ADVENTURE AS went to Milton Pools in Thame, Oxon, for their latest match, and it was Graham Shadwell who scored with 45lb 8oz of carp on pole and maggot.

Darren Wright used pellet under pole for his 37lb 12oz of carp. Martin Wickens pole and magged it for his 36lb 4oz, as did Dave Butler, who weighed in with 30lb of carp.

Sixteen fished and all caught.

Camrose fished at Old Barlows Lake, Tadley, and it was Ralph Sneddon who sorted it best with 14lb 13oz of mixed on the maggot feeder. Paul Bassinder put pole and worm to good use, netting 12lb 11oz of mixed. Rob Frost pole and magged it for his 11lb 4oz of all sorts, while Brian Orchard made up the frame on 10lb 6oz.

Twelve fished and caught.

Basingstoke Railway Piscator-ials took themselves to Cheriton Farm, where Staceys supremo Keith Brown topped out with a waggler and pole caught 31lb 8oz of carp. Maggot was the bait employed.

Colin Ariss caught 22lb 12oz of mixed on the pole and maggot to secure second place. Les Partridge and Dave Edwards both weighed an even 15lb, both on the pole and both on the maggot.

Ten fished, and I was asked not to mention that Mick Brown blanked, so I won’t.

Kennet Ospreys went to Willow Park Middle Lake for their latest fixture, and match secretary André Grandjean won it with 41lb 4oz of carp on pole and feeder using maggots on the hook. Jim Sims had one bite on the feeder and it produced a 10lb 4oz carp, enough for second spot. Inactive and moaning, Ian Jones also had one bite and one carp on the maggot feeder for an even 10lb.

Eight fished and two blanked.

Last week Kennet Ospreys fished their hangover match at Dandys Ford, and Paul Bassinder won it with 65lb of carp on pole and maggot.

Venue ace Pete Newman employed waggler and pellet at depth for his 50lb 4oz of carp. Evergreen Pat Hollies put 49lb 10oz of carp in the sack on the feeder, while Pete Wooldridge made up the frame on 45lb.

Twenty-three fished and all caught.

With Christmas out of the way, and my grandchildren in possession of most of my assets, it’s time to look forward to two months of inclement weather, so to be on the safe side I purchased a snow shovel, some weather-proof gloves and a pair of heavy duty wellingtons for ’er indoors.

How thoughtful am I? I’d hate to think that I couldn’t go fishing because my car was snowed in.

’Er indoors didn’t seem to appreciate the gifts, so to sweeten her up I just might buy her a new lawnmower this year.

Happy New Year.

Catch me next week.