ANGLING By BOB FITZJOHN LAST weekend saw the start of the river season and I have had some good reports from our rivers and drains, despite the bad weather. On the Sixteen Foot at Cottens Corner Ian Warby landed eight bream and three tench, Mick Smith, f

ANGLING

By BOB FITZJOHN

LAST weekend saw the start of the river season and I have had some good reports from our rivers and drains, despite the bad weather.

On the Sixteen Foot at Cottens Corner Ian Warby landed eight bream and three tench, Mick Smith, fishing on the bathing sheds on the Twenty Foot Drain, put seven tench in his net to 5lb.

I had another early start last Tuesday on the Twenty Foot at Shepperson Bridge and landed eight tench and seven bream to 5lb.

A week last Wednesday at Shepperson Bridge local policeman Alan Bradshaw landed an estimated 150lb of bream. .

Last Sunday saw the first big drain match of the new season take place on the North Level at Tydd. This is a new series of five matches which is called the King of the Fens. It is a team-of-five event and on the day it was Wisbech outfit Mark One Black who took top spot on a very hard and windy drain. Second place went to Fox Match Stanjays. Individual winner was Andy page with 10lb 2oz, Kye Jerome was second with 8lb 12oz and Mick Dixon was third with 7lb 7oz. The next round is a week Sunday on the Old Nene around Benwick.

Manea Angling Club started the new season on Canal Lake at Townsend Lakes, Outwell and Kev Bridgement came top with 30-10 of small carp and tench. This Sunday Manea will be on the Old Bedford at Pearls Bridge. Draw time is 7am and fishing is from 7.30am-12.30pm.

Mill View Angling Club travelled to Alders Farm Lakes near Milton Keynes last Sunday and the wind made fishing hard. But Barry Mason still needed 135lb to take top spot. He quiver tipped meat to catch carp to 7lb.

Mill View Senior Citizens were in action on Magpie Lake at Pidley a week last Wednesday and John Smith was first with 79lb. This Sunday Mill View are at Pidley fishing Jay Lake.

Over at Decoy Barry Mason won Saturday's open at the Beastie lake with 145lb. Jon Whincup was second with 113lb but went one better on Sunday when he won on the same lake with 144lb.

Last week's Tuesday evening match on the Button Hole Lake was won by Dave Lee with 43lb.

Last Friday Emneth Angling Centre held a late night match on Button Hole Lake, fishing from 6.30-11pm and the 18 anglers taking part landed 600lb of fish.

Danny Button took top spot with 102lb.

At East Delph Lakes near Whittlesey Stuart Bayston won Sunday's open with 93lb and Biddy Marshall was second with 64lb.

At High Flyers Lake Ben Townsend took top spot in Saturday's open match with 273lb of carp to 10lb. Then on Sunday Kenny Gammon won with 172lb, pushing Townsend into second with 167lb. Out of the last four matches at High Flyers, Ben has won three and came second and fourth.

Over at Fields End last Thursday's evening open match on the pool was won by Martin Howard with carp to 2lb in a winning weight of 25lb.

On Sunday it was the turn of Chivers Angling Club and Joel Scoot took top spot with 42-8.

Next Tuesday the senior citizens are in action and next Saturday there is an open match on the pool. For more information on these matches, telephone 01354 740373.

Finally Townsend Angling Club have a day out at Tattershall Lakes. Any member who doesn't know the way should meet on the Market Place at 6.20am.