MACEYS Gigg Lane: There were plenty of anglers on the bottom lodge last Sunday, so I opted for the quieter top lodge. One or two serious carpers were there, but they did not seem to have much luck.

I started on pellet, getting decent hits on rudd and roach before things slowed down and I caught one or two gudgeon. My patience was rewarded with a nice carp on the last cast of the day.

Ramsbottom Angling Association: I spent Monday morning on Crown pools at Brandlsholme Road. It took most of the morning, but I eventually caught tench, perch and small mirror carp. In the afternoon I went down the road to Burrs Country Park but drew a blank although there was plenty of movement on the surface.

Seniors G&N Autoco Trophy, Hampton Springs: Saturday result – 1 Jason Wright (57lb) Joint-2 John Penlington and Paul Hesketh (54lb) Bury and District Angling Society: At Little Carcuss, Tottington, I took the right baits then got a bag full of good size bream with a few roach and perch.

Big Carcuss was home to the bivvy boys or overnight fishermen who have been getting better results now the weather has changed.

Sunday result, Atkinson Cup, Cartwheel Lodge –1 GWalsh (04-04) 2 L Whittles (02-15).

Heywood and District Angling Society: On Wednesday, it was time for me to become assistant coach to Jim Ridley for the Heywood Veterans’ event at Mutual Mill complex. Plenty was vaught as some old and new hands took a course in fishing. Everyone had a great time with plenty of rudd, carp, tench and golden orph netted.

Pilsworth Fisheries: Thursday I was in two minds – match lodge or ponds. But I was glad I opted for the latter, getting carp all day – the biggest being just under 10lb. On the Speciman Lodge, I caught two carp, one at 20lb and the other at 23lb taken in the shallows with the fish favouring the warmer conditions.

Open matches, Monday, on ponds, result – 1 Carl Boyd (40lb) 2 Steve Caldron 34lb 8oz3 John Doran 27lb 4oz; Sunday open match lodge – 1 Graham Howe 39lb 2 Ian Ridgeway 35lb 8oz. Radcliffe Angling Association: There is a cheap all-day ticket on Friday on three lodges at Starmount Lodge. I took a look at the middle one which is normally hard to get a peg on Saturday or Sunday, but through the week it is a nice day on pellet waggler.

The Junder Rogers Trophy takes place on Sunday on Fir Tree canal.

Bradshaw Fisheries: I fished Lake Nine on Saturday with local professional Ray Owen. I caught consistantly all day, taking barbell, tench, hyde, f1 and crucian with a good end weight of about 35lb each. Still think I won, though.

Open match, Sunday, May 26, Lake Nine, result – 1 John Jowett (38lb 4oz) 2 Dave Brearley (37lb 6oz), 3 Dave Kelly (37lb 2oz).

Open match Lake Eight, Wednesday, May 29, result – 1 M Booth (41lb 1oz), 2 R Windsor (31lb 15oz), 3 A Crook (27lb 7oz).

Open match Lake Nine, Sunda, result – 1 John Jarret (33lb 13oz) 2 John Pilling (30lb 3oz), 3 Gary Walker (29lb).