Witness appeal for swan shooting



WE are asking Worksop anglers to be vigilant after Worksop AA bailiff Roger Green found a dead swan at Woodsetts Pond.
The initial fear was that it had died of bird flu, but further investigation revealed that it had in fact been shot, which to us is just as alarming.
Roger reported the swan was a mature male with a mate on the point of laying and had been shot in the neck.
Although this has been reported to the police, to date no one has given up any information regarding the perpetrators.
This is a heinous crime and as anglers we have a duty to protect the indigenous wildlife and ensure all firearms are kept off Worksop waters. If anyone has any information they can contact Notts Police on 01909 500999.
On a brighter note, Roger informs us that Woodsetts Quarry pond is beginning to produce some prime tench and the carp are beginning to show themselves in the warmer layers, as the weather improves.
Alex, the bailiff on the association water of the Chesterfield Canal, expects great things after the predicted warm weather on the town stretches in Retford.

CLUB RESULTS
The Worksop Juniors had another practice session on Sandhill Lakes while the Cadets held their practice session on the canal at the High School Retford.
Danny Harding topped the field in the junior event with 5lb 6oz ahead of Reece Nicholson with 2lb 6oz and Thomas Searle with a weight of 1lb 8oz.
The juniors are defending their NJAA knockout title on Sunday in their first round match against Barnsley and Wakefield on Sandhills.
At the High School stretch, Worksop Cadet Ryan Williamson netted 6lb 12oz followed by Devon Whitworth with 2lb 13oz and Joel Potts with 1lb 8oz.
The Worksop Disabled Anglers held their first match of the season at Lindholme Lakes at Sandtoft where the 28 members tackled the Willow Lake last Tuesday.
Pete Scott took the honours on peg 6 weighing 36lb 3oz with Stuart Brumpton claiming second position on peg 41 with 25lb 6oz, just squeezing Tony Cooke into third place off peg 13 with 25lb.
The members of the Greyhound AC fished their latest match on Hoskers Pond at Candy Corner last Saturday where Bernard O’Connor ran out the winner bagging 29lb 13oz on the pole with a maggot or caster hook bait on peg 10.
Russ Brown was in the runners-up place landing 26lb 4oz on peg 12 with Mick Burrows making up the frame from peg 18 with 22lb.
The members of the Dinnington Welfare AC celebrated St George’s Day by fishing Side Farm Fisheries where Tony Britton took the honours with a mixed net of 10lb 6oz employing the wag and mag on peg 31.
Roy Waring claimed second position on peg 36 with 8lb 11oz using pole fished maggot with Andy Simpson in third place weighing 7lb 5oz from peg 28.

LAKESIDE ROUND-UP
On Saturday it was the last round of Linda’s Lakeside Winter League, which was won by Steve Forster with a silver fish net of 46lb 15oz from peg 25 using short pole fished pellet or caster.
In the runners-up spot was Malc Thomson from peg 16 using the same method as the winner to weigh in 39lb 5oz.
The overall winner of the league was Ben Holmes with a perfect score of 80 with Pete Tatley and Darren Godley tied for second place on 75 points.
In Sunday’s open match Tony Bell topped the field from peg 11 with 64lb 10oz caught on pole-fished caster. The strip ponds are fishing well for the pleasure anglers with Mark Needham banking over 150lb of carp gold fish and silvers employing pole fished sweet corn and pellet.
On the Carp Lake Barry Middleton landed a 29lb 2oz ghost carp in his seven fish bag from peg 5 using pineapple pop-ups.
Over on the Trout Lake Chris Yarrow netted 11 fish to 7lb using black buzzer and floating line with fluff chucker Albert Wheeler banking 21 fish to 4lb on intermediate line with a green fritz lure.

DIAWA HALLCROFT ROUND-UP
THE 100lb barrier was broken for the first time this year in last Thursday afternoon’s match on Bridge Pool.
Nick Speed put this winning net together employing long pole fished meat and pellet at varying depths on Island peg 22, bagging 106lb 4oz.

SHERWOOD ROUND-UP
Holmedale Lake is producing match weights up to 64lb with pole and pellet or the waggler the chosen methods.
On Sherwood Lake pole and pellet or caster is accounting for good nets of skimmers roach and the odd tench in match weights over 30lb.

LODGE FARM ROUND-UP
Venue regulars Hodthorpe WMC fished Field Pond last Sunday where Barry Godley ran out the winner with a net of carp and skimmers weighing 16lb 1oz off peg 36.
Richard Hardy claimed the runners-up position with 11lb 9oz off peg 32 with both the top two using pole fished pellet. Geoff Mawby made up the frame with 9lb 10oz off peg 37 using the wag and mag.
The Lily Pond is responding to shallow pole-fished maggot with the best match weight being 48lb 9oz off peg 68.
Pole and pellet fished shallow is the top method on Long Island, with 83lb 5oz the best match weight of the week.
The skimmers and roach are on the top shelf of the Top Pond with the best match weight being 26lb 4oz off peg 41 falling to pole fished caster.

RIVERSIDE ROUND-UP
Pole and pellet is still dominating the match weights with Ian Temple landing the best match weight of the week in Friday’s open, weighing 47lb 8oz on peg 25.
Pleasure anglers on Sand Martins are finding the corner pegs 1, 10, 11 and 20 are fishing best with pole and pellet again the chosen methods. On the strip pond the middle pegs are the best bet for constant action.

THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
Grafton Permit holders wishing to re-new their permits for the coming season on the canal can register at Ken Ward Sports from 2nd May taking their old permits, which are required for registration.
New applicants can put their names on a waiting list and the new permits will be ready for collection from 1st June. Prices remain at £12 for adults and OAPs and £6 for children.
Worksop United club members’ first match of the season is to take place on the Bracebridge section of the Chesterfield Canal on the 7th May.
Can the members interested please register as soon as possible with Rob on 01909 473324.
The WDAA AGM will take place at The Innings, Prospect at 7pm on Thursday 4th May in the function room.