IT is with great sadness this week that I report that committee member Ian Bradburn passed away on Monday morning. Our thoughts at this time are with his wife Ceinwen and family.

His funeral will be at Walton Crematorium at 3.40pm on Friday, December 13. Family flowers only, donations to the Alzheimer’s Society.

On Wednesday, Neil Plunkett decided on another trip to the Mount, where he has enjoyed more than a fair degree of success on previous visits.

With the leaf fall now over and the water very clear, Neil thought maybe a blank was on the cards.

He need not have feared for after a couple of hours of searching around and trying different baits, he opted for a method feeder with sweetcorn on the hook which did the trick starting off with a nice bream of a couple of pounds.

Seven carp followed between 4lbs and the best just nudging double figures.

He packed up at lunchtime after yet again having had the venue completely to himself for a great winter’s day fishing.

Mike Pritchard fished the Bridgewater near Hough’s Bridge on Saturday where fish shoal annually for the winter months.

Fishing a light waggler at both his rod tip and the far shelf, he ended up with 40 roach plus a few rudd – the latter more than likely from the stocking in October last year.

He caught mainly on red maggot and pinkie plus a few better stamp roach on caster. During his session there were three separate attacks on his keepnet by pike so you predator anglers, fill your boots.

Our Mersey series on Sunday at Victoria Park was a really hard match, which can often be the case on the river at this time of the year, but Jim Gannon quite literally used his loaf and as a result produced a win with 1lbs 3ozs 0drs.

He caught 12 roach fishing a groundbait feeder and bread punch. Stu Gibson and Ant Higham drew for second place with 10oz apiece, both fishing a groundbait feeder and maggot for eight small roach.

Our Monday disabled and over 60s match was on the Bridgewater this week, which saw most of the canal with a lid of thin ice and leaves mixed.

However, thankfully the swans and the ducks between them kept just enough clear of ice near Moore Boats to accommodate the 13 anglers who fished.

As was the case the previous week, it was again a real struggle for bites but Stu Patterson fishing pieces of worm put eight tiny perch on the scales for 0-6-2 matched by Jimmy Byrne, who fished bread punch to catch 12 small roach for a joint win.

Please note that there with be towpath closures on Bridgewater Canal in the area of Holly Hedge Lane, Moore from December 2-20 for essential gas main repairs.

If anyone is looking to either join Warrington Anglers Association for 2020 now or purchase one as a Christmas present for someone, you can either call to our office at 52 Parker Street on a Friday evening between 7pm and 8.30pm or join online.

If you let us know, we will post those intended as Christmas presents to the purchaser.

This is the time of year when there are not many anglers on the banks so I would really welcome any catch reports – good, bad, or indifferent – as these help fellow members to know how waters are fishing and plan their outings.

Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or give me a call on 01928 716238.

Results:

Sunday, Mersey Match series: 1, Jim Gannon 1-3-0; 2, Stu Gibson/Ant Higham 0-10-0; 4, Ray Boden 0-9-0

Monday, disabled and over 60s: 1=, Stu Patterson/J Byrne 0-6-2; 3, George Barber 0-4-12; 4=, George Hollis/Roy Hollis 0-2-0

Fixtures:

Sunday, Mersey Match series: Draw 9am at Mersey Walk

Monday, disabled and over 60s Christmas Match: Draw 10am at Bridgewater Canal, Hough’s Bridge