Fish Tales

For the Thornaby AA Ernie Reynolds Memorial this will now take place this coming Sunday on the Tees between Croft and Hurworth while the Ripon Piscatorials Open on the Ure is re-scheduled for Sunday, February 29.

Midweek fixtures on the stillwaters also fell foul of the then artic conditions with venues frozen solid but thankfully come the weekend they were all fishable again and anglers frantically flocked for tickets to ensure getting a match in.

Saturday's event at Woodland Lakes split between Partridge, Skylark and Kestrel Lakes saw everyone except the winner scratching around for a few fish.

Anthony Stock under the Elton Tackle banner had the best net of the day weighing in 24.6.0.

On Partridge Lake's peg 12, Anthony landed 9 carp with his biggest one pushing 4.0.0 and all falling to corn presented on the pole right out to 16 metres.

Weights then took a nosedive and fellow Elton Tackle rod Mark Longhirst netted just 5.14.0 of silver fish, enough to secure runner up spot.

Feeder and maggot approach from Kestrel peg nine brought a mixture of ide and chub.

Come Sunday all the match lakes came into play on the Woodland's complex to accommodate the 87 big entry.

Delighted Newcastle based Big Waters star Martin Craig bagged a super net of 55.3.0 off Skylark Lake's peg 28.

A surprise indeed, as the day before the same area failed to produce anything other than a few tiny roach.

Sticking with the bomb and corn all carp obliged and the heaviest proved a mirror of 6.0.0.

Elton Tackle's Jim Cowgill emerged in front of a tight pack to take second best with 32.6.0 of carp.

Jim took advantage of corner peg 19 on the island filled Mallard Lake and opted for bomb and maggot, loose feeding maggots, when the wind permitted.

Others: Kevin Bell (Wetherby) 28.4.0; Bill Blythe (Newman Scott) 28.0.0 & Chris Gowling (Team Shimano Quaker) 26.11.0.

Weights were impressive for the 74 competitors at the Oaks on Sunday and first to frame local ace Gary Paulett put his knowledge to good use recording 44.5.0.

Fishing peg 26, Gary went over to the far side on pole and maggot bringing out carp to 2.0.0.

Feeding pellets to keep the shoal active during quiet spells Gary picked up bonus fish down the middle in the deeper water. Andy Middleton also of the Oaks followed on 38.0.0. He found his carp shoaled in the middle channel of peg 61 and again maggot over a pellet carpet worked a treat.

Quality carp decided the outcome on the popular Moor Monkton fishery, Carpvale Pool for Sunday's event.

York man Dave Madison delivered 38.11.0 for victory. Fishing off peg 12, strong winds meant the feeder offered the best chance and Dave found corn most effective on the hook as specimens to 7.0.0 pushed him well clear at the scales.

Leeds Steve Sharples grabbed second place by 1lb when he weighed in 23.8.0 In contrasting style long pole and meat across to the island off peg 34 got amongst the carp, slipping the net under samples to 5.0.0.

Jubilee Lakes at Redworth remained ice free and anglers who ventured out still found a few quality rainbows feeding.

The two heaviest fish of the week fell to bloodworm and along with cat's whisker fished on intermediate or sinking lines proved the main method.

Coundon's Brett Collingwood grassed the biggest, which registered 14.8.0 while Shildon's Graham Caygill landed the other sample of exactly 11.0.0.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Woodland Lakes Open.

Middlesbrough AC Watson Trophy Middle Swale - Gatenby to Baldersby (200 pegs). Tel: (01642) 899288.

Ferryhill & DAC Grayling Match Upper Swale - Catterick. Meet 9am - Fish 10-3pm.

Sunday: Re-arranged Thornaby AA Ernie Reynolds Memorial River Tees.

Yarm AA Adams Cup Lower Tees - Yarm.

NYSD Federation Thompson Memorial Open River Tees - Over Dinsdale. Tickets on (01325) 264213.

Black Ox AC Wintersgill Trophy Bedale Beck - Leeming.

Bradford No1 AA Charity Open River Nidd - Cowthorpe. Tickets on (01274) 571175.

Woodland Lakes Open

Oaks Sessay Open.