READING & District Angling Association Club matches were thin on the ground last weekend and, with the main rivers still carrying floodwater, conditions did look a bit difficult.

There was one match each on the River Kennet, River Thames and Kennet & Avon Canal.

Reading Fishing Club fished Beat 1 of the Kennet and it was Joe Baker who carried off the club’s Joe Wise Cup with a fine chub of 5lbs 3ozs.

But Baker's day took a comical but ultimately upsetting conclusion as later in the day he hooked a 24lb 5oz common carp that was landed by hand lining the fish in after his line snapped.

He was then given assistance to net the fish and, under club rules, the catch could not be counted. Nevertheless, suffice to say what a magnificent fish it was!

Bill Tucker finished in second place with three perch for 11ozs and Pete Budaji claimed the third place money with two gudgeon for 1oz. The other eight anglers all had dry nets.

Tilehurst Royal British Legion held their match on the Thames at Wallingford B section and, despite the river carrying an extra foot of water, results were better than expected.

Liam Page-Smith took the honours with three chub plus a barbel to weigh in 18lbs 14ozs. The second spot was shared between Dave Cowley and Andy Chapman who both weighed in 10lbs 13ozs of chub.

None of the anglers from South Reading had a bite in their match on Padworth Canal.

The RDAA Tuesday Club returned to the Stacey complex to fish the Whitehouse Lake.

George Callaghan found the bream in a hungry mood and he claimed top spot with 22lbs 7ozs of the species.

The runner-up place went to John Ambrose with an all-carp net worth 21lbs 3ozs and completing the trio was the veteran Dave Bosher with 18lbs 10ozs of carp and tench plus a roach/bream hybrid of 5lbs.