THE final of the Standard Scaffolding Cup was dominated by 'Team BAS 2000' anglers, whose ability to catch small fish on bloodworm came to the fore on Bolton Canal at Little Lever last Monday when they took the first three places.

Carl Lowe in peg 34 never stopped catching small skimmers and roach throughout the match and his 4lbs-13ozs-8drs catch could not be bettered. So Carl will lift the cup at Bolton and District Anglers presentation night in December.

Next door in peg 33, was team mate Rob Holt, who also caught in abundance to take second place with 3lbs-3ozs-0drs.

The trio was made up with Dave Williams taking third place with 2lbs-13ozs-3drs from peg 13.

Alan McAtee (Lostock Tackle) had a section win with 2-12-13, while Jeff Terry senior (Little Lever Anglers) took the other section with 2-13-0.

THE ability to dress artificial flies is truly a time-served skill learned to perfection by only a small few.

But here in the Bolton area there is a dedicated club whose aims are to promote fly dressing and fly fishing in all its different guises.

The group, known as The Fly Dressers Guild, West Lancashire Branch, hold their meetings at Saint Matthew's Church House on Market Street Little Lever.

They describe themselves as "a friendly, no nonsense branch who will go out of their way to meet, welcome and share their love of fly dressing and fishing to possible new members".

Next Wednesday (September 6) commencing at 7.30pm, they hold their Annual General Meeting followed by 'Lureflash Fly Dressing Consultant', Chris Watson who will demonstrate 'Imitative flies using synthetics for river, loch, stillwater and saltwater using holographic, dubbing and flexifloss materials.

If you wish to attend or want to learn more about the branch, phone Edward Steele-Wilson on 01204 701998 or on his mobile 0771 5409725.

IT happens to us all, the time and patience dad spends with lad or lass teaching him or her all the finer points only experience can bring -- and how do they repay you? They outfish you and then you wonder where you went wrong.

Ian Mann took his nine-year-old son Terry to Pennine Trout Fishery at Littleborough for a teach-in session last week and the lesson went well with the teacher bagging a fine 8lb trout.

However, the pupil was alert and Terry's patience was rewarded with a superb 12lb rainbow caught on fly.

After the fish was verified by the bailiff, the proud scholar took his fish home where it took pride of place as a centrepiece for his sister's 21st birthday party.

Dad's fish will probably come in for supper one night -- perhaps.

qA NEW series of open matches start tomorrow on Dixon Green Reservoir with the draw at 9am and fishing from 10am to 3pm. Anglers can book by ringing Bob Fernhead on 0161 799 4242 or can take pot-luck and turn up on day.

NOW I can breathe out a little in the new look angling column, there is an opportunity for more angling stories.

Any contributions would be most welcome particularly from fly and sea fishermen. I can be contacted on 01204 439623 or e-mail glynn@gkateley.freeserve. co.uk BOLTON MATCH SCENE

LORD Nelson AC aggregate match, Woodlands Fisheries -- 27/08/00 A well contested match that needed over 20lbs to get into top six places. Worm or luncheon meat proved best to bag up on carp, tench and barble that inhabit Partridge Lake.

With only three more matches to go, the winner Mark Armitage is fast catching up on the aggregates' current leader Trevor Bevin.

Kenny Stewart had a fine 8lb-10oz carp and is 0on line to take the big fish trophy. 1st Mark Armitage 23-13-0, 2nd Dave Walmsley 22-10-0, 3rd Steve Pollitt 21-3-0.

BOLTON Anglers Association - Jack Shanahan Memorial Trophy - Bolton Canal -- 26/08/00 Small fish fed in abundance with the bigger fish uninterested.

Former England International Alan McAtee proved his expertise with bloodworm and joker by taking small skimmers and roach on the pole to win the match.

1st Alan McAtee (Lostock Tackle), peg 22, 5-4-7, 2nd Martin Howcroft (BAS 2000), peg 20, 4-10-10, 3rd Chris Coughlin (BAS 2000), peg 11, 4-1-0, 4th George Fletcher (Little Lever), peg 13, 3-5-11, 5th Robert Holt (BAS 2000), peg 19, 3-14-6.

BANK Holiday Monday Match - Shore Top Reservoir -- 28/08/00 Some decent sport as carp, skimmers and roach settled into the feed most found the tip the best method. The winner had the bonus of a 9lb - 6oz carp caught on worm. 1st Graham Carter (guest) 19-4-0, 2nd Marvin Hyde (guest) 14-14-0, 3rd Trevor Hayes 13-10-0, 4th. Frank Smalley 12-11-0, 5th. Trevor Bevin 10-6-0, 6th John Turton 9-10-0.

Wednesday Night Open - Doffcocker Reservoir -- 23/08/00 All sorts of fun and games as no-one had told match organiser that the top three and best pegs on the reservoir were denied for matches. This led to an uprising and proved to be the last match in the series as two Bank Holiday matches had to be cancelled.

To add frustration to the night, people went out of their way to feed the wildlife in front of some of the anglers.

The winner had four bream and two skimmers caught on the tip with double red maggot. All the bonus peg money was paid out as prizes on the night. 1st Paul Swift 13-3-0, 2nd Ben Martin 6-9-0, 3rd Bob Mills 5-9-0, 4th Dave Worsnop 0-4-0.

Kearsley Royal British Legion aggregate match - Widows Flash, Platt Bridge -- 27/08/00. This good and strictly run water produced some decent sport with both tip and pole taking ghost carp in abundance.

The winner fished tip with corn and maggot. Next week they travel to the River Weaver at Vale Royal 1st John Berry 37-10-0, 2nd Paul Mort 14-11-0, 3rd Vinnie Felton, 12-9-6, 4th Simon Mort 11-4-2.

Member and Guest Match - Doe Hey Reservoir -- 26/08/00 Twenty fishermen took over 100lbs of mainly silver fish with only four carp being caught.

The fish were well up in the water and came to the pole. 1st Pete Fletcher (Bolton Rivers) 16-14-0, 2nd Snakey Jim (Bolton Rivers) 13-6-0, 3rd Trevor Platt (BAS 2000) 12-0-0, 4th Rob Hoult (BAS 2000) 11-11-0, 5th Bob Fearnhead (Worsley Angling Centre) 11-4-0, 6th Carl Lowe BAS 2000) 11-2-0.

Patricroft ROF Angling Club aggregate match - Hayfield Fisheries -- 26/08/00 The Fish-O-Mania venue gave the winner a great weight when a shoal of hungry carp focused in on his cat food and pellet approach with floating pole. 1st Steve Standish 88-1-0, 2nd Andy Gerrard 22-15-0, 3rd A Gorton (guest) 21-12-0, 4th Dave Thorton 2-5-0, 5th Dennis Hardman 20-5-0, 6th Colin Wicke 15-4-0.