Joe Farrell with the latest from the angling scene
Liverpool & District Angling association’s Thursday open match on the Maghull lengths of the Leeds Liverpool canal produced some lovely mixed nets of fish once again last week as the new format attracted anglers from across the region.
Taking the day’s honours was Leigh’s Anthony Lloyd who continued with his remarkable run of form with best weight of the day as he put bream, perch and a lovely eel on the scales for 11.12.0.
Also travelling, and making his journey very worthwhil, was Oswestry’s Gordon Griffiths. Griffiths, who is another consistent angler on our cut and no stranger to winning ways himself. He took a creditable 8.8.0 for second place.
As many match enthusiasts will recognise, the name Lloyd has been captured many times regularly over the past year but Anthony hasn’t been alone as his brother John has also been very much on an equal forefront, also leading the way on match circuits everywhere.
In this one, John Lloyd took third place as he was narrowly pipped by just two ounces by Griffiths as he’d presented a couple of bream and good perch on the scales for a close 8.6.0.
Interestingly, given the work on L&DAA’s ongoing stocking programme that surrounds the re-introduction of tench to the canal over the past few years, once again evidence of how this important work is benefiting the water was shown on Sunday as tench were part of the winning net taken by Maghull’s Peter Keenan.
Pegged on the Downholland length on the Scarisbrick ‘stick-ups’ Keenan took two lovely tinka’s which were backed up by some small roach for a winning 8.8.0.
Wigan’s Alan Crooke took skimmers for a second placed 6.8.0
Moving away from the match circuit, those tench backed reports of many good fish being regularly taken by pleasure anglers enjoying what the association are attempting to offer its members on lengths from Aintree to Lydiate.
As reported earlier this year, this exciting stocking programme has only been made achievable on the use of peg fees raised from matches held on the canal throughout the year and the licence money accrued which also importantly covers the agreement held with the Canal & River Trust.
With nine different venues to fish on holding a licence, the L&DAA’s card at just £26 for a senior membership and £20 for a concessionary (£3 for juniors) and day tickets available at £5, which are all available online via the associations website at liverpooldistrictangling.co.uk.
This card is a must for everyone, especially on supporting the progress and work on making our canal great again.
The L&DAA will be celebrating the life of Ray Pagan on Saturday, June 13.
As a very popular former match secretary and figure of the association, ‘Pago’ was also a very much respected angler on both the north west and Irish angling scenes and I’m sure many of his good friends and family will have many stories to share on what I’m sure will be a great occasion.
Anyone can attend and bookings can be made on the association’s social media platforms.
Draw time will be at 9am at the association headquarters at Maghull Community Association. Fishing will be 11am-4pm with a raffle held afterwards.
