READING & District Angling Association clubs are well into their winter matches and with the weather staying very mild for the time of the year they were hoping to catch a few fish.

There were three matches on the Kennet & Avon canal and one on the River Thames last weekend.

Eleven anglers turned out for Bracknell Avocets Xmas Match on the A section of Froxfield Canal. Overall match weight was 32lbs 13ozs.

Chris Bowman won with 7lbs 12ozs fishing the first swim on the wides. Second was Richard Herman with 4lbs 6ozs and third was Terry Smith with 3lbs 9ozs. Species were split between roach, perch and skimmers.

South Reading A.C. held their match on the Midgham section of the canal. Things are normally difficult on this section, especially when the colour has dropped out of the water. So it proved with small silver fish at a premium.

Barry Marshall took top spot with 12ozs ahead of Ron Cole (3ozs) and Duncan Bales (1oz).

Reading Civil Service held their Xmas match on the Padworth section of the canal. Bites were at a premium but Ian Marcham took top spot with one perch of 2lbs 3ozs ahead of Gordon McGee (2lbs) and Richard Sturgess (1lb 15ozs).

The stretch of the River Thames at Mapledurham was the venue for Tring Anglers. All of the anglers were biteless for the first four hours then in the last hour somebody turned the switch on for only two of the competitors.

Glenn Miller won with 6lbs 9ozs of quality roach weighing up to 12ozs each, plus one small perch using feeder tactics and red maggot on the hook. Peter Smith was second with 4lbs 8ozs of the same species, with one weighing 1lb 10ozs.

Away from RDAA matches, Reading Fishing Club fished their Child Beale venue for the A.E Hobbs Memorial Cup and despite a bit of colour and good flow, it proved a hard day as 10 of the 17 anglers failed to get a bite.

However, Tim Holt carried off the silverware as he banked two good perch for 4lbs 3ozs. Andy Woolsey’s one chub of 3lbs 4ozs gave him the runner-up prize and a 2lb perch gave Arthur Maybanks third place.

The RDAA Tuesday Club fished on the Soke Road Lakes at Tadley. Pete Budaji won with an all-carp net worth 38lbs 14ozs.

Pete Alexander (22lbs 10ozs) was second, again with all carp, and the same species gave Bill Atkinson (19lbs 6ozs) third.