BIG bags of fish were caught by match anglers over the weekend as sport very slowly improves, although the weather remains unpredictable.

Some of the heaviest weights came in a match on the day ticket lake at Watergate Farm Fishery, Bulford, which saw the top five places record weights over 100lb. Match winner was Paul Hough with 140lb 5oz, Mark Cannings was runner-up with 124lb 14oz and Paul Barnard was third with 113lb 6oz.

The fishery's specimen lake is also fishing well with one of the best carp of the week caught by Kevin Murphy weighing-in at 26lb 7oz.

A charity match at Witherington Farm Fishery, on Sunday, attracted 80 anglers who battled it out using all five lakes. Mark Illingworth was the winner, fishing the Snake Lake, and ending up with 105lb. Graham Tappenden was second with 104lb 2oz from Cottage Lake and Martin Rogers was third with 74lb 2oz from the Snake.

Salisbury Angling Club held its first Fishing for Forces Day last week on its trout fishery at Ratfyn Farm, Amesbury. Each year the club invited injured servicemen and women from Tedworth House Recovery Centre to spend a day on one of their fisheries to learn the art of fishing with help from club members. The weather held out and everyone had a good time – further days will be held during the summer.

Most species are being caught from the five lakes at Waldens Farm Fishery, with tench beginning to show as the water warms, plus some of the fishery's larger carp. Plenty of silver fish and skimmers. It is a similar story at Dandy's Ford Lane fishery at Wellow and lakes in the Fordingbridge and Ringwood area report good bags of tench, carp and silver fish with a steady improvement in sport.