Shotton and District AC have just installed 5 floatable islands on their Shotton Pond and when anchored in place these will create features to fish towards but more importantly enhance the spawning potential with roach in particular responding to the plant roots which intertwine with the mesh below the rafts, writes JEFF HERBERT.

The new islands are certainly an instant success. In Sunday's Shotton event Newman Scott's Rob Emery cast a small groundbait feeder alongside the island from peg nine and recorded 5.12.0. Using single and double maggot hookbaits Rob netted 60 rudd and a match clinching bream of 2.0.0.

In contrast team mate Peter Nixon opted for a 3m whip and maggot on the inside ledge collecting 160 fish mainly gudgeon and perch for 5.8.8 from Steve Turner (Peterlee) 4.14.8.

Silksworth Lake staged the first heat of the City of Sunderland Teams of 4 Championships. Prior to Sunday the venue had been in cracking form but come match day a heavy overnight frost greeted competitors.

Nevertheless sport was better than expected and no-one could topple the winner Hetton AC's Lee Cooper who landed a big carp of 10.5.0.

Utilising waggler and maggot in search of roach Les hooked the unexpected specimen which took over an hour to subdue adding roach and gudgeon to make up 11.10.0 off peg 7. For Darlington Angling Centre B's Gerry Bowes feeder chopped worm and groundbait encouraged skimmers on the worm for 8.13.0 and second place.

Team wise it was very close indeed Darlington AC A and Geordie outfit Big Waters Blue tied on 21 points and just one point adrift came Darlington AC B in third place.

In form VDE Goole star Dean Smith triumphed during Wednesday's Open at the Woodlands putting 55.0.0 of carp onto the scales but it was runner up Andy Bridge who made Woodlands history. Andy landed the heaviest match caught carp to date a monstrous mirror of 21.15.0 which he tamed on 14 elastic.

Fishing to the boards at 11 metres on corn off noted corner peg Dragonfly 10 he also picked up smaller carp for a second place haul of 44.3.0.

Cleveland Angling Centre's Dave Harris left the 99 rods well behind bagging a thumping 60.8.0 during Saturday's match covering 6 lakes at the complex.

Working off Mallard's corner peg 10 and with a strong breeze down the lake Dave located carp off the boards on pole corn and cat meat at 13 metres. 17 fish obliged best a common of 5.0.0 backed by tench and a single skimmer.

Mallard also produced for Map Elton's John McGarrell. Alternating between the pole at 17 metres and the bomb and corn peg 16 delivered 46.1.0 from S Wood (Map Elton) 41.4.0. The last of the current Sunday Opens at Woodlands the 'Section Showdown' split between Skylark and Partridge produced a tight contest and every section bar one delivered 20.0.0 or more in flat calm conditions.

Drawing Partridge 23 Dave had three carp in his net on pole and cat meat at 13 metres then with only 1 hours to go he changed to pellet fishing up in the water and added the rest of his catch including a welcome bonus carp of 6.0.0 chased by Ray Singh (Elton Tackle) 34.0.0.

At the Oaks Sessay Newman Scott's Dave Smiddy enjoyed a comfortable win weighing in 33.12.0 during Thursdays Open on Maple Lake to hold off the 60 strong field.

Pulling out peg 22 Dave fished across at 13 metres tempting all carp up to 4.0.0 on pellet. Next to frame Dean Smith of VDE Goole found he had to go out to 16 metres to get amongst the fish and pellet accounted for 25.8.0. In the second round of the Teesside League on Sessay's Maple Lake long pole and maggot and short pole and corn proved advantageous for winner Gary Pawlett of Teams Oaks as small carp responded from peg 12 for 24.12.0 helping steer his team into top spot on the day and overall. Elmtree's John Wilson had less bites but of a better quality as pole and cat meat down the middle attracted samples up to 4.0.0 fishing with 20.10.0.

Teams on the day: 1 Team Oaks 54 pts 2 Hirst Tackle 48 3 Pole Ninjas 47 4 Pole Pullers 45.

League to date: 1 Team Oaks 111 pts 2 Pole Ninjas 104 3 Pole Pullers 93 4 Elmtree & Hirst Tackle tying on 87 pts.

Oaks Sunday Open Poplars Lake (41 rods): 1 Andy Rawson (Wibsey AC) 47.2.0 of carp; 2 Martin Whittaker (Lower Wharfe) 38.9.0; 3 Ian Exelby (Middy Team Dons) 23.12.0.

An overnight frost affected match returns at Moor Monkton for the Abu Series on Carpvale Pool.

Armley's Gary Watson caught 8 decent carp enough for victory in the fourth fixture. Fishing to the features pole and meat brought 26.2.0 off peg 12 from Steve Raper of Hirst Tackle who found bream carp along with bits and pieces for 24.8.0.

Other result: Raker Lakes Horseshoe Lake Wheldrake (30 rods): 1 J Cosgrove (Anglers Corner) 38.5.0; 2 G Sellars (Team Glen) 23.9.0; 3 A

Martindale (Tang Hall Match Group) 20.15.0.

TROUT NEWS

Masham's Leighton Reservoir giving good sport with numbers of rainbow trout in the 3.0.0 - 4.0.0 bracket and highlight a specimen of 8.0.0 grassed by Richard Kellett of Ingleton.

Intermediate lines or floating lines with weighted lures performing well.

Dawsons olive, black lures and various fritz patterns most successful.

197 visitors totalled 647 trout.

Jubilee Lakes Redworth - Fishing well at present with plenty of specimens in the 11.0.0 to 16.0.0 bracket. Fish taken deep early in the week because of cold easterly wind and Cats whiskers and Dawsons olive producing majority of fish but towards the weekend in warmer conditions bloodworm and black buzzers best.

FIXTURES: Tomorrow: *Woodland Lakes Open (Tickets on 01845 526110).

Sunday: *Abu Spring Series (Round 5) Carpvale Pools Moor Monkton. *Shotton and District Series (Round 3) Shotton Pond. *Oaks Sessay Open on Maple Lake.