THERE was a good turnout of 19 anglers for Salisbury Angling Club’s annual Stuart Casey Trophy match fished on the club’s two lakes at Petersfinger on Sunday.

The bottom lake fished the better of the two providing the three top places but most caught fish. In fact, one competitor, Steve Trevett, caught a total of 300 fish over the five-hour competition for a total weight of 9lb 10oz – that is one fish a minute. His catch was made up of small rudd and roach but was an amazing achievement to keep it up for five hours. The match was won by Paul Barnard with a mixed bag of roach, skimmers and rudd weighing 13lb 12oz. Malc Pepperill was runner-up with 13lb 4oz and Shaun Gumbleton (GT Baits) was third with 12lb 12oz, so it was a close contest.

River fishing continues to be difficult because of low and clear water although the odd day of of heavy rain did put some colour into the water for a short while. Roach enthusiast, Charlie Kemmett, opted to try for barbel as the roach proved too difficult to tempt in the clear conditions. He lost one double-figure barbel after it straightened his hook and then he hooked into a landed a mirror carp just over 13lb. But some anglers did bank the elusive barbel, one of 8lb and another of 7lb being caught.

The odd roach was also caught, Mark Walsh landing one of 1lb 4oz during an evening session. The carp, barbel and roach all came from the main carrier stretch.

Anglers trying the fishery’s old river stretch have caught a few dace and grayling but it has been hard going.

It is a better story on local lakes, all of which have been fishing well. At Witherington Farm Fishery, Barnmoor Lake has been yielding plenty of carp into double figures and four over 20lb, with the best at 24lb. All the other lakes are giving good sport as well with a mid-week match on Cottage Lake producing a winning weight for Paul Barnard of 97lb. At the weekend, a pairs match on Cottage saw Kev Downer and his partner, Rich Yeo, both haul in big bags to win, Downer with 155lb and Yeo with 77lb.