by Kingfisher

THERE was much improved sport for most anglers last weekend, along with pleasant enough conditions. Let us hope for more of the same as we enter the holiday period.

I have little doubt that we will, in fact, see and enjoy even better sport throughout the summer. Certainly local stretches of canal should improve. Though there are fish to be caught at the moment it is not easy. Lots of quiality roach will soon begin to feed heavily.

There have been signs of that transition taking place over the past week. Hempseed has at last begun to take fish and is most definitely worth persevering with. That also applies to local reservoirs, Foulridge in particular, where anglers adept at the use of hempseed often amaze others by the quality of their catches.

With only half a pint necessary for a canal session and no more than two pints on a reservoir, hempseed represents an absolute bargain. Get the roach going and 25 pounds is easily possible on either type of venue. Often I take no other bait with me.

I am not that keen on fishing pools full of small carp. I do, however, realise that the introduction of this type of fishery has been something of a revelation for many anglers. Bites and fish are guaranteed, but I do feel that less expertise and experience is required to do well. As a consequence anglers are definitely missing out on some wonderful angling experiences. There is, I believe, more satisfaction to be gained, sometimes, from a small catch on the local canal, than there is from 100lbs of 'pastie' carp from a commercial fishery.

There is no doubt that carp of this size certainly have a role to play in modern day coarse angling. It is a long held view of mine and other match anglers that their presence in a canal has often spoiled otherwise excellent matches.

They have a tendency to hold tight to features, and there are relatively few of them. Consequently matches featuring such pegs are, provided the anglers on the hot pegs are both aware and capable, very uneven contests. Thank goodness for the introduction, in the 1980s, of prize money for small section winners.

A 'big fish or bust' approach from the very start of a match used to be relatively unknown. As the carp have become bigger and match tackle (pole) has developed sufficiently to make them a viable target it has become a much more acceptable and successful practice.

It is essential that the angler with this approach knows his water. Like Frank Szakely does the Rochdale Canal at Todmorden, for example. Carp are definitely a legitimate target on here and Frank knows where they are and, as importantly, how to put them into the net.

Not surprisingly, having drawn opposite the boats on the White House length in last week's 42 peg open, out came the luncheon meat from Frank's box. Presenting it right across, with the pole, Frank managed no less than five carp for a winning 26lbs. His biggest went an elastic stretching 8lbs or so, but he didn't have it all his own way. Keighley angler Jim Bolland had enough inside knowledge of the venue to know that the carp also reside at Lane Bottom. He also had five slightly smaller fish on pole/worm, for another decent weight of 23lbs.

All the other leading weights included big fish; that's the type of match it was. As I said it is not my cup of tea, though the successful anglers deserve some admiration for their knowledge and expertise. An 8lb carp on the pole, on the canal, takes some landing.

The advent of the commercial fishery has benefited river pleasure anglers to a great extent as well, in a strange sort of way. Because they are so successful at them, it seems more anglers are happy to spend their weekend pumping carp than chub. Matchmen, too, like plenty of bites and they provide them most definitely.

Venues for you to note, where you can get tickets for, are as follows:

Aldwalk Bridge -- deep and slow with great mixed fishing. A long walk is involved to get to the top pegs.

Linton Lock -- both deep and shallow swims especially suited to the pleasure and specimen angler. Some fantastic barbel.

Alice Hawthorn -- is a real feature stretch, being slightly faster and shallower. Specimen barbel are present in some swims, and big nets of bream are taken from others.

There is a good tackle shop in Boroughbridge, 'Fish 'n' Things,' from which you can get information and tickets seven days a week. You can get tackle and bait here as well. You really can make this a top holiday destination. There is even some canal fishing.