ANGLERS were not really looking forward to what were some of the club’s first matches of the season, writes Alan Hughes.

With low water levels, clear water and bright sunshine forecast things were not going to be easy.

There were only four matches scheduled on RDAA waters with two on the Thames and one each on the Kennet and Longwater Lake.

Bracknell Avocets travelled to Mapledurham to fish their match and found weed to be an added problem and this made float fishing impossible.

Despite these problems all of the anglers caught, but out in front for the first time was Paul Holland who netted 1lb 4ozs.

Second spot was claimed by Richard Herman who was beaten by half an ounce and completing the trio was with Barry Morten with 1lb 3oz. A lot of fish were lost in the weed.

Tilehurst Royal British Legion were also on the Thames at Sonning and if you were drawn in an area with shade on the water you were among the favourites to win.

Fred Jones drew the end peg by the island and caught fish steadily all day to amass 7lbs 8ozs of roach and skimmer bream.

The runner-up was John Smith with 7lbs 6ozs of similar species. Tony Tibble claimed third place with 4lbs 3ozs again of roach and skimmers.

Burghfield river on the Kennet was the venue for King Heron and again all of the anglers caught fish, but not many with the main species being perch with a few roach and gudgeon.

Sam Skilton took the honours with 2lbs 9ozs and Dave Church was a very close second with 2lbs 8ozs. Third place went to Charles Blanchard with 1lb 13ozs.

Reading Fishing Club fished their match on the Longwater Lake at Green Park and Dave Bosher was the only angler to find a bream and this along with some silver fish gave him top spot with 6lbs 6ozs. John Berry took the runner-up place with 5lbs 9ozs of roach and rudd. Third place went to Andy Woolsey with one tench and silvers for 5lbs 3ozs.

The RDAA Tuesday Club fished on the Thames at Goring.

Whether the rain had something to do with it and the cloud but Malcolm Vigor had a very good day taking 19lbs 2ozs of roach, skimmers and perch to the scales.

Runner-up was Berry with 15lbs 4ozs of roach and skimmers. Bosher framed again with 7lbs 6ozs of roach and skimmers to complete the trio.