CHILLY nights and several days of heavy rain have put the brakes on weeks of fruitful Autumn fishing.

While anglers have continued to catch reasonable bags of fish from both rivers and lakes, there has been a noticeable slowing-up.

Members of Salisbury Angling Club had a taxing time on Sunday for their annual Tom Baker Memorial Match, fished on the Avon between Salisbury and Stratford-sub-Castle.

For the third year on the trot, Shaun Gumbleton's name will go on the trophy. Fishing for GT Tackle, he netted 14lb 12oz from the top field of the fishery, made up of two chub, some quality dace and grayling.

Jimmy Smith was runner-up with 14lb 8oz of chub, dace and a few roach and Ian Heydon was third with 13lb, comprising four chub.

All three top weights came from the top end of the fishery.

Roach expert, Charlie Kemmett, used double caster as bait to bank a credible bag of 55lb from a swim off the island at the top end of the London AA stretch of the Avon at Britford.

His haul included 40lb of roach, from a few ounces to 1lb 10oz, plus 15lb of dace.

With the change in the weather, other swims on both the main river and the carrier, have not fished so well and water-keeper, Stuart Wilson, said sport is certainly harder now.

On the lakes, Barnmoor Lake, Witherington Farm Fishery continues to provide double-figure carp with two coming to nets during last week, both a few ounces over 20lb.

The fishery's other lakes are fishing quite well with matches being won with 80lb or so, and pleasure anglers netting bags of over 20lb of silver fish, skimmers and small carp.