Anglers feel benefit of the March of progress

APART from a few overnight frosts the situation angling wise got back to normal during the last week — no gales, no more floods — so let's hope that now we're into March things pick up all round.

Already there are some encouraging signs. It's daylight at six, the bulbs are coming out and I noticed a tree in full blossom last week.

The frosts however made a mockery of round 14 of the Ravenfield Winter League last Saturday when Stuart Senior returned with a bang, landing four ide with the waggler for a commanding victory with 7lbs 8ozs.

Neil Gabbitas was the only other angler to make 1lb for second with Graeme Herbert finishing third with just 5ozs.

Strangely, the fishing is not nearly as bad as the result portrays, because in the days leading up to the match a number of anglers caught both crucian carp and tench with Neil Humphries landing 49 fish for double figures and Andy Kaczmarczyk three — normally caught in summer — tench.

Bream also continue to show at all the main venues.

Peter Parkinson landed three at peg 16 to win Thursday's match at Elsecar Reservoir with 10lbs 15ozs. Section winners were Les Billups, 2lbs 11ozs and the man who is never far from a bream or two, Trevor Parkin, with 8lbs 8ozs.

A similar story in last Wednesday's Doncaster DAA match at Southfield Reservoir where bream showed throughout the length and Scott Rispin took the honours with a 22lbs 2ozs net of them from peg 39.

Tony Briscoe was second with 18lbs 8ozs ahead of Peter Emmerson who had 13lbs 2ozs for third. Section winners were Eddie Bridon, 13lbs, Rich Jacklin, 12lbs 4ozs, Robert Edwards, 8lbs 12ozs, Kenny Nolan, 10lbs 8ozs, Tim Goldby, 10lbs 2ozs, and Andy Renton, 11lbs.

No doubt spurred on by Wednesday's result, 44 anglers lined the banks to fish Sunday's open, where until the last hour of the match the previous nights frosts looked like spoiling the day.

The fish finally appeared in the closing stages and Dave Smiddy made the best of it, taking a winning weight of 13lbs 11ozs from peg 31.

Trevor Parkin claimed the second place with 11lbs 4ozs, edging Richard Vaughan's 10lbs 6ozs into third place and Tony Briscoe's 10lbs 4ozs into fourth.

Section winners were Ian Docherty and Tony Peel, both 3lbs 4ozs, Brett Clarke, 7lbs, Dave Walker, 4lbs, Kev Vickers, bingo, John Kelly, 4lbs 2ozs, Peter Emmerson, bingo, Mark Arrowsmith and Neil Owen both 3lbs 9ozs, Andy Leighton, 6lbs 4ozs, and Alan Le Patourel, 8lbs 8ozs.