Match fishing

RIVER fishing is out of the question for anglers for the next couple of weeks after the floods sent the Thames, Cherwell and Thame over their banks.

So it will be a case of stillwaters or the Oxford Canal this weekend for matchmen and pleasure anglers.

The canal came into its own last weekend, although Littlemore AS managed to stage their Steve Denny Shield on the Thames at Sandford Lock, where the 11 anglers caught a total of 34lb 7.0oz from the cut.

Pete Clarke fished the pole at 11m and had three bream and a few roach on worm for a winning 11.11.0.

Second-placed Brian Hutchings caught four skimmers and a few roach on pole and pinkie for 7.8.0, followed by Paul Brant with a bream and a few roach for 6.4.0.

The practice match for the next round of the Angling Trust Oxford Winter League was fished by a disappointingly low turn-out of 20 anglers on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Great Bedwyn.

Steve Nadin (Garbolino Blackmore Vale) led them home with 12.5.0 of mainly skimmers on worm, caster and red maggot over groundbait and chopped worm.

John Williams (Sensas A4) was close behind with 11.6.0 of skimmers on a variety of baits, while Richard Head (Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths) took third with 6.8.0 of bits, plus a couple of skimmers.

Kidlington AS were on the canal at New Bridge for their Joan Hill Memorial Trophy and most were hoping to find the big perch that feature along the stretch.

However, it was skimmers that won the day for Dave Scott-Picton. He caught seven of them, plus five roach, on bread and worm to top the 14-man field with 10.9.0.

In second spot was Steve Heath with 6.9.0 of roach to 12 ounces on chopped worm, while Dougie Foreshaw was third with 5.0.0, comprising two skimmers and a perch of 2lb.

Henry Clarke was out of luck with 0.13.0 after drawing a noted hot-spot and the golden peg, the perch failing to show.

Just six anglers fished the Masons AC points match, which was switched from the Thames at Folly to the canal at the Rock of Gibraltar.

Steve Wildman alternated between pole and feeder to find three bream for 7.4.0, followed by Martin Robinson with 2.0.0 of skimmers. He also lost three bream.

OTHER RESULTS

Oakfield: (Wednesday, Red Kite & Swallow Lakes, 20 fished) 1 M Giles (RS Baits) 50.13.0, 2 K Worthington (Dynamite Oakfield) 45.4.0, 3 J Brewster (26.8.0).

Oakfield: (Saturday, Red Kite & Swallow Lakes, 25 fished) 1 W Clarke (Ernest Turner) 35.7.0, 2 M Sawyer (Dynamite Baits) 26.6.0, 3 M Stickley (Ernest Turner) 25.14.8. Oakfield: (Sunday, Red Kite Lake, 12 fished) 1 A Foulkes (Dynamite Oakfield) 41.13.8, 2 R Cave (Isis Oxford) 25.10.8, 3 N Read (Dynamite Oakfield) 19.8.8.

TOMORROW'S FIXTURE

 (Subject to change due to river conditons) Littlemore AS: APC Challenge Cup, Channel. Draw 7.30, fishing 8.45-1.45.