Martin bags the title

BIG match weights at Witherington Farm Fish-ery continued this week with both adult and junior anglers getting in on the act.

On Saturday in the final match of the Teams of Four competition a bag of 112lb 8oz ensured victory for Martin Rogers.

In second spot was John Gray with 98lb and both weights came from Cottage Lake.

The win meant that the title and prize money of £1,100 went to local team, Witherington Select.

Salisbury's Kingfisher Club also visited the fishery for their second meeting of the season and fished Cottage Lake.

Robert D'eath won the two-and-a-half hour match with 26lb 13oz closely followed by Eddie Purvis with 23lb 9oz.

Several of the young anglers had bags topping 20lb.

At Waldens Farm Fish-ery Monks Lake is fishing particularly well with carp just into double figures and good bags of tench.

All five lakes are producing mixed bags and there is plenty of activity as carp begin to spawn.

Local team Barney's Blacks are through to the final of the Reel Care Team competition after their team of four after qualifying in a match at Longbridge lakes last week.

Environment Agency officers spent last week's Bank Holiday Monday checking that anglers were properly licensed.

The result was that 342 anglers were approached at fisheries across Dorset and south Wiltshire. Of those, 47 were unable to produce a licence, 24 admitted to having no licence at all, 14 claimed to left it at home and will be required to produce proof and several juniors were taken to task and warned their parents would be receiving a letter.

Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight more than 700 anglers were checked and 74 anglers were reported for failing to produce a licence.

Agency officers are warning that similar blitzes will be carried out over the coming weeks.