DESPITE strong overnight frost on Friday night, most local waters remained free of ice on Saturday morning.

The Island Lodge has fished well for roach, perch and skimmer bream.

Cromptons is still fishing well for roach. One angler fishing the venue last week successfully landed an 8lb pike with his landing net.

Parkers Lodge also produced a 30lb pike the other week, which was photographed by the successful angler.

Whitehead's Bottom Lodge has also produced three 20lb Common Carp.

Bradshaw Hall Fisheries Number Four Lodge was the venue for the first Silver Fish Open, fished by 26 anglers.

Harry Billing (Team Mosella), fishing peg 25 had top weight with 22-0-0. In second place was Lewis Breeze (Sensas NW) with 17-0-0 from peg eight and in third place was Steve Hall (Gilders Tackle) from peg 29, with 16-13-0.

The fifth round of the Angling Times Team Championship Lancashire Division took place on the Lancaster Canal at Garstang on Sunday.

Saints recorded their third win of the series on the day with only two points separating the top three teams on the day.

Top weight on the day fell to Bury-based Jonathan Jowett (Drennan NW) with roach and perch for 5-5-8.

In second place was Jim Hines (Saints) with 5-1-13 and third was T. Platt (Sensas NW) with 4-15-9. Fourth was S. Boyd (Saints) with 4-8-4, fifth was S. Clegg (Saints) with 4-2-14 and sixth was Lee Addy (Drennan NW) with 4-2-0.

Preston-based Paul Billington has shattered the River Ribble Barbel record with a fine specimen of 15-8-0, taken from the middle reaches. The previous record was 14-10-0.

On Saturday, the Angling Times/ACA Pike Championships took place on 20-foot Glassmoor Bank and Cock Bank Drains, near Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire.

450 anglers competed in frozen conditions with many dry nets recorded and ice breaking tactics had to be employed.

Top weight fell to Lincoln based Leon Sibliski with five pike for 24-11-0 to take the top prize of £1251 plus tackle.

BURY SENIOR SECTION

The AGM of the club takes place at Elton Liberal Club on Monday, November, 28 at 7.30pm.

Nice propositions have been put forward at the meeting.

One is to correct all stillages on the Island Lodge, and provide suitable access on the roadside banking by the provision of steps.

Another is that Cromptons is stocked with small carp, and stillages are installed on the wallside.

It is also proposed to have an intermediate membership for members between 16-18 years at concessionary rates to cover those at college prior to employment.

With heavy frosts forecast for the weekend, the next club match for the Christmas Cup takes place on the Island Lodge this Sunday. November, 27. Draw at 9am.