Angling: WHAT A WHOPPER; Tees yields a bumper match haul ANDREW WILKINSON rounds up all the activity on the local angling scene COARSE ANGLING.

Byline: ANDREW WILKINSON 

WHAT cracking action - the Tees sprang to life in the Yarm match with half of the 32-strong field hitting double figured weights.

The perch were largely responsible for rods bending all along the match length.

While some sections held more than others, there seems to have been an explosion of the species.

With the river fining down nicely and showing a bit of colour the conditions were ideal, and the occasional bream boosted catches.

The winner, Harrogate angler Steve Wilson, weighed in a stunning 48lb 1oz, made up of a single bream and 45lb of perch to around 2lb which he tempted on feeder and worm from peg 147.

And even from the golf course section weights topped 30lb.

Brian Armstrong (Browning Quaker) was runner-up with 44lb 6oz. He was fishing from peg 146, an area which has held a shoal of perch for some time. Dave Pearson (Metro Fishing Republic) came third with 31lb, then came Dave Harris (Garbolino Elton) 21lb 1oz, Steve Anderson (Big Waters) 17lb 13oz and Keith Jones (Shotton) 17lb 12oz.

In the days when the stretch was tidal and big shoals of dace dropped downstream in the winter, there were some huge nets - but rarely since have such big weights been seen on a regular basis.

And when the perch don't show the bream might, so there is always the chance of bumper nets.

Despite those two species dominating there are still some dace being caught, though the perch will prey on young dace, which may restrict numbers, as might predation by cormorants.

The other problem dace face is from pike, however a healthy food chain (cormorants apart!) is good news for any river.

Tomorrow a postponed match from earlier in the season is slotted in, and with steady weather conditions, the perch could again show in good numbers, so it will be the ideal time to hold this match.

Fishing is from 10.30 to 3.30, with the draw from 8-8.30.

Elsewhere Lindholme Lakes have become a popular match venue for travelling North-east anglers.

Mick Lovelass of Daiwa Cleveland AC caught 18lb 7oz of carp to tie for fourth place there.

Also on the stillwaters on The Oakes Anthony Stock (Daiwa Cleveland AC) caught 23lb 7oz to finish fifth.

In a couple of weeks' time the stillwaters will take over from the rivers, which will close for the season.

Good carp nets are already being taken on the lakes, and weights will increase as the weather warms.

But for now make the most of the rivers over the coming days, for the settled, mild, weather should encourage the fish to stay in certain swims and feed freely.

While the perch and bream will oblige on the lower river, further upstream chub and grayling will be the target species for match and pleasure anglers.

Bread fished with feeder tactics is likely to be the best bait for chub, which like big baits, though cheese, meat and lobworms will always attract a greedy chub.

Float-fished maggot and redworm with occasional lose feeding can keep a grayling shoal interested.

CAPTION(S):

HERE IT COMES: Dave Smiddy nets another nice fish on the River Tees, where anglers have found that perch are keeping rods bending