I AM sorry to say that sport was hit badly as the return of some bitterly cold weather saw us slip back into winter mode and unfortunately it did not take much of a frost to see several waters frozen over again.
On Saturday the frost was severe, which in turn made it impossible to fish quite a few venues.
Thankfully, for the big HAJAC Winter League, the two venues chosen for round one - the Twenty Foot Drain at March and the Old Nene on the March Bypass s
ection - were free of ice. The bad news is that for quite a few of the field it was a real struggle for bites and sadly the event did not get off to a good start.
But as always there has to be a winner and I am very pleased to report that top team on the day were our local March AC anglers. They put in a very consistent team card to finish in first place against some strong opposition putting 21 points to the board.
On the individual front the leading weights look pretty good and top rod from the Old Nene section was Sensas Mark One rod John Taylor.
He drew one the hot pegs above the bypass and made light work of the bitterly cold wind, putting a fine 14lb 11oz to the scales. Fishing the long pole line, John took all his fish on fluoro pinkie over a bed of groundbait, netting roach to 6oz.
Runner-up from the Twenty Foot drain was Mark Pollard fishing for Fox Match Stanjay Tackle, who put 12lb 1oz to the scales from the peg next to the footbridge.
Wisbech-based John Bates came in third with 9lb 15oz followed by Emneth tackle dealer Mick Asker on 9lb 3oz.
Round two of the event will again use some of the Old Nene section, this time they will be fishing at Benwick, then a couple of sections at Raveley Drain and two on the Ramsey Forty Foot Dain on the "narrows". The cold weather is set to stay for a few more days yet so ice breakers at the ready lads!
Result: 1 J Taylor, Sensas Mark One Black, 14lb 11oz; 2M Pollard, FM Stanjay Gold, 12lb 1oz; 3 J Bates, Sensas Mark One White, 9lb 15oz; 4 M Asker, Sensas Mark One Black, 9lb 3oz; 5 J Young, March AC, 9lb 1oz 8dr; 6 D Rawlings, FM Stanjay Red, 8lb 9oz.
Teams: 1 March Ac, 21pts; 2 FM Stanjay Gold, 23; 3 FM Stanjay Red, 29; jt 4 Wades MG and Sensas Mark One White, both 31; 6 Sensas Mark One Black, 33.
Millview Tackle
There should have been a really good turnout for the Millview Tackle AC match on the Headfen Lakes Fishery but when they turned up on Sunday morning they were greeted with over half the fishery frozen over.
A few stayed on and struggled for a fish or two but the rest went home, possibly the wisest move of the day.
They should have a bit more luck this coming weekend on the Willow Pool at Decoy lakes, Coates, that's providing the ice has melted.
Tydd Gote
It was also tough going for those hardy Tydd Gote anglers that still managed to fish both the Wednesday and Sunday matches on the North Level Drain. Wisbech rod Andy Greenwood continued his fine run of winter form, finishing top in the Wednesday match at Clough Bridge, putting a net of small roach to the scales for 1lb 14oz. John Spalton from Parson Drove took the runner up spot with a modest 14oz followed by Adam Goody with 7oz.
