Birmingham to Worcester canal is still closed

TONY BRUNN

THERE has been a lot of confusion for the past couple of weeks over which stretches of canals have been re-opened for fishing.

Well, at going to press, I can confirm that the BAA's Birmingham-Worcester Canal is still closed until further notice, as many farms that border it could be contaminated by foot and mouth, but stretches of the Staffordshire-Worcestershire Canal are now open and are fishing well.

I went to Hinkesford on Tuesday and took a nice net of roach to caster bait, fished down the track together with plenty of gudgeon on pinkies off the far shelf. It was pleasant to be back on the cut again, even if I did get soaked through.

On the match scene, Tuesday's Woodlands View Affordable open was won by John Hague (Woodlands) by pole fishing worm and casters at Arles Pool peg seven for 51-6-0, Paul Foster (Blackheath) was second with 46-8-0, third Bill Drew (Bewdley) 40-3-0.

Northfield's Starlets Veterans were at Moorlands Farm's Meadow Pool which saw Bewdley's Stan James long pole casters and maggots up in the water at peg 12 for a top catch 50-3-0. Bob Knight (Bewdley) was second with 36-1-0 and lady angler Pat Kavanagh (Stourbridge) was third with 31-5-0.

On Wednesday the Moorlands Farm Meadow Pool open was won by John Knott (Moon AC) who headed a good list of catches with 128-1-0 of carp taken with pole and corn from peg 16. Aaron Munslow (DC Lifestyle) took the only other ton up catch of 116-6-0, third Ralph Baxter (Gloucs) 90-14-0.

Big catches continued for the Thursday Special open which was also held on the Meadow Pool, and Mark Pincher (DC Lifestyle) showed the way by pole fishing corn and meat in the margins of peg seven for 112-8-0. His young team-mate Aaron Munslow had to settle for second place again with 96-12-0, third Paul Rowberry (Severn Trent) 85-14-0.

The Starlets Veterans Thursday Club had its first visit to Hay Farm near Bewdley, which saw Harold Willey (Kidderminster) take a top catch 39-12-0 of carp with fish up to ten pounds on waggler fished bread up in the water from Curtis Pool peg eight. Second John Osman (Northfield) 31-8-0, third Terry Kavanagh (Stourbridge) 18-10-0.

On Friday the Moorlands Farm Costcutter open gave Mark Pincher (DC Lifestyle) a double victory. Pole fishing corn and meat at Meadow Pool peg 59 he put together a 75-0-0 carp catch. Bob Jones (Moorlands) was second with 72-8-0, third Aaron Munslow (DC Lifestyle) 66-8-0.

Five ton up catches were recorded at the Saturday Bank and Meadow Pools open which was headed by the very in-form Lee Richards (Fosters MG) with 185-10-0 that consisted of 56 carp taken from Meadow peg 56 on pole and corn. Runner up Chris Hill (Fosters MG) had 139-3-0, third Neil McKinnon (Shakespeare) 130-10-0.

The Woodlands View open was won by Gary Etheridge (Daiwa Swindon) with a pole, worm and caster catch of 80-7-0. Close on his heels was Kevin Walker (GTI Midland Match) with 80-1-0, third Roger Hampson (GTI Midland Match) 73-7-0.

Sunday's Woodlands View Deans Pool open was topped by Rich Hoskins (Fox MG) with carp up to ten pounds taken with pole fished worm up in the water from 151-9-0 from peg 36. Second Paul Rouse (Shimano Portway) 87-14-0, third Rob Gandley (Shakespeare) 70-14-0.

The evening Deans Pool event saw Mark Godfrey (Shakespeare) pole fish worms up in the water at peg 36 for a 73-6-0 catch. Second Alistair Chisholm (Nathans Gear) 64-10-0, third Paul Sibley (GTI Midlands Match) 59-2-0.

The 100 AC took on Rexel AC Black in a second round Angling Times VDE Supercup qualifier at Lower Broadheath's Island Pool with the 12 man 100 AC squad going through to the semi finals at Earlswood Lakes in June with 49 points to Rexel's 32. 100 AC members also took the top individual places headed by John Burns who feeder fished red maggots at peg 15 for 18-1-0 of carp. Second Rob Francis 15-14-0, third Neil Ferriday 12-11-0.

Astwood Fisheries Smokey Joe's Pool open was won by John Baillon (Droitwich ACMG) with a waggler and caster mixed catch of 25-1-0. Second Paul Goodchild (Austin SS) 24-8-0, third Paul Hanford (Weoley Castle) 17-0-0.

Long Nuke AC were at Hinkesford on the Staffs-Worcs Canal for its Still Water Cup with Northfield's top rod Jim Pedley pole fishing casters down the track for a winning 5-8-0 of roach. Second Pete May 4-3-0, third Lloyd Buffery 2-12-0.

More big catches came from Moorlands Farm and the Daytime open saw Lee Richards (Fosters MG) start the day off well with 112-13-0 from Meadow peg 55 with pole and corn up in the water. Second Grant Allbutt (Daiwa Dorking) 110-9-0, third Neville Groves (Moorlands) 95-8-0.

Lee Richards went on to make it a triple victory by winning the three hour evening open, fishing same style for 81-5-0 from Bank peg six. Second Neville Groves (Moorlands) 74-14-0, third Mick Henshall (Fosters MG) 62-0-0.

Squirrel AC fished its contest on Moorlands Farm's Silverfish Pool and the record was upped once again with Richard Evans pushing it closer to the ton with 85-15-0 of mixed fish by pole fishing double caster at peg 37. Second Dave Lewis 47-15-0, third Andy Bentley 40-6-0.

Moorlands Farm's Ultimate League qualifiers have now finished and the final will be held in June for the top 40, with £30,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. To see if you have any chance of a part of this loot call John Talbot on 01299 250427.

Trout catches from Silligrove Fishery show that some nice Rainbows are being taken, and Bewdley's Craig Williams had 14 fish up to eight pounds using Pheasant Tail Nymphs, and Martin Allchurch from Brierley Hill took 12 fish on Viva Buzzers nudging nine pounds.