SOME huge weights have been caught by anglers taking part in matches at several fisheries around the region.

The annual Three Day Festival of Angling at Witherington Farm Fishery attracted a total of 31 fishermen who took part in two competitions running side-by-side on all five lakes over the three days of the bank holiday weekend.

Some huge weights came out, including 204lb from peg nine on Cottage Lake by James Knight and 151lb from Barnmoor Lake from Mark Cannings. His bag was the heaviest single weight to come out of Barnmoor Lake for many years and included a carp of 27lb.

But, the biggest fish of the competition was a 29lb 8oz carp caught by Gary Wright on the pole and again from Barnmoor.

Winner of one largest festival competition was Paul Barnard, second was Graham Tappenden and James Knight was third. Winner of the smaller competition was Dwaine Seed, runner-up was Dave Moody and third was Mark Blake. The anglers moved around the lakes on each of the three days and although some carp had started to spawn, the colder weather had put a brake on spawning so many carp had returned to feeding.

Weights were also high in a match at Dandy's Ford Lane Fishery at the weekend. Rich Yeo won the competition, held on the Match Lake, with 126lb and Paul Barnard was again in top form to take runners-up spot with 107lb 12oz. Ian McCall was third with 95lb 5oz and Mick Aldiss was fourth with 92lb 4oz - on any other day the last two places would normally have won a match. Pleasure anglers at Dandy's Ford are finding good sport with tench and crucians and smaller carp.

Tench to 4lb and carp into double figures are coming out of Bishops Lake at Waldens Farm Fishery and the fishery's Match Lake is producing plenty of carp to 10lb from either the surface or further down. Monks Lake continues to produce quality perch and most of the lakes are fishing well for roach and rudd up to 1lb.

Bags into triple figures comprising carp and tench continue to be caught from Watergate Farm Fishery at Bulford and carp into the 20's from its specimen lake.

Salisbury Angling Club's lakes at Petersfinger and Steeple Langford re-opened on Monday after the close season lay-off and anglers don't need reminding that the new river season kicks-off on June 16.