THE majority of local coarse anglers would, I think, contend that sport in general has improved over the past week.

Certainly there are fewer dry nets for those fishing local stretches of canal - though there are still plenty. Although the weather is likely to be brighter and cooler this weekend, catches should remain even.

Perhaps surprisingly, for the time of year, the fish seem to be more evenly spread than of late. Double figure nets of roach, the result of anglers sitting on tightly shoaled roach have been replaced by much less impressive bags - but more of them.

It's hard to put your finger on why this should be. With the spawning season just around the corner we would expect those shoals to become even tighter.

Only one possible reason, apart from the fish being as confused by the weather as I am, is that there has been quite a pike explosion on local stretches of canal. It may just be that the feeding activity of the pike, which themselves seem to be tightly gathered at times, is splitting the roach shoals wide apart.

That's only a theory of course, but the fact that some clever anglers have been having excellent sport with smallish pike, taking as many as a dozen fish in a day on the canal - and not moving too far either.

Though I like spinning with light tackle to get the best sport from these fish, the most productive method (where allowed) has been to livebait with smaller roach - which seem no problem to catch.

Some anglers, and there are now a rapidly increasing number, who consider live-baiting to be inappropriate in this day and age, are having good success by floatfishing a sardine. Despite the large numbers of pike I am not in favour of catching them to kill. I suggest that what we may catch is merely the tip of the iceberg, and it's much better just to enjoy the sport. At least if you put them back you can return the following week and catch them again.

Following last week's winning weight in the Hyndburn and Blackburn AA Open match, almost double figures of roach, it's no surprise that Burnley's Dave Whitaker tackled his peg at Clayton-le-Moors this week with caster.

He was pegged at Rishton basin and duly won the match for himself and his team (the Four Musketeers) with five fish weighing in excess of 1lb each. They were however, not roach but perch that weighed a total of 5-7-10.

Pegged side by side at Clayton's red bushes, Ray Ayre and John Fallows, Mack's Tackle R&C and Mack's Tackle Claret, each took caster roach and recorded identical weights of 4-12-8.

Accrington's young John Rogers (Ted Carter's Preston), Andrew Shirtliffe (Rochdale GTI) and Lostock's Brian McCann filled the frame with 4-8-5, 4-5-0 and 4-4-9 respectively.

Bread punch, of course, as well as caster accounted for many fish in this match and, if you fancy the canal tomorrow, these are THE baits to have with you.

Take care on the canal this weekend to improve your chances of success. It may just be that the bright weather promised (if it materialises) will also result in the canal being clearer. If that's the case, and the sun is shining, give very serious consideration to leaving the pole in your bag and relying on the old-fashioned rod/line/waggler combination. Though it is raining as I write this, you may be surprised to find out we have not really had much in the past 10 days. I thought it had been raining incessantly for at least six months, but a friend who keeps a check on these things (whatever turns you on) advises me not.

So that's the reason for the improved form of the rivers! I had a look this week and they appear absolutely perfect - and that's borne out by some very decent catches being reported.

There have been double figure nets of small fish to float/maggot anglers almost everywhere, but the number of big fish taken is most interesting.

There were at least two double-figure barbel from Elston last weekend with meat and/orpellet paste successful. Bread, both flake and crust, has been the downfall of quite a large number of big chub.

Despite what you may have read, there is a grave doubt regarding the authenticity of a 6lb 5oz specimen reported taken by a 10-year-old on a fish-flavoured boilie. Take my word for it - bread is best.

Remember you have only a couple of weeks left. I said this last week and those of you who took the advice will have reaped the rewards - and won't need reminding. This message is for those of you who ignored it.

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