LAST Sunday saw the first Town Open of the winter season take place on the Old Nene through March and once again it lived up to its reputation as being one of the best winter venues in the country. The match was split into two sections. One was above the

LAST Sunday saw the first Town Open of the winter season take place on the Old Nene through March and once again it lived up to its reputation as being one of the best winter venues in the country.

The match was split into two sections. One was above the BMX track at Wigston Bridge and the rest stretched from the Town Bridge out to the marina above the Bypass Bridge - which is where the winner came from.

Nottingham's Chris Jenkinson drew the end peg 74.

He landed two tench for 7lb and rudd and roach for a winning total of 23-11.

Second place went to Mick Nowicki, with 22lb, who was pegged behind the swimming pool.

Stu Wilson and Mick Pool, from March both won their sections.

The next match on the Nene is on Sunday, November 18.

Last Sunday saw the practise match take place for the Angling Times Winter League on the River Cam and this venue also fished well.

Alistair Ogilvie, fishing on the Lane End section, took top spot with six chub and one tench for a winning weight of 17-15.

Elsewhere, on the rivers, the Nene at Benwick is worth a visit, with plenty of roach showing in the village centre. Raverly Drain is also starting to fish well for roach, in between the bridge and sluice.

The Twenty Foot at Chain Bridge and the new foot bridge are also fishing well for roach and a place I haven't mentioned lately is Mortons Leam, which is fishing well at Ringsend. This tiny drain is full of roach and well worth a go.

Things have started to slow down on the lakes lately, mainly due to the cold weather.

Over at Decoy last Sunday, Colin Varney only needed little more than 41lb to take top spot in the Mill View Club Match.

Things were a bit better in the Opens, held there last Saturday. On the Beastie Lake, Nigel Baxter took top spot with 78lb.

Then, on Sunday, Ted Sargeant came first on the Willows with 85lb of carp to 4lb.

Townsend Angling Club were fishing on the Ely bank at Highflyers Lake last Sunday last Sunday and found the going hard.

Denis Ward won the match with 25lb, which included 15lb of roach to 12 oz and two carp.

The Opens Matches did fish a bit better and lake owner Kenny gammon won Saturday's Open with 127lb and on Sunday Steve Norman took top spot with 59lb.

Ian Firth was the winner at East Delph Big Lake with 107lb of carp to 8lb last Sunday and Alan Lee took top spot at Head Fen with 87lb of carp to 3lb.

This Saturday sees an Open Match being held on the pool at Fields End Water.

On Sunday, it's the second round of the Chatteris Members Winter League, which will be fished on the Horseway Sluice section of the Forty Foot Drain. Draw time is 9am and fishing will be from 10am-3pm.