THE River Delph, at Manea, is still not fishable due to flooding. However, the situation is getting better and a lot of fish have been saved thanks to Steve Newell and the rest of the Manea Club who have kept an eye on the river. The flooding of the field

THE River Delph, at Manea, is still not fishable due to flooding. However, the situation is getting better and a lot of fish have been saved thanks to Steve Newell and the rest of the Manea Club who have kept an eye on the river.

The flooding of the fields has caused the grass to root and so oxygen has been taken out of the water.

When it was noted that fish were in distress, the Environment Agency were called and they installed oxygen pumps to save the fish.

The very hot weather took its toll on the fishing last week and I needed just 8lb to win Wimblington Angling Club's match on the Old Nene. My net was made up of a 3lb bream and a few skimmers.

On Monday it was March Juniors' turn and Grieg Bird came out on top with 5lb 1oz, which included a 4lb bream.

Kev Bridgement was the clear winner when Manea Angling Club fished the Sixteen Foot drain, at Stonea. He landed four tench to 4lb and a 2lb perch for a winning weight of 17lb 4oz.

This weekend, Manea will be fishing the Great Ouse, at Ely.

Mick Pool has been in good form and he landed 20lb of skimmer bream on the Old Nene, near West End Park, last Monday.

The following day, Mick found the tench feeding on the Twenty Foot, at Shepperson Bridge, and landed five, together with two large bream.

Anyone looking for roach should head for this stretch of the Twenty Foot where hemp and tares are producing good sport.

On the lakes, Decoy was busy at the weekend and Robert Chamberlain won Saturday's open with a net of 52lb.

Doddington's Barry Mason won Sunday's open on Six Islands Lake with 66lb.

On the same day, Townsend Angling Club fished the Yew Lake and Gavin Wright headed the list with 82lb. Gavin fished paste on the hook over a bed of trout pellet.

March's Tim Bates netted 136lb when Fenland Rods fished Oak Lake but the lake didn't fish as well when Mill View Angling Club visited and Graham Dean needed just 36lb to win.

Gary Boxall won the East Delph open on Sunday with 99lb 12oz and Mark Pollard won at Head Fen Lake, Little Downham, with a net of 117lb.

March angler Steve Smalley finished second in two matches held at the High Flyers Lake, Ely, on Sunday.

Firstly he was beaten by Dave Pearce senior, who landed 121lb, and then Mick Nash netted the same weight to win the Whitemoor Angling Club's match.

March and District's senior citizens' match at the Pool, Doddington, was won by Tim Green who netted 39lb in his first appearance in the match.

The Pool is open to pleasure anglers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is also available tomorrow (Saturday) and this may become a regular thing if there is enough interest.

The March Club will be fishing the Old Nene, at the bypass bridge. The draw is at 8am with fishing from 9am to 3pm.

Finally, a special mention must go to Mick Smalley who may have set a new record during the Wimblington Club match on Sunday.

Mick landed a tommy ruff and estimated it at 6oz. The record stands at 4oz and Mick took it with his landing net after the fish had taken a whole worm on a 14 hook.