After a hard frost on Friday night and the river unfishable, most anglers in this year's Winter League were pleased to see that there had not been a frost over Saturday night when we turned up to Bayliss Pools for the second leg on Sunday 24th November 2013. Conditions were calm with a temperature of only 7C, but everyone caught fish. Winner was Ken Arnold with a reasonable bag of "proper" bream for 11 Lbs 7 Ozs caught on pellet/corn feeder. Second was Adam Barsby with an all bream catch using similar tactics and a weight of 10 Lbs 7 Ozs. Third spot went to David Leary who definitely took the prize for most fish caught! David used a whip to catch small roach and skimmers. This puts Ken Arnold in the lead after two rounds with just 5 penalty points; second is Gary Stinton on 6, followed by Bob Smith on 7. Next Round is on Swan Pit on 8th December.

For the full result so far, click on the link below.

Winter League Result - 2 Sheet1.pdf (20.43 kb)

As the river had been over its banks for this first match, fished on 10th November, it had to be switched to the back-up venue of Bayliss Pools. A bright, sunny, warm and windless day was not good for bream fishing, but Bob Smith managed to find a few for a winning weight of 27 Lbs 7 Ozs. Bob used dead maggot and corn, alternated with pellet in the method feeder. Second (but not in the league, as he has to miss all the New Year matches) was Carl Pavey from the next peg with a few bream for 10 Lbs 14 Ozs. Carl used the method/pellet feeder and said "I only caught when the breeze produce a ripple." Third was Gary Stinton with 9 Lbs 9 Ozs which consisted of mainly small roach and skimmers, plus one bream of about 2 Lbs. Everyone weighed in, so for the full result, click on the link.

Winter League Result - 1.xlsx (43.30 kb)

Will all members please note that pegs A to Q will be closed on 24th November 2013 for a Winter League match. All 105 other pegs will be available for pleasure angling. Notices have been displayed on both entrances to the Buildwas section.

20th October did not look promising weather wise. Cloudy, with bustery showers forecast, but a foot of nice coloured water on the river. This final round of the Summer League saw Graham Jones lift the Angler of the Year, as he could not be caught since the ninth match. He added a further 3 points to the 51 he had accrued over the nine legs so far for a winning total of 54 points. Graham also gets the Aggregate Cup with an overall weight of 113 Lbs 7 Ozs. Runner up with 44 points was Ken Arnold. Ken also takes the Runner Up Aggregate Weight Cup too with a weight of 61 Lbs 6 Ozs. In third spot with a points total of 37 was Nick Bastock. Match winner, from peg 76, was Eric Rimmer with an all barbel bag for 27 Lbs 2 Ozs. Second was Eric's travelling companion from the Wirral, Gary Stinton with two Barbel for 14 Lbs 5 Ozs - see photo attached (bet you wished you had not lost 2 more Gaz!) Third was Colin Morris with 10 Lbs 9 Ozs from peg D. For the full result, please click on the link.

Summer League 2013 Final.xlsx (77.88 kb)

Sunday 6th October dawned bright and sunny. It was warm too, with the river carrying just a few inches and a tinge of colour. Everyone thought it should fish better after the long hot and dry weather that preceeded it, but we were wrong! It seemed as if, yet again, some "Welsh Water" had found its way into the river and it fished poorly. Winner from peg 102 was Graham Jones with a 3 barbel catch of 17 Lbs, followed by Ken Arnold from peg 6 with two barbel for 12 Lbs 7 Ozs (see attached photo) and third was Tony Poolton with one barbel from peg 1 for 5 Lbs 1 Oz. The points tally meant that Graham Jones could now not be caught, so he would take the Angler of the Year crown. Watch out for the 10th and final round's result on 20th October 2013.