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Spring. A well known quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson suggests , In the spring a young mans fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love’’, for us slightly older persons our thoughts are, as always, about fishing and at this time of year whether the fish in our dams will survive the low water levels and they will successfully complete their breeding cycle. Although the water is very low at all dams it is not yet at crisis level and many of our members have seen it much lower. I have visited most of the dams in Paphos and Limmasol areas over the last month and although the fishing has been quite hard due to the breeding activity in the shallows it looks very good for the future. I took my other half (her who must be obeyed!) to Everetou dam in midMarch and were amazerat the amount and the size of the carp happily pairing off and breeding inches from the bank. The breeding in most dams has now been completed and the fishwill be ready to feed again, the sun is shining and the birds are singing, so thereis no excuse (work is not an excuse!) to get out and GO FISHING.

On the match fishing side the new Simon Emery sponsored leage (additional to our normal winter and summer leagues) is progressing very well with Jon Harbron out in front and at even money to win it, but watch out for the fast finishing Lance Chubb with odds of 11-8 which in the betting trade is known as a Kylie Minogue bet - a little on the short side but looks good coming from behind!

The usual Tuesday matches during March saw us once again at Asprokremnos Dam on the 4th and the 11th. The open on the 4th was won by Lance Chubb with a credible bag of mainly carp in the two to three pound range for a total of 19lb 4oz, second was a visitor from England Dave Lawrence with 12lb and third was the consistent Jon Harbron with 6lb.

The next match on the 11th was the eighth round of the winter league which saw 18 of our intrepid anglers in a well contested match with carp again making up the bulk of the top six weights, in first place was Chas Hunt with 10lb 4oz, second was Athos with 8lb and third was Tim Newbury with 7lb 8oz. The pairs were won by Chas and Sylvia Sawbridge.

After two months of fishing at Asprokremons it was time for a change of venue and Mavrokolympos Dam near Coral bay was voted in, mostly due to the ability to accommodate up to twenty anglers. The open match on the 18th Saw one of our outstanding lady anglers in the form of Jackie Blaine from the popular Angling Tackle shop in Polis, landing a Magnificent carp of 10lb 9oz which was even more incredible as she caught it on the pole! Well done Jackie!, in second place was Ray Ayre with 5lb of Quality rouch and third was Chas with 3lb. The pairs were won by Jackie and Chas.

The final match in March was the ninth round of the winter league again held at Mavrokolympos Dam, in first place was John Sutton with an all roach bag of 6lb from the dam wall, second was Chas Hunt with 3lb 12oz and third was a new member Derek Ready 3lb 2oz.

April saw us back at Everetou the first match fished on Tuesday the 1st, in first place was Richard Grove with 6lb, Peter Heritage and Ray Ayre were joint 2nd with 2lb 10oz each.

On the 8th of April saw us back at Everetou for the 10th match of the winter league, in 1st place once again was Lance Chubb with a magnificent carp plus one small roach for exactly 11lb, in second was Ray Ayre with 8lb 2oz and third was Jackie Blaine with 6lb 14oz. The pairs were won by Lance Chubb and Silvia Sawbridge.

Asprokremnos Dam was the venuevenue on the 16th for the third math of the month, in first place was Ray Ayre with 19lb of mostly Carp from the end peg, second was Chas Hunt with 10lb and third was Tim Newbury 7lb 10oz. The pairs were won by Ray Ayre and Alan Blaine.

April 22nd was back at Asprokremnos for the winter league match number 11, finally after 15 matches at this venue, I drew the flyer at the end of the match length and made no mistake by landing eight carp averaging 2lb plus a few
‘ ‘Bits” for a total of 18lb 2oz, in second was Chas Hunt with 11lb 12oz and third was Geoff Poole with 5lb 14oz. My weight with the contribution from my partner Vic Chambers giving us over 20lb, to easily win the pairs.

The last match in April was the classic match sponsored by Athos at the Old Fishing Shack Pub in Kato Paphos. The winner was Lance Chubb with two carp for 17lb 04oz, second was Vic Chambers with 1lb 13oz and third was Dave Fisher with 1lb 12oz

Sadly that was my last report due to a permanent return to the U.K. Another member will be elected to this role at our next meeting and the monthly match fishing reports will continue, meanwhile any fishing enquiries will be gladly handled as usual by Athos on 99805390