First time lucky as Chadwick has Barbel success in River Wye outing

LAST week, lifelong sea angler and WFSA East Region secretary Steve Chadwick was in the headlines after finishing second in the Shore League competition and this week he is there again after coming inland for his first try at barbel fishing on the River Wye.

The retired BT manager from Cardiff was persuaded to give coarse fishing a try by all-rounder Francis Jones, from Abertillery, who invited Steve to join him on the last day of the river coarse fishing season. Steve caught barbel weighing 7.5lb and 9.5lb.

In between helping Steve adjust to his new fishing environment, Francis fished and banked barbel weighing 7.5lb and 9.75lb.

The 2016/17 rod licences for coarse, trout and salmon fishing expire today and anglers renewing will find that prices have increased.

The coarse and trout licence is now £30 and the licence including salmon £82.

Concessionary licences have increased in proportion; but a major change is that under-16s need to register but then receive a licence free of charge. Also new is a £45 licence covering three rods that will save carp anglers having to buy two licences for their usual three-rod set-up and all licences will now run for 12 months from the date of issue instead of from April 1 to March 31.

Newport AA members should make a note of Wednesday, April 12, when the AGM takes place at Albion Rovers clubhouse at Kimberley Park, starting at 7.30pm.

All members should make an effort to attend this important meeting as officials will be elected and policies decided that will affect their fishing for the next year.

Glamorgan AC’s Treoes Pond reopens tomorrow after a four-week break from fishing, but Gribble’s Covert will be closed throughout April and St Y Nyll is closed from tomorrow to May 31.

Gary Charles was the top over-50 in the latest Wednesday competition for the more mature match anglers at Cefn Mably Lakes.

He weighed in 57lb 12oz of carp to beat fellow Cardiff angler Dave Pike with 54lb 8oz.

Third place went to John Mack, from Newport, whose 52lb 8oz total included the 18lb 12oz of roach and bream that took the silver fish pool money.

The Wednesday match at Redhill Fishery was pegged on Sophie’s Pond where Gavin Jones pole-fished pellets for a winning 80lb 5oz of small carp.

Runner-up Ryan Morgan caught 68lb 8oz of carp, while Alan Davies, from Trealaw, made his regular appearance in the prize list by finishing third with 58lb 13oz.

Having no-one on the next peg on Sophie’s Pond helped Sirhowy AS member Rob Jones win the Sunday match at Redhill for the Dennis Powell Memorial Cup.

He used a long pole to put his pellet and maggot offerings under the empty platform where the carp were shoaled up and responded well enough to give him a weight of 155lb.

Roach ruled in the Saturday open on Riverside Lake at Riverside Fishery and the day ended with Ebbw Vale competitor Dennis O’Leary and Clive Roberts, from Cardiff, tying for first place with matching catches of 26lb 11oz taken on pole and maggots.

Sean Wilson, from Trethomas, was third with 20lb 10oz.

The Sunday match was on Meadow Lake and the result was decided by bream.

Martin Thomas, the Caerphilly angler who set up a new venue record two weeks ago, was the winner with 39lb on pole and worms; Dennis O’Leary was second this time with 34lb 1oz and Tony Birt, from Blackwood, third with 25lb 6oz.

One big carp swung things Phil Weaver’s way when Spencer Works AC held a match on Penny’s Pond at Redhill Fishery. The Newport member caught it close in on pole and casters and it boosted his final weight to 43lb 2oz which put him just two ounces ahead of Dave Turberville who netted his seven carp in the final hour.

Phil Rawlings completed a Newport member hat trick by taking third place with 32lb.

Rob White was well ahead in the Wednesday match on the New Canal at White Springs when he caught 91lb 8oz of carp to beat Jim Hart with 42lb 12oz and Chris Bradley in third place with 38lb 4oz.

The Sunday fixture was also on the New Canal where the top weight of 62lb 12oz was taken by Cardiff angler Austin Roberts.

Andy Kirtley’s 57lb was second best, while in third place was another Cardiff angler Charlie Rowlands with 42lb 1oz.