Keith is king of Guardian match

by angling correspondents Roger Stocks and Stuart Lilley
Roger Stocks: 07733 092237 – Stuart Lilley 07811 923599 – email: roachpole10@aol.com

AFTER the postponement of the original Guardian beach fishing match due to adverse weather, the rematch took place last Saturday despite a depleted field due to family commitments and ailments.
On the day the cod failed to show but a good number of quality whiting and flatties were landed with Shireoaks’ Keith Espin taking the honours, the trophy and a meal for two at Pickwicks with a 1lb 6oz whiting.
All the competitors managed to catch except for the juniors, so the Ray Mallendar trophy will be held over for the next event.
On a lighter note at Lakeside, Shireoaks matchman Martin Spencer managed to lose his top two while shipping back trying to land a large skimmer.
Despite casting a small bomb on his feeder rod to try and lassoo the disappearing top kit, it eventually sank to the depths 20 yards in front of him on peg 22.
Martin asked what his chances were of recovering his sections of his cherished new Daiwa all-terrain pole only to be informed that it would be the last he ever saw of that piece of kit.
However, on the final whistle youngster Nile Lilley on peg 25 wound in his tip rod and as he landed his fish the top two rose like Excalibur from the depths, much to Martin’s delight and the onlookers amazement. It just goes to prove that Christmas miracles do happen!
We have noticed that there are many local clubs entered in to the Angling Times Super Cup and we would like to wish all the participating teams well and request if they could let us know when they are competing and how they have faired.

DAIWA HALLCROFT ROUND-UP
EVEN on the coldest of days double figure nets of silver fish are still possible on the moat pool using blood worm and joker.
On bridge pool, the resident bream have been showing a liking for the micro pellet feeder with a maggot hook bait and long poled caster also worth a try.
Last Saturday saw an outstanding match take place on moat pool with weights more akin to the warmer months.
Daiwa Hallcroft Tournament League (Saturday) Moat Pool (25 pegs): 1st A. Kinder 157lb 8oz peg island 50, 2nd P. Bagshaw 88lb 6oz peg island 41, S. Robbins 75lb 6oz peg island 44.

LODGE FARM ROUND-UP
ON SUNDAY 23rd December the sixth and final round of the Gateford Angling Supplies/Hodthorpe WMC winter series, which was fished exclusively at the complex, was held on the top pond.
Despite there being a covering of ice over most of the pond when they arrived every angler still managed to put something in their keep net: 1st Ken Cresswick 3lbs 8oz, a 1lb skimmer and some bits on the feeder with a maggot hook bait, 2nd Roy Butterfield 2lb 15oz bits on pole and maggot, 3rd Barry Godley 2lb 14oz small perch using poled maggot.
Just one point separated the first three places with second and third being decided on weight: 1st Roy Butterfield 27 points, 2nd Ken Cresswick 26 points, 3rd Barry Godley 26 points.
Geoff Mawby the sponsor and all the participants would like to thank Bill and his staff for all their efforts.
We would like to apologise to Stuart Brumpton who has topped the field in the last two Mick’s Maurauders matches held at the Scrooby top fishery, unfortunately Bill has misplaced the results.

LAKESIDE ROUND-UP
ON THE Saturday prior to the holidays, the fourth round of the Ranskill venue’s winter league took place in cold and miserable conditions where the top three all employed pole-fished blood worm to net silver fish bags: 1st Pete Tatley 15lb 1oz peg 23, 2nd Mick Burrows 8lb 1oz peg 22, 3rd Ben Holmes 7lb 10oz peg 37.
On Saturday 29th the fourth round of the teams of fours was held with Worksop rod Gordon Smith proving to be something of a venue expert: 1st Gordon Smith 17lb peg 39 silver fish on poled maggot, 2nd Trevor Fisher 15lb 9oz peg 40.
On the following day DJ Angling held a silver-fish-only match on the second strip pond where Dave Lakin led the field with a net of skimmers weighing 22lb 10oz, taken off peg two using pole-fished corn.
Over on the trout lake Craig Dawson tempted 13 fish to an impressive 11lb 8oz on a cats whisker presented on an intermediate line with fellow fly caster Paul Godber slipping his landing net under 18 specimens to 4lb on black buzzers and a floating line.

THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
THERE are two items of news from Rob over at Worksop United.
The first is the permit holders matches which will be starting up again from Saturday 12th January and the second is the club’s agm which takes place on 14th January at the Manton Athletic club.

LITTLE JOHN ROUND-UP
JUST two matches to report on from the Ollerton complex this week, both taking place on the Maid Marion pool.
The first was on Thursday 27th: 1st Steve Beard 29lb 8oz peg 25 bomb or feedered maggot; 2nd Martin Brown 18lb peg 14 pole and pellet.
On Saturday it was the seventh round of the fishery’s winter league when the top two both employed ground bait feeder and a maggot hook bait to good effect: 1st Pete Tatley 40lb 13oz peg 23, 2nd Neil Walters 25lb 8oz peg 25.

TOFT NEWTON ROUND-UP
FIGURES for 2007 from 16th June to 16th December: 1,990 tickets caught a total of 7,528 fish for a rod average of 3.78, 3,324 fish were killed and 4,204 were returned. A total of 5,136 fish were stocked.
We will open for coarse fishing during the trout close season on the first three weekends in January, from 8am to 4pm.
The fishery holds a good head of coarse fish and often these are taken on the fly.
Most methods and groundbaiting will be allowed. Live baiting for pike will not be allowed.
Trout will be returned immediately to the water. Coarse fish can be retained in keepnets and will be returned at the end of the day.
Cost of a day ticket is £6 and a limited number of boats will be available for hire at a cost of £10 each – these should be reserved.
Trout fly anglers are welcome on the open days and get the chance to fish on catch and release at a discount to the normal £9 a day.