THE river season has ended but I am glad to say the final match on the Old Nene, through March, produced some good weights. Normally, it would be roach or tench in the nets but this time it was rudd that dominated. Winner Jan Cunningham, from Somerset, wa

THE river season has ended but I am glad to say the final match on the Old Nene, through March, produced some good weights.

Normally, it would be roach or tench in the nets but this time it was rudd that dominated. Winner Jan Cunningham, from Somerset, was pegged behind the swimming pool and landed rudd to 2.5lb on a 3m whip to hand, using punched bread as hook bait.

Mick Curtis and Danny Grimsey, in second and third, were drawn next to each other in front of the marina and they also landed rudd to 2.5lb.

The March and District members-only Winter League match was run alongside the six open matches on the Old Nene and I came out on top with 48 points. Shaun Strachan was second with 41 and Mick Pool third with 36.

Manea pike boys' match on the Old Bedford, on Saturday, was won by Paul Lenton. He hooked eight fish, the biggest weighing 16lb, for a total of 45lb 6oz.

The following day, they moved to the Sixteen Foot, at Stonea, and Steve Newell won with 24lb 12oz. Phil Turner hooked the biggest fish, tipping the scales at 16lb 8oz.

Local match group Sensas Dick Clegg Mark One managed fourth place in the Angling Times Team Championships semi-final, on the Grand Union Canal, Milton Keynes.

This result earns them a place in the final on the Nene, at Peterborough. The winning team was the mighty Essex County match team.

The lakes should be busy this weekend, given the mild weather and the end of the river season.

On Sunday, the Mill View Angling Club found the fish in a feeding mood at the Willows Lake, at Decoy Lakes, Whittlesey.

Colin Varney needed 89lb for top spot and most of the 18 anglers taking part landed 20lb or more.

Mill View will be hosting an open match on Elm Lake, at Decoy, on Sunday. Anyone wishing to take part should contact Pete at the shop or call 01354 660566.

Sunday's match at Beastie was won by Nigel Baxter's 56lb while Saturday's winner was Vic Hull, who landed 45lb 12oz.

Elsewhere, Cross Drove Lake, near Brandon, has hosted three matches in the last week and the top weight went to Mark Sawyer with 47lb 8oz of skimmer bream and carp.

There has also been plenty of carp netted at Fields End Water's match lake. Most of the fish have been caught on maggot or worm using a pole with small pellet as loose feed.

There will be plenty of action on the lakes during the coming weeks and anyone who has anything to report can contact me on 07970 673439.

Finally, I have just got back from my final day of fishing on the Twenty Foot this season and what a day it was. I fished worm and caster and landed 19 tench, a bream, a pike and 5lb of perch for an estimated total of 85lb.

Not quite as good as the 212lb I landed on the first day of the season but still not bad at all!