EASTER Monday was very busy at local stillwater fisheries, with hardly any spare pegs available for pleasure anglers.

This has given some fishery owners the instinct to hike up their peg fees well above the inflation rate but the word on the banks is anglers won't stand for it and will march with their feet to other fisheries to get value for money.

On the match scene, Bromsgrove father and son duo Ron and Jason Evans, fishing under the Astwood Bank AC banner demolished the opposition at the Ovation Leisure Open at Lower Broadheath's Sycamore Pool. Jason was the winner, pole-fishing maggots at peg 16. He took 32-0-0 of carp. Dad Ron, had 27-7-0 for second spot and Keith Woodhead (Ovation Leisure) was third with 26-1-0.

The Moorlands Farm Bank Holiday Monday Open was topped by Mark Pincer (Lifestyle) from Island pool peg 11, with a pole, corn and caster catch of 69-3-0, his team mate Lee Richards was a close second with 68-10-0, third Mal Talbot (Kamasan) 64-1-0.

Close catches were also taken at Woodlands View with Tony Homes (Slapheads) on top form, with a pole, worm and caster catch of 79-3-0 second Roger Hampson (Fishermans Friend) 78-14-0, third Kevin Slade (AOK) 67-0-0.

The evening Dean's Pool Open saw Derek Hammond (Oxford Drennan) take a winning 91-4-0 catch from the margins on peg 11, with pole, corn and casters, Alistair Chisholm (Faps) followed with 61-10-0, third Tony Holmes (Slapheads) 54-0-0.

The Woodlands View Tuesday Affordable Open was a big scoring event for Mal Watson (Shakespeare) when he put 113-3-0 of carp on the scales taken down the margins of Dean's peg 48 with pole corn and casters. Runner up Kevin Walker (Sensas Midlands Match) had 98-11-0 third Brian Jones (Woodlands) 49-5-0.

The Starlets Veterans held their contest at Moorlands Farm's Meadow pool with John Joyce (Halesowen) showing the way at peg 47 by pole fishing corn over pellets for 28-2-0, second John Allington (Hereford) 17-9-0, third Stan James (Bewdley) 17-2-0.

The Moorlands Farm Bank Pool Open saw one ounce separate the top two places with Mark Chard (Moorlands) taking the verdict with 47-3-0 from peg 20. Second David James (Lifestyle) 47-2-0, and third Will Jones (Worcester) 42-9-0.

Moorlands Farn Wednesday Open was headed by Lee Richards (Lifestyle) with a short pole and corn catch of 90-14-0 from peg 22, Mick Henshall (Fosters MG) followed with 85-12-0 third Gareth Evason (Wales) 76-13-0.

The best weight of the year so far was recorded at the Woodlands View Dean's Pool open and it was Welsh wizard Giles Cochrane (Pill Angling Sarfix) that took the winner's purse with a 150-0-0 carp haul from peg 63, taken with pole, worms and casters. Mike Smith (Slapheads) was second with 96-15-0, third Andy Westmecote (Thatchers) 81-8-0.

On Thursday the Starlets Veterans fished their event at Woodlands View Deans Pool with Ken Giles (Alvechurch) in top form by pole fishing worms and casters at peg 37 for 52-13-0, second John Joyce (Halesowen) 41-12-0, third Brian Hill (Stourport) 34-2-0.

Moorlands Farm Special Costcutter open was won by John Allerton (Strettons) with a pole corn and meat catch of 78-10-0 from Meadow pool peg 34, second Andy Newton (Lifestyle) 58-11-0, third Brian Perry (Worcester) 52-8-0.

The Friday Costcutter Open was held on the Meadow Pool where David James (Lifestyle) took a ton up catch of 123-0-0 from peg 21 with pole and corn, Colin Pace (Bilston) followed with 86-12-0, third Roger Finch (Strettons) 66-4-8.

At Woodlands View the Afternoon Open saw three ton up catches headed by Matt Cox (Fieryhole AC) with 112-6-0 taken with pole corn and meat from Deans peg 63, second Richard Lawson (Browning Wolves) 111-6-0, third Les Thompson (Shakespeare) 105-8-0.

Saturday's Moorlands Farm Open was held on the Bank Meadow and Moors pools and it was Lee Richards (Lifestyle) who showed the way from fancied Meadow peg 12, with a 139-2-0 carp haul taken with pole fished corn pellets. Runner up Barry Gardner (Barry's Boys) had 78-10-0 with Ian Whitehouse (Wesson) third with 72-1-0.

Bitter cold heavy winds made pole fishing difficult at the Lower Broadheath open, but Gary Barker (Drum Diamond) found the Willow pool peg 13 sheltered where he put together 71-7-0 of big carp taken with pole fished corn and meat for victory. Second Geoff Garrish (Matchbox) 40-10-0, third Alistair Cox (Dudley Bait and Tackle) 32-12-0, fourth Keith Woodhead (Ovation Leisure) 30-13-0.

Lady angler Clair Dagnall (Comic Sensas Midland Match) showed the boys how to do it at the Woodlands View Arles and Deans pools open when she pole fished corn and casters at Deans peg 43 for a winning 62-5-0. Mick Jones (Slapheads) had to settle for second with 46-11-0, third Mick Denton (Oxford Drennan) 46-2-0.

On Sunday Catshill top rod Gary Booth collected the Birmingham Civil Service President's Trophy, fished over two matches. Gary had two-second places taking four penalty points. Winner on the day at Elmdon main pool was Wayne Hubbard from Seldon taking 59-9-0 with ledgered corn from peg 20, Gary Booth had 24-13-0 with third place going to Eddie Matthews with 18-11-0.

At Moorlands Farm, Stourbridge matchman Andy Newton (Lifestyle) continued his good form with a top catch of 85-0-0 taken with pole and corn from Meadow pool peg 23, second Jason Neath (Shakespeare) 51-0-0, third Nigel Ball (Wolverhampton) 50-5-0.

The Hawthorns Social AC fished its contest on Lower Broadheath's Sycamore pool where Rubery match angler Rick Walker pole fished casters for a 26-6-0 catch, second Dave Cooper 15-0-0, third Steve Freeman 11-13-0.