ANGLING

By Colin Scull

I AM saddened this week by the news that the long established Wessex Federation of Anglers has disbanded and resigned from the NFA.

Once again the question of finance has raised its ugly head and, although the smaller clubs wanted the Federation to continue, the larger clubs stated that they were unable to continue the high cost of membership while servicing their own club fisheries.

Being unable to meet the rents for the Federation fishery on the Parrett it was decided to disband and wind up.

Perhaps one of the worst spin-offs from this is that Dennis Stanley, who has served as a NEC member of the NFA for many years now loses his seat as he no longer represents an NFA club. Over the years Dennis has done much great work for anglers and angling and I am sure that recognition will be given to this in due course.

Newton Park Lake continues to live up to its reputation as one of the best fisheries in the south west, with plenty of carp still being caught, even during the recent storms, and hardy anglers who braved the weather were well rewarded with big fish at the prolific Bathampton AA venue.

Veteran Bristol angler Colin Bewley took a superb common carp which tipped the scales at 17lb 8oz, which must be one of the biggest commons caught in the area this season. He took this beautiful fish on float fished bread flake in the margins.

Meanwhile over at Hunstrete Lake the carp are also in feeding mood. Bath angler Chris Pope had a memorable day when he took two splendid mirror carp, weighing 16lb 8oz and 16lb 4oz, during the afternoon.

The annual Avon and Somerset Constabulary Individual League got under way last week on the Frome at Hungerford.

Thatchers matchman Brian Gay made a great start to the series by taking top spot with a mixture of bream and skimmers weighing 22lb 13oz, taking his fish on long pole fished red maggot on an 18 hook.

Clive Glisson, of Frome Victorians, was second with an all bream catch weighing 18lb 11oz taken on feeder fished red maggots on an 18 hook.

Terry Bruton, of Stoke St Michael, was third with another catch of bream and skimmers weighing 18lb 3oz, taken on feeder fished maggots on an 18 hook.

Other placings: 4 John Pang, Melksham Tackle, 15lb 4oz; 5 Roger Newman, Chippenham, 11lb 2oz.

The Lavington match fished at Merritts Lake on Sunday produced a comfortable win for Lavington's, Graham Pearce, who took an all-carp catch weighing 72lb 2oz for a runaway win.

Pearce took his catch on pole fished luncheon meat on a 12 hook. Runner-up was Bob Gould, of Melksham, with a carp catch weighing 31lb 2oz taken on waggler fished red maggots on a 16 hook. He was followed Eddie Lewkowicz, of Chippenham, with another carp catch weighing 20lb 9oz, taken on feeder fished red maggots on an 18 hook.

Fish were hard to tempt in the Airsprung match fished on Sunday on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Moulton.

Ian Stainer, of Trowbridge, gained an easy win with an all roach catch weighing 6lb 2oz,taken on pole fished punched bread on a 20 hook. Second prize went to Pete Doel, of Trowbridge, with a mixed catch of perch, skimmers and roach weighing 2lb 8oz, taken on pole fished pinkies on a 22 hook.

He was followed by Steve Southern, of Trowbridge, with a roach and gudgeon catch weighing 1lb 13oz, also taken on pole fished pinkies on a 22 hook.

Other placings 4 Dean Bird, Bradford, 1lb 12oz; 5 Richard Whitmarsh, Melksham, 1lb 9oz; 6 Kelvin Oliver, Bradford, 1lb 3oz 8dm.

With the river still running high weights were below their best in the Frome open Christmas match on Sunday on the Frome at Lullington.

In-form Robin Guy, of Melksham, carried off top prize with a mixed catch of chub and bream weighing 5lb 3oz, taken on quivertipped worm on an 18 hook.

Andy Lloyd, of Frome, was second with an all-chub catch weighing 2lb 13oz 8 dm, taken on pole fished casters on an 18 hook.

He was followed by Tim Martin, of Team Sillybait, with a mixed catch of perch, roach and eels weighing 2lb 7oz taken on quivertipped worm on an 18 hook.

The Wilts Tackle open match at Shearwater on Sunday attracted a good entry and produced some good sport.

Gary Dallimore, of Frome, won with an all bream catch weighing 40lb 12oz, taken on feeder fished red maggots on an 18 hook for an easy win.

Runner-up prize went to Howard Carpenter, of Trowbridge, with a mixed catch of bream and chub weighing 25lb 12oz, taken on method feeder fished red maggots on an 18 hook.

He was followed by Pete Neate, from Whitley, with an all bream catch weighing 22lb 8oz taken on feeder fished red maggots on an 18 hook.