ANGLING By Chris Bowman

Last updated 10:53, Saturday, 22 November 2008

Harrington Sea Angling Cub's annual cod open was a great success – even the cod turned up!

There had been worries among local anglers about the lack of cod along the Cumbrian coastline this autumn, but there were no worries on Saturday when the 134 anglers fishing three hours of the ebb tide and one hour of flood brought 51 cod ranging from 1lb 14oz to 8lb 9½oz to the scales, it was the first time this year cod have shown in any great numbers and there were some excellent fish caught, we should also remember that each angler was only allowed to weigh their heaviest fish in.

First place and the £500 prize went to Tom Borland from Stevenson in Ayrshire with a cod of 8lb 9½oz.

Second was Jed Stevens from Barrow with a cod of 7lb 6oz earning Jed £300 and third was local rod Richard Soul from Workington with a cod of 5lb 4¼oz, Richard picked up £200. Top junior was Lewis Neesham from Dearham with a cod of 1lb 14¼oz and second was Philip Sibbald with a 10 oz rockling.

Also running in conjunction with the open match was a Harrington SAC club match, first in the club competition was Darren Pape with two cod for 8lb 1oz.

Second was Richard Soul with one cod, a coalfish and a rockling for 6lb 12¼oz and third was Luke Holliday with one cod for 4lb 4oz.

Anyone interested in joining Harrington SAC should contact Alan 01900 67257, Mike 01946 830918 or email barrymcglasson@hotmail.co.uk

Further down the coast at Whitehaven it was undersized codling virtually every cast during Tarnside SAC's club competition and trophy match on the piers on Saturday but no sizable round fish were landed and it was Alan Rimmer won the match with a 15 dab bag weighing 3lb 2oz.

Alan Rigg was second with one plaice and 12 dabs for 3lb. Steve Lancaster was third with a flounder and 7 dabs for 2lb 8oz. Heather Rimmer was fourth with 10 dabs for 2lb 6oz. But it was the Tarnside juniors who shone on the day with Elliebob Blacklock aged just 5 winning the Tarnside Trophy with a 3lb 2½oz bag of dabs and Elliebob's brother Billy Joe landing the biggest fish a 1lb 12oz plaice.

All 17 anglers that fished the Carlisle and District Coarse Angling Club's latest Winter League match at Lonsdale Park on Sunday caught roach but it was Houghton angler Chris Scott who topped the field taking first place with a 29lb 9oz bag. Chris who takes some beating on this venue had his confidence boosted when he drew one of the favourite pegs on the end of the point.

Fishing 13 metres of pole Chris fished double maggot on a size 16 hook to 3lb line over chopped worm in 6 feet of water and caught roach steadily all day apart from one quiet 45 minute spell during the afternoon. It was an all roach bag apart from one 3lb tench, the roach averaged 6 to 8oz with the occasional 1lb plus fish.

Carlisle's Tony Murphy pegged with his back to Deer Lake opted for waggler tactics fishing maggot up in the water and feeding casters to put together a 21lb all roach net for second place.

Third placed Steve Dixon of Cockermouth also fished the waggler and alternating between maggot and caster on the hook landed 14lb 6oz of roach. The CADCAC's next Winter League match takes place at Lonsdale Park on Sunday December 14.

If you would like to compete in the 2009 ACA British Pike qualifying matches to be held at Longtown's West Pond this winter on December 7, January 4, January 24, February 1 and March 1, don't forget to book your place.

Each match is limited to 25 places on a first come first served basis. The matches are £21 all in. This includes £7 peg fee. £3 to ACA. £10 pools (50 per cent to first, 30 per cent to second and 20 per cent to third placed anglers) and £1 golden pike pool (100 per cent to captor of heaviest pike).

To book or for further information contact Chris Bowman on 01228 674519 or 07714168939.