WHAT a difference a bit of colour makes.

Anglers out over the weekend found rivers had a hint of colour for the first time in weeks and their catches improved dramatically.

The River Nadder had the best colour and once it met the Avon at Salisbury it took some of the clarity out of the Avon as well and this led to better sport for anglers. Although both rivers are still low and lacking in weed, the colour gave the fish more confidence to feed.

Salisbury Angling Club held a match on the Nadder and it was much better than expected. Swims that the previous week yielded nothing, were productive and there were plenty of fish about. Shaun Gumbleton, fishing for GT Baits, fished a peg at Elizabeth Gardens that did well the previous week and it again came up trumps giving him a winning weight of 41lb 12oz. Steve Trevett had nine chub for 28lb 12oz from Deanery Meadow, Geoff Andrews fished below Harnham Mill and came third with 22lb while Malc Pepperill had a fourth place with 20lb 12oz from Brunel Road. In fact pegs all along Brunel Road provided competitors with some good weights.

A much better weekend, was the verdict of London AA water-keeper, Stuart Wilson, after around 40 anglers visited the Britford fishery over the weekend. Anglers fishing the Avon and the main carrier had bags of dace, some of them specimen size , a few roach, chub and grayling. He said most caught fish and the better tint in the water certainly made the fish more confident.

During Salisbury's match a barbel of around 4lb was landed and another lost and larger barbel were caught downstream of Salisbury over the weekend. From the Avon at Hale several around 14lb were banked and one weighing 15lb 2oz was caught from the Avon at Woodgreen.

Good bags of quality dace and some roach have been landed from Fordingbridge Park and from Winkton but the bigger roach have come from the lakes. Hucklesbrook Lake is giving up roach to 2lb 7oz, with several around the 2lb mark. Spinaker Lake has also provided one angler with a pike of 21lb which fell for a legered dead bait.

Carp are still feeding on Witherington Farm Fishery's five lakes and plenty of skimmers and silver fish. A match on Sunday on Cottage and Sellwood saw Martin Rogers take the honours on Cottage with 70lb 12oz and Dwaine Seed win on Sellwood with 77lb. Pleasure anglers are finding sport is slow to start but gentle loose-feeding brings fish onto the feed after a few hours.