Classy Cantello has canal craft

Angling: JAMES Cantello is without doubt one of the area’s best canal anglers.

That is no surprise when you consider the Tri-Cast Highfield rod spent most of his early years fishing alongside his grandfather, Ken Power, who pitted his wits against England internationals Vinnie Smith and Mark Addy.

Cantello was fourth in an open match on the Shropshire Union Canal at Norbury, with a squatt and hemp-tempted roach catch of 5lb 6oz. Twenty-fours later he won the Northern AA open match on the Macclesfield Canal at Goyt Mill.

Situated on an unfancied peg, he used bread punch for small roach before a late switch to chopped worm and caster attracted perch and ruffe for a 3lb 13oz bag. Second-placed Simon Williams (Stalybridge Angling Supplies) had a big perch in a 2lb 11oz net as well as small perch on pole-fished worm.



FORMER National winner Derek Bowers (Drennan NW) is another angler that continues to frame on canals. He was fifth overall (7lb 8oz 2drams) in the 66-peg Izaak Walton Stafford teams of six winter league on the Staffs/Worcs Canal at Penkridge. This is some achievement as the league attracts quality angers.



RAY Rigby, one of the leading anglers in the North-West for more than 20 years, won the Old Hough Farm Fishery open on Big Max Lake. The Ted Carter Southport ace had a slow start on the method feeder, but a switch to banded pellet at 14 metres worked the oracle as he weighed in an impressive 93lb 8oz net of f1s. Dave Holland (Tri-Cast Highfield) was second after seven big f1s in the first hour and a clutch in the last hour for a 49lb 9oz bag on banded pellet.



THE first round of the Pennine teams of six winter league took place on a dire Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Slaithwaite. Dave Bradley (Maver NW Black) was the top individual with a 5lb 12oz catch of small roach on bread punch at 11 metres. Dave Edgeley (Wigan MG, 5lb 9oz)) was the runner-up with an almost identical catch on the same method.



THOUGH I didn’t pick up any money, I was happy how I fished in my latest match for Wigan AA on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Burscough. With not many skimmers surrounding my peg, my only hope was a section victory. I opted for bread punch and chopped worm and landed four hand-sized skimmers and small roach for 3lb 6oz, but was plagued by a big double-figure pike which kept snatching fish off my line. The section was won at 4lb 12drams, while overall victory was from a 6lb bag.



TODMORDEN AS have asked members to record sightings of goosanders or cormorants on their waters and, if possible, to take photographs. Information required is the number of birds, where they were seen, what day and time. Email the details to david.caffeshop@gmail.com.



Venues

Dowry Reservoir: Day tickets £5 per rod available in advance from Tight Lines in Shaw. Maximum two rods per angler. No night fishing.

Ogden Reservoir: Day tickets £5 on the bank and at Tight Lines.

Strinesdale Reservoir: Day tickets on the bank.

Cargate Pool: Medlock Bridge AC members-only water. Pleasure anglers catching decent nets.

Alexandra Park Lake: Day tickets on the bank. Maggot the best bait as temperatures drop.

Rochdale Canal: Bread punch for plenty of small roach.

Bardsley Canal: Day tickets on the bank.

Tanners Dam: Silvers feeding. Maggot and caster best bait.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal: Marsden end for nets of gudgeon and some big perch to 3lb.



Diary

Tomorrow: Open match on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Northwich. Draw at the Broken Cross at 9am.

Sunday: Pennine Winter League on Rochdale Canal at Todmorden.

Sunday: Todmorden AS members-only match on Townhouse.

Every Sunday: Northern AA matches on various lengths of North West canals. To book and for further details, contact Albert on (0161) 792 2684. Draw 9am. £12 all in.

Every Saturday: Open matches on local canals. For details, contact Tony on 07952 521730.

Every Saturday: Medlock Bridge AC open matches on Alexandra Park Lake. Draw 10am at Kings Road entrance. Fishing 11am to 4pm. Tickets £15 on the day. For further details,

contact Darren on 07753414838.

October 18: Todmorden AS members-only AS pairs match on Croft.

Sunday, October 25: Twingates AC Cliff Winterbottom memorial match.

Sunday, October 25: Pennine Winter League on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Shipley.

Wednesday, November 11: Todmorden AS annual meeting 7.30pm at Todmorden Working Men’s Club.

News? Views? Email Jan at: janangling@hotmail.co.uk