THE year ended with reports of good sport from most of the Fenland lakes and rivers. The March and District Angling Association had a busy couple of weeks, kicking off with the match held on the Fen drain, just outside March. Paul Ringham fished close in

THE year ended with reports of good sport from most of the Fenland lakes and rivers.

The March and District Angling Association had a busy couple of weeks, kicking off with the match held on the Fen drain, just outside March.

Paul Ringham fished close in to net a winning total of 9-06, which just beat my net of 9-02.

We then moved to the Twenty Foot drain where all 10 anglers taking part landed 9lb or more. But it was Shaun Strachan who came out on top with an 18-10 net of roach taken on hemp. Paul Ringham was edged into second place with 14-12.

The next match was fished on the Old Nene where Tim Bates (14lb) finished ahead of his son Alex, before the club competed in a sweepstake match at the Horseway Sluice, at Chatteris.

Again, I finished in second place after Greg Brown hooked 15lb to beat my net of 14-01.

On Sunday, we were back at the sluice to fish the Christmas match which went down to the wire.

Dave Priestley junior was the winner with a total of 14-03 but he was pushed all the way by Shaun Strachan, on the next peg, who finished just 1oz behind.

The Manea Pikers have also had a very busy holiday period and they began with a match on the Sixteen Foot, at Stonea, where Steve Newell hooked two fish for a winning 18-04.

Phil Turner netted the biggest fish of the day, weighing in at 13lb.

The club then held an Angling Times ACA Pike qualifier on the same stretch and Norman Knightly won with a net of 20-04.

The pike were certainly in a feeding mood at the Old Bedford River, at Welches Dam, on Sunday, and Barry Linney hooked a 25-12 pike and a 2-10 perch to win the day's match.

The Old Bedford, at Welney, also produced plenty of good sport over the holidays and there were many double-figure catches of roach, along with a few tench and perch.

Many anglers have fished the River Welland, through the centre of Spalding, and there have been a lot of roach to 1.5lb taken on hemp and tares for nets of 30lb or more.

There are many venues worth a visit at the moment, including the cut-off channel and River Wissey, at Hilgay, and the Old Nene, at March and Benwick.

On the lake scene, the Pool, at Fieldsend Water, stayed open throughout the winter for the first time and Doddington angler, Alan Owen reported taking carp to 2lb with maggot on the feeder.

The Mill View Angling Club held an open pairs match at the Decoy complex, at Whittlesey, on Sunday, and two lakes were involved.

The top weight on the Willows Lake was Jason Rostron's 50lb, ahead of Steve Wilmott with 42-12.

On the Six Islands Lake, Barry Mason took top spot with 64-04, while John Smalley finished second with 59-08. The winning pairs were Barry Mason and Ian Crawford.

Mill View are back at Decoy to fish the Horseshoe Lake on Sunday. Anyone interested in taking part in the match should contact Pete at the shop.

The third round of the Chatteris Winter League takes place on the Horseway Sluice section of the Forty Foot drain on Sunday.

The draw will be at 9am with fishing from 10am to 3pm.

Finally, Mill View have been drawn against the March and District Angling Association and JV Angling Club in the first round of the Angling Times Clubman competition.

The date of the match is yet to be arranged, but Mill View have the home draw, fishing on the Magpie Lake, at Pidley.