WITH the summer stretching out before us, with the fishing about to re-open on our rivers and with stillwater fish about to start feeding in earnest, we have plenty to look forward to.

Not, I suspect, as exciting a prospect for all of us as the immediate future is for two Chorley anglers who next week compete for a possible £20,000 jackpot in the Embassy Pairs Final.

By qualifying for the Danish final after finishing third on Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes, our two heroes have already plenty to be proud of.

Nevertheless Dave Edgerley, a 31-year-old blacksmith from Limbrick Road, Chorley, and Tim Field, 27, and a fleet administrator from Watkin Road, Clayton-le-Woods, are unlikely to be satisfied.

If they can win the event, and one of them nets the highest one-day weights which beats the existing venue record, they will pocket a cool £20,000 between them - some incentive.

More than 4,000 anglers entered the eight qualifying rounds last year, with five pairs coming through from each heat to this year's final. Now each qualifying pair will enjoy an eight-day all-expenses paid trip to the final next week.

Envy is not a strong enough word to describe what any competition angler must feel, when they appreciate just what the lads are in for. The party will be based at the superb Tre Roser Hotel in the lovely city of Kolding, which is an hour's drive from the port of Esberg. Two lakes are to be fished, run and managed by the Jels Fishing Club, where a 250lbs single day's winning weight is definitely possible.

Warrington's Jimmy Byrne knows the venue and reckons that the world record is in danger if the right angler is on the right peg at the right time, and the roach and bream feed - IF!

It will certainly be a lot different to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Chorley, or even the Grand Union at Milton Keynes. Our two representatives are not amongst the favourites to win - but they will be giving it a good effort for sure. There will be no shortage of northern accents to help them feel at home. Amongst them, and sure to help with a bit of advice, will be former champions Dave Pimblott and John Chapman from Tri-Cast Highfield (Swinton), and last year's champions Jimmy Hines and Gary Whalley from Wigan.

I'm sure the venue suits anglers from this area (why I don't know) and so the Chorley pair should not be overawed. All it needs is a bit of luck at the draw (as always), and they could easily be champions - and very rich ones at that.

I'm sure there will be no shortage of entrants for this year's qualifying events, with the Millennium Final sure to be something very special. Keep your eyes peeled and, as most of the regular qualifying pairs do, be prepared to fish all of the qualifying events until you land a place on that boat.

I've used the word 'envy' earlier in this piece, with good reason. Catches from local stretches of canal have, despite what seems reasonable conditions, been very disappointing.

This applies particularly to match anglers who must fish at the worst possible time of day, but it hasn't been great for anyone. I'm sure that news must be of some consolation to some of you, but we do have good reason to be expecting better.

The decent weather at the weekend encouraged some missing matchmen to venture out and swell entries generally, but smaller midweek events were most productive prior to that, and that is what was disappointing.

Burnley's Darren Foreman was, for example, only second at Pilsworth with 26-0-0 from the main lake, which produced a fantastic 58-0-0 for the winner on one day, and a less attractive 29-0-0 the previous one. Pilsworth is worth a visit, with the main lake clearly a much better prospect than the carp lake.

If I was intending to travel any distance at all tomorrow I would however, have to consider the Sankey St Helens Canal. The main stretches at Carterhouse and Sankey Bridges are likely to have matches on them, but there is plenty of room elsewhere for pleasure anglers - and it's fishing its head off.

Staying local I can only advise, for the canal at least, an early start - before the boats get going. Feed very gently and fish caster or caster-worm overdepth, having chosen a nice swim in a wide section somewhere - preferably a basin.

Or get yourself bream fishing (shallow water) at one of our local reservoirs. Rishton may be a decent choice if you're a Hyndburn and Blackburn AA member, or otherwise try Foulridge Reservoir when you can get a day ticket on the bank.

If it is your first trip of the spring don't forget your licence.

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