CONSTANT angling pressure is no doubt having an effect on the canal in Worcester with James Wilson being the only competitor to better two pounds during the penultimate round of the 40-peg Worcester and District United Anglers Association winter league.

Drawn on permanent peg 170, Wilson used caster bait placed across to the reeds in order to net a perch of around a pound along with a few small roach and rudd.

He then changed his line to the deeper centre channel to find a good 12oz roach towards the end of the match, giving him victory with almost a pound to spare when he took 2-10-8 to the scales.

Consistent canal enthusiast Alan Baldwin recorded his third section win when he netted three good roach and a few small perch on caster from peg 133 to take the runner-up spot with a weight of just 1-11-3.

The preferred lower section on the ‘Blockhouse’ has failed to produce for the last two weeks but Steve Middleton found himself in the frame with a third-placed weight of 1-10-3 coming off peg 225 consisting of three roach taken on caster.

Section winners were: ‘A’ — Martin Hartle; ‘B’ — Paul Harris; ‘C’ — Gary Kirkham; ‘D’ — Rod Guise.

Winners of the team prize on the day were NFC with 14 points followed by Spa Blue on 16 and the Barnards Green team with 18.

With one round to go Spa Blue are comfortably in front with 70 points with NFC second on 84 and Greenman third with 90.

The final round is in two weeks’ time on the same venue.

The Oak Pool at Cob House Fisheries continues to provide excellent sport despite the cold weather with the latest Wednesday open seeing plenty of small carp being taken.

Top rod on the day was Greenman’s Nobby Clarke who continued his excellent run on the fishery by recording a short pole and pellet catch of 92-6-0 from peg three.

Runner-up from peg six was Michael Hendry weighing 72-14-0.

Barbourne carp specialist Pete Hughes was third with 62-11-0 from peg 16, fourth place went to Mick Turberfield’s peg 14 catch of 31-8-0.

For details of all Cob House Fishery open contest contact Helen Taylor on 07889-364410.

Venue regular Lee Richards comfortably won both weekend matches at Moorlands Farm.

The first saw the Top Four angler take 79-6-0 from peg 23 on Bank Pool consisting of around 40 pounds of skimmers along with the usual carp, all caught on pellet at six metres.

Second on the day was fishery manager Mal Watson (DGL) with 49-10-0, while Martin Lefevre (Moorlands) took third place with 38-0-0.

On Sunday’s 20-peg match, held on the Moors Pool, Richards took an all-carp net going 42-8-0 by offering pellet bait at 13 and 16 metres on peg 14.

Andy Humphries finished second with 29-8-0 while Pete Bailey collected third place, weighing in 15-4-0.

Bailey also took the honours during Thursday’s 22-peg Costcutter Open when he weighed in an excellent 100-14-0 of pellet-caught carp from peg 36 on Silver Pool.

Runner-up on this match was Colin Mathews with 45-12-0 followed by Richard Massey weighing 44-2-0.

Prospects: With the advent of cold weather sport has predictably slowed down on canals and still-waters. However little-used areas of the canal such as Diglis and the Commandery could still produce good nets.

Meanwhile, roach have started to figure on the Severn with good nets being taken from the upstream sections at Shrews-bury and Bewdley.