Joe Farrell with the latest from the angling scene
The final round of the Wigan Winter League took place on Sunday pegged from the Piggeries Bridge on Gorst Lane near Burscough back through to the picturesque Northmoor Lane. Although difficult on many sections from week to week during these cold winter months, the fishing on this tough league has also produced some exceptional weights on many sections throughout this six-week series.
With Liverpool AS fielding a strong squad who have excelled in many competitions individually, team-wise there was admittedly a feeling of deflation given some felt many draws simply hadn’t gone their way. However, the draw is there for everyone and no one better will argue that, especially in the form of leading the way as he does for LAS, than team captain John Easton from Blundellsands.
No stranger to success given his vast experience on the match fishing scene during his exciting career on the Liverpool canal scene, Easton’s organisation skills and dedication to team fishing is second to none. With a fantastic catch taken in round five last week putting together a lovely catch of roach and skimmers for 10.6.0 for fourth overall in the match, Easton’s hopes were running high on drawing a fancied area behind Shaw Hall Caravan Park in Scarisbrick on Sunday.
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Opting for a simple seasonal bread approach, to be backed up with caster and hemp through the day to tempt better fish in the way of roach, Easton worked his peg tirelessly as he does before switching to a ground bait mix to offer red maggot as a further option on looking for an even better stamp.
It was a move that was crucial in this one as Wigan man Tony Richardson was catching well beside him. With both men taking quality fish during the latter part of the match, a very late 2lb bream taken in the last 10 minutes was crucial for Easton, as just two ounces split the winning weight of 17.4.11 to Richardson’s 172.3.
That win and the all-important section point took Liverpool AS to fifth on the day and overall fifth place in the league with a score of 323.
- League top 5 of 11 : Matrix LTB 274, Drennan NW 311, Sensas NW 313, Saints 318, Liverpool AS 323.
On the Liverpool and District AA lengths of canal at Haskayne on Wednesday, this regular canal match saw 15 stalwarts take on the weather on the lengths near the Ship Inn.
A notoriously rich area at times for quality roach, anglers have always enjoyed catching some prime quality roach even under the harshest of conditions on these lengths and in this one the length didn’t let anyone down. Liverpool’s Roy Spendlove took the honours as he put together a superb winter catch of skimmers, bream and roach for 13.1.0.
Taking second place was Huyton’s Paul Holding who took a very close catch of quality roach for 12.8.0 and Jeff Stirrat’s 12.0.0 roach catch took third. On the club front Southport’s Dave Langton took the top honours on Chapel Pool for the Alliance’s Sunday open. Carp for 65.13.0 topped second place Kevin Bradshaw’s 55.8.0.
Terry Fishgold’s 61.4.0 took the honours at Mescar Fisheries Mistral open on Sunday. Carp to 15lb on bomb and corn once again showed the quality of the fish on this venue.
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