DESPITE cooler conditions – and Father’s Day – anglers still took to the banks and recorded some good catches this week, writes Rob Allen.

Sunday’s open match at Hampton Springs was held on Rock, Meadow and Long Island Pools. I was there for the draw and was made very welcome by the proprietors as well as the competitors.

Drawn on Rock Pool, John Cheetham bagged a very respectable 70lb 8oz of carp which included fish up to 10lb to win. Cheetham used a mixture of meat and pellet fished shallow at 10m.

Long Island produced good bags for second and third place. Kevin Williams took carp up to 12lb for a final bag of 67lb 8oz. Rob Denny, of Rod ‘n’ Reel, weighed in with a mixture of carp and tench for 50lb 14oz.

Carp at Tarvin Sands have been reported to have just finished spawning which has produced good weights. Tarvin’s own Rob Dickinson took 28lb 6oz in the open match on Todd’s Pool on Saturday for third spot. Feeder and corn from peg 14 gave Chris Diamond the win with 57lb 8oz of carp. Steve Wilson bagged 37lb for second spot.

Dickinson faired much better at the open match at Manley, netting 29lb 8oz of carp. John Bristow snatched second spot with 22lb 8oz followed by Bill Bristow with 16lb 8oz.

Chester Police AC staged their club match on Meadow Pool, Hampton Springs on Thursday. Chester’s Phil Jukes bagged 42lb 10oz of carp, barbel and chub for second place behind Mark Greasley.

Mark took similar species weighing 47lb from peg five fishing long pole to the island with meat.

Saltney Social AC held their club match at Hampton Springs on Sunday on Willow Pool. Mike Burgess from the Lache came out on top with a mixed bag including some large tench. Fishing from peg six, Mike took 30lb 8oz using luncheon meat. There was very little between the other positions.

Brian Williams from the Lache fished peg seven weighing in with 27lb 8oz followed by Lee Lloyd with 26lb and Blacon’s Cyril Knobbs with 25lb 8oz.

Cheshire Fishery in Tattenhall has reported some good individual catches this week. Tony Forton, of Frodsham, used corn over feeder pellet to take 19 carp up to 8lb 4oz, plus skimmers and roach for a total haul of more than 100lb. Chris Williamson, from Birkenhead, recorded more than 110lb of bream, carp and silvers using a similar bait.

Airbus Fly Fishing Club held their match at Draycote, near Rugby. A variety of methods proved successful for competitors. Keith Miller landed six fish, sub-surface on boobies and an intermediate line weighing in with 13lb to win. Floating line and buzzers gave Wesley Rolf a catch of five fish for 10lb. Father and son Eddie and Kevin Jones came joint third, taking two fish for a weight of 3.5lb.

The European Championships start this weekend in the Czech Republic. England’s six-man squad, selected by manager Mark Downs, is Will Raison, Steve Gardner, Stuart Conroy, Alan Scottorne, Darren Cox and Steve Hemingray.