Mostof last Sunday’s match programme fell by the wayside because of weather and safety issues, but a few intrepid matchmen ventured out.
Only three anglers turned up for the Oxford Bus AC match on their ‘school waters’ which was fished on a backwater of the Cherwell.
Tony Prescott fished the pole mid-stream with punch and caught perch, quality roach and skimmers. At the final whistle, he weighed in 15.8.0, which was a tremendous weight considering the conditions.
Alternating between maggot and worm, Anthony Tompkins had roach and perch weighing 9.9.0 for second. He fished mid-stream to the far bank and his best perch weighed 2.12.0.
Also fishing worm and maggot, Terry Yates caught a mixed bag of roach, perch and skimmers worth a third-placed 3.1.0.
These school waters really do the business and this stretch of the Cherwell is pretty special, especially when you consider the venue is in the middle of Oxford.
Anyone considering becoming a member can contact Terry Yates on 01865 454558 – they will make you very welcome.
Eight anglers fished the Cuddesdon Mill VAA Open match on the Thame at Drayton Bridge, where they found the river was up and pushing, but a nice colour.
Chub were the fish to target and cheese was the bait that was mainly used.
Only Phillip Allmond had any success, catching two chub on legered cheesepaste for a winning 5.2.0.
Cuddesdon’s Bryan Bull told me that they were all getting bites on cheese, but were just unable to connect.
Bryan, who lost a decent fish in a snag, said that the cheese was going rock hard in the freezing water.
The weather did not stop some hardy anglers from North Oxford AS and Witney fighting it out on the banks of the Oxford Canal at King’s Bridge.
There was a good turn-out of 16, who had to break the ice first before they could fish.
The ‘known’ pegs did not produce and it was Witney’s Dean Bowerman who took top spot with 2.13.8 of silver fish on bloodworm over joker and a decent skimmer that took breadpunch.
Also fishing bloodworm over joker, Alan Bateman had around 50 small fish worth a second-placed 1.2.8, and third with 0.12.8 was Alan Middleton, who also fished the blood and scratched around for bits.
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