Angling round-up: Cold no bar to good weight...

The event was held over five hours and produced some excellent weights despite the conditions.

After the pegs had been cleared of ice, fish were caught straight from the whistle, with many carp being caught and landed even though they could not be weighed in.

The field was divided into six sections with each section winner receiving £80 for their endeavours.

The section winners were: Chris Driver with a quality bag of roach weighing 20lb 8oz 8drams, Andy Stebbings with 6lb 13oz, Frank Street with 10lb 3oz, Hugh Smith with 5lb 10oz, Graham Hyde with 10lb 8oz and Nick Jeacock with 14lb 9oz 8drams.

Perch to 3lb were also caught and many roach were taken to over 1lb.

The total match weight was 253lb 2oz which consisted mainly of roach.

"This was a stunning total considering the conditions and a testimony to the skill of the anglers taking part," said club spokesman Robin Payne.

Open boat competition may go twice-yearly

The largest competition of its kind in Essex has become so successful that organisers are now considering running it twice a year.

More than 150 anglers competed in this year's Lobster Smack Sea Angling Club open boat competition at Canvey.

They took out 28 boats as the event finally got underway after it had to be cancelled last month because of poor weather.

"We had a wonderful day and everyone turned up who said they would," said Angi Anderson from the club.

"The anglers said it was very cold out on the water but the response was so good that we are thinking of holding the competition twice-yearly."

Angi said it was early days but the club is considering adding a summer event to the popular winter one.

Bob Mead, on board the James Gary, took the biggest fish award award with a 5.30kg cod.

Steve Smitton on the Raven was second with a 4.54kg cod and Steve Mowle took third after landing a 4.48kg cod aboard Coral Mist.

Fourth place went to Stuart Olley on the Marlin, who caught a 4.38kg cod, while Barry Graves took a 3.24kg cod on Rainbow Chaser.

The biggest flounder prize went to John Holgate on board Haven Lad, who caught a 0.54kg specimen.

Peter Barns, on the Fyke, and Steve Anderson, aboard the Haven Lad, shared the biggest pouting award after landing fish weighing 0.52kg.

Steve Mowle added the best whiting to his third-place cod accolade with a .060kg fish. Mick Clark, fishing from Island Girl, took the biggest dab - a specimen weighing 0.38kg.

The ladies' award went to Sally Wood for her 2.36kg cod, while the junior title was won by Paul Wood with a .98kg cod.

Paul is match winner

Basildon and District Angling Society fished the second and final leg of their fur and feather Christmas matches at their Dodds Farm fishery at Ingatestone.

Fifteen anglers braved the cold weather which had its usual effect on the fishing.

Some competitors struggled to get bites but match winner Dave Peck had no such trouble.

He weighed in with 4.3lb of fish including a small carp plus some roach and perch on swimfeeder tactics using maggots and pinkies as bait.

The runner-up was Pete Watts with 1.9lb of fish.

He also caught a small carp plus some perch using both pole and feeder tactics.

Peter Brown took third place with 1.7lb of small fish all caught on the pole.

When the weights over the two legs were added up the overall winner was Paul Hyde with 6.7lb.

Dave Peck came a very close second with 6.5lb.

Everyone's a winner at festive open

Compeitiors at the Gloucester Park Christmas Fare Open Match were greeted by icy conditions following the first really severe frost of the winter.

Harsh weather limited the number of catches, but nearly all of the entrants had fish to weigh in at the end of the proceedings.

The clear winner was Neil Payne with a 10lb 9oz pole-caught catch from the cockle bank.

Neil weighed in 4lb 7oz 8dr of quality roach and a bonus 6lb 1oz 8dr carp taken five minutes from the end!

He also won the lion's share of the pools monies and a large turkey hamper.

Second place went to lake regular Tom Keeble who weighed in 7lb 13oz 8dr of roach from the incoming sluice.

Tom fished a waggler and freely admits he would have caught far more fish if he had brought his pole.

But he still won a share of the pools money and a turkey hamper.

There was a tie for third place with both Alan Halsey and Del Smee weighing in 7lb 11oz of fish.

Both fished a pole to take numerous roach, with Del including a tench in his catch.

They shared the third place pools money and then split up the third andfourth place hampers between them!

Peter Jerrum was fifth with 5lb 3oz 8dr, followed by Nigel Warrick with 4lb 13oz 8dr and Dave Hemmings with 3lb 11oz.

Fish were also scarce at the Northlands Park Christmas Fare Pike Match, although at least one pleasure angler caught a larger fish than any of the competitors!

At the scales there was nobody to challenge Rob Grant, who had netted pike of 7lb and 5lb 8oz.

Rob, who won a large turkey hamper and a tackle box, also lost another decent fish.

There will be an Open match at Gloucester Park on Tuesday, December 28, with entry costing £6 with a 100 per cent pools payout.

The usual day ticket will also be payable in the bank, meeting at the western end of the island at 7.15am for a 7.30am walk off.

Fishing time will be 8.30am till 2pm and this event will be a walk-off and will not affect pleasure anglers at the venue.

For more information ring Mick Toomer on 01268 282317. The following Gloucester Park open will take place on Sunday, January 2.

Pike men take note

The next Northlands Park pike match will take place on Sunday, January 2.

Match entry costs £5 plus the usual day ticket and anglers should meet at the Northlands Park Caf from 7.30am for an 8am walk off.

Fishing time will be 8.45am till 3pm, but baits will be restricted to sea dead baits and artificial lures.

Anglers may use one or two rods, with the prizes awarded to the captors of the heaviest fish.

No competitor can take more than one prize in each match and the event will be a walk-off and will not affect pleasure anglers at the venue.

Beach event at Stanford

ANGLERS looking to clear the cobwebs after New Year's Eve should head on down to the Stanford Beach Open.

The event is being held on Monday, January 3, and entry is £5 per person.

The only bait permitted is lugworm and the competition is pre-book only.

Meet at Stanford Gate at 7am. Fishing is permitted between 8am and 1pm.

Contact Dion on 01268 462539 for more information and to book a place.

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