HOLIDAYMAKERS may be disappointed at the departure of the hot, dry weather, but the return of cooler and wetter conditions has boosted sport for fishermen.

Match weights have improved and pleasure anglers have caught more fish as lake temperatures drop back inviting fish to feed and be more active.

Salisbury Angling Club's match anglers turned out in good numbers on Sunday for a club match on their Petersfinger Lakes - 20 competitors in total. Plenty of fish about, too, with the bottom lake producing the top two weights. Chris Opey weighed-in 27lb 12oz from a peg on the river bank side of the lake to take top place, using a waggler and caster to catch mainly bream, while Frank Gumbleton pegged nextdoor, opted for a feeder and corn and caught 25lb 2oz, made up of bream, tench and a few roach. Third place went to Mick Keynes fishing on the first lake with a bag of tench, skimmers, roach and perch for 18lb 8oz.

Witherington Farm Fishery has been busy with a mid-week match and another match in the evening series. Reid's Tackle Open mid-week match was fished on Cottage and Sellwood Lakes and saw some big weights. Gareth Boycott was top rod on Cottage with 120lb 10oz, Martin Rogers was second with 112lb 12oz and Darryl Mayers was third with 107lb. On Sellwood, Dwayne Seed banked 95lb 2oz, Gary Etheridge had 84lb 14oz and Paul Barnard was third with 68lb 9oz. Graham Tappenden won the prize for the best silver fish bag with 37lb 6oz of them.

The evening series matches have two sections and the latest was fished on the Snake Lake. James Knight won section one with 31lb 2oz, Paul Barnard was second with 25lb 12oz while Martin Rogers won section two with 62lb 2oz and Mark Blake was runner-up with 55lb 4oz.

Sport is beginning to improve at Waldens Farm Fishery with the cooler weather. Plenty of perch still from Monks Lake, carp just under double figures from Abbots and Bishops lakes and roach to about a pound from most lakes - the tench and larger carp still slow to show.

Big bags of tench and carp to 8lb or so from Watergate Farm Fishery at Bulford with bags well into treble figures.

River fishing continues to be difficult, with the Avon and Nadder still flowing low and clear despite recent rain. Some barbel showing in the Ringwood area and a few chub and reasonable bags of dace but overall, river anglers are having a hard time.