Rain brings out the big biters

Load-a-rain '“ and a REALLY good flush-through! That's what our rivers need and, if it comes to it, most of our stillwaters too.
Wojciech DunjajWojciech Dunjaj
Wojciech Dunjaj

This weekend's handful of river matches showed yet again that all but the streamiest Upper Ouse stretches are still trapped in the stale pre-winter doldrums, with two or three pegs per length producing and the rest seemingly devoid of fish.

AN open on Newport's relatively faster-paced Sherington Bridge produced 14-6 of silvers for Steve Chilton with Alan Carr and Kevin Osborne both getting 7-4 of perch and dace.

DATS' Stony Main, among the deeper sections, was well peggy for the Towcester/Nene match. Perch dominated as Les Wallace had 9-7, Les Ramsden 7-12 and Bas Eaton 7-4.

MOST of Olney's length produced silvers in Sunday's Bedford league round (two 2lb perch also featured) as local Paul Caton won with 7-13 followed by M Burrell 7-8. Neil Shearn and Des Barker tied on 5-15.

MK Vets' back of Bradwell Lake Ouse do saw Kevin Osborne with 7-9 as Colin Chart had 6-2 (inc a 3-11 perch!) and Ernie Sattler 4-9.

HIGH winds whipping up local stillwaters didn't produce too many fishy bonanzas either – though Kurt Crompton tempted a 30-9 Linford lakes common.

Returning to carping after chasing chub for much of the summer, Phil Mapp had a couple of decent Furzton doubles, and Lou Smith a nice 16 from MKAA's Lodge.

PIKE were showing too as Wojeiech Dunjaj banked a lure-caught 16 from Willen and Jason Fleming a similar-sized fish from Newport waters.

MAVER MK (MKAA's matchgroup) are back in the saddle after a slow start in the Castle Ashby AT winter league, and are now up to fourth just one point off third. Their Ian Pretty made fifth overall in Sunday's third round with 21lb.

OSPREY's Pidley Lake do saw Tony McGregor with 86lb ahead of Colin Drage 64lb and John Cosby 62lb.

GOOD news: Newport stalwart Dave Adams reports the Environment Agency has stepped in and done a 'grand job' clearing fallen trees from the Riverside Meadow Ouzel and opening up several 'lost' swims. He says the work came about after anglers had repeatedly complained on the EA's incident hotline on 0800 807060.

FIXTURES: Sun, MKAA golden peg, Calverton Rd Ouse, 07970 047506; also, Newport's Sherington complex (including river) closed for match; Tues Nov 7 Olney Ouse open and, on Sat 11th, for charity match, 01234 240061.