Anglers dismayed by condition of the Nene
I think it's fair to say that over the past few weeks anglers have been dismayed at the condition of the River Nene.
I think it's fair to say that over the past few weeks anglers have been dismayed at the condition of the River Nene.With little or no flow and weed growth the likes of which I have never seen before it has become almost impossible to drop a pole rig in without it catching weed.
I suppose it has been coming for some time though. We should never have to rake our pegs before fishing, but now it's normal to spend up to an hour trying to cut a decent swim out before fishing.
I do not run many matches these days but still help out the local club at the start of the season with a couple of practice matches and then the Angling Times Team championship final.
But during the early part of last week it did look as if the whole thing would have to be cancelled as the weed was that bad. PDAA head bailiff John Means and several helpers worked hard through the week to make it even remotely fishable but it was obvious they where fighting a losing battle.
For once the Environment Agency answered our call for help and as you read this weed cutters are on the river clearing it out in preparation for the big day.
So for once it's a big thank you to the EA. Let's hope the anglers appreciate all the effort John and his men have put in.
Fish were hard to come by in the recent Tuesday evening Whittlesey juniors match on the Dyke at Queensway.
Top junior with 1lb 15oz of small fish taken on the pole was Sam Boon. Runner-up was Nick lsley on 1lb 9oz, then came Curtis Warner with 1lb 5oz.
It was not much better for the club's senior rods fishing Butlers Mill on Saturday. For the second week running John Hudson came out on top putting two good eels to the scales along with a few smaller fish to weigh in 3lb 5oz.
Second place went to Roger Biddle with 2lb 10oz, then came Tony Pollard with 1lb 14oz.
Like many waters around the Fens weed is a major problem and anglers struggled to get a rig in on several sections on the Old Nene at Benwick last weekend in the open match.
There were no problems for the lucky few on the roadside section at Copalders. That is where Wayne Swinscoe drew and finished top with 18lb 6oz.
Fishing down the middle on pinkie and maggot over groundbait the Trabucco/VDE backed rod took a comfortable victory netting 30 decent skimmers. Second place went to local angler Mick Poole with 14lb 14oz. The March AC rod took three tench on worm and caster from the Halfpenny Toll section.
Result: 1 W. Swinscoe, Trabucco VDE, 18lb 6oz; 2 M. Poole, March AC, 14lb 14oz; 3 G. Boxall, Bourne MG, 13lb; 4 J. Drakulic, Fox Stanjay, 11lb; 5 S. Welford, Browning Hotrods, 9lb.
This coming Sunday John Spalton will be running another open match on the same venue, give him a call to get booked in on 07808 750779.VENUE expert Des Dalton put his knowledge of Lake Ross at Pinchbeck to good use when Deeping St James AC held a club sweepstake at the water last Sunday.
On a venue where the draw rarely favours any peg, Dalton took his winning catch of 46lb 4oz from peg 16.
Fishing the popular pellet up in the water approach at 16 metres he caught carp steadily all day close to one of the floating islands.
Second and third respectively were Spalding husband and wife team Andy and Dawn Wilson.
Andy weighed 36lb from peg two and Dawn completing the frame with 23lb 6oz from peg 19.
The Peterborough DAA Open on the River Nene saw anglers having to contend with a scorching hot day, plenty of boats, jet skis and a river full of weed.
Yet surprisingly there were some good areas, particularly on the Railworld section where Jon Arthur took the top spot netting 10lb 6oz from peg 546.
Dense margin weed meant the Shakespeare rod had to fish out at 15 metres to get a clear run and an early good spell on double bloodworm over joker saw Arthur take three good skimmers.
They were topped up with close to 5lb of roach to see off the challenge of runner-up Jason Scrivener who had 10lb 4oz.
Anglers will have gained very little knowledge in preparation for the forthcoming Angling Times Team Championship final although with a few roach willing to feed it could yet come good on the big day.
Result: 1 Jon Arthur, Shakespeare, 10lb 6oz 8dr; 2 J Scrivener, Leic Sensas, 10lb 4oz; 3 D Cherrington, Kamasan Starlets, 8lb 15oz 8dr; 4 A Higginbottom, Fox Trentmen, 8lb 10oz; 5 B Clark, Maver Midlands, 8lb 7oz; 6 R Quinn, Shakespeare, 7lb 5oz.
I am still on the lookout for a few more stewards for the final on July 12. If you know how to read a set of scales and would like to be a steward for the day please give me a call on 01733 565159. There is a small remuneration for helping out.
Once again there were lots of matches fished on the North Level Drain and despite the hot conditions sport seems to be holding up well.
Top rod on the Tuesday evening match was Hans Schumann with 12lb 9oz.
His catch included a tench along with perch, roach and skimmers, all taken on the pole with a worm and caster approach. Colin Gibbons came third with 10lb 7oz followed by John Spalton on 7lb 8oz.
Thursday's match saw Dave Parlett taking first place with 10lb 15oz. He had a bream together with a mixed bag all taken on worm.
Runner-up was the in-form Schumann on 6lb 14oz followed by Andy Lawrence with 5lb 10oz.
Sunday's club match on the Main Road section of the North Level Drain saw small fish expert Ray Groom taking first place with 12lb 6oz all taken on a five metre whip with pinkie, his second win in a row on the venue. Alan Spence came second with 7lb 8oz followed by Dick Paul on 6lb 14 oz.
The next Tydd Gote AC matches are on Tuesday and Thursday evening, draw at 5.30pm, fish 6.15-9.15pm and on Sunday – draw at noon, fish 1-6pm, all at Main Road.
Email to a friend
Print this page - Popular
- Most comments
- Most shared
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Local pages
Looking for a...
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Friday 19 March 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C - 13 C
Wind Speed: 16 Knots
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C - 13 C
Wind Speed: 18 Knots
Wind direction: South
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.