IT WOULD appear that the tackle trade are complaining that the sale of maggots has dropped alarmingly. That is not surprising when you look at the match catches.

The number of winning weights now show that pellets have made big inroads into the fish's diet – all the anglers' fault of course, for feeding them.

Pellets are much easier to look after than maggots, and don't go through changes as do maggots into chrysalis, then flies.

The dyes used to colour the maggots are also a bit dicey, if the old Chris iodine dyes are still used, which they should not, as they were banned because they are carcinogenic.

RIVER ANCHOLME: The slightly warmer weather which saw the thaw send melted snow and then rain into the rivers to cause colour, height and rapid flow had anglers waiting for the slow down and fish coming on feed.

All this was negated by the weekend frosts, which lowered the temperature and the fish's appetite. As a result the weights dropped dramatically on Saturday.

The weights bucked up on Sunday when Lee Harrison on peg 22 put a respectable 12-12, but Richard Tuxford nearly did it with his 10-10 on the next peg.

HAVEN FISHERIES: Water levels are still high but fish are being caught on pole, bottom-rod rigs and float tackle. Roach rudd and skimmers are taking pinkies and white maggots.

HUNTERS LODGE, WILLOWS ELSHAM: Fish being caught all week up to Friday's frost which really slowed things down. Hi visibility baits with small PVA bags of micro pellets are the best tactics.

KESTREL: Fished quite hard over the weekend with only a few fish being caught – location is the key.

KINGFISHER: Fishing pegs furthest from the islands are producing Ide to 10oz and also a little chub.

HERON: Fishing has been difficult all week. Small roach and chub are getting caught on pole tactics plus, we had four perch out this week over 2lb.

KEADBY DRAINS: Pike still showing at Pilfrey Bridge, although the cold nights have had their influence by sending the pike into feeding later in the day.

KEADBY CANAL: The silver fish at the Basin seem to have moved or gone off feed due to the very cold nights, or chased away by the cormorants. Pike are still showing and being caught almost everywhere else to dead-baits and spinners.

KINGFISHER LODGE, HIBALDSTOW: Fished well during the week after the thaw, with roach to worm in the shallows, skimmers from the deeper water to pole fished maggots and even a few carp to boilies. The weekend frosts covered the water with ice again, but forecasters are predicting a warmer week ahead.

GRANGE PARK FISHERY, MESSINGHAM: Fluctuating temperatures put the fish off their regular feeding pattern. Paul Summers drew the same peg on Thursday and Saturday and caught only a third of his first weight after a heavy frost; pellets and maggots still the best baits.

The ever popular Teams of Three matches are being run from April 4. Please ring Paul on 07970671943 to book your place. Entry is £60 per team.

MARSHLANDS, BARTON-UPON-HUMBER: Like most other places, the weekend weights have taken a severe knock down and the promised warmer climes next week will be welcome as this fishery has not so far shown its true form after the severe weather conditions.

MESSINGHAM SANDS: Cold weather has once again hit hard, with all of the lakes freezing over on Saturday night.

Steve Bingham's 139lb winning weight in the Wednesday Open match on the Swan Pond was backed up by Goldthorpe's Jamie Hall who won the Saturday winter league event on the Islands Lake with 69lbs, despite freezing conditions. This suggests that given reasonable conditions, some really good weights are on the cards.

Syndicate members who were camped out over the weekend had taken some nice fish. Unfortunately when they woke up on Sunday morning they found the lakes resembling ice rinks and were forced to pack up and leave much earlier than expected.

Craig Williams had to chop and change methods and baits in the Silverfish Open on the Swan Pond and put together a mixed bag for 13lbs to win a close match in which most competitors managed around 10lbs.

YADDLETHORPE PONDS: The overnight frosts have caused a coating of ice on the surface of most of the ponds but this has generally cleared by mid-afternoon given the sunny weather at the time. Good pike from the New Cut to dead-baits herring, lamprey and eel pieces.

One angler had good sport off the point on the Match Pit, good roach to a pound, even bigger perch and the odd carp to float fished maggots.

CLEATHAM TROUT: A good number of anglers have been to catch the over-wintered fish as well as the new stock and fish to 4lb plus have been taking Montana, Cat's Whiskers and Back and Green. Some anglers have of course been using the Buzzer and Nymph approach. Both lakes now in full use and the fish are mainly in the deeper water.

THORPE VALE TROUT: Fish were caught last Saturday to Orange Buzzers, but the water was soon covered by half an inch of thick ice again on Sunday.

TOFT NEWTON TROUT: I'm hoping a few of you might manage to brave the elements and join me as from Monday 7.30am for a spot of fishing?

With plenty of fish over wintering and a fair dollop of new stockies to 16Ib+, the start looks promising. More fish have been tagged with blue (£20) tags which puts the total in the pond up to around 50 fish, so there's a chance.