THE roach population on the local canal have been missing recently but things changed when Mick Hands took 3-2-0 of redfins to win the first Thursday evening open.

Drawn on peg 138 below the Cavalier, Hands started across the canal using groundbait and pinkie against the reeds, but after netting just a few small fish in the first hour the Pershore Match Group star changed tactics for the remaining two hours of the contest.

By presenting yellow maggot into the deeper centre channel Hands was rewarded with a six ounce roach almost straight away, a continuation of this approach saw him net a further half a dozen fish before the final whistle providing him with a victory after a number of near misses on the venue.

Runner up was canal record holder Colin Davis (Greenman) who, on nearby peg 135, used his favourite pinkie bait to take 2-7-8 of small roach and perch from the far side.

After struggling for the first two hours on peg 151, Kidderminster canal ace Gary Owen found roach queuing up to take his hempseed bait in the final minutes of the contest finishing with a third placed 2-0-14.

There will be another open on Thursday evening, draw 5.30pm at the Cavalier.

Pinkie

n WDUAA delegates found the carp at Bennetts farm pools in an unresponsive mood but Phoenix representative Gary Summers showed his initiative by swiftly changing tactics to target silver fish. Pole fishing pinkie bait at nine metres produced a run of small skimmers which along with a two pound bream gave Summers top spot with a weight of 5-8-0. Pinning his faith in a larger quarry like most competitors was Carrs Paints AC member Ray Ravenhall who fortunately took tench and skimmers to secure second place with a weight of 3-12-0 whilst superintendent bailiff Wayne Price came third with 2-14-0.

* WDUAA national squad are holding an open match on the canal between pegs 120 and 230 on Sunday, June 23. Draw will be at the Cavalier at 8.30 with fishing from 10am until 3pm. Details from Colin Pettifer on 01905 25193 or Gary Summers on 01905 451761.

* Swan AC members continued with their travels around the areas towpath venues when they held their latest club contest on the Worcester to Birmingham canal at Alvechurch. First place, on a difficult match, went to club star Jim Collins. Veteran member Nigel Harvey, meanwhile, had the slightest distraction of a cow walking through his swim!

After starting the year at a blistering pace, Collins recent run of bad results had halted his progress to retain the aggregate trophy but this win has seen him reinstated at the top of the leader board. Netting a good skimmer in the opening minutes Collins went on to add small fish from both near and far sides of the canal to finish with a meagre winning total of 2-12-10. Second place went to the winner's son Andy with a small roach and gudgeon catch weighing 1-7-6 whilst big fish expert Rod Guise secured third place thanks to a ten ounce skimmer taken first cast and a few bits totalling 1-7-6.

Club points after 12 rounds puts Jim Collins back on top with 246 followed by young Craig Bennett with 220 and Dave Anderson third on 200.

* This Sunday sees the long awaited close season on rivers come to an end and while canals and stillwaters now remain open throughout the spring, purist will no doubt be out in force on local waterways to celebrate the 'glorious sixteenth'.

For the first time in many years the river Severn could be in top form for opening day after having a recent flush through while retaining a good colour. Target species will be bream and barbel with the swimfeeder in it's various forms the best approach.

Areas to head for would be the 'green door' at the bottom of Beachaump Court while the culvert pegs on Hallow Tip are always a good early season bet along with the bend at Pitchcroft.

Results: Moorlands Farm -- Summer League (3rd round) 1 L. Richards 54-13-0, 2 C. Hill 54-2-0, 3 S. Woodhall 50-11-0. Teams: 1 Top Four 21pts, 2 Wessons 25pts 3 Starlets 28pts. Sunday Open -- 1 S. Richardson 44-12-0, 2 S. Ashby 44-5-0, 3 C. Bagley 36-14-0.