TWO quality perch have been caught from the Avon over the past few days although anglers continue to find sport difficult.

The largest of the two striped predators came from the Britford fishery upstream of the island opposite Churchill Gardens in Salisbury and weighed-in at 2lb 10oz. It was among a bag of seven or so perch all of which fell to legered worm.

The second was caught by Colin Sellwood during a Salisbury Angling Club match on the club’s White Horse fishery at Downton. However, it was chub that featured in all the top places with Mick Keynes winning the competition with five chub weighing a total of 14lb 5oz. Second place went to Malc Pepperill, also with five chub for 13lb and third was Tony Role with another five chub for 10lb 1oz. A few grayling and some trout were also caught and although the river was in reasonable form, the gale-force wind made bait presentation difficult.

During the week the Britford fishery provided other anglers with bags of dace and grayling and a few chub from the main river, but the carrier and navigation channel both proved difficult with only a handful of fish, including a 2lb 8oz sea trout from the channel.

Highlight of the week at Witherington Farm fishery was the banking of the largest carp of the year so far, caught by carp enthusiast, Nigel Tupper. It weighed 26lb and was one of a handful of double-figure carp he caught on Sunday from Barnmoor Lake. Sport is picking up on the fishery’s four other lakes with smaller carp, skimmers and silver fish among the bags.