IT IS unlikely that the reasonable temperatures of the past couple of days will have been enough to offset the effect of the extended cold snap earlier in the week.

As a result the relatively poor performance of some sections of canal last weekend are likely to be repeated, and those which fished reasonably well then may not do so tomorrow.

The fish are however, still there in the same places and in the same numbers. It is therefore, to those regular hotspots where your attention should turn for they still offer the best prospects.

A short, sharp snap of cold weather often doesn't penetrate beyond the top couple of feet of water. The fish then, swimming deeper than that, are unaffected.

When the chill is prolonged however, it reaches the depths. Then the fish become lethargic and do not need to feed, so don't. Under these conditions you must expect less action, and fish accordingly.

Reduce the amount of initial and loose feed. Use smaller hookbaits and hooks with finer line. Unwilling fish are more easily frightened off so, if the weather is bright, try not to wave your pole over the top of them. Consider the use of a rod and reel if you can remember how to set it up. I have no doubt there will be very good weights from some pegs, usually those which have remained sheltered and are often found in more industrialised sections of canal. Generally however, a little more care is needed than of late. Just remember that having put in too much bait you can't then take it out.

If you find you are unsuccessful, with breadpunch down the track, for more than half an hour it is probably best to move on. If you are eventually, fortunate, it is still possible for you to make double figures tomorrow - but unlikely.

Two of the 80 anglers who fished the latest Hyndburn & Blackburn AA Teams of Four event managed that feat at Church last week.

Dave Pey, Windowfit Four, had an eventful match fishing a peg by the Commercial pub at Bridge Street. He had quickly discovered that there were quality roach waiting across the caster line, having started successfully on the punch.

He was catching well when he suffered something which is the bane of anglers fishing in urban areas. Some kids, clearly having noticed him catching, decided his swim needed some bricks adding to it.

Not surprisingly the fish moved, to the benefit of John Meredith, Hyndburn & Blackburn MG Black, who started then to catch.

Fortunately Dave was able to revert to his punch line and find some fish still there. As a result he managed to maintain some momentum and ended the match a fairly comfortable winner with 14-7-1. Lucky John was runner-up with 10-0-11.

Mark Ettridge, Rochdale GTI Black, had 7-9-0 in third and Burnley's Darren Foreman, Rochdale GTI Blue 6-4-0. Van den Eynde Crown had a poor day but, finishing fifth on the day in the team stakes, managed to hold on to top spot overall. It is however, tightening up at the top and is promising an exciting run-in. This league is being really lucky with the weather, particularly by not fishing this week, but these local sections of canal are holding up brilliantly in any respect.

It is not as good further afield, like the Red Lion stretch where Wigan AA held their latest open match. Seventy entrants is pretty good, nevertheless, but most will have been very envious of the Church result.

Winner Alan Bennett of Chorley Socials, included a two and a half pound jack-pike in his 4-5-3. The balance was made up of small roach to bread-punch. Runner-up Dave Walmsley had better quality roach, to hempseed in his 4-1-14.

A few local matchmen, bloodworm fanatics, decided to get away from the punch craze by fishing the Kendal Open on the Lancaster Canal at Garstang. Tommy Ruffe were, as usual, eager to take the bloodworm but, much to the annoyance of those anglers mentioned, the winner took some silver fish to bread punch.

Even so, no angler could break four pounds and, as a consequence, I have no reason to change my mind by adding this stretch to my list of pleasure possible.

That is excepting the decent basin in the town which is, like all the basins on the Lanky, always worth the effort.

There are not many weeks left from which to choose a day or two to enjoy the Ribble, with the close-season bearing down.

Tomorrow could be ideal at least for the angler who will remain dry, I think the fish may also find the conditions to their liking and some quality samples of both chub and barbel could be joining the anglers on the bank.

Though not ruling out lobworm, for that would be foolish, I would pin my hopes for barbel almost entirely on luncheon meat or boilies. If chub only were to be my target then just a couple of loaves of fresh bread, for hook and feed, should be adequate for the day.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.