THE last week has seen a huge improvement in sport with big barbel, chub and roach from the rivers and double-figure carp from the lakes.

Heaviest barbel reported was caught by Craig Howes from the Avon below Salisbury weighing 14lb, christening a new rod he had just bought.

Further downstream on the Lifelands stretch, a barbel of 11lb 2oz was banked along with a 6lb 7oz chub. Roach to 2lb have been landed from the river at Winkton while the Stour has produced chub to 8lb, bream to 6lb and the River Frome, some huge grayling to 3lb 8oz.

Stuart Wilson, bailiff for the London AA stretch of the Avon at Britford, closed the top hatches on the stretch diverting some water to the main carrier and this resulted in a slower pace on the Avon and deeper water for the carrier. It worked, with anglers catching between 20lb and 40lb bags of dace and chub from the Avon and the carrier producing quality roach and big chub.

Roach enthusiast, Charlie Kemmett, has again been amongst the fish landing roach of 2lb 12oz, 1lb 12oz and several over 1lb plus chub to 5lb 9oz, all from the carrier stretch.

Salisbury Angling Club's annual open pairs match on the Avon and Nadder, on Sunday, attracted 58 anglers and proved to be a good match. Winning pair were Salisbury anglers Andy Palmer and Gary Wright with 27 points out of 28.

L Glynn and M Lyndsey were second with 26 points and Kevin Rolls and R Ketner were third with 25 points. Rolls, from Devizes, also took individual honours landing 27lb from the weirpool at Harnham. Brian Shutler, Pewsey, came second with 24lb from the Elizabeth Gardens stretch and Bob Ryan was third with 19lb from the stretch by the Leisure Centre. The Nadder produced the top two places and the Avon the third spot.

Lake fishing has also picked up, said James Moody, from Witherington Farm Fishery. All five lakes are fishing well including the Snake, from where Nigel Tupper, got among some surprisingly big carp landing fish of 18lb, 17lb and some slightly lighter.

Double-figure carp have been caught from Barnmoor Lake with the other lakes producing bream and silver fish.