SATURDAY'S rain did river anglers a favour by putting some colour into the Avon and while the level did not rise by very much, the tinge of colour did improve sport.

Salisbury Angling Club held its first river match of the autumn and winter season, hosting Test Valley AC, on the Avon from Stratford-sub-Castle down to the city and 26 anglers took part, most of them catching.

In fact, the top three weights were higher than expected with Steve Trevett leading the field with 18lb from the top field at Stratford, his catch made up of three chub and 12lb of roach and dace. Andy Pratten, fishing the stretch near Waitrose, was runner-up with 14lb of roach and dace and Dave Tucker was third with 11lb 6oz, mainly grayling, dace and roach but also a couple of chub.

A few roach to 1lb have been landed by anglers fishing the London AA fishery at Britford, these coming from the main river at Harnham Island while other stretches of the river have given anglers a few chub, grayling and dace. The carrier stretch has produced some roach and quite a few pike, with several into double figures, the best at 18lb. The barbel seemed to have gone quiet as have the larger roach.

Sport continues to be good on stillwater fisheries across the region, thanks to the Indian summer. A mid-match on the Outer Snake at Witherington Farm Fishery was won by Roy Sheppard with 115lb, Malc Pepperill was second with 105lb and Ray Kelly was third with 104lb. Teenage angler, Harry Hogan, fishing the fishery's Barnmoor Lake on Saturday, landed one of the biggest carp of the year from the lake at 29lb and other anglers have banked carp well into the 20lb range. The other lakes are producing bags of skimmers, some tench and smaller carp as well as silver fish. The fishery hosted the second round of the Teams of Four on Saturday and the results of this competition will be given next week.