SPORT has certainly picked up on both rivers and lakes as the weather turns cooler and wetter.

Roach have started to make an appearance in catches from the Avon between Salisbury and Ringwood, some quality dace have been caught from the lower reaches of the river and big barbel have also been landed.

Roach enthusiast, Charlie Kemmett, fished hemp with a pole rig to tempt a 20lb bag of roach from the main carrier section of the London AA fishery at Britford with individual fish of 2lb 9oz down to 1lb 10oz. Steve Riggs also used hemp under a float and he caught a 10lb bag of roach with the best at 1lb 8oz. Maggot was the preferred bait for Barry Binns and he fished the fishery's Harnham Island and caught a mixed bag of 25lb, which included a roach of 1lb 9oz.

Downstream at Fordingbridge Park, anglers have been enjoying good sport with dace and roach, whilst stretches between Fordingbridge and Ringwood have been producing quality barbel. Barbel to 15lb from Somerley and to 13lb-plus from Lifelands while Redbrook is still fishing well for big dace up to 14oz.

Although sport has improved on the Avon, it is still difficult fishing as the weather and light conditions are constantly changing and temperatures vary from day to day.

Sport is generally better on the lakes, according to fishery owners. At Witherington Farm Fishery all lakes are fishing well and this was proved by an open match during the week. The Reid's Tackle open competition was held on two lakes, Cottage and Sellwood, and weights were good. Paul Barnard won on Cottage Lake with 97lb 8oz, Barry James was second with 78lb 4oz and Brian Darcy was third with 74lb 12oz. On Sellwood lake, Dwaine Seed banked 93lb 8oz, Darryl Mayers landed 74lb 3oz and Ian Heydon came third with 52lb 2oz.

Before the heavy rains at the start of this week, anglers were catching carp, bream, tench and silver fish from many of the region's fisheries including Watergate Farm, Waldens Farm and Dandy's Ford Lane.

Over the coming bank holiday weekend, Salisbury Angling Club's lakes will all take part in a 24-hour carp competition being run over Saturday and Sunday.