IT was a glorious day for the Lincolnshire Open but unfortunately the turnout for the event was very low.
Club chairman Nigel Crabtree says it was very well publicised through angling papers, websites and local tackle shops – but only 15 anglers turned up.
They missed a very good day's fishing. Local star Adie Cooper, pictured, who has been in blistering form of late, drew the end peg and made full use of it to catch 32 fish for 16.2lb.
This included the biggest whiting of the day, at 37cm, which he shared on the day with Brian McKenzie, who caught one the same length.
Next in was Kev Bebbington, who has been travelling with George Smith and this seems to have obviously done him a world of good.
Bebbington finished up with 25 fish for 12.15lb, and third was England international Smith who had 11.9lb
The club's next match is today at Suggitts Lane, an area well known for its whiting fishing, so it could be a good night. Fishing times are 6pm-10pm.
On the subject of very poor attendances for matches, it seems that many matches are suffering this year.
I honestly do not think that the anglers have the money at their disposable. Also, increased bait and fuel costs make it an expensive day out.
It will be interesting this year what attendance they get at the Diawa, which is only just over a week away.
There have been a few bigger cod caught last weekend on the Yorkshire Coast, so hopefully it will keep improving.
There have also been more cod caught off the Humber Bank sea wall this week – the higher number bays certainly being the place to go.
Although the tides have been higher, anglers have seemed to be able to cope with the tidal run. The whiting size has also improved this week.
In the boat, I understand that more cod have been caught, but the amount of whiting around at the moment is causing problems, as they seem to seize the bait before the bigger ones can get to it.
If you get a smaller whiting put it on a penal rig and use it as live bait . This way you might attract one of the bigger cod that lurk around the Humber at this time of year.
