The new Oxford Winter League campaign got under way with five teams of ten spread along the banks of the Thames at Clifton Hampden, Dorchester and Benson, writes ANDY WEBBER.
The combination of record temperatures, a sunny day and a static river meant it was always going to be about the luck of the draw, as there was no chance of fish moving around.
Mick Davies (Sensas A4) triumphed with 13.14.0, making the most of a large tree which provided cover for a shoal of perch.
He fished a maggot-feeder to net perch up to 2lb.
Teammate Pete Bowles was second with 12.3.0 from the Dorchester stretch, a mixture of perch and roach on pole and maggot.
Paul Passmore (Turners Tackle) was third with 11.14.0 of perch, roach and bleak on pole and maggot from the Thame mouth at the top of the Dorchester stretch.
Sensas A4 made the most of a good team draw to win comfortably with 42 points, followed by Turners on 33 and Drennan GOT Baits with 30.
Kinloch AC travelled over to Panshill for their latest match on Pans Lake, the 23 anglers finding the going hard in the heat.
The two top weights were all carp caught on chopped worm, Andy Pickett taking top spot with 50.0.0 and Dean Bowerman runner-up with 37.0.0. Joe Welch was third with 36.8.0 of carp on caster fished just six inches under his float.
Beehive AC’s Freight Shepherd Super League final was held at Lower Court Farm, where Martin Wilkinson switched between corn and meat on the pole for a winning 48.6.0 of carp.
Nigel Waters had 39.14.0 of carp to pole and maggot for second, followed by Kevin Jeacock with 39.4.0.
More than 240lbs hit the scales from the 12 anglers.
The Medley stretch of the Thames was more like the Costa del Sol for the Masons club match fished by 16 anglers, with the banks full of picnickers and sunbathers.
The river fished well, with seven weights over 10lb, and at the whistle Gary Pether took top spot with 16.13.0 of roach on pole, using hemp and tares.
Alan Smith also got among the roach, weighing in 13.10.0 on a waggler, alternating between maggot and caster.
Steve Foster was third with 13.0.0 of roach on maggot.
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