DESPITE gales trying to make life difficult for anglers taking advantage of the warm spell, local coarse rods have been active and successful this week.

On Aldin Grange, pleasure nets have seen skimmers, ide, roach and carp all falling to maggot and roach have been the species providing sport on Whittle Dene, although skimmers to almost 2lb were reported midweek.

At last the rivers of the north seem to be getting back to normal levels, at least those North of Yorkshire.

Chub to 4lb have been taken from the Wear at Shincliffe, while the Lower Tees has enjoyed a spate of decent perch catches with three different spots yielding “stripeys” over 2lb.

Sunday’s Open match on Aldin Grange saw carp dominate, Martin Cryer securing first place with 27lb of carp all taken on maggot.

Second place went to David Barret with 19lb 10oz of carp and small silvers, while third position was claimed by John Nelson with 12lb 8oz of carp and roach.

Again MarkBritton won Sunday’s Winter League match on Eden Meadows with 33lb 4oz and he tops the league with 110 points after 11 matches.

Stephen Dunlop was runner-up having 20 lb and Norman Laing was third with 10lb, while Geoff Lincoln had the heaviest fish of the day, a 7lb 8oz carp.

The piking on Esthwaite Water has been first-class over the holidays with Steve Hinks taking a 22lb 10oz pike while fishing deadbait from the boats.

Chris Harris landed a 24lb plus another 14lb fish from the boats and Barry Brookes took a 19lb 8oz Pike as well as a 5lb Rainbow using static deadbait.

Markus Rungeling took a nice 23lb specimen while bank fishing with sardine deadbait and venue regular Fonz Howard took fish of 14lb 2oz and 25lb 14oz from the banking in the North basin.

Fifteen--year-old James MacDonald from Garstang bank fished next to the ticket office and got his best ever Christmas present in the shape of a fine 19lb 2oz specimen.

AFTER last year’s launch of the Broom Fisheries Season Ticket, it has been decided to again issue a limited number for 2013 issued on a first-come-first-served basis.

They will be valid all year and the cost will be £100 for an adult, £50 for juniors.

If you would like a season ticket, hand in your details at the on-site tackle shop or write to her at The Lodge, Broom Farm Estate, Annan, Dumfriesshire DG12 5PF.