THE competition between Taunton, Bridgwater and Exeter took place along the Nerrols length of the Taunton canal where 25 anglers fished.

The conditions were good weather wise but the canal's pace was very slow. However, everyone caught fish on the day.

Taunton anglers used their venue experience as they saw off the competition to claim all the cash prizes on offer.

The individual winner was canal specialist Steve Priddle, who had 256 roach for an excellent catch totalling 6k 550g, winning him £80. Drawn at peg 12, he fished whips at four and five metres and used bread punch on 20 or 22 hooks. He fed four pints of liquidised bread feed into the swim.

The runner-up was Adam Poole at peg 16, where he had a catch of roach up to 180g for a 3k 650g total worth £55. Pole tactics at varying lengths and bread on an 18 hook saw him catching all day.

Third place went to John Andrews, who won £32 with his 3k 300g catch at peg 15. He fished a rod and waggler float and caught a roach first cast on bread punch to a 16 hook. A little bread feed kept the fish interested and he caught them steadily.

The first section winner was Shane Portlock, who scaled 2k 780g at peg 10, and the other section was won by Pete Cole at peg 18, where he had figures of 2k 320g.

The main catcher for Exeter were Roly Palmer, who had 2k 200g at peg 17. He used a four-metre whip with bread punch on an 18 hook at the start and caught roach immediately. Later switching to a pole at seven metres, he added more roach and two small skimmers.

Wayne Murton had a 2k 150g catch of roach to 150g at peg 19, where he used a four-metre whip. He did have problems with a marauding pike that scattered the small fish.

Kevin Diment, fishing peg one, scaled 1k 660g made up of over 100 tiny roach. He used bread on a 18 hook and fed two points of bread feed.

The next scheduled inter clubs match takes place along the Bridgwater section of the canal on Sunday, March 21.

Exeter members' next competition is for silver fish only on Sunday, February 28 at Kia Ora Fishery.

There has been very little news from any anglers who have fished the Grand Western Canal over the past week or so. However anyone looking to catch some fish there might consider the length near the Globe public house in Sampford Peverell.

Alan Nicholls of the Exeter Angling Centre fished there with a six-metre whip and bread punch hookbaits on a 20 hook. All little liquidised bread feed soon attracted some fish into the swim.

He caught lots of small roach and rudd plus one roach of 8oz and a surprise perch over the 1lb mark. There was a very cold wind blowing throughout the session.

Tiverton Fishing Club control the whole of the GWC and membership is open to anglers. It will cost adults £25, juniors £8, with senior citizens and disabled persons paying just £12 for a year. Permits are available at local tackle outlets.

The Lime Kilns length of the Exeter Canal was the venue for the Valentine's Day pike competition that attracted 16 anglers. Unfortunately the fish were not in a feeding mood and just a single fish scaling 9lb 8oz was enough to win the trophy for Patrick Sanders of Exeter.

He was pegged around the middle of the big bend below the wall, where he presented a float-fished sardine. The fish was caught around the midday period.

One other competitor did manage to hook a couple of pike but unfortunately they were lost. All of the anglers received a prize after the eight-hour event.

Upham Coarse Fishery has continued to offer winter sport for anglers who have fished there.

Exmouth angler Geoff Crews and his daughter Kayleigh fished on pond four, where they legered with fruit flavoured boilies. Geoff had seven carp up to the 7lb 8oz mark and Kayleigh recorded five carp topped by a 10lb fish.

Fishing on pond three with float fished prawns and corn, George Boyes of Exmouth had a catch of eight carp up to the 9lb mark.

Exeter's John Lake fished on pond six where he used bread hookbaits on float tackle. He caught several skimmer bream plus an early tench of 3lb.

Float-fished corn hookbaits have been accounting for a number of carp to the 5lb mark for anglers fishing on pond two.

Spires Lakes at North Tawton have been attracting anglers from a wide area and, despite problems with ice on the surface at times, fish have been showing.

The higher lake produced a 18lb 4oz common for one angler, which was his personal best. He caught it on a legered meat bait. The same bait and corn have accounted for several smaller carp ranging from 8lb to 10lb.

The occasional perch to 2lb have been caught on the higher lake to worm hookbaits.

The lower lake continues to offer consistent sport and the deeper water pegs have been productive. Pole and rod tactics with floats have accounted for plenty of skimmer bream and the odd bream to 3lb.

Float-fished worms have been tempting perch with the biggest around 2lb 8oz and smaller samples have fallen for single maggots.

Pegs 15 to 19 have seen some quality roach up to the 12oz mark along with rudd. Anglers who have tried some soft pellet baits have also caught some of the resident roach. When the weather warms up a little it will be worth trying a variety of baits at the popular fishery.

Anglers fishing the latest Take the Bait midweek competition at Luccombe ponds, Exminster, had to contend with a very cold wind and catches were down on previous ones.

The top angler was Rod Metcalf of Torbay, who had a winning 15lb 8oz catch at his peg on Birch pond. He used a pole at 10 metres with corn or maggot baits to catch small carp. The runner-up was Shane Harper, of Torquay, who put 6lb 10oz on the scales at his peg on larch pond. He caught carp on maggot baits fished on a pole at eight metres.

Dave Reeves, of Dawlish, was very close behind on 6lb 9oz with a surprising all-perch net of fish to 1lb. He fished on birch pond with a pole at eight metres and used pinkie hookbaits over loose maggot feed.

The midweek matches take place each Wednesday and next Sunday there is a match.

Several members of the Exeter team travelled to fish a competition on Tanners Pool at Stafford Moor Fishery near Winkleigh.

They were practising for the first round of the Van Den Eynde Supercup competition that takes place on Saturday, February 27.

Andy Bulled recorded fourth place with a 22lb net made up from four carp and nearly 4l of silver fish. He fished a waggler float and baited with hard and soft pellets.

Dave Sellick had a catch of two carp plus some silvers for an 18lb total. He wagglered maggots and pellets. Benny Prendergast had a 9lb catch of silver fish taken on waggler fished maggots.

The Exeter Association Kia Ora Fishery has been affected by some surface ice over the last week but members who have fished there have enjoyed some reasonable catches.

One area on the bottom corner of the gold pond attracted a couple of anglers who fished pegs 14 and 15.

These are generally rarely fished but their catches showed fish are there. One angler fished short poles at two and four metres with maggot hookbaits to catch dozens of little roach and rudd.

Peg 15 gave a catch of over 60 fish that was made up mainly of small roach and rudd plus two skimmers to 12oz and another good perch scaling 2lb. They were all caught on a short pole with caster or maggot baits fished down the channel.

Peg eight on the gold pond is well known for producing good numbers of skimmers and once again a member caught several there. He started on waggler tactics with caster and maggot baits catching good numbers of roach and rudd. Switching to a pole at around eight metres saw him find the skimmers up to 10oz away along with a few F1 carp to 1lb 8oz and a crucian carp.

An angler fished at peg six opposite the island with waggler tackle and maggot or caster baits. He had a catch of 30 small roach.

The silver pond gave a mixed catch for one angler fishing a swim along the open bank.

Fishing a pole at eight metres with maggots over cereal with micro pellets, he caught lots of small roach and skimmers. Feeding a swim at an angler and trying corn hookbaits he added quality roach, skimmers to 12oz and a couple of perch to 8oz. Milder weather this week will offer very good prospects again for any members planning to visit the fishery.

All of the water feed pipes have been cleared making the ponds water levels good. Recently there has been a great deal of water running off land into the ponds.

Exmouth Deep Sea Fishing Club held its 62nd annual meeting and presentation of trophies took place at the Manor Cottage Restaurant in Exmouth.

Trophy winners included John Gatter (for a 1lb 12oz cuckoo wrasse) and Tony Dix (for a 21lb cod). The evening ended with a very enjoyable presentation by Kevin Rouse from Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club on his angling trip to Norway last year.

The club has arranged 16 charter trips for the coming year. Anyone interested in joining the club should contact Bert Brockington on 01392 255108 or at bertram.brockington@btinternet.com.

Willow Pool gave Stephen Hird five carp to 10lb on legered sweetcorn while his son Michael had eight carp to include three low doubles to 13lb on the same approach. Joe Smart had seven carp to 11lb on legered pellet. Fred Smith had six carp to 9lb on legered pellet.