From one extreme to another in a matter of days! In this topsy-turvy season so far we go from cold, calm and sunny the previous weekend to warm wet and windy last Sunday for the annual Bateman Cup competition, which is for teams of three on local Boston waters. Ask any angler and most will say the same, which is for more of the latter and much less of the former. Saturday was only half way there as the vast majority struggled – fruitlessly as it turned out – for a few bites in the latest Kings Arms sweep on the River Witham at Tattershall Bridge.

Almost exclusively perch for the most part as only Dave Edwards managed to tempt a couple of small bream models for his second place, an agonising three ounces light of the top spot. This fell to Wayne Smith who took full advantage of the bridge peg and in another all perch catch he added a couple of specimens approaching the 2lbs mark. Chris Elsom was the only other in the double figure category as Bill White came home fourth with a little under 10lbs. After that weights took a dramatic dive to the 2lbs level and half the field blanked. Results: 1 Wayne Smith Lincoln 22lbs 1oz; 2 Dave Edwards Sheffield 21lbs 14ozs; 3 Chris Elsom Lincs County 14lbs 1oz; 4 Bill White Lincoln Whisby AS 9lbs 14ozs.

Back to that brewery match and the Frith Bank and West Fen Drain systems found themselves in full use for this event and hosted some 25 teams along various sections. Frith Bank sparked into life for most of those pegged along here and provided all the major weights apart from that of the winner. This came from the West Fen section at ‘Island Point’ and could not be more emphatic as Alan Henry certainly had it all his own way as far as tactics go.

Indeed, as far as fish were concerned as well, as he concentrated on feeder and chopped worm to land seven large tench, a few skimmers and all topped off with a bream of over 6lbs for a runaway victory. A near 12lbs from stable mate Alan Houlton, some four pegs away for sixth overall being the next best from this area. This brings us neatly to Frith Bank where good nets of quality roach abounded and weights in excess of 6lbs were commonplace. Much more than that lower figure was needed to feature in the prize list and Skegness angler Graham Cripsey struck top form to clinch the runner-up position. Complete faith in pole and big maggot brought a constant procession of fish to 4ozs to put Alec Rawlings, who stuck to the breadpunch and pole method, into fourth from four pegs away and behind Justin Rose who also finished in the 16lbs category with that self same approach.

Fierce competition for the team title and so much so that the top two, in the shape of Londesborough Arms A, and the Ball House Inn G teams actually tied on a points basis for the trophy, but resorting back to aggregate weight as a second test, this revealed the victors. The former came out the easy winner having accumulated well over 50lbs, thanks mainly to a second in section from Howard Kaye and of course star man Alan Henry. The Wainfleet Social Club outfits did themselves proud against this sort of opposition and came home a point adrift in third and another point down from the Ball House C team in fourth.

Individuals: 1 Alan Henry, Londesborough Arms A, 42lbs 3oss; 2 Graham Cripsey, Wainfleet Social A, 16lbs 12ozs; 3 Justin Rose, Ball House G, 16lbs 6ozs; 4 Alec Rawlings, Ball House C, 14lbs 14ozs; 5 Kevin Harrison, Wainfleet Social B, 13lbs 1oz; 6 Alan Houlton, Ball House G, 11lbs 14ozs.

Teams: 1 Londesborough Arms A 6pts (56lbs 5ozs); 2 Ball House Inn G 6pts (31lbs); 3 Wainfleet Social A 7pts; 4 Ball House Inn C 8pts; 5 Ball House Inn D 9pts; 6 Ball House Inn A 13pts 7 Wainfleet Social B 15pts; 8 New Castle A 16pts.

The Fenland Pike Club had a cracking match on the River Glen, or at least Martin Picker did. He took a staggering round dozen small specimens to top the 50lbs mark, next best way down in the 5lbs category. This fell to Mark Bradbury who landed 2 smaller models for second, as did Gordon Ball in third. Results: 1 Martin Picker 51lbs 15ozs; 2 Mark Bradbury Snr. 5lbs 11ozs; 3 Gordon Ball 5lbs 2ozs.

Nothing runaway about the latest Fishtoft AC match, which was held on the golf course section of the Sibsey Trader Drain on Sunday. Bites were at a premium and so were the odd few small skimmers that made up those few leading catches, mainly to pole and pinky. Gordon Manning headed this particular list and a couple of better models made up the difference between himself and second placed Terry Gooding and Rick who tied for that place ahead of Janice Isralia. Results: 1 Gordon Manning 2lbs 9ozs; equal 2 Terry Gooding and Rick 1lb 12ozs; 4 Janis Isralia 1lb 6ozs. Next Sunday meet McDonald’s 7.30am.

The third round of the Boston Winter league is also scheduled for next Sunday (November 4)and will again take up most of the West Fen and Frith Bank Drain areas. Pleasure anglers are asked to please take note of any notices to that effect and avoid those pegged sections. The Bargate Drain will again be entirely free.

Review for October 21

Dobson profits from end peg draw

A very quiet few days over this last week with plenty of autumn sunshine but overnight frosts to go with them, which have naturally lowered anglers’ expectations of good catches in the short term.

Saturday was a typical day for the latest of the open matches on the River Steeping at Wainfleet. What started as a real cold and frosty morning turned out to be an absolute cracking day as competitors were able to fish in their shirtsleeves by midday. Trying the higher pegs near Crows Bridge this time but the results were very similar to the previous week’s match as end peg came out on top again. Keith Dobson made the most of this draw and put together a nice net of small roach to 4oz to run out an easy winner. New Lincs County star Steve Winter continued with his favourite pink wiggling hemp and groundbait approach to claim second, and in third place was ex-snooker ace Graham Cripsey who potted in his own secret bait combination to find a few more redfins from an unfancied peg. Results: 1 Keith Dobson 8lbs 12ozs; 2 Steve Winter 5lbs 12ozs; 3 Graham Cripsey 4lbs 10ozs; 4 Bob Smith 3lbs 12ozs; 5 Chris Mawer 3lbs 9ozs.

No match for the next couple of weeks but everyone welcome for the rest of the winter series. They will resume on Saturday November 10. Draw, Wainfleet Market Place at 9am, fish 10am to 3pm, £10 all in.

Sunday’s second round Boston Winter League can only be described as a complete lottery. The combination of successive night frosts, light winds, bright sunshine and rapidly clearing water brought out the worst of all worlds as many a top class angler struggled for bites. Indeed, only just over a third of the field managed to trouble the scales and it made little difference where anyone was pegged and which venue of the two. The disintegration of weights from the Bargate Drain can be attributed to one simple fact and that is that when conditions convince the prolific bream shoals to go off their feed, there is no other species in any significant numbers to take their place.

The West Fen system was slightly better as it did produce all of the top six individual weights, the winner being pegged at the bridge end of the drain at Frithville. Graham Ellis capped a good season so far by taking a good net of mainly perch, topped off by a bonus tench to clinch that victory, the usual pole, worm and caster method being the winning method. Dave Bontoft made up for his first round disappointment and made his presence felt this time around with a similar method, which produced three large tench from the ‘Old Match length’ of the same drain. Turn and turn about as Ian Thrower brought a much lower weight to scales from close by to Graham for third and similarly Steve Winter, with just an ounce less, took fourth spot not far along the bank from Dave. Fifth fell to in- form John Turner back at Frithville and to complete the line up sixth to Kevin Harrison from next door to Steve, back in the basin.

Teamwise if any one outfit achieved two weighers out of the four man team a top four place was guaranteed and Grimsby certainly achieved that with a section first and second. This was enough to claim first place on the day and with it the lead over the first round winners, Browning Boston and East Midland MG A. A similar case in Division Two where Wainfleet AC actually put three sets of points on the board and hence opened up a commanding lead over the Lincoln Whisby outfit and Horncastle in the series so far. At this early stage Andy Dixon and Grimsby's Mick Balls leads the individual competition in Division One with Newark angler Mark Nesbitt hot on their heels just one point behind. Likewise in Division Two, a single point separates the main contenders in the shape of Dave Bontoft and Terry Gooding, to name but two, but if future matches follow the same pattern any one of the present leaders could suffer the fate of many others and have to carry a blank week in their final points total.

Individuals: 1 Graham Ellis, Grimsby, 17lbs 2ozs; 2 Dave Bontoft, Wainfleet AC, 14lbs 12ozs; 3 Ian Thrower, Holbeach AC, 5lbs 13ozs; 4 Steve Winter, Browning Boston, 5lbs 12ozs; 5 John Turner, Lincoln Whisby AS, 5lbs 4½ozs; 6 Kevin Harrison, BCUK, 5lbs.

Teams: Division One, 1 Grimsby 17pts; 2 East Midland MG Midland MG A 15pts; equal 3 BCUK and Garbolino Lincs County Red 14pts; equal 5 Garbolino Lincs County White, K9 and Browning Boston 9pts. After 2 rounds: 1 Grimsby 43pts; 2 East Midland MG A 41pts; 3 Browning Boston 35pts. Division Two, 1 Wainfleet AC 24pts; equal 2 BAC A and Lincoln Whisby AS 16pts; equal 4 East Midland MG Midland MG B and Horncastle 14pts. After two rounds: 1 Wainfleet AC 54pts; 2 Lincoln Whisby AS 46pts; equal 3 East Midland MG B and Horncastle 39pts; 5 Boston Angling Centre A 35pts.

To show that the same scenario produces much the same results, I digress to the Saturday sweep on the River Witham at Tattershall Bridge. Here Kevin Rice used the waggler and maggot approach to run away with the match, perch again being the main species caught, and topped off with a couple or three good hybrids. Les Smith did likewise and was also good value for second spot, also attaining that position with an all perch catch. After that weights tailed off dramatically, as Brian Harding took third spot and Frank Butler in fourth, the only other angler to trouble the scales. Results: 1 Kevin Rice Sheffield 14lbs 5ozs; 2 Les Smith Lincoln 8lbs 12ozs; 3 Brian Harding Bourne MG 6lbs; 4 Frank Butler Lincoln Whisby AS 3lbs 13ozs.

Nothing particularly startling but the Fishtoft AC match on the Hobhole Drain proved much more competitive and here it was roach that provided a few weights under those self same conditions. Pole, squatt and pinky was the mainstay and Jerry Clifton returned to good form to clinch victory ahead of Rod Asher who was last week’s winner. Results: 1 Jerry Clifton 4lbs 9ozs; 2 Rod Asher 3lbs 5ozs; 3 Alan Dixon 2lbs 6ozs.

Next Sunday meet 7am Swineshead Bridge.

The Bateman Cup competition will take place this coming weekend on Boston Drains and will involve around 100 anglers. Those who are not taking part and intend to pleasure fish should consult local notice boards and tackle shops to find out where the match will be taking place.

Review for October 14

Bontoft holds on to clinch match success

Midweek rain put a tinge of colour into local waters and the return to warmer temperatures has helped to retain the interest of those fish that traditionally start to shut their mouths and move to winter quarters at this time of year. Forecast is for more of the same but may well turn somewhat fresher as the week progresses.

A somewhat different scenario for the opening sweeps on the River Witham and first of all, the match on Wednesday on the Pound length at Kirkstead where perch made up the vast majority of catches. Nip and tuck for the top spot but Witham ace Dave Bontoft just held on to foil Bob Walker by the close margin of 7ozs. Howard Kaye made fourth with a lower weight of the same species but third placed Dave Edwards was the exception, achieving that position with a good net of skimmers to 1½lbs. Results: 1 Dave Bontoft Pets Cabin 19lbs; 2 Bob Walker 18lbs 9ozs; 3 16lbs 8ozs; 4 Howard Kaye 10lbs 9ozs.

A different story again from Tattershall Bridge where mixed nets of smaller fish was the lot of most of those taking part on Saturday. Lower overall weights as a natural consequence and Bob Drake held on for a confortable win over organiser Ron Chambers whose catch of mainly perch gave him a mere 2oz advantage over Tim Kaye. Main feature of this match has to be the magnificent perch which was netted by Sean Collins after a tremendous battle and tipped the scale at a staggering 3lbs 12ozs. Results: 1 Bob Drake, Newark, 7lbs 12ozs; 2 Ron Chambers, Kirkstead, 6lbs 2ozs; 3 Tim Kaye, Lincoln, 6lbs; 4 Kevin Rice, Sheffield, 4lbs 12ozs.

All change again as 38 anglers tackled the Windsor Bank section of the Bargate Drain in memory of Grimsby angler Kevin Wilson on Sunday. Here bream of all sizes dominated proceedings but with almost complete absence of roach in this area the drain looks very patchy indeed, as many struggled for a few bites if not pegged on that species. These fish, and particularly the smaller variety, seem to be constantly on the move and this week it was the turn of peg numbers in single figures to make up some of the better catches. Topping this particular list was Grimsby angler Chris Willows who did not quite fit the pattern and landed mainly larger fish, two carp totalling 8lbs 13ozs being the main feature. Add to that three bream, a tench and a large perch, all taken on pole and worm, and this was just too much for Kieran Dryder in second spot. A groundbait feeder and worm approach gave Kieran an easy second place but was helped somewhat by the bad luck of third placed Frank Scrupps. He landed three larger fish but also lost three similar models to an underwater snag from the next door peg. Despite his advancing years veteran Brian Clarke can still cut the mustard and show many a younger man the ropes as he took fourth with a nice net of skimmers to a pound. Results: 1 Chris Willows, Grimsby, 22lbs 9ozs; 2 Kieran Dryder 20lbs 8ozs; 3 Frank Scrupps, Boston, 9lbs 6ozs; 4 Brian Clarke, Sibsey, 7lbs 10ozs; 5 Ian Leggett, Grimsby, 6lbs 15ozs; 6 Paul Powers, Grimsby, 6lbs 12ozs. In addition a raffle for some 40 or more prizes raised around £200 to help the junior anglers of that area.

Pick of the club matches this week was Fishtoft AC’s trip to the Twenty Foot Drain where top marks go to Rod Asher who sealed victory by adding a tench to a net of perch, all taken on pole and chopped worm. Ben Brighton fished his usual style to pinch second with a good net of roach and these two finished way ahead of the others, being the only ones to achieve double figures – most of those, I may add, returned decent backing weights of roach. Results: 1 Rod Asher 13lbs 2ozs; 2 Ben Brighton 10lbs; 3 Mark Cook 6lbs; 4 Gary Shinn 5lbs 10ozs. Those not involved in the Boston Winter league should meet McDonald’s 7am on Sunday.

The Wyberton reaches of the South Forty Foot Drain appear to have suffered a downturn in form and perhaps fish are finally on the move to their alternative quarters. Sibsey AC members were the more affected down at Cook’s Lock, where Maurice Sharp needed only a few roach to waggler and maggot to take the top spot. Ian Singlehurst did likewise for second, after which ounces were the order of the day. Results: 1 Maurice Sharp 2lbs 11ozs; 2 Ian Singlehurst 1lb 9ozs; 3 Colin Peltell 10ozs.

Things were a little better at Chain Bridge where United Anglers AC held the first match of their series and here those pegged further down the field fared better than those at the early pegs, as opposed to last weeks result from the winter league. Jamie Cole kept clear water between himself and brother Paul to top the list. Roach to pole and pinky being the main method for roach and another family affair saw Colin Batchelor squeak past son Graham by the closest of margins – being a mere half-an-ounce! 1 Jamie Cole 6lbs 2ozs; 2 Paul Cole 4lbs 9ozs; 3 Colin Batchelor 4lbs 3½ozs; 4 Graham Batchelor 4lbs 3ozs; 5 Dave Johnson 4lbs 1oz.

The upper Hobhole Drain at Midville gave the Fenland Pike club a much better match than their opening event. 10 fish ranging from 2 to 8lbs 10ozs were taken and winner Spider Pawson grabbed the lions share with 3 mid range specimens for a convincing win. Best fish of the day gave Dave Toulson second spot after which a couple of small models brought third to Andy Walker. Results: 1 Spider Pawson 13lbs 7ozs; 2 Dave Toulson 8lbs 10ozs; 3 Andy Walker 5lbs 14ozs.

A fine and warm start to this second round match of the East Coast Junior League on the South Holland Drain at Sharps Bridge on Sunday. The drain having produced good weights in previous weeks, the 32 young anglers looked forward to the match and were not disappointed. They were all shown the way by local lad James Wright who easily won the day with a good net of roach and small skimmers, fishing pole at 10m. Fish were shoaled tightly in this area and Kings Lynn’s Damian Evans also made double figures from the next peg, as did Boston lad Nicholas Wright who was pegged close by. Individuals: 1 James Wright, Holbeach, 14lbs 14ozs; 2 Damien Evans, King’s Lynn Blue, 10lbs 10ozs; 3 Nicholas Wright, Smurfs Elite, 10lbs 9ozs; 4 Kirsty Read, King’s Lynn Gold, 8lbs 10ozs; 5 Luke Morley, Smurfs Elite, 8lbs 8ozs; 6 Tom Cockle, King’s Lynn Gold, 7lbs 4ozs. The team results were once again tight but the Boston based Smurfs Elite just held on to the top spot by a single point ahead of Holbeach, thanks to Tyrell Dawson and Luke Morley both winning their sections. Teams: 1 Smurfs Elite 7pts; 2 Holbeach A; 3 King’s Lynn Gold 17pts; Lincoln A
20pts; equal 5 Boston Green & Holbeach B 21pts.

After this round the destination of the title is already down to a two-horse race as two points only separate the main contenders Holbeach and Smurfs Elite (Boston), with the rest vying for third place at some 25 points and more distance. Results: 1 Smurfs Elite 13pts; 2 Holbeach A 15pts; equal 3 Boston B and Lincoln A 40pts; 5 Kings Lynn Gold 41pts. The next round will now take place on Sunday November 4 on the Foss Dyke Canal at Lincoln, please note that change of date.

Pleasure anglers should note that the Boston Winter League will take place this coming Sunday (October 21) and takes up most of the pegs on the Windsor Bank section of the Bargate Drain, as well as those on the ‘Old Match Length’ and Frithville sections of the West Fen Drain.

Review for October 7

Anglers get hooks into winter league action

The extended spell of unseasonally mild and sunny weather seems almost at an end. And by the time this appears in web-print we may well have experienced a period of heavy rain to settle the dust. Before that, however anglers enjoyed a reasonable warm, but somewhat dreary weekend. Thick cloud and very light, almost non-existent winds brought a welcome boost to many venues which, despite many reservations, excelled beyond the hopes of even the most optimistic of anglers.

The Boston Winter League got off the ground with 16 teams of four in two divisions and took place on local drains in and around the town itself. A few pegs had to be resurrected into a fishable condition but catches from these areas fully justified the efforts put in by a few. The ‘Old Match Length’ at Cowbridge was the focus of attention and came up with the goods in providing the top two places for this first round match. These finished fairly close but could not be more opposite in terms of methods used or species caught. On the one hand Newark’s Mark Nesbitt put full faith in pole and breadpunch to finish with over 16lbs of good roach for the runner-up spot. On the other, pride of place must go the more experienced Trevor Ogilvie who took the match by storm and landed five small bream plus a tench in the first two hours to forge well ahead of the pack. From then on in he switched tactics and put another 5lbs of silver fish into his net and win the day by a comfortable margin.

The Windsor Bank sections of the Bargate Drain provided good backing weights which although still patchy in nature were far higher than those in the previous week’s Individual National match. Bream made an appearance at one time or another to spice up proceedings, Ian Brodie being the main beneficiary. He took that third position outside of Wheelers Close as eventually, after some two hours, four good specimens were taken in quick succession; those alone being enough to bring him victory in that competition. Roger Wakenshaw filled fourth from the top end of Windsor Crescent, at a peg which has not shown any sort of form for many a long day, but a similar catch to Ian’s ensured that position. Same goes for the next peg from where Al Dyer gained sixth place, he also taking two large fish but had to wait until the dying minutes to achieve his double figure weight and that place. Leading Boston matchman Mark Griggs took a good net of smaller silver fish but became the meat in the sandwich with fifth place from the South Forty Foot section at Oldrids. For the record, Alistair Ogilvie nearly made it a family double but ended the day in third place with a mixed bag of chub, roach and eels from the Stibbington section of the River Nene. This venue also fished much better than the previous week and put most competitors in better heart for the following rounds of their Angling Times East Midland Winter League.

Back to the Boston match and team-wise the match followed the usual pattern of close finishes in both divisions and in the second the top two, in the shape of Lincoln Whisby and Wainfleet AC, could not be separated. Likewise Horncastle and the East Midland MGB finished neck and neck for the third place as the local Castle Inn limped home in fifth. Browning Boston just edged Division One by a single point over East Midland MG A who subsequently tied with a competent Grimsby team, themselves leading a disappointed Lincs County squad by a full three points.

Individuals: 1 Trevor Ogilvie, K9, 18lbs 6ozs; 2 Mark Nesbitt, East Midlands MG A, 16lbs 10ozs; 3 Ian Brodie, Wainfleet AC, 15lbs 9ozs; 4 Roger Wakenshaw, Horncastle, 13lbs 1oz; 5 Mark Griggs, Browning Boston, 12lbs 10ozs; 6 Al Dyer, Garbolino Lincs County White, 12lbs.

Teams: Div 1, 1 Browning Boston 27pts; equal 2 East Midlands MG A and Grimsby 26pts; 4 Garbolino Lincs County White 23pts; 5 Holbeach AC 22pts; 6 Garbolino Lincs County 20pts; Div 2, equal 1 Lincoln Whisby and Wainfleet AC 30pts; equal 3 East Midlands MG B and Horncastle 25pts; 5 Castle Inn 21pts; Boston Angling Centre A 19pts.

Next round is on Sunday October 21, but before that a memorial match for Grimsby angler Kevin Wilson is being held this coming Sunday October 14 on the Bargate Drain. Those wishing to take part should ring Barry Mallett on 01205 871815 ASAP please.

Sibsey AC found the Hobhole Drain at Giggs Bridge a big letdown as Derek Smith was the sole angler to break a pound. He found a few odd fish at the bridge peg to take the honours as Jean Buttle finished second with just a few ounces. Results: 1 Derek Smith 1lb 4ozs; 2 Jean Buttle 12ozs; 3 Duncan Smith 6ozs.

Fishtoft AC faired even worse as they rued the choice of Mastins Bridge for their latest sweep, just two of the contingent having anything to show for their efforts, and one fish each at that. Results: 1 Tony Barnes 4ozs; 2 Mark Naylor 2ozs. Next Sunday meet Little Chef, Algarkirk, 7am for a trip to the Twenty Foot Drain at Guyhirn.

Liam’s Elite AC met on Sunday and fished Priory Lakes at Ruskington. Once again the match featured a good turnout with another member of Boston Youth Angling Team joining to bring the total to 17. From the outset it was a three horse race but the outright winner was Andy Dillamore who fished long pole to the island for an easy victory. Mark Thornton chose the ground bait feeder to the same island from the adjacent peg to finish some 20lbs adrift, but beat match organizer Dave Wilson whomissed out on that second slot after losing a carp in the last few minutes of the match. Results: 1 Andy Dillamore 73lbs; 2 Mark Thornton 53lbs 8ozs;. 3 Dave Wilson 52lbs; 4 Reece Dillamore 30lbs 6ozs; 5 Gary Shinn 21lbs.