Rod & Line

MORE big carp, barbel and heavyweight match bags have been caught over the last week despite the very hot and humid weather.

Salisbury Angling Club's lakes at Steeple Langford have been producing some nice carp and tench with the smaller of the two lakes providing one member with a 29lb 10oz mirror carp.

Some nice bags of smaller carp and some reasonable sized tench have been taken from the club's Petersfinger lakes despite the weedy conditions.

The Avon has been quieter this week, probably due to the very clear water and an abundance of weed. But between Fording-bridge and Ringwood there have been barbel and chub caught although anglers have had to contend with the difficult conditions.

At Waldens Farm Fishery big bream to 5lb and roach to 1lb 8oz have been taken from Bishops Lake together with one or two double-figure carp tempted with floating baits.

A barbel of 4lb 7oz was caught by Mark Watson, fishing Abbots Lake as well as three carp to 12lb.

The best all-round lake has been Monks Lake with plenty of skimmers, roach, tench, crucians and rudd with chub and carp from around the island.

Ray Bishop caught a bag of 64lb made up of carp, tench, skimmers and rudd.

Popes Lake is worth a mention if only for its golden tench stock and some topped 2lb this week.

Sunday's open match on Deacons Lake was won by Mark Cannings with 86lb 8oz. Alan Turner was runner-up with 19lb 8oz and Les Beston third with 11lb 8oz.

Saturday's open match at Witherington Farm was fished on the Outer Snake and another bumper weight for match winner Mark Blake with 115lb 4oz followed by Paul Barnard with 81lb 3oz.

On Sunday anglers turn-ed up to fish the Ronald Ling Memorial and BBQ match and again weights were high with Terry Sargent taking top honours with 101lb 10oz. Second was Ian Goodfel-low with 90lb 4oz and Mick Maidment was third with 85lb 6oz.

During the match Jimmy Smith and Malc Pepperill shared the heaviest fish slot each taking a 12lb 8oz carp. Jimmy also landed a large 3lb 10oz eel.

Pleasure anglers are also taking bumper weights with over 100lb a sitting for some lucky ones.