It just gets better and better at the Leeds Liverpool Canal

With the Leeds Liverpool Canal in fantastic form this past fortnight, there was little doubt that lots of anglers would be out visiting many of our prolific areas that stretch out to the Saracens Head in Halsall as the word got about this week.

As a great supporter of Liverpool & District AA, I’m one who’s always been complimentary of the great work that the association officers have done being fully committed to preserving our great canal. Now, given the huge catches that have been clearly visible to all by enjoying the fishing upon our ‘famous cut’, the evidence of the association’s work is there before us to see.

With bream, skimmers, some fantastic nets of roach and catches of tench that are beginning to emulate the historic catches known to many of us ‘older’ anglers across the region, the canal has been in fantastic form for everyone to see and if you’re not a member, look no further than the association website at liverpooldistrictangling.co.uk.

As a match angling enthusiast, I’m one for encouraging every angler to take the opportunity to peruse all the match angling results available wherever possible, especially before making a visit to any prospective area or venue.

READ MORE: Superb turnout leads to close results

Taking last Sunday’s match held at Lydiate back to Maghull for example, with 64 pegs consisting of 16 teams of four involved in this one, this was a competition that saw bream showing everywhere within a match that was topped by a superb winning 44lb taken by Daz Shaw from Greater Manchester. That weight from the ‘duck’s length near Westway, Maghull.

A 38lb catch by Ian Morrison (2nd) on the Drums, along with Dave Nicholson’s 21lb nearby, also underlined this great section’s reputation, a firm favourite for many.

Then there was Maghull’s Peter Keenan’s catch on the Running Horse’s length. Keenan’s 30lb catch of bream, again mirrored what was happening on every section as he took third place on the day.

Tench to 4lb were also taken on the day, but what was even more exciting was the number of fish from last year’s stocking which had showed and which had clearly grown in size since being released under the association’s latest stocking programme.

Again, a clear indication and a reminder to us all of how important every single membership purchased by joining the L&DAA is important towards keeping our fabulous fishery together as one of the best in the country. If you’re not a member join today by accessing the above website.

On the club scene, Mersey Dockers took a trip to the Alliance’s superb venue at Chapel Pool on Saturday. This one saw Ricky Vogel Snr take the top honours as he pipped Gavin Charnock. Vogul took 59.1.0 which very closely pushed Charnock’s 58.14.0 into second. Tom Clooney (52.4.0) took third place.

Sunday saw the Alliance lads staying at home and here it saw Fazakerley’s John Watson take the club’s top honour’s with his 82.8.0 of carp taken on maggot.

Kirkby’s Glyn Jones (76.14.0) just edged out third-placed Steve Cain’s 76.5.0. Over at Carr Mill Dam on Monday, St Helens AA paid homage to one of the association’s most respected past members holding the Des Lowcock memorial Trophy Match.

Fittingly, on a dam in fine form, long-standing member, friend and association treasurer Arthur Cunnliffe took the top honours with a 21lb catch of bream and skimmers.