LEE DAVIES opened his winter account with a superb weight of 81lbs 8oz as he eased to victory at Alvechurch Fisheries last Saturday.
With blustery winds blowing across the lake, it made pole presentation a lottery, but fortunately for Davies peg 36 proved to be the winning position once again.
Taking advantage of the shelter, the Alvechurch regular fished pole and pellet at 14 metres to net stockies up to 2lbs on every put in boosted by a number of carp up to 6lbs to storm to victory.
Off peg 11 Steve Bellion was his nearest challenger as he fished pole and pellet at 11 metres out in front to net carp and stockies for 58lbs.
Warren Beech (peg 5) came third after fishing two tactics alternating pole and bomb with pellet out in front throughout to weigh stockies and silvers for 51lbs 5oz.
Although only finishing in fourth place, Les Ayes (peg 3) bagged a superb net of barbel up to 5lbs and ide to weigh 50lbs 14oz which was easily the best silver weight seen at the fishery this winter.
The above weights are a reflection of manager Mark Olds pre winter restocking programme to focus on the introduction of quality silver fish barbel, ide and chunky carp into the Horseshoe Lake.
Olds took advantage of the stock in the Thursday Open as he landed five carp up to 9lbs on pole and maggot in the last hour to weigh 57lbs 5oz and finish fourth.
It was Russell Stone, though, who claimed the honours with a winning weight of 71lbs 4oz. Like Davies, he benefited from the in-form peg 36 as he finished pole at 12 metres with maggot and corn out in front to land carp and stockies.
This was enough to see off the challenge of Beech (peg 3) who alternated pole and bomb out in front for a mixed bag of carp up to 6lbs for 60lbs.
Phil Watts (peg 24) also produced a strong display as he fished long pole and pellet out in front over a number of lines to secure a mixed bag of stockies and silvers for 57lbs 5oz and snatch third place.
Elsewhere, Ayres (peg 7) finished in the top five with 47lbs 11oz, while Steve Edwards (peg 26) fished pole and pellet at 14 metres out in front for stockies and silvers to weigh 42lbs 7oz.
