Angling: Rod experts battle through winter weather to land carp

DETERMINED anglers did their best to capitalise on waters where the icy weather failed to freeze out match action.

Messingham Sands managed to get enough ice broken for two matches to go ahead last weekend, and both saw decent weights netted.

The Oasis Lakes fishery, at North Somercotes, freed the water thanks to an aerator.

Improving angler Jamie Whitley won a small Saturday match there. He stuck out on the feeder and caught 23lb of carp and skimmers.

Renowned Grimsby angler Tim Chapman finished second, with 19lb.

Even all-round ace Andrew Hutson had no joy at Waltham, meanwhile. He failed to get a bite all day.

This weekend, it's worth contacting the fisheries before you set out to check the conditions.

I understand there is to be no action at Saltfleetby, but Wold View will be hosting open matches on the bronze lake today and tomorrow. Messingham Sands will be okay again, and pleasure anglers will be able to fish at Oasis Lakes.

Last Sunday, I visited Cleethorpes Country Park and ventured to the beck side where I found dedicated local angler Dave Lord, a respected river angler known for his expertise with chopped worm.

Using that technique, he enjoyed a good day catching quality roach as well a decent-sized perch for an overall bag of more than 10lb.

He said he had caught double that amount the previous weekend.

He advised that if the fish do not latch on to the bread punch straight away, change to another bait – but if the fish are snapping the punched bread, you are more likely to catch a better quality of roach.

There was a good depth of water at the beck and a good flow, which I find you need to get the fish going.

Anglers broke the ice on the Oak Tree Lake last Wednesday for a well-attended match at Messingham Sands.

Up-and-coming Grimsby angler Scott Macateer, who has benefited from some excellent coaching at the NATs club, beat a strong field.

He weighed in 42.8lb. He had ten small carp, along with skimmers and roach. He fished top two, plus two on the pole, and used 4mm soft pellets as bait.

In second place was fishery owner and very good silver fish angler Kev Johnson, on 31lb.

Grimsby angler Tony Woods came third, on 26lb.

Excellent weights were recorded considering the weather conditions. Even the seventh-placed angler caught 19lb.

An earlier Open match at Messingham, fished amid freezing conditions and fog, was won by Brigg's Keith Harrison. He bagged 24lb, using pinkies over groundbait to find a better stamp of skimmer bream than most, with the fish averaging about 4-6lb.

The Silverfish Only Open, which took place last Saturday, was won by Scunthorpe's Neil Vessey.

He fished seven metres to hand on soft pellet over groundbait, building up an excellent 35lb of skimmers, from 2-10oz, as well as landing nine carp that had to be returned un-weighed.

The average weight per angler was more than 20lb.

Anglers fishing this popular series are not perturbed by freezing conditions – it usually means an opportunity to hold the match on water usually reserved for pleasure angling.

Glen Collins led the way in the Sunday Open.

The Hull angler caught a mixed net of carp and skimmers, totalling 28lb.

He alternated between soft 4mm pellets and maggots, and kept the fish coming to the net all day.