NICK Roberts was up with the front runners when Thursday Rovers staged their match on Alice Springs at Hampton.

All of the top spots were won by anglers catching three carp apiece. Roberts, of Ellesmere Port, was once again in form, weighing in a good third place with carp and skimmers with a total of 18lbs. A few more skimmers made the difference, as Holywell’s Les Pickin edged Nick out with 20lbs. However, it was Chester angler Wendy Locker who was top rod on the day. Her three carp were enough for a total weight of 30lbs and first place.

Sunday’s Open Match at Leeswood Fishery was won by Mark Greasley. A sunny day made it a pleasurable experience for anglers competing on the aptly named Lake of Tranquillity, although a swirling wind made pole fishing tricky. Greasley, from Ellesmere Port, alternated between the pole and tip with a variety of baits for his winning weight of 16lbs 3oz.

Two beautiful ghosties around the 10lbs mark along with small carp and skimmers taken on single maggot and pellet could not be beaten.

Lingmere Fishery at Moreton continues to fish well with very respectable weights being caught. Birkenhead’s Gary Bough won the Thursday Open Match with 38lbs 6oz of carp taken on pellet.

Kevin Ward, from Ellesmere Port, enjoyed a good day of pleasure fishing at Cheshire Fishing in Tattenhall, netting an impressive bag weighing in excess of 35lbs. Ward fished pellet over pellet up in the water on the pole, taking a lovely mirror carp of 10lbs, a carp of 8lbs, roach weighing up to 1lb 8oz and a number of skimmers.

Ward obviously had the right bait in his box, but John Houghton of Neston struggled at the Tattenhall fishery. That was until in despair he decided to use the ham from his sandwiches! This proved successful for him as he fished the margins, taking a mixture of carp weighing up to 3lbs with a combined weight of 20lbs. A message to us all, I think – don’t forget your lunch!