SPECIMEN roach, a big carp and a pair of quality perch have been caught by anglers over the last week despite the far-from-ideal conditions.

The Avon has been patchy with some stretches providing top quality fish while others proved difficult to fish.

The best roach of the week came from the Avon at Ibsley weighing-in at 3lb 6oz and a few around 2lb were caught at the weekend just below Britford.

Salisbury anglers Paul Barnard and Malc Pepper-ill spent two days on the Avon below Downton last week. Paul had a total of 16 chub to 4lb while Malc enjoyed catching quality dace.

But, overall, Avon sport has been slow for the majority of anglers.

A 29lb 4oz common carp was caught from Christchurch's lakes at Hucklesbrook, between Fordingbridge and Ringwood last week.

Salisbury Angling Club members had a difficult inter-club match with Kennet Ospreys on Sunday on a River Nadder that started colouring up as the match went on.

Saturday's cold rain and sleet followed by a sharp frost did not help matters, but Mick Keanes still managed a winning bag of 11lb 15oz with Paul Bar-nard runner-up with 7lb 5oz.

James Knight was again in winning form for Sat-urday's open at Wither-ington Farm Fishery, netting a creditable bag of 66lb from Sellwood Lake in not too pleasant conditions.

Lee Woodhouse was second just one pound behind him.

Across at Waldens Farm Fishery, Ian Jones caught a lovely pair of perch, each weighing 2lb 6oz, from Bishops Lake with worm fished over chopped worm.

Robert Wild fished the same lake and caught a 16lb 10oz pike using a popped-up legered smelt.

While Abbots Lake continues to produce pike, it is also fishing well now for roach and Daniel Evans caught a bag of 28lb of roach fishing single maggot - his day also included a 9lb ghost carp.

Plenty of carp from Popes Lake with one angler taking 15 carp ranging from 1lb to 10lb all on float-fished corn over loose-fed pellet.

Monks Lake and Deacons Lake fishing reasonably well with chub, tench, carp, skimmers, roach and rudd.

Quality rainbow trout continue to be caught from Avon Springs fishery at Durrington with daddy-long-legs, damsel and montana proving to be the best patterns.

Top fish from Willow Lake was 9lb and from Club Lake 8lb 4oz helping to maintain the fishery's average at between 4.5 and 5lb. Grayling fishing on the river stretch remains good with fish to 1lb 3oz.

An interesting newspaper article and photograph dating back to 1990 has been sent to Rod and Line by Sidney Vines, who lives in Laverstock.

The picture shows a 12lb salmon which was found floating dead in the River Bourne in Laverstock.

Mr Vines is not sure which newspaper carried the article and picture but it is thought it was published around 1990.

The salmon was found by Nigel Sharp, who then lived in Bishops Mead, Laverstock, while he was out walking by the Bourne.

The fish was three feet long and was thought to have returned either to the Bourne or the Avon to spawn.

It would be nice to think that this was not a one-off, but that such large salmon still travel up the Avon and into the Bourne.

Somehow I doubt it.