Silverare shared around at Petworth and Bognor Angling Club

A good turnout of members had the opportunity to hear from club chairman Nigel Chapman and secretary Steve Simmonds that the club had enjoyed another bumper year with membership numbers at their maximum level and to receive news of a new water, details of which will be announced at a later date.

The club’s Hurston Lane Fishery at Storrington has always been a high-maintenance water requiring regular work parties and the club’s fishery manager Nelson Keet said more volunteers were required to put in a few hours to help rather than just complain.

The club have decided essential and improvement work – especially to the carp lake – is necessary and a specialist contractor has already made improvements to the water but the main work will be undertaken in the spring.

This, with the cost of the new water and the constant increase in costs has, meant a small increase in memebrship fees details of which can be found at www.sussexangling.co.uk

Match anglers were rewarded with their trophies and cups.

Vince Herringshaw was club champion with 145 points and won the W Sampson, Richard and Blumson, Kirby Bott, Matchman, Kingsbury trophies, cups and tankards. He and daughter Megan won the mixed pairs shield.

Heringshaw didn’t have it all his way with Keith Hughes, Rab Butler and Mark Pantling not far behind. Glen Riley won the Ottaway Cup.

The match anglers had a good season and club bosses say it’s good to see more members joining in. In the current cold snap, not many leisure anglers have been out and about, but those who have will have found the Rother in good condition.

Roach and dace have been caught but the chub are harder to find. Pike are active and good sizes reported.

An excellent 26lb pike was caught from the Arun at Watersfield on dead bait from a member who earlier this month landed three barbel.

The club have issued a warning that frost and ice make riverbanks dangerous places.

Anglers should if possible avoid fishing alone.

THREE COUNTIES LEAGUE

The fifth round of the Three Counties Angling League has been fished.

A division was fished on Ash Lake at Brinsbury.

Results: 1 Rother II 25pts, 2 Ash 24, Jt 3 Rudgewick B & Ash II 22. Individuals: 1 Ian Davidson (Rother) 16lb 4oz (mainly carp on the pole), 2 Martin Clarke (Rother II) 12lb 8oz, 3 Chris Gould (Ash) 10lb 15oz.

B division was fished on Bowsaw Lake, Odiham.

Results: Jt 1 Rother III & Team Spirit 23, 3 Rother IV 22. Individuals: 1 Will Buckie (Team Spirit) 108lb 2oz (mainly carp on the method feeder), 2 Wayne Fordham (Rother IV) 80lb 14oz, 3 Ivor Osbourne (Rother III) 75lb 4oz.

C division was fished on New Pond, Midhurst.

Results: 1 Bognor 26, 2 Rother V 25, 3 Oakhanger B 16. Individuals: 1 K Dowell (Bognor) 6lb 8oz, 2 M Coates (Bognor) 4lb 5oz, 3 Mick White (Stedham) 4lb 1oz.