MANY anglers seem to have given the thumbs down to midweek Stillwater open matches, possibly due to the cold spell.

Even those hardy Starlets Veterans are finding turnouts ebbing and on Tuesday, January 6, their latest individual winter league event was held on Woodland View's Deans pool. Peter Taylor was the winner, (Alvechurch) feeder fishing red maggots at peg 27 for small Carp and Roach for 11-10-0. Bill Drew (Bewdley) was second with 10-12-0; third, Albert Pedley (Northfield) 10-10-0. The league to date shows Bill Drew leading with 24 points; Ken Giles 23 ; Peter Taylor 20.

On Thursday, the Northfield Starlets Veterans were at Moorlands Farm and it was Derek Abbott (Redditch) who showed the way by feeder fishing red maggots at Moors pool peg eight for a mixed 15-8-0 catch. Joint second were Roy Dugmore (Northfield) and Harold Willey (Kidderminster) both with 9-0-0.

Saturday saw the first round of the Redditch Federation Winter League, which took place on the Stratford Canal at Earlswood. Topping the individual list was Paul Bick (Sensas Dams and Lock Gold) who pole fished joker at peg 130 for a mainly Roach catch of 6-12-9. Dave Anderson (Talk Angling Black) was second with 2-13-0 and third was Darren Massey's (Sensas Dams and Lock Gold) 2-11-6.

The four-man Sensas Dams and Lock Gold team take a clear lead with 43 points; Middy 'A' 33; Middy B 32.

At Moorlands Farm, Stuart Pulsar (DGL) led a strong field by pole fishing maggots at Island pool peg 13 to take a mixed 49-0-0 catch. Team mate Mal Watson followed with 43-6-0 and Les Thompson (Shakespeare) was third with 35-0-0.

On Sunday, the 100 AC and Cradley Heath Labour AC were head to head in the BAA Knockout Cup semi-final at Swindon on the Staffs-Worcs Canal and what a close match this was. Top individual was Rubery canal expert Keith Woodhead (100 AC) who, from the first peg past the reeds, pole fished punched bread to take 4-11-0 of Roach. Just two pegs away saw Dave Wood (Cradley Heath Labour) take second place with 2-5-0 and his club mate Barry Robson third with 2-4-0. The 100 AC just made it into the final on March 13 with a six-man total of 6-6-8 to Cradley Heath Labour's 6-6-0.

Waters booked by the Birmingham Anglers Association.

Saturday, January 17.

Avon - Chadbury.

Canals - Staffs/Worcs Br. 11 - 13.

Sunday, January 18.

Avon - Bidford L/B, Fladbury below bridge; Severn - Ribbesford 2, 3; Salwarpe - Claines A & B.

Canals - B'ham/Worcs Br. 40 - 41, 44 - 45, 46 - 48; Staffs/Worcs Br. 16 - 18, 33 - 34, 35 - 38.