In the past week the angling scene has been like the weather, very cold and sparse.

There have been keen and hardy anglers about though, on Saturday the open match at Brook Hall Fishery, Tiptree saw some good weights despite the cold and frosty conditions.

First was Mark Godfrey (Viscount Ipswich) fishing on peg 30 using pole and pellet he managed to put 56-0 on the scales, while second placed John Hurst of Brentwood Angling Centre managed 42-2-0. Third was Charlie Johnson (Brook Hall) with 28-8-0 and fourth place went to John Hutchinson with 27-8-0.

The Wednesday Match at Rayne Lodge saw 'Mr Consistent' Dale Smith of Browning Trent Tackle, win again with 60-0-0, second place went to Trevor Hayden 41-0-0, while Micky Carr was third (14-8-0) and fourth was D. Jarvis with 11-0-0.

At Tyler Farm Fishery, Brentwood, there are reports of pleasure anglers doing very well with bags of 45-0-0 plus with lots of silver fish being caught and decent Bream here and there.

At Gloucester Park, Basildon, Mick Miles lived up to his name winning the Christmas open by miles.

The Stanford-le-Hope matchman fished the cockle bank to weigh in with 62-11-0.

He fished a method feeder tight against the island using luncheon meat and maggots as bait, this tempted nine carp, the biggest an 11-11-0 lump.

Second place went to Stan Howard who also was on the cockle bank but used pole tactics for his 42-0-8 and he also had two double figure carp.

Fishing the "Bear pit Swim" got Dell Smee third place with 16-0-8, and fourth place went to Geoff Byatt with 14-13-8, who fished the canal stretch using a waggler.

As well as the pools pay-outs there were lots of other prizes to be had, hampers and other Christmas fayre seeing everyone go home happy.

There is another open on this venue this Sunday (December 24). Telephone Mick Toomer on 01268 282317 for details.

Dave Hemmings is also running an open on December 27 on the same venue, just the job to try out all that fishing tackle you got for Christmas. Telephone 01268 554329 for more information.

All angling results and reports for publication can be sent to Mike Davis (telephone 01245 261074) or (fax 01245 608862) or (e-mail on md.davis@ukonline.co.uk ).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.