THERE is good news for all pike anglers, with the announcement from Bristol Water that the lakes will be open for a 10-day period in February for pike fishing and also once again from October 15 to November 30.

Fishing will be from boat and bank from February 2 to February 6 and February 13 to 17.

Permits for February will cost £30 for a boat and £10 for bank fishing. There will be boat fishing only from October 1 to October 7 at a cost of £28.50 per person.

Boat fishing will also be available from October 15 to October 19 and October 26 to October 31 at a cost of £23 per person.

Bank fishing will be available from October 15 to November 30 at a cost of £10.

Bookings for all fishing should be made by letter to arrive by January 1. Letters received after then will not enter the draw. Places will be drawn early in January and offers sent out towards the end of the month.

For those who want to clear the head after the New Year celebrations, Chippenham will be holding a New Year's Day Open match on the Avon at Chippenham. Full details are available from Steve Palmer on (01249) 654593.

The river is now approaching its best, with levels reasonable and plenty of action can be expected from the roach shoals which inhabit this stretch of the river.

The draw for the first round of this year's Supercup has taken place and local clubs will be fighting it out against each other for a place in the second round,

Chippenham, who made good progress last year, will be fishing against West's Tackle and Airsprung.

The penultimate round in the South West Winter series was fished on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Bathampton and Claverton, where catches were very good considering a series of overnight frosts.

Avon Angling won to extend their lead over Bathampton and now look odds-on to take the championship.

Avon Angling accumulated 61 points followed by Bathampton with 53 and Anchor Bristol with 51.

Individual honours went to Avon Angling's Darren Gillman, with a mixed catch of roach and perch weighing 9lb 12oz, taken on pole fished caster on a 20 hook for a comfortable win.

Runner-up was Ray Cooper, of Frys, with an all-roach catch weighing 6lb 12oz, taken after a blank hour and half on pole fished casters on a 20 hook. Team-mate Pete Sivell was third with a mixed bag of roach, perch and gudgeon weighing 4lb 13oz, taken on pole fished casters on a 20 hook.

Other placings: 4 Geoff Surman, Daiwa BAC, 4lb 3oz 8 dm; 5 Andy Floyd, Avon Angling, 3lb 13oz 8dm; 6 Ton Waldron, Bathampton, 3lb 12oz.

Teams: 1 Avon Angling 61; 2 Bathampton 53; 3 Anchor Bristol 51; 4 Browning Lobbys 49; 5 Frys MG 45; 6 Daiwa BAC 44.

League standings: 1 Avon Angling 9; 2 Bathampton 15; 3 Anchor Bristol 16; 4 Browning Lobbys 19; 5 Daiwa BAC 22; 6 Frys MG 28.

The Avon at Barton Farm was in reasonable order for the Bradford Christmas match on Sunday despite a severe overnight frost.

Mick Gunning, of Trowbridge, won with a mixed catch of bream and roach weighing 17lb 8oz, taken on feeder fished worm and caster on an 18 hook.

Mick Withey, of Westbury, was second with a mixed catch of chub and roach weighing 9lb 12oz, taken alternating with feeder and waggler fished red maggots on an 18 hook.

Glen Wicheard, of Melksham. was third with an all-bream catch weighing 9lb 9oz, taken on feeder fished red maggots on an 18 hook.

Other placings: 4 Nick Johns, Trowbridge, 8lb 4oz; 5 Richard Merritt, Trowbridge, 5lb 9oz; 6 Barry Oakford, Trowbridge, 4lb 7oz.

After a heavy overnight frost the Bath open Christmas match was fished in freezing conditions throughout the Avon at Bathford and Grosvenor and more than half the competitors failed to register a single bite.

Bath matchman Paul Barnfield was one of the few who found fish and took top prize with an all-roach catch weighing 11lb 10oz, taken on stick floated bronze maggot on an 18 hook.

Veteran Bath matchman Doug Sutton pushed him all the way to take a close second with another all roach catch weighing 11lb 8oz, taken on quiver-tipped bronze maggots on an 18 hook.

Tony Oatley, of Bath, was third with an all-bream catch weighing 9lb, taken on feeder fished red maggots on an 18 hook.

Other placings: 4 Jerry Pocock, Bristol, 6lb 1oz; 5 Charlie Barnes, Shepton Mallet, 5lb 10oz; 6 Craig Fletcher, Bristol, 4lb 4oz.

May I take this opportunity to wish all readers a happy and peaceful New Year, with tight lines throughout the year.

By Colin Scull