LOW water levels are really starting to make life difficult for anglers fishing rivers and lakes.

Stillwaters desperately need rain not just to bring up levels but also freshen up the water and reduce the effects of dying weed.

On the rivers the lack of rain has created a split as far as fishermen are concerned.

Sport has been very good on the shallower areas of both the Avon and Nadder while along the deeper sections on the middle reaches of the Avon sport has been very quiet with few fish about and even fewer bites.

This was proved by anglers fishing the shallower Downton stretches who have been catching bags of chub up to 44lb a sitting together with roach to 2lb 4oz. Anglers on the Nadder at Salisbury have regularly been catching bags of chub and dace in excess of 25lb.

Many anglers fishing the middle reaches of the Avon around Breamore, Burgate and Ibsley have come away empty-handed and sometimes biteless after a day's fishing.

At Waldens Farm Fishery sport has stood up quite well despite the conditions. Pike fishermen on Bishops and Abbots lakes have been using deadbaits to tempt pike up to 16lb this week and from Abbots Lake last week a 20lb fish.

Decent bags of chub and roach have been taken from Abbots together with a few common carp and ghost carp. Monks Lake has been the most successful spot with crucians, skimmers, carp and tench coming to the nets.

Carp to 5lb from Popes lake plus some decent rudd, a few tench and crucians.

Sunday's match on Deacons Lake was won by Shaun Franks with 21lb 8oz with Dave Parvin second with 16lb 1oz and Martin Peverell third with 13lb 8oz.

All lakes at Witherington Farm Fishery have been giving good bags of carp, skimmers with roach as well.

A Christmas exhibition and sale of paintings is being held at the New Forest Water Park between Fordingbridge and Ringwood this weekend.

Angling and Art features works by John Searle, David Miller, Mick Loates, Robin Armstrong, Paul Hawthorn and Fyers Art.

Originals, cards, prints, oil, watercolours and inks will be on display and for sale between 9am and 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.