23-05-2025
John Brogden claims the top spot and the Fred Moss Memorial Trophy
There were fantastic turnouts in respect of past members last weekend as many anglers from all over the region took part in competitions held by two of our local angling associations.
First and more locally, a celebration took place on Saturday for one of the Liverpool & District AA's angling greats and a past chairman with that, Fred Moss.
For this one match secretary Mike Dickson once again put together another superb open match in which many anglers who knew Fred personally, travelled far and wide to Maghull for the draw held at the MCA.
With canal in fine form, particularly upon the noted areas of late, Wirral's Alan Dewhurst's emphatic win on Wednesday with a great catch of bream and skimmers for 36.8.0, alerted not only our visitors, but the many local Liverpool rods participating who were all sure to be looking to sit on a few fish in order to hopefully enjoy a great day's fishing like Dewhurst had experienced midweek.
This one, which was pegged out through Maghull, was a match in which many regulars looked for a favoured draw on some historically good areas in which bream inhabit and there was no doubt at all that one or two of the field would be relishing a chance of a decent draw on the day.
READ MORE: More than 100 Easter Eggs donated by anglers at the Liverpool & District Angling Association Good Friday Open
Taking advantage of just that was Matrix Leigh Tackle & Bait rod John Brogden, and here landing himself on a noted peg on Maghull's cricket pitch area, Brogden made the most of it with no mistakes on taking the best weight of the day for 13.10.0 and of course the Fred Moss Memorial Trophy.
Next, taking a ride out along the East Lancashire Road to Carr Mill at St Helens on Monday, this was another match that saw many anglers taking part visiting from all over the region, including yours truly, all to also share their thoughts of another past member who was also very fondly respected, Dez Lowcock.
As many will recognise, this huge natural expanse of water looking out to Billinge is a terrific venue.
It's full of many species of fish including double figure carp and huge bream shoals along with roach, perch and the odd tench that are rare but present.
So with nearly 50 anglers present to honour Dezzy on this one, this match was spread across the venue with many options open for everyone with regards to a personal approach.
One man who doesn't need any confidence on Carr Mill is Local St Helens rod Peter Tickle. A winner on many occasions within his angling career, Tickle's knowledge on the dam is second to none particularly when looking at the present form as a guide.
In this one Tickle drew a very much favoured area and with a presence of mind on his approach, he made no bones about how he was going to tackle it.
Opting for a long pole approach at 15 metres and a 'back-up' of using an open ended feeder on the tip, Tickle took bream, skimmers and an unexpected 3lb tench for an overall winning weight of 17.4.0 to pick up the now coveted Dez Lowcock Memorial Shield.
In second place was Steve Mitchell, who, pegged nearby on peg 8, took skimmers for 11.8.0 which closely outdid Royton's Jim Evans's 11lb third place effort.
Manchester's Mark Harris and Skelmersdale's Steve Wooding took 8lb for joint fourth position.
READ MORE: Manchester's Mark Harris claims the top spot with an incredible 54lb net of bream
READ MORE: It's all about the bream
