ONCE again changeable weather has put fishing into the doldrums and anglers have struggled to catch.

Last weekend was particularly badly hit, with rain raising river levels adding further unwanted colour, then two nights of hard frosts followed by high winds and more heavy rain.

Salisbury Angling Club’s match on their stretch of the Avon at Downton on Sunday, started frosty and dry, but it soon changed as heavy rain and high winds moved in. Conditions were far from ideal but some chub were prepared to feed and Andy Palmer found a small shoal in his swim and landed seven of them for 12lb 12oz. In second place was Andy West, with eight small chub for 10lb 2oz and third was Dave Tucker with 8lb 2oz.

Earlier in the week, the Avon at Downton produced some nice roach, with one angler landing several around the 1lb mark with the best at 1lb 13oz. On the London AA stretch of the Avon at Britford, it has been hard going on both the main river and the carrier.

Some anglers caught the odd roach and dace but the highly coloured water and cold rain has put fish off and most fishermen have blanked.

Lake fisheries around the region report few anglers about and sport difficult as water temperatures fluctuate. During one of the few periods of relatively steady weather, Reid's Tackle held an open match on Sellwood and Cottage lakes at Witherington Farm Fishery.

It shows that with constant conditions, sport picks up. Hayden Mayo took the honours on Sellwood Lake with a creditable 58lb 10oz, Lee Goodfellow was second with 44lb 14oz and Graham Tappenden was third with 32lb 12oz.

On Cottage Lake, the winner was Gary Naylor with 36lb 11oz, Jem Turner was second with 34lb 4oz and Kev Downer was third with 17lb 11oz.