ADVENTURES Christmas match at Dandys Ford was a hit and miss affair and bites were at a premium.

Mike Allen found some fish and weighed in 67lb of carp on pole and maggot, Robin Guppy fished with pole and bread for his 31lb 8oz of carp, Rob Gallagher drew on the canal and was third with 21lb 8oz, match secretary Nick Sargent made up the frame on 18lb. Twenty one fished and all caught just.

Seventeen Kennet Ospreys went to Billhook Lake on Sunday last where Steve Shepherd scored with 23lb 4oz, Mark Parsons used pole and corn for 16lb 4oz, Ian Jones caught 11lb 4oz using pole and mag and Phil Rogers weighed in 9lb 11oz. All caught.

Staceys Match Group were at New Barlows Lake for their latest match where Matthew Butler topped the field with 40lb of carp on pole and maggot, Paul(The Enforcer) Follington caught 12lb 8oz on the waggler followed by Doug Whitford on 10lb 1oz and Daniel Butler with 10lb 2oz. Fourteen fished and five blanked.

Paul Bassinder won the Camrose Match at Whitehouse Lake on Sunday last with 35lb of carp on pole and bread, Pip Seeny caught three carp for 22lb on pole and maggot whilst Chris Hopgood weighed in 10lb 8oz of mixed. Twelve fished and caught.

Oxoid AC had a real grueller on Charlies Lake in Andover, Simon Nicholls needed just 1lb 12oz, one carp on the bomb and maggot to score, George Coomber had 1lb 10oz for second with Peter Lovegrove weighing in 4oz. Ten fished six blanked

The Basingstoke Angling Fraternity said goodbye to another of its members when Mick Brown suffered a fatal heart attack last week. I first fished with Mick in the early 1970’s when we both worked at the Sainsburys Depot where his ability to down several pints of beer at a session was a regular talking point and I must admit I won a few bob on him in a couple of drinking competitions.

Latterly he was active on his son’s Keith’s fishing complex, bank clearing and weed cutting, his ability to wind people up was legendary and I will miss his waspish sense of humour.

Rest in peace Mick, you were a one off. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

Catch me next week.