By Kingfisher

I CANNOT recall ever feeling as pessimistic about angling as I do this weekend.

It isn't just the abysmal reports from local stretches of canal last weekend, which were badly affected by the frosts, though that was bad enough.

It isn't the fact that, even though catches should have improved, we can't get at the roach easily because the canal is frozen solid.

It is, of course, the dreadful foot and mouth disease outbreak, that will cause many anglers to end their season right now.

And I have some sympathy for those who hold that view.

It may be a bit drastic and unnecessary, but we cannot hide from the fact that, as users of the countryside, we have a responsibility.

Earlier this week we had a situation where it was important to check that you would be able to fish before setting off for a river.

Now it is probable that you will be prevented by law from having access to any rural riverbank.

But I believe anglers should be responsible and stay away voluntarily.

The season finishes in a couple of weeks anyway and for those of you who cannot remember the late 60s, I suggest you keep your fingers crossed for a June resumption.

The Ribble would have offered an excellent alternative to the canal, even the first choice for many.

Now it cannot and it really is a stillwater or nothing. Having said that, you must also bear in mind that some stillwaters, ponds and lodges are also on rural land.

You will be able to access some, of course, but you must check first.

For many though, the canal will be the only option, but it will be far from easy for anyone.

We have discussed this before and for pleasure anglers I have only this advice -- head for the ducks.

Match anglers have no choice and will, despite the thick ice, fish. Not only that they will probably catch a few, but they must have the technique -- and equipment-- needed for them to do this.

They will, as you can if you wish, break the ice. They will do it in a way which allows them to fish in some comfort.

That does not mean collecting a barrow load of housebricks and heaving them in, it is much more subtle and technical than that.

In any case a house brick is often not heavy enough to break the ice, and if it did it would result in many small pieces of ice -- the last thing you want.

You need a heavy metal weight of some description. One that can be tied onto the end of a rope, and one you can throw 11 metres.

I have used a weight from a set of old potato scales to good effect, and one from a weightlifter's bar -- one of the smaller ones of course.

Though I suggested it needs to be able to be fastened to the end of a length of rope, that is not the whole story.

The most critical part of your ice-breaking kit is a two metre length of light chain.

It is this which is tied to the end of the length of rope or a washing line and the weight then to the end of the chain.

The idea is that you throw the weight in straight out to the 11 to 12 metre line, making sure the rope isn't wrapped around your foot, a lesson learned from personal experience. With a bit of luck it goes straight through, but you might need a couple of attempts. When it does you must retrieve it with a sawing motion, allowing the chain to cut through the ice all the way to your feet.

Repeat this action twice more, moving first to your right about three metres, and then to your left.

You will have cut out two triangles of ice, with a bit of luck.

Depending on the thickness, and thereby the weight, of the ice you may have to break it into smaller pieces.

Often, however, it is possible the whole big sheets can be pushed under the solid mass to right and left.

You are now left with a totally ice-free patch in which you can fish, but there is something else.

Take the opportunity to rake the bottom with the weight, adding some colour to the clear water.

I have caught fish immediately, within minutes, after doing this.

It is, however, sensible to break the ice before you start tackling up and to add a bit of feed.

Lure fishing is pretty impractical but a float fished sardine has produced up to a dozen pike for a single angler in the past, doing just the same. If you do decide to give it a go tomorrow you deserve to dwell.

Maybe a pound plus roach will be your reward and caster the likely bait, though breadpunch is probably what you will start with.

Hyndburn's Kevin Emsley started last week's Hyndburn AA Open match last weekend, attended by only a disappointing 31 anglers, with the punch. He took a few small skimmers on this, from his peg near the basin at Rishton, then turned, not to caster but to double pinkie.

That resulted in a bite from a magnificent roach of 1lb 3oz. It was the difference between nearly all the money and hardly anything at all, pushing Kevin's final weight up to 3-3-10.

Mack's Tackle angler Paul Lahey was in second place with a more typical stamp of fish in her 2-13-0.

Match organiser Dezzy Forrest was third with 2-8-4.

Very low weights these, I'm sure you will agree, though it was a bitterly cold day and it had been so for a few days.

Nevertheless, very disappointing after weights of more than double these had been taken the previous week.