SWAN AC member Jim Collins won his club's fur and feather contest with a weight of just 2-11-0.

Fished on a frost affected BAA section of the Worcester to Birmingham canal, the match attracted a good turnout of talented towpath specialist where Collins made the most of his end peg draw above Blackpole bridge.

Starting with his single caster bait presented tight to the reeds, Collins was rewarded with two perch, each weighing over a pound, during the first half of the match.

With no more fish coming to the bait Collins changed his approach to breadpunch, finding a shoal of tiny roach, no doubt attracted to the area after with the removal of the two big predators, and continued to take the small fish through to the end of the contest.

Second place went to Gerald Hemming, making his debut for the club, with one good perch taken on chopped worm early in the match, followed by small 'blade' roach falling to breadpunch and together weighing 1-10-0.

Canal veteran Nigel Harvey was third who, after loosing a good fish, managed 1-2-0 of small 'stripeys' and fourth Dave Lowe with 0-14-10.

* Carp were shoaled up tight at Moorlands Farm for Saturday's big Winter League event where adjacent pegs on the Meadow pool produced over 300 pounds of fish!

Coming out on top again was the venues leading performer Lee Richards (Fosters Gold) who hammered out 110-12-0 from peg 13 on the Meadow pool using sweetcorn in conjunction with the waggler.

Using similar tactics on the next peg 14 was Clive Munslow (Hybrids) who continued his successful run by netting 103-12-0.

Third placed man Neville Groves (Moorlands) took the best weight from the Bank pool when he recorded 93-7-0 from peg eight while Tony Parker (Lifestyle) weighed in a level 93 pounds from fancied peg 12 on the Meadow.

Best team on the day were Hybrids with 62 points followed by Shakespeare with 53 and Team Wessons with 48.

The league after five rounds puts Team Wessons in front with 67 points ahead of Hybrids with 66 and Lifestyle Blue on 62.

n Moorlands Farm hosted two matches, one on the silver fish pool and one on the Bank and Moors pool.

The silver fish event saw Starlets ace Paul Downes win comfortably with 22-14-0 taken on bloodworm and joker, second was Alan Higgs (Abbey) with 15-4-0 and third was the England team manager Mark Downes (Starlets) weighing 12-10-0.

The carp match went once again to Clive Munslow with a weight of 35-5-0 all his fish coming to sweetcorn on the waggler from peg six on the Bank pool. Runner up was Mark Clewes with 25-14-0 and third, Kerion Rich (Tricast) 25-10-0.

Following a successful trial at the Hallcroft fishery, Moorlands will be hosting a 'double' match on Sunday, December 30 where the winners of both the silver fish and carp contests will both pick up £400.

Also on Tuesday's over the holiday period will be junior opens sponsored by Badger tackle. Details for all events from John Talbot on 01299 250427.

* Nic Hill's domination of local stillwaters continued when he won the first round of the Portobello AC winter series, fished on the club pool at Rushwick last weekend.

After taking the honours during the previous weeks Alans Tackle fur and feather contest Hill was in a confident mood, even when he drew unfancied peg 12. Presenting white maggot close into the bankside vegetation, Hill landed four similar sized carp giving him victory with a weight of 12-4-0.

Second placed man Ivor Taylor also needed carp on peg eight where he netted two samples on sweetcorn, the best around eight pounds, giving him a total of 10-5-0.

Third was Graham Collins with one carp weighing 5-4-0 which took the unusual offering of macaroni cheese! while club secretary Max Hill secured fourth spot with 3-12-0 of tench and roach.

PROSPECTS: Competitors on this Sunday's WDUAA winter league could find the canal difficult with breadpunch being a good starting bait whilst chopped worm or caster will produce the winner.

Meanwhile the Severn is in excellent winter trim providing float fisherman with a rare opportunity to practise their art! Beachaump Court mudflats along with the ever popular Pitchcroft are the venues to head for.