WINTER had arrived as far as the fish were concerned last weekend on Reading & District Angling Association venues due to the cold rain that entered the waters on Saturday.

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

Reading Fishing Club were located on Beat 5 at Berkeley Avenue roadbridge where nine of the 12 anglers did not registering a fish.

So Len Wilby took the honours with just 3ozs to beat George Callaghan by just one ounce, with John Ambrose another ounce adrift.

Tring Anglers travelled to Oxford to fish the Sandford Weir stretch of the Thames and they found the going just as hard with only four anglers out of the nine weighing in.

Paul Smith fished the weir pool and caught one chub of 2lbs 3ozs to win the match. Joint second was Don Spearpoint and Dave Moore with 2ozs each. Terry Vickers caught a tiny chublet which did not register on scales and was recorded at 1oz.

Chub were the saviour of the day for Prestcold A.C. who fished at Northmoor near Witney on the Thames.

Geoff Eley took top spot with three chub to weigh in 4lbs 3ozs. In second place was Paul Risi with two of the species to total 3lbs 2ozs and just 1oz behind was Roy Green, also with two chub.

King Heron did not fare much better fishing the K&A Canal at Padworth where perch were required to make the frame.

Colin Blanchard took top spot with one very good perch that tipped the scales at 2lbs 9ozs. Steve Skilton had two perch for 2lbs 6ozs and second place with Dave Ward completing the trio with one perch for 1lb 10ozs.

Away from the RDAA waters and Tilehurst British Legion fished their match on the Goring stretch of the Thames. Andy Chapman took three chub to take top spot with 4lbs 8ozs.

Terry Littlewood claimed the runner up prize with 4lbs 4ozs of perch and skimmers and in third place was Phil Drew with one good perch and some small chub that totalled 3lbs 12ozs.

The Tuesday Club fished the New Barlows lake at Staceys complex in Tadley.

Dave Stratfield-Way took top spot with 18lbs 9ozs of bread-caught carp. John Berry used the same method to take second spot with 12lbs 8ozs that consisted of carp plus bream and in third spot was Mark Hornblow with two bream for 11lbs 2ozs.