Pike men juin the struggle

CHRIS BISHOP

The going remains hard, with few fish feeding, though some milder wetter weather might help inject a bit of life back into the rivers.

Pike anglers are also mainly struggling, with far fewer big fish about than last season, though the Whittlesey drains are reckoned to be good for a few jacks and Pentney Lakes has thrown up a few low-20s.

One exception is the Little Ouse, where King's Lynn AA staged an open last weekend. Only 11 anglers turned out and they shared 176lbs of roach between them.

Dave Burton poled out 32lbs of them on a four-metre whip with hemp and tares on the hook to clinch first place.

Once a favourite with the running water angler, the Little Ouse is best described as a beefed-up version of the Wissey. Pacier and a little wider, it's classic trotting water once the weed dies down. If you're fed up with pushing six metres of carbon pole around, maybe it's time to dust off those stick floats and balsas.

Tottenhill is still producing carp, with method feeder best. Ditto Bear Lake, though the onset of the first north-easterlies will probably knock that on the head.

The Ouse is up and down, with clear water and next to no flow. Many locals are becoming loathe to report their catches after news of more fish being killed and removed by gangs of visiting anglers, who have now taken to walking long distances on the east bank of the river downstream of Modney to dodge club bailiffs.

The Relief Channel at Denver and Cut Off Channel have both seen incidents with fish killed and removed of late.

Lynn AA are urging all anglers to report any suspicious activity to the Environment Agency emergency number 0800 807060. Keep a note of the time of call, who you spoke to and get a reference number so the report can be followed up.