Youngsters enjoy good weights

BARBEL into double figures and double figure carp have been caught from the Avon over the last week as the intense heat dropped to a more comfortable level.

Plenty of barbel have been taken from Lifelands, Redbrook and Ellingham with the best to just under 12lb.

Anglers have been pleased to see shoals of young barbel above Ringwood, giving hope for the future.

A total of 24 anglers took part in Witherington Farm's popular annual barbecue match held on Sunday and once again the fishery's lakes provided some heavyweight bags.

Nicky Lund, fishing for Eadie's Tackle, won the match with a 102lb 2oz netful taken from Barnmoor Lake. He also picked up the biggest fish from Barnmoor with a 13lb 10oz carp. Terry Sargent was second on Barnmoor with 84lb 10oz.

On Sellwood Lake John Gray was top man with 65lb 3oz and Jimmy Smith was second with 35lb 10oz. A 9lb carp was the heaviest fish from Sellwood, caught by Ray Browning.

An open match on the Snake saw victory for John Gray with 80lb 5oz, Terry Sargent followed up with his second place in two days with 77lb 4oz and James Knight was third with 71lb 12oz.

Another big ghost carp has come out of Waldens Farm Fishery by an angler after perch.

The 21lb 10oz fish was caught from Bishops Lake by David Fish using float-fished lobworm for perch.

Plenty of other ghost and common carp from the lake plus roach, rudd, bream and chub.

Abbots Lake is fishing well in the early mornings and late evenings for carp plus roach from the boat pool end.

For variety Monks Lake is the best bet with tench, skimmers, crucians, roach, rudd and perch and carp with average bags around 40lb to corn, meat and pellet.

A 69lb bag of tench and carp from peg 75 on Popes Lake gave Jane Taylor a bumper day's fishing. She used corn over loose fed pellet against the lily pads. Some carp and chub from other pegs while Deacons Lake continues to fish well for carp off the top in the evenings or to corn fished about one foot down below a float.

Youngsters with the Harnham Kingfishers also enjoyed some good weights in their last evening match at Witherington Farm.

Benn Cooper maintained his recent winning form by taking the under 12's honours with a 28lb 8oz bag followed by Jake Dean with 16lb 2oz and Dale Evans with 16lb.

In the 12-16 age group Gareth Mayers won with a convincing bag of 51lb 8oz well ahead of Mark Burt on 24lb and Tim Walker with 20lb 8oz.

With one match remaining in the series the situation is close in both age groups. In the under 12's Benn is leading the field with 74 points followed by Dale on 72 and Reuben Hodson Pearce with 68.

In the 12-16 group Gareth has a five point advantage over Ed Purvis and seven points ahead of his brother Darryl Mayers. There is everything to fish for in the final match on August 27.