WHINNYGILL Reservoir continues to surprise anglers with the variety of fish it holds and two more can now be added to this season’s growing list.

Malcolm Mawson has caught a chub while John Nicholls landed what some say is a blue orfe. Mawson’s chub fell to double red maggot on a size 18 hook and 900g (2lb) breaking strain line. The fish weighed 1,080g (2:6:0) and was caught in the north west corner near the pump house.

The chub is being claimed as a new record for the water but John’s blue orfe appears to be in limbo until its identity is confirmed. The latter fish would certainly be a new species for the reservoir but chub have been caught before in previous years.

One fish that turned up unexpectedly a couple of years ago and set a new record for bream has been found dead in the edge of the reservoir.

It was quite a monster, weighing 3,580g (7:14:0) and had the appearance of a very old fish with its large, black body. With the likely absence of any bream remotely near its size, it may hold the record for quite some time.

Craven Summer League competitors fished the penultimate match of this year’s series on the Broughton Road length of the canal last Sunday in reasonable conditions. Everyone caught fish and the weights were acceptable, comprising of decent roach, perch and skimmers plus numerous small fish.

Russell Heaton won with 1020g (2:4:0) while Andy Wharton was second with 830g (1:13:0). Other leading weights were: 3 Andrew Thomas 730g (1:9:12), 4 Keith Brown 680g (1:8:0), 5 Terry Bolland 550g (1:3:8) and 6 Mark Bradley 430g (0:15:0).

League positions are based on the best six results from the maximum of eight so one or two could move up the table rapidly at the final match where 24 points are available for a win.

In contention are: 1 Russell Heaton 120pts, 2 Kenny Wright 109, 3 Ernest Ramsbotham and Jason Aldis 104, 5 Keith Brown and Richard Thornton 103, 7 Danny Bolland 101 and 8 Mark Bradley 99.

The final match will be fished this Sunday on the Broughton Road length of the canal instead of the Coal Bunker stretch at West Marton.