HEAVY and cold overnight rain gave match anglers challenging conditions when Salisbury Angling Club held their annual Open Match on the rivers Avon and Nadder on Sunday.

The downpours meant the River Nadder coloured up and was rising throughout the competition.

The Avon, however, remained clear and did not rise but the cold rain lowered the water temperature and this did put fish off feeding enthusiastically.

But, despite the problems, many anglers had fish in the nets and for some it was a reasonable day. The upper reaches of the river at Stratford-sub-Castle provided the top two weights for the Avon with Colin Sellwood (19lb of mainly chub) and Chris Opey (a similar bag weighing 10lb 2oz) both pegged at the top field of the club's stretch. On the Nadder, the top individual was Gary Wright, with 17lb 12oz from Elizabeth Gardens and in second place, Gary Cross with 15lb 10oz from Deanery Meadows, both catches mainly comprising chub. There were few dace about and hardly any roach.

Fishing remains hard but with more rain after the weekend things may improve as the rain should increase water levels and put some colour into the water.

Anglers visiting the London AA fishery at Britford have caught some chub, grayling and dace but not in any great numbers. The fishery has, however, plenty of salmon moving through and one angler landed one weighing 12lb which snapped at his red maggot he was trotting downstream for dace or chub. The fish was returned unharmed and bailiff, Stuart Wilson, said it was a fresh-run salmon and one of several spotted in the river over the last week. The cold rain and a slow increase in depth has quietened down the shoals of minnows and they have not been so troublesome over this week.