The past few days have been absolutely fantastic in weather terms and, with more of the same promised, prospects for holiday angling are excellent.

Most venues, both coarse and game, were somewhat disappointing last weekend. The weather was a little too chilly and, as I explained last week, the fish were not so active.

As the week has progressed, and the temperature has risen, catches from most local fisheries have improved almost in direct proportion. I'm sure you will all find fish in a receptive mood this weekend wherever you go.

As I said, catches last weekend were disappointing, especially for those anglers setting their targets too high. You will see an improvement, on some venues this will be dramatic, but please don't expect to fill your nets. It will not be that good.

For those of you who fancy a go at local stretches of canal, and there's plenty to encourage you, remember it is a Bank Holiday weekend which means only one thing - BOATS!

There will be plenty make no mistake about that. Early sessions, before the boats get underway, must be considered though I suspect that a couple of hours just before dark could be more productive.

It is a strange time of year on the canal. It doesn't seem too long since the close season meant we could not be fishing, and so even anglers of great experience cannot have all the knowledge they rely on at other times of the year.

Bream have figured in all the best catches of late, and will continue to do so. It may just be that this is the weekend they feed very heavily prior to spawning, and anglers in the right place will bag up. It also may not be that weekend - but you know it cannot be far away.

Be prepared for either eventuality but err on the cautious side to start with.

Because I'm not sure what I'm likely to encounter on the canal at the moment (a struggle for a bite - or one a chuck) I will always have some groundbait, a pint of casters, and some redworms with me - just in case.

You will find, definitely, that someone will have a decent catch whatever the conditions. If the fish remain tightly shoaled it will be an isolated angler, but it may be different.

Last weekend, at Todmorden, the winner of the latest open on the Rochdale Canal found his 16-9-0 was relatively unchallenged. Phil Eyres (Trevs Walkden) more than doubled the weight of the runner-up, and the final framer had only 4-4-0.

I should target any section you know that holds either bream or skimmer bream. I know that when the weights at Carterhouse (on the Sankey Canal) get better, ours are not too far behind.

Last weekend's match at Fiddler's Ferry produced a glut of bream, on pole and caster down the middle, which resulted in a winning weight of over 30lbs. This section of canal (on which you can get day tickets - but no keepnets) is capable of much bigger weights, even double this, but 30lbs is possible locally. Please remember I said possible, not probable.

Wide sections, such as that at Nelson by Carr Hall Road, are prime target areas. There is one near you, give it a try.

It seems to have been a much quieter week on popular trout fisheries in terms of both anglers and fish. The trend will definitely reverse as the fish begin to feed much more readily, and consistently.

Esthwaite is still worth a visit, even though it is a long way, for you can readily expect to catch your limit - most anglers do.

Buzzers continue to be the best pattern here, as they are at most commercial fisheries at the moment. Fritz Damsels are producing fish at Pennine, and perhaps you would like to consider the Tadpole lure. Black/Green, White/Green and Olive are popular - but an all black pattern can outfish them all.

I'm sure I will see plenty of these on display, and loads of others, next week when I visit the annual Chatsworth Angling Fair, at the Duke of Devonshire's great house in Derbyshire.

It used to be known as a Game Fair, but it is now so much more. All branches of angling are represented, and the nice thing is that anything you may fancy is likely to be for sale - there and then.

There's so much this year that I am considering actually going down on both Saturday and Sunday. If you have time to spare, or even if you really haven't you should consider a visit very seriously.

I have found it to be a brilliant family day out, there's so much to see - and even do. I've always liked the audience participation aspect, and that is to be increased this year.

A strong emphasis of the whole show, is that fishing is a sport/pastime which all the members of a family can enjoy together, whatever their ages. This really is a commendable philosophy, and one I'm always keen to promote.

In one display for example, author Charles Jardine will join forces with his nine-year-old son in a fly-casting demo. The following item Fly Casting is Kids Stuff should be particularly entertaining.

On the course scene, two former World Champions, Bob Nudd and Ian Heaps will hold a daily head-to-head match on the River Derwent (flowing beautifully through the estate), helped by members of the audience.

Ian Heaps used to have such a match against two fly anglers in the early years of the Fair - but his pole/maggot method made it much too unfair.

I hope the weather holds up for it promises to be the best show ever. It is only a couple of hours drive away and, at £6 each adult (children under 14 free), it is very cheap.

It is open at 8am and you can take your dogs. The house and gardens are also open - but cost extra.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.