After last year's floods - the worst since 1947 - plus the foot and mouth epidemic, local anglers have now had to put up with a freeze.

Last week, the Thames by Osney Island had a thin layer of ice over it, while the pits at Linch Hill and Stanton Harcourt were also covered in ice.

Not that a big freeze necessarily spells the end of angling. I remember a few years ago fishing a Buckingham Open on the Ouse when ice almost covered the river.

I was trotting bread down the middle and caught several chub and roach to take second spot. The match was won with three bream for 21lb.

Before last week's freeze, there were some good roach being caught at Linch Hill. On his second trip to the venue, Steve Gardner from Woodbridge landed several fish around the 1lb mark, but also had a personal best of 3.8.0. All his fish fell to maggot and feeder.

Also landing big fish at this venue was Lee Collings, whose latest carp was a fish weighing 29lb. He was fishing a pop-up over hemp and free offerings.

Orchid Lake at Dorchester was also producing the goods in the shape of a 31.4.0 carp for Hampshire angler Geoff O'Brian, who caught it on a Trigga pop-up fished in a channel at medium range.

Now the ice has disappeared, Little Faringdon, a 40-acre pit owned by Lechlade Trout Fisheries, may be worth a visit.

It holds a lot of pike, the biggest last year weighing in at 36.13.0. Anyone interested can phone Tim Small on 01367 253266 for details.

Hardwick Lake produced a nice pike, weighing 25.8.0, for Nigel Williams from Staffordshire, who drifted a trout deadbait in 6ft of water.

Fishing a local river over at Charlbury, Stewart Moss caught 27lb of quality roach up to 1.2.0.

Kidlington AS members had to break the ice to fish their Hillier Championship on the Oxford Canal.

Bloodworm on the pole was the method of the day and Paul Jackman finished first with 1.9.0 of small roach and gudgeon.

Points (after 12 matches): A Middleton 80, W Hagar 62, T Lester 58, H Clarke 56.

Matt Wyatt put 10.14.8 on the scales, comprising three chub plus bits and a rare trout, to win Oxford Waltonians' open on the Thame at Wheatley.

Phil Farrimond, who put five bream, including a fish of 7.7.0, and a chub on the scales for top weight of 29.13.0 won Wallingford Jolly Anglers' match on the town waters.

Bob Gosbee landed two of only four fish caught by 19 anglers during the Sutton Courtenay match for the Markertow Shield at Otneys. His winning weight was 3.6.0.

This week's fixtures

Saturday

Oakfield Fishery: Tel 01296 770492.

Radley Fishery: Tel 07973 251829.

Sunday

Dorchester: Hayward Cup, Meadside. Draw 8.00.

Wallingford Jolly Anglers: Club match, Benson Reach. Draw 7.30.

Sutton Courtenay: Pike Shield, Weir Pools. Draw 8.00.

ODAA: Medley, Donnington

Littlemore AS: Canal Cup, Canal Wolvercote Green to allotments. Draw 7.15.

Kidlington: Green Road Social Club Winter League, Cherwell. Draw 8.00.