STUART Spencer netted a rare canal carp to win the 20-peg Worcester and District United Anglers’ Association open on the Diglis and Commandery sections.

Spencer concentrates mainly on the local canal these days and was more than pleased when he drew the end peg at Diglis.

Basing his attack around chopped worm in the centre channel, the former Eckington match secretary netted the carp, a fish of around four pounds, early on.

He topped up his net with small perch for a final winning weight of 4lbs 15oz 1dr.

Runner-up Nick Young netted two good skimmers on breadpunch from Diglis before changing to pinkie bait to take bleak and finish with a 3-4 catch.

Local star Mark Newman claimed third prize with a skimmer and roach net on the punch going 2-14.

Weighing in the best catch from the Commandery section was Ray Bromsgrove with 2-10.

Members of the Whitehall AC held their annual fur and feather contest on the club pool at Cotheridge.

In-form Dave Warren made the most of the terrible conditions to take a winning mixed bag of 26-12.

By offering pellet and meat at 12 metres, Warren netted carp, chub and bream at regular intervals.

Second place went to Keith Holt, who used pellet on peg 26 to take an all-carp 12-10 to the scales.

Barry Hickman needed just a single carp, weighing 9-6, for third, beating Colin Davis’ 8-8 fourth-placed catch from peg 24.

Eckington’s latest club match on the Avon started well with everyone catching fish.

But, after an hour, the river started to rise quickly, cancelling out many swims. Pegs around covert corner, however, were less affected with venue expert Andy Millyard netting two bream on feeder tactics from peg 33 for a winning weight of 8-4.

The same tactics were used by all the leading contenders with runner-up Eddie Haynes taking one bream and a few silvers to the scales from peg 31 going 5-11.

Dave Ford claimed third place with a small skimmer net of 5-4 off peg 35 to beat Colin Harvey’s five-skimmer haul of 3-14 which came from downstream peg 11.

Sunday sees the big Eckington Christmas match take place on the same venue.

Cobb House Fisheries, Wednesday open, Laugherne island pool: 1 M Jones 50-1, peg 19; 2 P Hughes 42-9, peg 31; 3 C Phipps 39-7, peg 11; Saturday open, Wyatt’s pool: 1 C Jones 68-15, peg 10; 2 M Picher 55-8, peg 26; 3 J Lowe 41-10, peg eight.

Moorlands Farm Wednesday over 50s open: 1 M Lefevre 67-0; 2 D Williams 60-3; 3 J Bagley 47-12; Saturday open: 1 L Richards 75-0; 2 J Bagley 72-12; 3 N Groves 66-3; Sunday open: 1 M Roberson 53-9; 2 J Evans 39-3; 3 J Gaylard 35-0.

Ombersley AC start their new season on December 20 and have vacancies for new members.

The club boasts regular Sunday and Thursday contests along with team matches and occasional opens.

They also own their own pool, a stretch of the River Salwarpe and some canal waters.

Local anglers interested in joining can contact the secretary Phil Green on 07934-440249.

Prospects: Sunday’s WDUAA winter league could be the hardest yet with competitors avoiding the dreaded dry net.

Small baits, like squatt and pinkie, should be the order of the day along with the humble breadpunch.