WHILE autumn fishing is getting into gear now, late summer sport continues to give anglers enjoyable and productive days out.

During the last week several large carp have been caught, a barbel gave a newcomer to river fishing a nice surprise and match anglers have been banking 100lb-plus bags.

The heaviest carp reported came out of Salisbury Angling Club's Steeple Langford lakes during the club's 36-hour Carp Competition at the weekend. It was caught by Paul Shergold and took the scales to 33lb 8oz. It was his solitary fish and although it was the biggest caught during the competition, Paul finished in third place. Winner of the weekend was David Willett, who caught four carp for 70lb 6oz and runner-up was Lee Bailey with two fish for 41lb 8oz. The event raised £160 for Fishing for Forces.

Witherington Farm Fishery's Barnmoor Lake has also been producing some heavyweight carp during the week. Steve Smith banked one of 29lb 8oz, another angler had one of 26lb and several around 22lb were caught, one of them caught on a pole. The fishery's other lakes are also fishing well with the Snake providing match winning weights in excess of 100lb.

Salisbury Angling Club visited the fishery for a club match on Sunday and fished Cottage Lake and weights were good. Paul Barnard won the day with 61lb 12oz, Chris Opey was runner-up with 52lb 2oz and Ian Heydon was third with 41lb 12oz.

The rivers have started to fish better as autumn arrives. At the London AA fishery at Britford, one angler bought a day ticket to try out river fishing for the first time - he always fished lakes before - and to his delight landed a barbel of just under 6lb, not a common species on this stretch of the main carrier. He was fishing just below the weir. Catches along the stretch of the carrier are slowly improving with good bags of dace and grayling, a few chub and some roach up to the pound mark.

Bailiff, Stuart Wilson, said work is continuing to repair and improve bank access on the main Avon and some stretches have been re-opened to anglers. It is hoped to have the whole length of the river back into use soon but anglers are asked to see Stuart before fishing the main river.

In the Fordingbridge and Ringwood areas, the Avon is producing good bags of dace, some roach and chub and more barbel are now being caught from Somerley, Lifelands and Bisterne stretches. Fordingbridge Park is also fishing well for roach and dace.

nSalisbury Angling Cub’s two lakes at Petersfinger have now reopened after being closed due to oxygen problems.