, the nature of the match meant two separate prize lists and here’s where the good news ends as Dave Bontoft needed only one perch to take the top prize off the golf course section of the Sibsey Trader Drain.

Other local anglers trailed in behind him but make grim reading with just the odd small fish each and a sum total of 24 dry nets out of 30 from this area. Much more fun was had back at HQ as around 60 prizes in draws and raffles were on offer and nigh all those that participated went home with some sort of recompense for their efforts.

Results: 1 Barry Wigginton, Mayfair Newark, 24lbs 1oz; 2 Ben Brighton, Fishtoft AC, 21lbs 9ozs; 3 Bob Nudd, Essex County, 18lbs 12 ½ ozs; 4 Mick Stephens, Boston, 14lbs 11ozs; 5 Stan Mee, Mansfield, 13lbs 10ozs; 5 John Kadzionis, Boston, 13lbs 1ozs.

Ben Brighton was the easy winner of Fishtoft AC’s sweep that was held in conjunction with this match, Sean Creasey, with 9lbs 1oz from the next peg, being the only other club member to weigh in. This Sunday, the club will meet as normal at the Sluice Bridge 7.30 am. This week sees Lincoln’s turn to host their Christmas fur and feather match, which will be held on the upper Witham in the Dixon Street area. Chris Kerbel will be organising another open match on the West Fen Drain on Tuesday December 27.

Angling news for week ending Sunday December 4, 2005

Barry wins Labour Club open event

Top news this week came from a match on the West Fen Drain at Frithville. Being the latest Boston Trades and Labour Club open this was notable for both a total of more than 160lbs between the dozen participants and also that each one of those recorded over 10lbs.

The drain was a little higher than normal with a touch of colour for the time of year, conditions which screamed out for a pole and breadpunch approach. Up stepped the right man in the right place as Barry Wigginton took good quality roach from start to finish to nudge the 20lbs mark. It could have been a different story if both Mick Stamp and Don Green, at adjacent pegs, were able to fish their swims from the start as a raft of floating reeds prevented this until the drain began to run off with more than an hour gone.

Given the catch rate from then on, it could be argued that both would have topped Barry’s catch and relegated him to third spot, but as they say, that’s match fishing.

Result: 1 Barry Wigginton, Mayfair Newark, 19lbs 5ozs; 2 Mick Stamp, Harlequins, 17lbs 5ozs; 3 Kevin Harrison, Mayfair Newark, 17lbs 5ozs; 4 Alec Rawlings, DSC, 16lbs 11ozs; 5 Don Green, DSC, 16lbs 9ozs.

Elsewhere, the River Witham at Kirkstead also looks to have benefited from mainly benign conditions over the past week, but only on paper — the reality being that match anglers have little chance unless drawn on the ‘minus’ pegs.

Certainly the case for the latest King’s Arms open match on Saturday as said pegs invariably produced double figures while those drawn on 451 upwards struggled for a bite. Dave Edwards is the man in form and made no mistake from -7 with a touch over 16lbs of good roach to beat Grimsby’s Dave Ashmore into second place by 11ozs. Weights did fall away after that but Brian Wetherley still needed over 11lbs to beat Graham

Chapman by 4ozs. Result: 1 Dave Edwards, Sheffield, 16lbs 1oz; 2 Dave Ashmore, Grimsby, 15lbs 6ozs; 3 Brian Wetherley, Riverside Tackle, 11lbs 3ozs; 4 Graham Chapman, Lincoln, 10lbs 15ozs.

Wednesday’s match was much more of a walkover as veteran angler Maurice Thacker, pegged at -6 on this occasion, held a full 8lbs advantage over second placed Jim Hughes at the end of the match. Result: 1 Maurice Thacker, Lincoln, 11lbs 14ozs; 2 Jim Hughes, Bourne MG, 3lbs 14ozs; 3 Howard Kaye, Lincoln Whisby, 3lbs 4ozs.

The Dixon Street area of the upper Witham in Lincoln was the scene of the latest open match last weekend. While not rising to the dizzy heights of some venues, most competitors found a few roach to the pole and breadpunch here. A clear winner here with 2lbs to spare was John Blades who came home with a shade under 7lbs, followed by John Small on nearly 5lbs. Result: 1 John Blades 6lbs 15ozs peg 117; 2 John Small 4lbs 14ozs peg 123; 3 Malc Topliss 3lbs 6ozs peg 116.

Fishtoft AC’s trip to the River Nene at Wadenhoe proves my point as members had to contend with three extra feet of rubbish laden floodwater, the good news being that despite a struggle most managed to conjure up a few small roach. Gary Shinn emerged top dog here taking just over 4lbs of those fish from under his feet to short pole and a variety of baits to stay over a pound clear of Ben Brighton and Mark Cook in third.

Result: 1 Gary Shinn 4lbs 1½ozs; 2 Ben Brighton 2lbs 15½ozs; 3 Mark Cook 2lbs 13ozs; 4 Jerry Clifton 1lb 12ozs. The club will hold a sweep in conjunction with this coming Sunday’s Christmas Benevolent Match and those who require tickets for the event should contact Barry Mallett.

In complete contrast Stickney AC found the River Bain at Coningsby almost gin clear and under almost low water conditions with very little flow. At the end of the day though, a similar result as Chris Chapman took the honours with over 3lbs of roach to pole and punch. Danny West was the only other in the same street and held that second spot by virtue of a bonus perch of some 1½ lbs. Result: 1 Chris Chapman 3lbs 6ozs; 2 Danny West 3lbs 1oz; 3 Mark Thornton 2lbs 5ozs.

As already mentioned, the Christmas Benevolent match will take place this coming Sunday (December 11) and should go ahead on the West Fen Drain. Ring Barry Mallett for tickets by Friday.