JUST like the weather, fishing during the last week has been changeable with no two days the same.

Swims on lakes and rivers that one day produced fish, provided nothing the following day and anglers have found sport difficult.

But, two anglers did get it right.

Salisbury Angling Club member Colin Marshall fished the club’s stretch of the Avon at Burgate on Sunday and landed a lovely barbel of 14lb 12oz, not only his personal best, but it also set a new club record beating the former one of 11lb 14oz, set way back in 1980.

The other angler on song was Laurence Wright, who fished Witherington Farm Fishery’s Barnmoor Lake and banked the largest common carp ever caught from Witherington Farm. Wright landed this specimen weighing 31lb 1oz and it was weighed, witnessed and verified by staff at Reid’s Tackle shop on the fishery.

Yet, a few days later, Barnmoor Lake produced the lowest winning weight in a three-lake winter angling competition staged by Eastleigh AC. Reid’s Tackle boss, Dave Moody, won the match with 32lb 8oz from Sellwood Lake while Chris Albiston banked 22lb 1oz from Cottage Lake. Jem Turner was the top rod on Barnmoor with 15lb 4oz. It was hard going for all competitors, said match organisers.

Salisbury Angling Club’s match anglers were due to fish against Ringwood AC on the Stour on Sunday but it was cancelled because the Stour was running high and coloured. Instead, the 18 anglers switched the match to the River Nadder at Salisbury and it proved a right move.

Paul Barnard took the honours with two 1lb roach and some decent chub for 20lb from a swim on the Deanery Meadow and Ray Ridgers fished another swim close-by and landed 15lb 2oz for second place. Steve Trevett fished below Harnham Mill and came third with 13lb 6oz. In last week’s match report, a mix-up with surnames led to the wrong name being recorded as the winner. Andy Palmer won the match and Jimmy Smith was second.

Minnows are still a problem on the London AC’s stretch at Britford, particularly on the carrier.

The main river is a little better with anglers catching some chub and dace and a few roach. However, the colder weather has brought perch into feeding mode and one or two have been landed, two just over 1lb and the best at 2lb 4oz.

Predators are also appearing on the lakes now with Spinaker Lake near Ringwood producing pike to 17lb. The Avon is hard going but a few barbel have been landed from the Lifelands stretch, the best at 10lb 1oz and the odd roach has been caught.