Notts News

When we first started this column we made our selves a few promises; first that we would never use it as a soap box to express our own personal views and second that we would try to be more proactive in promoting fishing.
The first we have stuck to more or less with the exception of the occasional rant against inconsiderate dog walkers, cyclists on tow paths and some of the less thoughtful of the boating fraternity.
The second was a little more difficult but we did the charity matches and the junior events and now along with fellow column stalwart Chris Davenport we have been elected at the AGM to the executive committee of the Worksop and District AA.
Maybe if we had realised the amount of commitment put in by the average committee member we might have thought twice about standing, the workload of these members is pretty awesome, it was also refreshing to see so many book holders attending the AGM and taking an interest in the proceedings.
Anyway, the following is a summary of interest to the average angler: firstly the Worksop book will remain the same price and will entitle members to free or greatly subsidised fishing on Worksop and affiliated waters.
Likewise the price of day-tickets is being frozen to encourage increased usage of association waters both for pleasure and match bookings - there will, however, be a £2 surcharge for using a second rod on Woodsetts and this charge will include book holders.
Although most clubs fish the majority of their matches these days on commercial fisheries, fishing a canal or river necessitates a different approach and adds variety to our sport and the benefits of being a book holder is reflected in the savings on the cost of the day.
If you are not a member of an affiliated club but would like to join one to reap the benefits of a members' book then contact us via email at the top of the page or ring us and we will do our best to sort you out.

CLUB RESULTS
Worksop United's Saturday permit holders' match on the Chesterfield Canal was won by M. Allen with 5lb 13oz, second spot went to R. Allen banking 5lb 6oz and making up the frame was Gordon Gibson with 5lb. All three caught tench and skimmers on pellet and maggot.
Wales and Kiveton Park AC held another open match on Saturday on their own stretch of the canal which was won by J. Flynn who fished a variety of baits off peg 4 to weigh in 12lb 13oz , second spot went to Worksop's Matt Godfrey with 8lb 4oz from peg 12 with third spot going to J. Wakefield with 6lb 14oz.
Worksop Disabled Anglers made the short trip to Lakeside fishery at Ranskill where Worksop's Stuart Brumpton took the honours with a fine net of 40lb 14oz from peg 27, Brian Robinson claimed second spot with 35lb 11oz off peg 31 and P. Hurt made up the frame with 18lb 7oz from peg 26.
Stanley Street Social Club's final Spring League match was fished at Messingham Sands where S. Royal ran out the winner with 24lb 8oz.
In the runners-up spot was M. Jeffery with a weight of 24lb 1oz and third was Mick Simpson with 23lb 7oz. All the top three employed pole pellet and corn down the margins.
On Sunday Greyhound AC fished Willows Lakes at Foston where they found themselves on Hawthorne were Tracey Dickinson made the best of peg 29 with a winning weight of 35lb of carp caught on pole fished worm and caster. Claiming the runners-up spot was S. Armested with 26lb 8oz off peg 11 using pole fished luncheon meat, in third place was young Brett Northage with 19lb of carp caught using the pole and caster off peg 13.
Station Hotel AC fished their first match of the season on Saturday 20th May at Moon Lake Tatershall where Mick Swift ran out the winner with a weight of 57lb 10oz from peg 19, which also included a carp of 13lb10oz, pole fishing paste.
Second was Tom Davie with 49lb 7oz from peg 21 pellet on the pole shallow, third, Martin Spencer 26lb 8oz from peg 23 and fourth Andy Redfern with 23lb 10oz from peg 22.
Hatfield Arm AC of Laughton fished the Deep Water Fisheries at Ranskill on Sunday 21st May in persistent rain.
Winner was G. Simpson with 16lb 12oz of bream and tench from J. Evason in second spot who had 14lb of bream and tench caught on the pole.
Les Steedman reports the venue is in great condition and a pleasure to fish.

RIVERSIDE ROUND UP
The fishing has really taken off with weights in excesses of 40lb needed to top the frame in most matches.
Most methods are taking fish with notable catches including Ted Ford on Friday's match with 40lb using feeder with meat hook bait off peg 16 followed closely by Les Richmond with 39lb 5oz from peg 14.
Phil Morgan fished meat shallow in Thursday evening's open match to take 32lb 5oz and Vick Molyneux used pole and pellet last weekend to take 36lb off peg 36.
A special mention must go to Tommy Taylor of Sheffield who at just 15 years old took third spot in a Rock Tavern match last weekend using dog biscuit and was only ounces off second spot with a very creditable 22lb 6½oz.
Also on that note, hello to our readers in Sheffield who we are led to believe are ordering the Guardian especially for this column.
John informs us that there is a special open match to be held on Bank Holiday Monday which will be open only to the first 25 to register.
The cost is £15 all in, which, as well as the usual top three payout will include three section prizes two golden pegs at £100 with the draw at noon and fishing from 1pm until 7pm. But remember you must register prior to the match by calling John or Les on 01302 711889.

LAKESIDE ROUND UP
The current good form is continuing at the Ranskill venue with Stuart Smithson banking 120lb plus, in a pleasure session on the second strip.
Stuart used pole fished sweetcorn and chopped worm to take a mixed bag which included 14 carp the best a common of 12lb 4oz and numerous skimmers and goldfish.
On the main lake, two very different methods are accounting for the big weights in matches - the first is the standard pole and pellet which saw Clive Machin net 43lb 6oz off peg 28 in Sunday's Hollybush AC's match with Simon Frost using the same method to take second spot from next peg 27 with 30lb 9oz.
Wednesday's White Hart AC saw pole and pellet score again with John Rutherford banking 53lb 14oz of Carp to 6lb off peg 29.
The second method that is producing is pole fished worm which Dave Thompkinson used to good effect putting 50lb 6oz in the net in Saturday's White Lion match from peg 33 and Paul Donnely adopting the same method to net 48lb 1oz off peg 25.
Over on the Carp Lake Garry Croft and Paul Hutchinson had a 12-fish catch between them banking four 20lb plus fish, the best a 26lb mirror from peg three using fusion boilies.
On the Trout Lake John Longdon had 13 fish - the best a rainbow going to 8lb 10oz, which were caught on the cat's whisker and intermediate line.

LODGE FARM ROUND UP
With no local results this week, Bill has come up with a form guide starting with Lilly Pond where caster and pellet fished shallow is the main attack for the carp.
Field and Signal Pond are responding to worm and caster fished hard on the deck with maggot being a good back up bait.
On the top pond caster is taking quality roach and skimmers but if you fancy fishing down the margins the tench are showing to corn and worm and are running to 5lb plus. The best weight this week was off long island and was a 30lb catch of chub caught on the maggot.

SHERWOOD FARM PARK ROUND UP
Wednesday fun league on Holmedale Lake was a cracking match with the two top weights over the ton.
The first P. Hodgitts with 138lb 1oz off peg four using pole and paste and dog biscuit. The runner-up was Steve Sheppard of Worksop fished peg 22 to land 135lb 5oz using the feeder method.
Sunday's pairs match also on Homedale Lake was fished in poor conditions where Steve Clark of Mansfield still managed to net 88lb 1oz of carp off peg 35 using pole pellet and meat in the margins.

DIAWA HALLCROFT ROUND UP
Good weights are coming from all pools especially Moat where on Saturday Mick Pillay put 97lb 8oz on the scales off peg 70 fishing the pole up in the water at 13 metres using a pellet hookbait, the same tactics were used by L. Sylvester to net 85lb 12oz off peg 98.
In Sunday's match Worksop AA Gordon Gibson ran out the winner off island peg 23 on the moat netting 63lb 11oz fishing the pole and pellet at 6 metres.
Over on the Bridge Pool the best weight of the week went to N. Speed in Thursday afternoon's open match weighing 83lb 15oz off peg 2 fishing pellet and meat at 12 metres.

THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
Denise of Worksop Piscatorials has asked us to remind members that their first match takes place on Sunday 4th June on the High School Length of the Chesterfield Canal in Retford. Anyone interested please contact the secretary on 01909 733886.

Our Fish of the Year competition is really taking off with a large number of photos waiting to be processed - but we promise to catch up over the coming weeks.
Please do not stop sending us reports of your catches, especially with the start of the traditional season just around the corner.

Worksop Disabled Anglers next meeting will take place on the 22nd of June at the usual venue will all members please try to attend.