Well here we are again with some more fishy tales to tell you.

Most of the excess water that caused the poor start to the river season has now run off and the local streams are all at around normal summer levels.

I hear the carp fishing at Arrow Valley was very good last week with floating baits taking loads of fish up to the low double figure mark with bream also showing quite well often to sweetcorn hook baits.

Some excellent scores were made in Wednesday night's Dark Lane AC scramble on the Arrow at Oversley. Tony Sabin took pole position with a cracking 21lb 7oz chub bag from peg 5. Tony used his favourite stick float method with casters on the hook.

Runner-up Simon Howl also had chub but lost two big barbel late in the match to leave him with a level 18lb tally to finish ahead of Andy Simmonds with 11lb 6oz and Denholm Gregory with 9lb 1oz.

Chris Oldfield ended his dad John's winning run in the latest Hymatic AC match fished on the Avon at Marlcliff on Friday.

Chris fished the stick with maggot bait from a peg just below the car park to take several nice roach for a 3lb 15oz total. I was second, three ounces adrift after suffering some serious pike trouble for most of the match. John Oldfield was third with 3-8-8 of chub on the feeder with Wally Brown fourth with 3lb 8oz.

In the knockout series John Oldfield overcame Scott Poynton and Wally Brown beat Alan Knight.

Shimano Portway matchman James Pitman took the spoils in the Needles AC open at Skilts pool. He had 5lb 2oz of roach and 20lb 2oz of carp which were sufficient to give him both the prize for the best catch of roach and the best overall weight.

Mark Green (Redditch) had a total of 22lb 14 oz for second place to head Jon Newton (FAPS Trinders) on 19lb 8oz and Mark Allen (Needles) with 17lb 13oz.

Batchley pool fished hard for the latest St. David's AC junior contest on Saturday afternoon, all the leading anglers also lost carp which kept weights down.

Mark Cooper was the pick of the bunch with one fair tench plus bits taken on the waggler with maggots for a 1lb 14oz top catch. Lauren Barr showed the lads how to do it tying with Alan Clark for second place. Both fished the pole for 1lb 3oz catches of small fish. Kieran Styler was next with 1lb 4drms ahead of Lee Davenport with 0-4-8.

Organiser Paul Morris is running the next junior event on July 14 (12.30pm) draw at the pool. Call Paul on 451156.

Some fair catches were taken in the Needles AC club match on the Alne on Sunday.

Jason Darby topped the field of 28 anglers with a 6lb 12oz return. Casters fished in conjunction with a small feeder rig did the trick and Jason had a barbel of 4lb 12oz plus chublets for his weight.

Rick Liddell was next with a 4lb 9oz catch of chub and roach on pole fished casters to lead club stalwart Barry Feldhahn with a level 4lb chub catch. Neil Clee nicked fourth place with 3lb 4oz and section prizes went to Bob Brazil (1-6-0) Roger Styler (2-15-0) Richard Hobday (3-3-0) and Bob Allen (2-9-0).

If you have any match reports, good pleasure catches or any other bits of angling news give me a ring on (01527)457485 or 07879 624248 or e-mail me on johnbushel1@netscape.net.

Tight Lines!