7^th January 2007

I have no reports from the canal over the Christmas period as old Alf our bailiff has been ill with bronchitis and still making a slow recovery.

The rivers have been in flood for long periods and as soon as I have had reports of them returning to normal the rain has returned and the water level has risen, at the Wyboston complex I had reports that at times the river had flooded and was up as far as the road between the river and North House. Club fisheries officer Ken Scott was on site Thursday and reported that the river was again rising. This has been the case on most sections of the river over the past few weeks and many matches have been moved however despite the poor condition of the river some anglers have fished and caught as we will see from further reports.

The best fishing over the festive season has been at Beckerings with the bailiff reporting many multiple carp catches as well as plenty of Bream most fish coming from long casts. Pete Fitz-Gibbon sent in a report to the web site of a two fish catch one of 22lb and one of 16lb both fish look in first class condition and pictures can be seen on the web site on another visit he also had a 24lb+ Common Carp.

Kevin Baribles reported a 26lb mirror and Gary Lawrence took six low doubles in one session. There have been plenty of doubles showing and a good few fish into the low twenties. Anglers taking the bream are reporting numerous fish of 8-9lb.

At North House the rain has helped raise the water level after this summers poor rain fall, there have been few reports from the lake but Bruce Starling had fish of 26lb 12oz and 19lb 8oz and Brett Herdman one of 19lb one at 17lb and another of 14lb 8oz,Ivan Sayer had 19lb 2oz mirror

On the South Lagoon over Christmas Mark Simmonds reported pike of 5lb 9lb 5oz 11lb and 15lb 4oz, regular Steve Briggs had pike of 15lb and 10lb.

Angling Times feature writer Andy Little spent a day on the Lagoon this week with reasonable results taking pike of 17lb 3oz and 9lb+ watch for article in the forthcoming issue of the paper.

Black Cat produced for Mark Simmonds over Christmas as he found a day when the river was in reasonable shape and took pike to 13lb 9oz

Due to the poor condition of the river next weeks match at Wyboston against Vauxhall has been cancelled, There will now be a club match for members only on section 14, bridge 123 Ivinghoe lock, middle Seabrook the members only section of the canal.

Gary Scott

Luton AC Press Officer