Darlington Brown Trout AA's Stillwater fixtures got underway with a fiercely contested event split between Willowgarth, Snipe, & Lane Fox Ponds, writes Jeff Herbert.

Quaker Angling Centre's Steve Chantry who has a tremendous record on these ponds edged the verdict yet again. Drawing halfway along the island side on Willowgarth Steve worked the long pole and cat meat across tempting a common and mirror carp - the best 8.0.0 - but after that he quickly despatched nine bream into the landing net to make up the rest of his catch of 26.12.0 The runner up came from Lane Fox when Darlington rod Dave Waterson totalled 25.10.0 off peg 10. A combination of bream and tench came to the pole alternating caster maggot and corn hookbaits for 25.10.0 followed a mere 1oz behind by Darlington's Mick Burgess floatfishing meat at Willowgarth to land two common and & 2 mirror carp for 25.9.0.

Others: Ken Close (RSPS) 16.10.0 Charlie Hodgson (Darlington) 16.3.0.

Middlesbrough AC's Evening Series on Hutton Rugby Ponds got off to an

impressive start when Thornaby's Graham Ellison recorded 15.13.8. Staked on peg 5 on the top lake pole and maggot at 10 metres accounted for a 3.0.0 bream and carp backed by 8 tench. Middlesbrough's Mick Waller replied off peg 6 netting a tench bag of 7.10.0 from Bill Blythe Newman Scott 5.8.0. Armley'S Dave Wright notched the first ton up weight from Carpvale Fishery at Moor Monkton this season achieving it in grand style with an unbelievable 152.6.0 during Wednesday's event on Cyprio Lake to more than double the next

best. The main surprise was the catch came from open water off peg 12 as Dave fished the pole and cat meat taming 25 hard fighting carp up to 7.0.0. Next Clearwater's Wayne Smith adopted identical tactics off peg 17 but couldn't't keep up the blistering pace and had to settle for 12 specimens taking the scales to 67.12.0.

Abu Spring Series Carpvale Fishery (40 pegs) Moor Monkton (Sunday)

1 S Wilson (Hirst Tackle) 69.4.0 2 B Guy (East End Park) 34.12.0 3 G Broadley (Leeds) 34.8.0.

Saturday 11 May signalled a change for all visitors to the Woodland complex. The introduction of a new ruling states that there is a ban on all meat except luncheon meat which applies to both pleasure and match anglers alike. Warmer temperatures, a capacity entry and great sport made for an exciting match fished between Kestrel, Mallard, Swallow,& Dragonfly Lakes. Regular Bill Blythe of Newman Scott's used his expertise to good effect racing ahead almost 10lbs clear of his nearest rival to record the weekend's biggest match weight of 67.1.0.

Drawing corner peg 11 on Dragonfly sweetcorn sorted out some quality fish. Highlight proved a big mirror of 8.0.0 along with a selection of carp tench barbel chub and skimmers down the side. Elton Tackle's Phil Sellars was left wondering when he ever going to be a winner after putting 57.6.0 onto the scales only to find he'd been relegatedto second place for the 7th time. Pegged on Swallow Lake, which has recently been stocked with lots of small carp in the 6 - 12 oz bracket, Phil enjoyed non-stop action utilising poleand pellet at 16 metres off peg 5. Recent Map Elton signing Dean Smith showed the rest how it's done bagging lots of small carp to leave teamate Paul Jones adrift and hold off a string of consistent nets during Woodland Lake's midweek bash.

Fishing Skylark 22 Dean opted for a long pole approach pushing out to 13 metres. Feeding pellet throughout all carp responded his biggest sample just 4.0.0 Pole & pellet at 13 metres also produced the next best off Partridge 13 but in contrast it was a real mixed bag as Paul Jones poled his way to a cracking 55.4.0. Carp barbel roach chub skimmers etc all fed avidly along with a 7.0.0 mirror.

Then on Sunday Dean notched his second victory in a matter of days on the North East Carp circuit when he fished the Oaks Open at Sessay recording a top place bag of 62.12.0 from Maple Lake. Pulling out peg 55 Dean went down the side into the corner on the pole at 14 metres alternating pellet and meat to get amongst the carp. First in Thursday's Oaks Open Mark Coyne of Cleveland Angling Centre had to take a back seat this time around when identical tactics delivered 53.6.0 of small carp of corner peg 1.

ROUND UP OF THE REST:

Oaks Sessay Open (Thursday) Maple Lake

1 M Coyne (CAC) 56.1.0 2 K Armitage (Team Glum) 50.1.0 3 J Kenning (Snaith AC) 49.8.0 Raker Lakes Sunday Match Horseshoe Lake Wheldrake (30 pegs) 1 N Horne (Headingley AC) 34.10.0 2 W Nolan (Team Gem) 32.2.0 3 R Pickles (KL Tackle) 29.6.0 Bank Holiday Match Carpvale Pools Cyprio Lake (30 pegs) 1 D Madison (York) 72.2.0 2 A Dargue (Darlington Angling Centre) 65.14.0 3 S Mather (Armley) 48.6.0 Leisure Services Series (Round 3) Silksworth Lake 1 P O'Donnell (Big Waters) 5.6.0 2 S Lister (Big Waters) 4.11.0 3 P Arkless (Big Waters) 4.4.0

Washington & Harraton Wednesday Evening Match James Steel Park Washington (32 pegs) 1 S Stimpson (Washington & Harraton) 20.12.0 2 R Naylor (Washington & Harraton) 20.5.0 3 P Smith (Metro) 15.8.0

TROUT NEWS

A tremendous week at Masham's Leighton Reservoir resulted in 70 rainbows over 3.0.0 landed and 110 limit bags from this N. York venue.

Star man Darlington's J Howlett using a damson's olive grassed a super rainbow of 10.0.0.

199 visitors caught 671 trout. Most popular flies cats whisker, orange

fritz and buzzers. Anglers averaging 3 trout a session on Redworth's Jubilee Lakes. Best rainbow of the week 14.1.0 caught by Neil Ferry of Crook on a black and green tadpole.

Other doubles: 13.10.0 by Stephen Morris of Darlington on a damsel and

13.3.0 by Ken Mitchell also Darlington catching his specimen on a white zonker.

Several big fish lost as a good variety of flies and lures working.

Recommended patterns pheasant tail, bibio, hawthorn flies and large olive buzzers along with white or olive lures.

FIXTURES: Tomorrow: *Woodland Lakes Open - Tickets on 01845 526110. Sunday, May 19: *Bradford No1 AA Pauling Cup Raskelf Lake *Yarm AA Juniors Woodland Lakes *Teesside League (Round 5) Maple Lake Sessay *Carpvale Open Tickets on 01904 738249 *Oaks Sessay Open - Alders & Poplars Lakes - Tickets on 01132 782168 *Raker Open Wheldrake - Horseshoe Lake *Leisure Services Open Silksworth Lake. Tuesday, May 21: *Middlesbrough Evening Series (3) Hutton Rudby Ponds. Wednesday, May 22: *Preston Innovations Teams of 3 Grand Final Mallory Park Leicester *Woodland Lakes Open *Carpvale Open. Thursday, May 23: Oaks Sessay Open.