January

We had originally intended to fish Market Weighton Canal on this date but due to the amount of rain that had fallen over the preceding days, we agreed to change the venue to Warrping Drain in North Lincolnshire. I had received very good reports on this venue and was also told that it didn't flood, a rare water indeed!

It is also about the same distance from Teesside as Market Weighton so we decided to give it a try. 9 members made the trip (the furthest travellers being Darron and Craig from Durham but also Shaun and Danny travelled from Spennymoor so both were fair runs). We all met up at the Ferrybridge Services and went in convoy from there with me having the travel instructions obtained from Wakefield RO, Pete Green.

On arrival the place looks the part. It is approximately 30ft wide, reed fringed and overhanging bushes. It screams Pike and everyone couldn't wait to get set up. Unfortunately the Pike didn't want to know anything about deadbaits still on the bottom as try as we did, not one run resulted at all during the day. The only person to catch anything at all was Mac who had 4 jacks (all small) on wobbled dead trout and he had to put a lot of effort into that to catch! One was however attacked by something considerably bigger but he didn't see the culprit, just a jack with a sorry looking tail afterwards.

The lack of results however has not put me off and I shall certainly be trying it again. It looks a brilliant water for surface lures in the summer, although rumours abound that fishing will soon be banned on the venue so it might be a question of making hay while the sun shines! If any other member fancies a bash, let me know and I will give you directions.

The day wasn't a total waste though because all those attending earned valuable points towards the league table! Mac is now well ahead and has to be caught.

(c) copyright 2000-2007 Robert Murray