ANGLING

All the up-to-date news from the 2006-2007 Boston and District angling scene

With Barry Mallett

Angling news September 2006

Round-up for week ending September 24, 2006

Perch haul helps Shane to junior triumph

The autumnal equinox not only brings a change-over to longer nights and shortening days, but also more unsettled conditions. Last Friday’s day-long downpour was a good case in point. After that, another absolutely gorgeous weekend followed, despite some predictions to the contrary. And fish continued to respond accordingly.

First, though, we look back at the Lincolnshire Junior Championship, which was fished the previous Saturday on the South Holland Drain between the Sharps and the Main Road Bridges. It was well supported this year with teams attending from Boston, Holbeach, Lincoln, Spalding and Scunthorpe. A total of 54 anglers — ages ranging from eight to 17 — competed in near perfect conditions on a water at the top of its form. Great prizes and trophies were on offer for both the junior and intermediate categories, being donated by local shops and private companies from in and around the Holbeach area.

Top weight on the day was taken by Lincoln’s Shane Spraggins who took a good bag of perch to 1lb on a near line and then quality roach to the long pole from a peg near to the Main Road Bridge. He also led his team to victory, albeit by virtue of the fact that Boston came to the match a man short and lost out to Lincoln by four points.

Results: Intermediate teams, 1 Lincoln 8 points; 2 Boston 12 points; individuals, 1 Shane Spraggins, Lincoln, 10lbs 3ozs; 2 Relly Dawson, Boston, 7lbs 10ozs; 3 Nicholas Wright, Boston, 5lbs 15ozs.

It was a different story in the junior category where Reece Dillamore won the top prize with some ease, beating team-mate Luke Morley into second place with 1lb to spare, and Kayleigh Williams 3oz further back. The team event produced a close result but the Boston Green team, having three section winners, lifted the trophy by just two points ahead of the local Holbeach outfits in second and third.

Results: Junior teams, 1 Boston Green 8 points, 2 Holbeach A 10 points, 3 Holbeach B 12pts; individuals, 1 Reece Dillamore, Boston, 9lbs 4oz, 2 Luke Morley, Boston, 8lbs 4oz, 3 Kayleigh Williams, Holbeach A, 8lbs 1oz. Teams, Boston Red (Jonathon Taylor, Chris Weeden, Hannah Kitchen, Joe Elliker), Boston Green (Luke Morley, Daniel Austin, Joe Paton, Reece Dillamore).

The East Coast Junior Winter League starts in October for teams of four under 19-years-old. Entries should be made to Dave Rance on Sleaford 461415 (also the number for further information).

Last Sunday saw the Boston and District Angling Association pairs match for the Ray Smith trophy take place on the Windsor Bank section of the Bargate Drain. Conditions were similar to the previous week, a like amount of skimmers on the feed, and roach taking a little more interest in proceedings. Trevor Ogilvie came oh so close to taking his second open match in a week from the end peg at Mount Bridge but had to settle in the end for a tied second spot alongside Grimsby angler Simon Fields.

Simon, in turn had to be content with that position as he found himself being beaten off the next peg, in front of Wheelers Close, by none other than last week’s runner-up in the shape of Jamie Wigginton. The individual prize winners all came from this section below the swimming pool footbridge, above which the leading weight was taken by March angler Greg Brown in 7th place, courtesy of a 4lb tench. Team-mate Dave Priestley was also among the skimmers on the other side of the winner to claim fifth and this combination was enough to squeak home to lift the trophy by just a single point. They saw off the strong pairing of Jamie Wigginton and father Barry who actually tied on points with last year’s winners, in the shape of Fred Bispham and John Holmes, but held on to second by virtue of a superior total weight.

Results: Individuals, 1 Jamie Wigginton, Daiwa Trentmen, 11lbs 6ozs, equal 2 Trevor Ogilvie, Boston, and Simon Fields, Maver Barnsley, 10lbs 7ozs, 4 John Holmes, Dynamite Mayfair, 8lbs 15½ozs, 5 Dave Priestley, Foxmatch Millview, 8lbs 12ozs, 6 Alec Rawlings, DSC, 8lbs 6ozs; pairs, 1 Greg Brown and Dave Priestley, Foxmatch Millview, 7 points, 2 Barry and Jamie Wigginton, Ashfield, 8 points (17lbs), 3 John Holmes and Fred Bispham, Dynamite Mayfair, 8 points (15lbs 12½ozs).

The Ivan Marks Memorial match on the River Witham looks to have been brilliant on paper. But in reality, there were few good bream weights. Generally these came from a few pegs in one private section, and little else to shout about. The winner was actually baited a pole line when his next door neighbour — in the shape of Brian Robjohn — trailed in the first of his fish, which then prompted Keith Greensmith to abandon that method in favour of a feeder and worm approach.

This soon paid dividends as a total of 14 bream to 5lbs came in a steady stream throughout the match to give him a clear cut win. Second placed Dave Clarkson also took a dozen fish but being of somewhat smaller proportions he ended the day over 25lbs behind, and likewise third placed Brian Robjohn from that next peg just 6lbs and two fish in front of fourth placed Greg Gray. The winner also ensured the team event for himself and his Calveton team-mates with Greg Gray’s outfit Mossborough taking second spot over 36lbs adrift. Results: 1 Keith Greensmith, Calveton, 66lbs; 2 Dave Clarkson, Team 4star Hull, 40lbs 2ozs; 3 Brian Robjohn, Sheffield, 35lbs 11ozs; 4 Greg Gray, Moossborough, 29lbs 11ozs; 5 Mick Wright, Grimsby, 28lbs 7ozs.

A large tench of 6½lbs contributed to Mark Cook’s emphatic victory in Fishtoft AC’s latest outing, this time to Money’s Bridge on the River Glen at Pinchbeck. Without that he would have been one of the also-rans behind second placed Jerry Clifton who took a nice net a small fish, Ben Jackson likewise in third. Results: 1 Mark Cook 9lbs 5ozs; 2 Jerry Clifton 6lbs 4ozs; 3 Ben Jackson 5lbs 2ozs; 4 Mick Whitham 5lbs.

Next Sunday sees most of the club taking part in the opening round of the Boston and District Angling Association winter league and so will not be organising an alternative sweep. The South Forty Foot Drain at Cooks Lock was in a more sombre mood than recent weeks as came in on the low side. Lee Feary needed only a mixed net of small roach, perch, dace and skimmers on pole and pinky to clinch victory over Billy Coope and Paul Cater. Results: 1 Lee Feary 5lbs 7ozs; 2 Billy Coope 5lbs 1oz; 3 Paul Cater 4lbs 5ozs.

A last reminder to match anglers that the very popular Boston and District Angling Association’s winter league starts on Sunday (October 1) and entries of teams of four at £40 for the five match series should be made to Barry Mallett on Boston 871815, Thursday evening (September 28) being the deadline.

Round-up for week ending September 10, 2006

Bright weather, but fish are slow to feed

Despite the gorgeous nature of the weather over the weekend, with unbroken sunshine from Saturday morning onwards, the fish in local waters didn’t really come out in any great numbers to match up to the calm, warm and settled conditions. And the old adage comes to mind that with both the sun and moon in the sky together the fish are reluctant to feed, especially in fairly clear water.

Having said that, the two parts of the Bargate Drain showed totally different form as anglers in the main struggled to catch any amount of small fish in the Boston and District Angling Association benevolent match on Horncastle Road. In stark contrast those involved in club matches and pleasure fishing the Windsor Bank area found small roach and skimmers to be ready feeders from Mount Bridge right through to Vauxhall Bridge. Firstly to the benevolent match and here big fish dominated the leading weights. Lincs County’s Chris Elsom won the match with some ease in taking three good-sized bream plus perch and bits to pole and chopped worm from peg 133 towards the railway bridge.

Not far away at 129, Barnsley Black’s Sam Wildsmith chose different tactics but still managed to tempt a good tench to pole and squatt, adding to around 4lbs of bits to clinch second spot. Another similar fish helped Neil Smithson into third place from outside of Norprint gates and from the other side of the entrance, Greg Brown came home fourth with an all small fish catch, as did Shaun Stockley in fifth. Results: 1 Chris Elsom, Sensas Lincs County, 16lbs 4½ozs; 2 Sam Wildsmith, Barnsley, 8lbs 9ozs; 3 Neil Smithson, Sensas Lincs County, 7lbs 13ozs; 4 Greg Brown, Foxmatch Millview, 6lbs 2ozs; 5 Shaun Stockley, Sensas Lincs County, 5lbs 3½ozs; 6 Roy Wells, Foxmatch Grimsby, 5lbs 1oz.

Sibsey AC suffered a similar fate on the Stonebridge section of the Sibsey Trader Drain as here even less small fish were in evidence. Apart from the odd better fish lost to sub-surface weed, no others of that ilk showed any sort of interest, leaving Colin Peltell to take the honours with the only pound plus weight of the match, and a paltry one at that. Results: 1 Colin Peltell 1lb 2ozs; 2 Richard Smith 10¾ozs; 3 Derek Smith 9¼ozs.

The Coach and Horses AC found those small fish feeding on the Windsor Bank section and here Paul Cater denied Danny Pettigrew junior yet another win as he squeaked home by the narrow margin of just 3ozs. Danny in turn showed a clean pair of heels to Mark Beasley who actually tied with Lee Feary for the third place. Results: 1 Paul Cater 6lbs 1oz; 2 Danny Pettigrew junior 5lbs 14ozs; equal 3 Mark Beasley and Lee Feary 4lbs 7ozs. Next Sunday the club will hold their next club match on the Horncastle Road section.

Pride of place this week goes to Fishtoft AC who paid a visit to the boathouse section of the River Witham. Being the only angler to put complete faith in hemp and tares, Alan Dixon paralysed the opposition and took good roach and skimmers from beginning to end to finish almost 10lbs clear of Rod Asher. Much closer after that as Rod only held on to second place by the skin of his teeth ahead of Daniel Mooney, who stayed nearly 1½lbs ahead of Mark Cook. Results: 1 Alan Dixon 17lbs 1oz; 2 Rod Asher 7lbs 12ozs; 3 Daniel Mooney 7lbs 9ozs; 4 Mark Cook 6lbs 2ozs. Next Sunday meet McDonald’s at Sleaford for a trip to the River Trent at Winthorpe.

Not quite the match it was last week as Stickney AC paid a repeat visit to the Cook’s Lock area of the South Forty Foot Drain. Big bronze maggot and pole was again the top method as John Briggs won this one at a canter. After taking the wooden spoon last time out Mark Thornton got his act together on this occasion and took the runner-up position, a pound plus ahead of third placed Ray Taylor. Results: 1 John Briggs 12lbs 3ozs; 2 Mark Thornton 5lbs 7ozs; 3 Ray Taylor 4lbs 4ozs.

Because of the ongoing situation with the blue-green algae problem on the Hobhole system, next Sunday sees a change of venue for the club as they will now fish the Sibsey Trader Drain.

A final call for anglers to book in for Sunday’s Boston and District AA’s memorial match, which will take place on the Windsor Bank section of the Bargate Drain. Looking further ahead and the Pairs match on the 24th is a pre-cursor to the Winter League, which starts on October 1. And all can now be booked with Barry Mallett on his usual number.

A reminder also that the second Ivan Marks memorial match will take place this year on the River Witham at Kirkstead on Sunday September 24. The big news is that Dynamite Baits have kindly agreed to sponsor the match; trophies and prizes will be on offer in addition to the pools monies. Individual entries are £15 all-in, together with a competition for teams of four at £20 per team. Ivan’s widow Linda and son Chris will be in attendance to present the prizes after the match. The draw will take place at the Kings Arms, Kirkstead from 8am to 8.15am with fishing from 10am to 3pm. and refreshments will be available at the Kings Arms. For tickets, contact Frank Butler in Lincoln.

Round-up for week ending September 3, 2006

Anglers on alert as dangerous algae appears

THE weekend of September 2 and 3 turned out to be a blustery, and at times, wet period as unseasonal gales swept the whole country during Saturday afternoon and Sunday. The biggest, and most important news of course, is the discovery of the deadly blue-green algae on the Hobhole Drain between the Lade Bank pumper and its outfall at Fishtoft. This fortunately has not reared its ugly head for some years but nevertheless is still something for both anglers and the general public including dog walkers, to avoid any sort of contact with water within this drain.

Other lesser waters such as the Cowbridge and associated courses are being monitored and if found to be also at risk signs, such as those already in place on the Hobhole Drain, will also be quickly erected to warn the public. The situation is likely to continue for some considerable time, weeks rather than days, and when deemed necessary, water levels will be lowered to those associated with the winter period, and then perhaps refilled from the River Witham if needs be. No such problems on the Bargate Drain where the EMAF junior teams event took place on the Horncastle Road section last Saturday. Recent weather has knocked the drain off top form but most of the youngsters had at least a pound of small fish to show for their efforts.

Boston teams made up the majority and did not disappoint the more senior Boston Red team took the team trophy with some ease with the younger Raiders outfit four points behind in second and Spalding a street away in third. They, Spalding that is, prevented a clean sweep as the very junior Boston All Stars actually tied on points with them but ultimately lost out on better section points. On the individual front the Boston lads did achieve a clean sweep of the top three places at least and leading the way was Tyrell Dawson who brought a good net of small skimmers and roach to scales.

He stuck to a single method, which was a simple one of pole and squatt, to keep the bites coming from start to finish and win by just over 4ozs. He beat second placed Jonathon Taylor who fished much closer in to tempt bigger fish which included the odd small tench, perch and skimmers, he in turn holding the older Nicholas Wright at bay by a similar amount. Still in the 3lbs category and the Grantham boys Ray McDonald and Dan Burton both chose the small fish method to take fourth and fifth respectively, well ahead of sixth placed Daniel Austin from Boston.

Teams: 1 Boston Red 6pts; 2 Boston Raiders 10pts; 3 Spalding 15pts; 4 Boston All Stars 15pts; 5 Grantham A 16pts; 6 Grantham B 16pts. Individuals: 1 Tyrell Dawson, Boston, 4lbs 4ozs; 2 Jonathon Taylor, Boston, 3lbs 15½ozs; 3 Nicholas Wright, Boston, 3lbs 11ozs; 4 Ray McDonald, Grantham, 3lbs 5ozs; 5 Dan Burton, Grantham, 3lbs 3ozs; 6 Daniel Austin, Boston, 2lbs 7ozs; 7 Joe Patton, Boston, 2lbs 2ozs; equal 8 Lewis Taylor, Grantham, and Hannah Kitchen, Boston, 2lbs 1oz; 10 Tom Bell, Spalding, 1lb 12ozs.

The Coach and Horses AC found a similar situation on the cemetery to railway bridge section on Sunday and was perhaps only saved from poorer looking results by the odd better fish. A tench of 3lbs plus saved Billy Coope’s bacon and boosted him to the top spot in front of Danny Pettigrew senior who also boasted a bonus bream on this occasion. No such luck for Lee Feary who had to be content with a net of bits for third place. Results: 1 Billy Coope 4lbs 7ozs; 2 Danny Pettigrew senior 4lbs 2ozs; 3 Lee Feary 2lbs 13ozs. Next week meet to fish Windsor Bank.

After last week’s poor showing the Sibsey Trader Drain was not expected to improve to any great extent but Sunday’s United Anglers match proved what many anglers have found in practice. Roach weights to double figures are common during the week but come match day seem to do a disappearing act on almost every occasion. This time things were different and although by no means startling, nearly everyone involved enjoyed roach nets of 2lbs or more throughout the pegged length between 85 and 104. Having said that, a tench of 3lbs 3ozs helped Mick Toyne clinch victory from peg 100, while Colin Batchelor had to settle for second spot with an “all roach to hemp” catch from peg 89. Son Graham also adopted similar tactics and claimed third just 3½ozs behind dad with John Waterhouse taking four eels plus perch to chopped worm for fourth. Organiser Shaun Bell came home just 2ozs adrift in fifth using the pole and hemp combination, and others using similar tactics for roach hot on his heels. Results: 1 Mick Toyne 5lbs 12ozs; 2 Colin Batchelor 5lbs 8ozs; 3 Graham Batchelor 5lbs 4½ozs; 4 John Waterhouse 4lbs 7ozs; 5 Shaun Bell 4lbs 5ozs.

Fishtoft AC continued their run of good results, this week on a local venue again as they tackled the Aladdin’s Cave section of the Hobhole Drain. Here roach and skimmers abounded as Phil Jackson headed a string of good weights. Pole, squatt and pinky gave him the edge over Jerry Clifton who in turn finished with a 10oz margin between himself and third placed Mark Naylor. 1 Phil Jackson 7lbs 6ozs; 2 Jerry Clifton 6lbs 2ozs; 3 Mark Naylor 5lbs 8ozs; 4 Rod Asher 4lbs 11ozs. Next week meet boathouse at Dr. Shaws R. Witham 7am.

Another cracking match in the Cook’s Lock area of the South Forty Foot Drain where, in this instance, Stickney AC found large numbers of fish on the feed. Big maggot combined with pole was the main attraction as Chris Chapman put together a good net of roach and skimmers to see off the opposition. Similar methods produced other good weights in the 4lbs to 7lbs category as John Briggs came in second some 12ozs behind Chris and Steve Evans third, a further pound down. Results: 1 Chris Chapman 9lbs 4ozs; 2 John Briggs 8lbs 7ozs; 3 Steve Evans 7lbs 7ozs; 4 Reece Dillamore 7lbs 4ozs.

A final call for anglers to book in for Sunday’s Benevolent Society match on the Bargate Drain and a reminder that the following Sunday sees the Memorial match take place on the same water. Looking further ahead and the Pairs match on the 24th is a pre-cursor to the Winter League (yes it’s approaching that time already) which starts on October 1 and all can now be booked with Barry Mallett.

A reminder also that the second Ivan Marks Memorial Trophy match will be fished this year on the River Witham at Kirkstead on Sunday September 24. The big news is that Dynamite Baits have agreed to sponsor the match; trophies and prizes will be on offer in addition to the pools monies. Individual entries are £15 all in, together with a competition for teams of four at £20 per team. Ivan’s widow Linda and son Chris will be in attendance to present the prizes after the match. The draw will take place at the Kings Arms, Kirkstead from 8.00am to 8.15am with fishing from 10.00am to 3.00pm. and refreshments will be available at the Kings Arms. For tickets contact Frank Butler in Lincoln.