SIDESTREAMS, carriers and slack areas of rivers seem to be the best place to fish, while water levels remain high and coloured.

Although catches are not huge, fish are being caught from these areas as the Avon and its tributaries remain bank high and coloured with a very fast flow.

Those were the conditions facing Salisbury Angling Club members on the River Nadder on Sunday in their inter-club match with Kennet Ospreys. It was hard going for all competitors but worryingly, many stretches were devoid of fish, indicating a possible high level of predation.

Visitor, M Wotjhton, won for the Ospreys with 13lb 8oz from a peg on Elizabeth Gardens while Salisbury took second and third spots through Andy Pratton, five chub for 12lb 8oz from Deanery Meadow and George Stainer with 10lb 10oz from below Harnham Mill.

Britford's fishery's two carrier stretches, the main carrier and the navigation channel, are the best places to fish for London AA members as the main river is very fast and coloured. Catches from the carriers include roach up to 1lb, grayling and dace with a few small chub. Thanks to a few recent frosts, the minnow problem has decreased substantially. Anglers wanting to try the main river are advised to go to the island at the top end of the fishery where there are some slack areas.

In the Ringwood area the Sopley stretch is fishing well with slack areas of the river producing pike up to 18lb to lures, roach to 1lb 10oz and chub to 6lb 6oz. King's Stream continues to fish well for bags of quality dace.

It is roach, recently stocked into the Snake lakes at Witherington Farm Fishery, that are giving anglers catches at that fishery, with most of them between four ounces and 12 ounces. They are feeding quite well as are a few small carp. But, conditions are not easy, fish have to be found and then held with light feed. A weekend match on the Inner Snake was won with just 25lb.