Barbel double as Pepperill wins Salisbury contest

A PERSONAL best barbel weighing 10lb 13oz made Salisbury angler Malc Pepperill a doubly happy man at the weekend.

Malc's best was one of two barbel he caught from the Kennet for a total weight of 18lb 8oz which was enough for him to win the Salisbury Angling Club match.

Fellow Salisbury angler, Mark Cannings, took home the second prize for his weight of 10lb 4oz which also included a barbel of just under 10lb.

Barbel are in the news this week with several into double figures coming from the Lifelands stretch of the Avon near Ringwood including one of just under 13lb caught by Pete Reading - who also followed it up with a 13lb-plus one from the Stour.

The Avon has produced some good chub over the last few days as well with one of the best a 6lb 8oz beauty from the Ellingham stretch.

Dave Cates used free-lined maggot to tempt a chub of 5lb from Fordingbridge Park, which has been giving good sport with roach, dace and large eels.

Witherington Farm Fishery near Alderbury had a busy weekend of matches.

On Saturday Pewsey AC held a junior match on the Inner Snake which was won by Salisbury lad Lee Trevett with 40lb 14oz.

An open match the same day on Sellwood and Cottage lakes saw prizes for two Salisbury anglers - James Knight, the match winner, on Sellwood with 65lb 4oz and Paul Barnard on Cottage in second spot with 64lb 10oz.

Plenty of sport with all species coming to the nets is the report from Waldens Farm Fishery.

Commons, mirrors and ghost carp to 18lb from Bishops Lake, double-figure carp from Abbots Lake particularly to night anglers plus an eel of 5lb 12oz.

A barbel of 6lb 3oz was caught by David Todd fishing Monks Lake by the island and he followed it up with a chub of 4lb 8oz, both caught on float-fished cheese.

Jenny Turner fishing just the other side of the bridge from the island bagged a 40lb netful of early-morning tench on float-fished corn.

Other pegs on Monks giving good bags of crucians, tench, roach, rudd, skimmers and carp.

A similar story from Popes Lake while early mornings on Deacons Lake are excellent for tench and carp to corn or meat baits.

Sunday's match on Deacons was won by Martin Flack with 85lb 5oz, Alan Turner was second with 61lb 2oz and John Metcalf was third with 58lb 12oz.