SPRING-TIME fishing is seldom easy because of fluctuating temperatures but there is evidence from matches at various fisheries that sport is slowly improving.

At Witherington Farm Fishery, the third round of the Toyota League was fished on the Outer Snake lake at the weekend and 36 anglers competed. All caught fish, mainly skimmers and roach, but with the odd carp as well. Lee Woodhouse won the match with 52lb 6oz.

A few days earlier, an open match on Cottage Lake saw good weights in both the main competition and a Silvers Only match, fished at the same time. Chris Opey won the match with 44lb 6oz, but it was a close thing as Jem Turner came second with 43lb 8oz and Steve Pomeroy was third with 41lb 6oz. Top silver man was Dave Moody with 18lb 2oz of roach and skimmers and Gary Etheridge was second with 16lb 4oz.

A weekend match at Dandy's Ford Lane fishery was won with 43lb with several other anglers weighing-in 20lb or more. All lakes at the fishery are open and fishing is steadily improving.

Carp anglers visiting Witherington Farm are finding the larger carp in Barnmoor Lake are moving despite the cold nights. In the warmer spells during the day several commons of 20lb and over have been banked. The fishery's other lakes are also yielding smaller carp and pleasure anglers are catching skimmers, roach and the occasional tench.

Larger tench are starting to come to nets at Hucklesbrook Lake, between Ringwood and Fordingbridge with the best at 7lb 4oz. Quality roach are also being caught with several of them weighing-in at just under 2lb.