THE last few days have seen storm-lashed conditions and fluctuating river levels making it far from ideal for angling.

On Sunday, in milder conditions, the Pilsworth Fisheries Winter League was held with 48 anglers participating.

Top weight fell to Alan Rutherforld (Last Cast Youth) with carp, chub, bream and roach from peg 32 on the bottom ponds (33-4-0).

He was closely followed by Colin Mayer (Drennan NW Black) 33-3-0; third was Jonathan Jowett (Drennan NW Gold ) 29-6-0; fourth, P. Clinkhorn (Sensas NW Blue) 28-12-0 and fifth, Ron Buckley (Double Caster) 17-8-0.

Teams: 1 Sensal Northwest Blue, 36 points; 2 Drennan NW Gold 35; 3 Sensas NW Green and Last Cast Youth 34.

Also on Sunday, several local anglers fished Octoplus Blackburn Open on the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Church although several packed up before the end of the match.

Best weights came from behind the Commercial Hotel with roach to 6oz.

Top weight fell to George Falconer (Octoplus Blackburn) 4-0-7, in second place was Chris Durkin (Burnley) 3-14-5 and third was S. Goulding (Lostock) 3-13-6.

There are reports from the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Clayton of good hauls of roach taken on breadpunch.

Further afield in Yorkshire in the Sunday Open held on Woodland Lakes near Thirsk fished by 90 anglers.

Wagtail Lake produced the two top weights.

Daryl Taylor (Dawia Goldthorp), fishing peg 18, took top weight, 35-11-0 while in second place was Stuart Wilson (Anglers World) 16-13-0.

Third was M. Leck of Daiwa Goldthorp (12-13-0) and fourth Alan Gregory (Elton Tackle) 10-15-0.

Alan also took second place in the Wednesday Open, fished on the same venue with a weight of 35-2-0 in a fifty strong field.

On the pleasure fishing scene break to 2lb have been caught from Parkers bottom lodge by Keith Turner.

On Tuesday, one angler had a wait before catching roach on the henpens.

The Cartwheel also continues to fish well with skimmer bream and roach.

A depleted field fished the Wednesday Open held on the Little Reservoir in gale lashed conditions.

Dave Waggler, taking top weight with 2-6-0 won the event and there was a tie for second place between Daz Shaw and Stefan Gent, both with 1-8-0.

Entry forms are now available in Angling Times for the sixteen qualifiers for the Nationwide Fish OMania Trial, each boast 120 pegs.

Top angler from each qualifier goes through to the final and entry is £17 per qualifier.

One of the qualifiers will be held on Bradshaw Hall Fisheries on Sunday, April 10, 2005. Draw 9am, fishing from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

BURY SENIOR SECTION

NEXT Winter League match will be held on Parkers this Sunday (January 16). Draw 9am, fishing from 10am to 3pm.

The 2005 permits are now available from the usual outlets and from the secretary.

Prices are: seniors £28; concessionary, OAPs and ladies £14 adn juniors £6.

BILL TURNER