with KINGFISHER

COPTHORNE on Sunday resembled the southern ocean with strong winds whipping up the waves, and the 55 competitors gathered for the latest open match half-expected Ellen McArthur to put in an appearance.

Nelson matchman Dave Phillips was undeterred however, tackling peg 47 with some confidence. Not surprising really, since he had made the frame in third place with 20-4-0 in the previous day's 24-pegger.

It was not easy, by any means, to present his corn bait properly at nine metres but he persevered and was duly rewarded. Perhaps surprising others, but not himself for sure, Phillips tempted a succession of pastie sized carp to total 17-8-0.

So comfortable, in fact, that the Mack's Tackle (Burnley) angler could have been forgiven for being somewhat blas, since his nearest challenger, Rochdale's Noel Dean, manages only 11-5-0, also made up entirely of small carp.

Nelson's Terry Clark, another Macks angler, framed yet again at his favourite venue, in fifth with 9-4-0.

The conditions facing the anglers turning up to take part in the latest Octoplus Blackburn Open, on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Church, were hardly inspiring either with many of them having to fish shorter than they would have liked, due to the gusting wind.

Frank Rosz tackled his swim, number five at Bridge Street, initially on the five metre line, with bread-punch and his final tally of 7-6-0, which won him the match - by a whisker.

Last week's winter league winner, Dave Wells (Nelson), was just two pegs away from Frank and could see exactly what was going on. There is no-one better than Wells on this canal with bread-punch and he stuck to that, despite seeing Rosz landing quality fish on caster.

Wells caught consistently, fish to four ounces, and it was obviously going to be very close as he fell just two ounces short of successive wins.

Burnley's Andy Shirtliffe was in the frame for the first time this winter, surprisingly, with 4-9-8 which was good enough for fourth.

The Wigan AA Open, on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at the Ring o' Bells was held on Saturday, won by Chorley's Tony Prescott with 5-8-0 of roach to punched bread.

Bickershaw's Brian Whitehead took around 4lbs of roach and small skimmers to go with the 12lbs of bream he got at 11 metres for a total of 16-7-8.

Silver fish are providing the bulk of the action at Bradshaw Hall Fisheries, with roach especially feeding strongly at all depths.

A fish a chuck is how Adlington Marina, Leeds-Liverpool Canal, has been described this week. I am sure the locals will be on there early, but there are plenty of pegs so it might make a nice change. Bread-punch (what else?) is the bait and small roach are the target.