WITH the warmer temperatures, luncheon meat is beginning to take over from sweetcorn at our local Carp fisheries.

Dave Bennett (Stourbridge) used it to take the winners' purse at the latest Northfield Starlets Veterans contest on Tuesday at Moorlands Farm's Meadow pool.

Waggler fishing at peg 57, Dave put 63-12-0 of Carp on the scales to put club secretary Mick Taylor (Northfield) into second place with 36-4-0; third, John Allington (Hereford), 34-0-0.

On Wednesday, the Astwood Fisheries Buddleia pool open was won by Rob Francis (Droitwich Angling Centre) with a pole corn and pellet catch of 56-6-0 from peg 51. Second was John Halfpenny (Astwood) with 29-0-0 and third, Richard Blight (Rexell AC), taking 27-0-0.

At Moorlands Farm, the Meadow pool open was topped by Colin Pace (Bilston) who pole fished corn at peg 48 to take 96-3-0 of Carp. Mal Coley (West Mids) was second with 88-11-0 while David James (Trabucco) was third with 83-14-0.

The evening Meadow pool open saw James move up a gear to put 129-0-0 on the scales for victory by pole fishing corn at peg 52. Harry Ward (Moorlands) took 73-8-0 for second with third going to John Chance (Moorlands) with 68-0-0.

Poole Hall's Heron pool played host to the West Midlands Civil Service Barry Cooper Memorial Cup contest. Birmingham's Graham Upton took the honours by pole fishing meat in the margins of peg 35 to take 32-10-0. Close on his heels was Alan Cripwell (Birmingham) with 30-12-0; third, John Cole (Bewdley), 24-14-0.

Thursday's Moorlands Farms costcutter open was again on the Meadow pool with Adam Toal showing the way by pole fishing meat at peg 19 for 88-9-0. Welsh wizard Giles Cochrane (Pill Angling) was second with 84-3-0 and third was Alan Christie (Moorlands), taking 67-15-0.

The KH Veterans held their event at Barborne pool, Cotheridge, and it was Derek Buckle (Bewdley) who took a winning catch of 40-9-0 by pole fishing meat in the margins of peg one for 40-9-0. Second place went to lady angler Pat Kavanagh (Stourbridge) with 26-12-0 and third to John Cole (Bewdley) with 25-13-0.

The Midland Bears Disabled AA were at Woodlands View Ghost pool and it was Al Lees (Charford) who continued his good form by pole fishing strawberry flavoured meat at peg 14 to take 34-8-0 of Carp. Second place went to Keith Chambers (Shirley) with a level 25-0-0 while third was Jim Bennett's (Barnsley) 23-8-0.

Woodlands View's Friday afternoon open was held on Deans and High pools. Taking a close victory was Dean Cherrington (Sensas Midland Match) who pole fished corn and casters at Deans peg 22 for 62-12-0. Tim Guise (Mosella Slapheads) took second with 61-10-0 and third was Anthony Rogers (Preston Inovations), taking 58-13-0.

Saturday saw round three of the Preston Inovations Spring League held at Woodlands View.

Topping the individual list was Kevin Walker (Sensas Midland Match) who pole fished chopped worms and casters at Deans pool peg 23 for 42-8-0. Second went to Rodgers (Preston Inovations) 42-5-0 and third to Roger Hampson (Fishermans Friend) with 37-5-0.

The top four-man team was Colmic Blue with 18 points; Daiwa Trentmen Plus 23; Ted Caters 25. Overall leading team is Daiwa Trentmen Red with 68; Ted Carters 75; Sensas Midland Match 79.

The Moorlands Farm open was won by Jason Neath (Shakespeare) by pole fishing corn at Meadow pool peg 11 for 138-13-0. Next was Darren Clewley (Wesson), taking 128-5-0 followed by Mick Hensall (Fosters MG) in third with 99-11-0.

The evening Bank pool open went to James (Trabucco) who fished corn in the margins of peg four for 133-0-0. Vic Bush (Mosella SW) followed with 87-4-0 while third went to Harry Ward's (Moorlands) 65-1-0.

On Sunday, the 100 AC held their sixth and final round of its individual winter league on the Staffordshire-Worcestershire Canal at Greensforge.

In first place was Keith Woodhead. Staked opposite the tyres by the marina, he pole fished squats and pinkies for 1-4-0 of Gudgeon. Second, from the next peg, was Gary Booth with 1-1-8 with third going to Steve Marke's 1-0-0.

Booth was the league winner with 15 points; second Keith Woodhead 21; joint third, Mick Tremlett and Tony Brunn with 22.

Astwood Fisheries Buddleia pool open was headed by Rob Francis (Droitwich Angling Centre) with a pole and corn catch of 32-2-0. Paul Sibley (Sheldon Heath) took 20-2-0 or second; third, Clive Duggan (Droitwich Angling Centre), 18-5-0.

Woodlands View's Deans pool open was won by John Allerton (Strettons) with 37-13-0 taken with pole corn and meat from peg 43. Second was Lee Edwards (Pill Angling) with 36-10-0 and third, Cochrane (Pill Angling), taking 30-0-0.

Moorlands Farm's event was topped by Chris Cameron (DGL) who pole fished corn up in the water at Meadow pool peg 21 for 112-0-0. Runner-up Chris Hill (Fosters MG) had 93-5-0 and third Mal Talbot (Kamasan) took 87-4-0.