Angling: Rivers need good downpour to muddy the waters; Hook, Line AND SINKER.

Byline: GARETH PURNELL

IT can be a bit doom-and-gloom for us anglers when the first cold snap arrives.

The water goes clear, the fish switch off, and some anglers think it's time to pack away their gear until the spring.

But in fact it only takes a little while for the fish to get used to the colder temperatures and soon they are feeding again.

Feeding behaviour can change. Bigger fish tend to feed in short spells, which might only last a couple of hours or even less.

You can sit biteless for hours on end and then have three fish in the net in quick succession.

What all our rivers need is a good downpour which will put some colour into the water.

While the water remains clear, specimen fish will be hard to catch in daylight, but that last hour of light and first hour of darkness is when you need to be on the bank.

T here's been plenty of top-quality sport if you pick the right venue, although you'll have to be prepared to travel.

The three-day Fox Wye Festival around Hereford was won by Evesham's Dave Harrell, whose catch included a magnificent 114lb dace net in his total, taken on day one at Belmont, mainly on the 6m pole and a 3gr rig, with heavy groundbaiting the key.

On day two he netted 28 quality chub for over 60lb on waggler and maggot at Bartonsham.

"I got through 10 kilos of groundbait on the first day plus a gallon of hemp and casters - really brilliant fishing," Dave said.

His final day 40lb, was enough for the title.

Dave continued his run at the weekend in the SAMF Open on the Severn at Shrewsbury, where he took over 33lb of dace. Ten more weights were over 20lb and 36 of the 51 strong field weighed in double figures - great fishing!

The Alan Maher Memorial there this weekend is sure to be very popular.

WEST Midlands carpers will be interested in a new competition at The Monument fishery. The angler who catches the biggest fish between December 1 and February 28 wind a 36-hour session on Acton Burnett, Weston Park, or the Avenue.

To illustrate the potential of the water, Shrewsbury angler Dave Haughton has just landed a cracking 51lb 2oz mirror there known to local anglers as The Italian. Find out more at www.

themonumentcarpfishery.com ANY chub over 6lb is very big for the River Severn, so Wednesbury angler Richard Owen can be well pleased with the 6lb 1oz specimen he took during a recent session at Monford Bridge.

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