ANGLING ROUND-UP IMPROVING weather greeted the Manea pikemen who travelled to the Twenty Foot river at the weekend, and they found the pike in a feeding mood. Tom Mitchell connected to two double pike and two smaller ones for a winning weight of 32 pound

ANGLING ROUND-UP

IMPROVING weather greeted the Manea pikemen who travelled to the Twenty Foot river at the weekend, and they found the pike in a feeding mood.

Tom Mitchell connected to two double pike and two smaller ones for a winning weight of 32 pounds. Barry Linney came in second place with seven pike, but they were all small and only weighed 18-08 pounds. Third place went to Steve Newell with four pike.

This weekend, the Manea pikemen are back on home water, fishing their club pit on Sunday morning.

Also on Sunday, the March club hold the fifth Old Nene Town Open, and with the lack of rain, cold weather, and very clear water, things are going to be tough for a smaller than average field of anglers.

However, with all the best pegs on the river in the draw, some of us should have a good day. The bypass section could produce the winner if the tench feed, but if they don't, Nene Parade will be the place to be drawn.

The draw will take place at 8am at The Windmill Rooms and fishing is from 10am to 3pm.

Last Sunday, the March club competed in two competitions - the Hajac Winter League and the Chatteris Winter League.

In the Hajac Winter, fished on Factory Bank at Ramsey and Raveley Drain, John Young from March, fishing for March Select, came out on top with 11-08.

Fishing on Raveley Drain, John fished pinkie over ground bait to take some skimmer bream, then took 30 roach on hemp to four ounces.

Second place went to Dave Stone fishing for Wades Tackle of Peterborough with 9-15.

Tony Nash of Browning Hot Rods was third with 9-04 and Steve Gordon of Peterborough fourth with 7-13.

On the team front, Hot-Rods came out on top with 19 points, Stanjays Specials were second with 22 points, Peterborough were third, and March Select fourth. The second March team did not do quite so well, finishing in eighth place.

In the Chatteris League, Dave Priestly, fishing an end peg, came out on top with an all roach catch scaling 13 pounds. All the fish were taken on pinkie over groundbait.

Greg Brown was second with 9-15. Andy May, sitting between Dave and Greg, was third with 7-12, and match organiser John Roper was fourth.

I was fifth with just over six pounds, and Alex Bates was sixth.

Over at Spalding the Bourne Winter League took place on the River Glen, and John Whincup drew very close to where he won the previous week's practice match.

He hit top spot again with 12 pounds of roach, and like last week, all were taken on bread punch.

Second place went to Rob Hewison, fishing for match group Dick Clegg Mark One, who netted 9-05, and John Means from Peterborough was third with 9-02.

Still fishing well and worth a visit are the River Wissey at Hilgay, and the River Wensum around Norwich.

Both venues are producing plenty of roach to the one-pound mark, and the Wensum is also producing some good skimmer bream.