GALE-FORCE winds over the weekend made fishing conditions far from easy, but those who did brave the elements found fish in various places.

Salisbury Angling Club’s matchmen fished two venues for their club match on Sunday, their own Nightingale Lake at Wellow and the Canal Lake at Dandy’s Ford Lane Fishery, a mile or so away.

Both waters fished quite well and once the anglers had overcome the high winds, fish came to the nets. Paul Barnard was top rod on Nightingale Lake with 43lb 12oz, just ahead of Malc Pepperill who netted 42lb 4oz. At Dandy’s Ford Lane, Charlie Wernham won with 19lb, with Ian Heydon three pounds behind him.

An Eastleigh AC match using three lakes at Witherington Farm Fishery saw some good weights from all of the lakes. On Cottage Lake the winner was Paul White with 60lb 3oz and Alan Hillman was runner-up with 40lb, while on Sellwood Lake the top pair were John Clarke with 33lb 3oz and Geoff Rowlands with 24lb 4oz. Barnmoor Lake produced 52lb 1oz for Steve Pomeroy and 40lb 4oz for Clive Egerton.

Earlier in the week, Barnmoor Lake fished well for large carp with several doubles coming out, the best at 24lb 2oz.

Waldens Farm Fishery is still fishing well for roach, skimmers and perch with plenty of small to medium size carp from Abbots and Bishops lakes.

What all the fishery owners are looking forward to - and anglers as well - is a rise in temperatures and a reduction in the wind strength to encourage fish to feed.

l ENJOYING the sport at Witherington Lakes was Nigel Tupper, who caught a heavy carp weighing 23lb 9oz.

He fished an array of lakes before moving to Barnmore for the last hour before dusk where he came up trumps.

His move resulted in a mirror carp, using loose feed of pellet maggot and sweetcorn mainly fished in the margins.