SALISBURY Angling Club took the top three places in Sunday's match against Melksham on the Nadder with some good weights considering the conditions.

Despite an overnight low of minus four and clear water, some pegs fished very well.

Bob Ryan fished the Deanery Meadow on a different peg than normally used and caught 14 chub for a winning weight of 32lb, while Graham Pulling at another unusual spot at Churchfields, caught 17lb 2oz of dace. Ray Ridgers completed the Salisbury hat-trick by taking a 13lb 5oz bag of dace from below the mill at Harnham.

Several anglers had weights between 10lb and 13lb.

The series of hard night frosts have slowed sport right down on the lakes with many fisheries reporting frozen lakes from bank to bank.

During the day some stretches thaw but by early evening they are freezing again.

The rivers have been the better bet although conditions have not been ideal with clear water, still running high and thanks to the hard frosts, on the cold side.

In spite of that, tackle boss, Dave Moody, tried a difficult swim on a stretch of the Avon above Downton on Sunday and had a rewarding day.

He landed six chub - the big-gest at 5lb 1oz - a roach of 2lb 2oz, and rounded off with two perch at 2lb 8oz and 2lb 6oz.

Further downstream at Burgate on Christchurch AC's stretch, one angler hooked a 10lb-plus salmon while float fishing for roach and managed to land it after a lengthy battle.

It was carefully and safely returned to the river. He also caught a 5lb-plus chub.

Several anglers have had good bags of chub and dace from the Avon with just the odd roach or two, but nothing spectacular.

Before the really cold nights took hold, the Snake Lake at Witherington Farm Fishery produced a winning weight of 97lb 2oz in one match with second place recording 94lb 8oz. The fishery reports slow sport because of the ice but it picks up as the ice thaws.

All five lakes at Waldens Farm Fishery have been frozen for nearly a week with the thaw only temporarily occurring mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Then there have been a few carp caught, a handful of pike and some skimmers and small roach and rudd.

All-in-all it has been a quiet week for the stillwaters and slightly better for the river anglers.

With milder weather on its way and warmer nights, sport may start to pick up for this coming weekend.