THE biting northerly wind over the last week caused problems for anglers, as well as spoiling fishing generally.

Just as things were starting to improve, the windy, cold snap moved in and sport declined.

For anglers it meant uncomfortable and cold conditions, ruffled water surfaces and difficulty in controlling tackle.

So it was a surprise for Salisbury Angling Club when 34 hardy souls turned up for Sunday's interclub match with Avon AC on the River Nadder.

The Nadder was high, running fairly fast and the water was cold. But a respectable 15lb 12oz bag of dace and roach gave Salisbury member, Andy West, top spot. Visitor, Kevin Rowles, was runnerup with 14lb 6oz but then the weights tailed off.

Salisbury took third and fourth places with Marcus Crook, 8lb 12oz and Andy Palmer, 6lb 15oz.

The brief recovery in prospects for anglers fishing the London AA fishery at Britford soon lost momentum with the cold snap and a roach of 1lb 8oz was the best banked. Some fishermen had a few small chub and dace with the odd grayling, but generally it was hard going throughout the week.

Few anglers visited Witherington Farm Fishery over the weekend and on Monday all five lakes were frozen.

In the Ringwood area, a 20lb pike was landed at Winkton and anglers fishing the Avon and its sidestreams have caught some dace and a few chub. Other news in the area is the capture of a 2lb 1oz roach from the Horseport and a 3lb perch from Wedgehill fisheries.

Other than that it has been a quiet week throughout the region.