ALL the indications are that most local waters could fish very well this weekend, and although there can of course, be no guarantee of success, you should give it a go.

Prospects for coarse angling, of the traditional type, are notoriously difficult to predict at any time of year. The autumn is no exception to this rule and yet remains my favourite season.

It would in fact, be very boring if you knew exactly what you were going to catch and it is angling's unpredictability which makes it so attractive to most fishermen. A blank day from time to time - though not too frequently - maintains the mystique.

Frequently, the novice will have his best catch of the year in the autumn, but it is the time of the year when the expert generally fares much better.

If you are not an expert, then the rule must be gently does it. This applies particularly to the introduction of groundbait or loosefeed. The match angler, because he has a limited time to fish and must stay in one place, often must make a decision which contradicts this rule. The pleasure angler has no such restrictions.

Having said that, there are match anglers who do very well by adhering to the rule. One such is Burnley's Pete Spencer who, because of his extensive knowledge of canal fishing, has developed a great way with both breadpunch and caster.

He is often the first angler to catch a fish after the all in.

Pete's's theory is, and his success over the years shows its credibility, that there is a fish there waiting and that he will catch it with bread. I don't know if he caught one first put-in last weekend on the Huddersfield Broad Canal, but I wouldn't be surprised. The canal was gin-clear, perfect for Peter's bread-punch approach.

Following a couple of frosts this was the first time that attack would be totally the wrong approach. Peter's winter tactics resulted in 30 roach which totalled 3-6-0 and left the other 41 anglers trailing in his wake.

Peter actually expects to catch first cast, and so should you. When you cast in you must be ready, keepnet in, landing net set up etc etc.

You might be lucky to have sat in a peg just full of quality fish, as Nelson's John Leeds did last weekend, and to lose the first one could ruin your day.

John was fishing the big Todmorden AS open match (117 pegs) and found bream resident in his peg (No 223) between the bakehouse and gasworks on the host club's stretch of Rochdale Canal.

Using pole, with caster, chopped worm and squatt, John took a succession of fine fish for a superb 22-12-8. His closest challenger was Keith Marshall (Tri-cast Calder) who had only 5-13-0 of small fish. Andrew Shirtliffe (Rochdale GTI) was third with 5-1-0.

So there you have it. If you think there might be a load of bream waiting for you - perhaps because you have chosen a peg with coloured water - put in some fair quantity of chopped worm, caster and squatts. Fish a worm/caster combination over the top and hope for the best.

The nice thing for a pleasure angler is that if it doesn't work you can move and have a go, gently, with breadpunch.

Having said that, match results from local waters are a great indication of the potential of a stretch, or individual peg. I suspect that in the case of John Leeds the peg would not have produced any more for a pleasure angler. Clearly the fish were very concentrated. Where there are a large number of very good weights, with fish well distributed, the potential for pleasure weights is much greater than the matchmen have produced.

For that reason, and the fact that I really miss this style of fishing with the demise of the Ribble, I was very interested to note the results of the latest match from the River Tees and I'm going to have to find out more.

Stickfloat and waggler tactics for loads of dace, roach and chub produced a winning weight of 25-11-0. Double red maggot was the hookbait, feeding hemp and casters. The runner-up floatfished meat for an all-chub 23-11-0, and sixth place put a nice mixed bag of 17-7-0.

I've looked at the river around Durham and it looks superb. How I long for the return of the days when I could do the same just half-an-hour away.

Todmorden AS are on the lookout for new members. They have nine fisheries in addition to miles of canal around Todmorden. Ray Barber on 01282 428780 will help with further details.

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