Huge bags on the Old Nene!

Thousands of Britain’s match anglers have enjoyed a festive bonanza as unseasonal  high temperatures lead to some huge catches of both silverfish and carp over the holiday period.
Warm, coloured water and mild temperatures added up to ideal weather for some terrific fishing – and the commercial carp waters weren’t bad either!
However, Mother Nature did her best to spoil the Christmas match calendar for many with gales and floods that swamped much of the North West and West Yorkshire meaning cancelled river matches and travel disruption for many.
The Old River Nene in March produced a stunning result just before Christmas with well over half the
70-plus field weighing in 10lb-plus of roach, Dave Cooper and John Taylor taking first and second with 26-15-0 and 26-1-0 – leaving match organiser Bob Fitzjohn beaming with the form of his local river.
“We all know that when conditions are right, this is the best winter river in the country and this match backs that up,” Bob said. “It bodes well for the Winter League Final in February and I think anglers will be praying to be allocated the Old Nene from their captains! So long as the river doesn’t get too much hammer from practice and the weather stays mild, it should be a brilliant match.”
Also bang in form has been the River Ancholme around Brigg, matches before and after Christmas seeing 20lb-plus winning nets with tench figuring strongly in the warm weather while on commercials, anglers have been baffled by normally summer tactics such as paste and pellet shallow winning!
“Twelve months ago we were sliding about in snow and smashing the ice – this Christmas we’ve been setting up in t-shirts and catching on paste next to the keepnet – it’s madness!” said Tunnel Barn Farm match organiser Les Whetton. “Anglers are weighing in 40lb and not winning a thing but it’s all about bites and they can’t get enough of it.”