It looks like Birmingham’s Earlswood Lakes is hitting form with news reaching me of an impressive 168lb winning bag of carp this week.
The weight came in the 30-peg Carpetbaggers open on Engine Pool, in which Glen Maxwell drew peg 75 where he fished the pellet waggler, feeding pellets at about 40 yards to land carp up to 10lb and beat his nearest rival by nearly 70lb.
Not that the backing weights were at all bad – Ian Maltby weighed in 99-3-0 from peg 22 on the Method feeder and pellet waggler, Steve Bowen 93-6-0 and Paul Garner 77-8-0, and there were two more 50lb-plus bags.
The Carpetbaggers matches are being run on a weekly basis and organiser Pete ‘Carpet’ Davies is moving them around popular venues in the Midlands – the next one is at Boddington Reservoir. He has about 25 regulars but you can usually get on – call 07973 369699 for a full list of matches and to book in.

Huge Trout From Packingtom Somers
Big news on the trout front this week is the capture of a massive 19lb 6oz rainbow trout from Packington Somers Fishery – the best fish of the year from the Meriden venue.
The fish was captured by local angler Tom Smith, who safely released it to fight another day after a quick weigh-in.
Tom used a white Fritz Lure from the bank at Cocks Close in a week that also produced a 14-pounder and another of 12lb. Best flies have been Damsel Nymph, GRHE, Buzzers, PT Nymph, CDC Emergers, Diawl Bach and black Tadpole with the rod average over three and a half.
The fishery will be holding its Spring Open competition on Saturday 8th May with tickets at £25 including a two-fish ticket, and catch and release and prizes up for grabs.
Packington Fly Fishers Club hosts a fly tying evening this Friday 30th April at 8pm in the Undercroft of Packington Hall. Contact the fishery on 01676 522754.

Vintage Tackle Fair
If you think you have some old fishing tackle that might be worth a few quid, make a date for the National Vintage Tackle Fair at the Abbey Sports Stadium on Sunday May 16th.
Neil Freeman of Angling Auctions will be on hand to value anything you bring along. Over 50 of the country’s foremost dealers are taking stands and if you have something worth buying, you can be sure to get a good price. Plus if you have a valuable or sentimental item that needs some TLC, this is the chance to meet up with the very best fishing tackle restorers there are.
Entry is only £2 with doors opening at 9am. For more information email johneandrews@btinternet.com .

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Garbolino Tunnel Barn Farm, Shrewley, Warks
Mon, Canal Pool: Rob Swain (Tackle Box) 132-4-0, carp, tench, bream and F1s, pole and pellet at 10m, peg 5; Paul Clarke (Oxford) 75-10-0; Mark Wyatt (Tunnel Barn Farm) 63-3-0.
Wed, Top Pool: Mark Johnson (Daiwa Gordon League) 134-6-0, carp, bream and F1s, pole and pellet at 16, peg 29; Arthur Hinks (Colmic) 104-14-0; Pete Hancox (Birmingham) 101-9-0.
Thurs, Club Pool: Rob Swain (Tackle Box) 58-8-0, F1s, pole and pellet at 6m, peg 8; Graham Young (Youngs Tunnel Barn Farm) 48-9-0; Alan Squires (Stirrup Cup) 39-9-0.
Sat, 40, New and Canal Pools: Andy Jackson (Redditch) 112-2-0, F1s, pole and pellet fished high at 6m, peg 33, New Pool; Rob Quinn (Shakespeare) 92-12-0; Steve Ringer (Ringer Baits/Dynamite Baits) 90-15-0; John Newton (Smithys Tackle) 76-6-0; Stu Palser (Shakespeare) 72-14-0; Gerry Woodcock (Gerrys of Nottingham) 67-8-0.
Sun, 38, New Pool: Paul Newell (Jet Lag Holidays) 98-8-0, F1s, pole and bread fished high at 10m, peg 16; Stu Palser (Shakespeare) 90-13-0; Pete Caton (Dynamite Baits/Banbury Gunsmiths) 88-5-0; Jason Neath (Daiwa Gordon League) 86-11-0; Mark Johnson (Daiwa Gordon League) 76-14-0; Andy Jackson (Redditch) 73-6-0.

Goodyear AC, Quarry Farm Pool, Aston Eyre, Shropshire
John Hunter (Goodyear AC) 51-3-0 carp to 8lb, pole and pellet; Steve Thomson (Goodyear AC) 46-7-0; J. J. Gallacher (Goodyear AC) 41-0-0; S. Gallacher (Goodyear AC) 40-4-0.

Hunnington Fishery, Halesowen, West Midlands
Wed. Kingfisher Pool: Tony Webb (West Midlands Police) 53-14-0, carp, pole and pellet and sweetcorn, peg 5; Irai Dave (Hunnington) 42-13-0; Alan Johnson (J & P Tackle) 38-4-0; Trevor Hodges (Weather Tech) 37-0-0; Tony Rylance (Hunnington) 31-8-0.
Sat, League, Round Three, Kingfisher Pool: Adam Rumble (Hunnington) 37-0-0, carp and chub, pole and pellet and sweetcorn, peg 14; John Tooth (Hunnington) 27-9-0; Roger Brown (Hunnington) 23-0-0; John Edwards (Hunnington) 22-7-0.

Mosella Black Country, Soho Loop Canal, Winson Green, Birmingham
Richard Guest (Fox Match Tipton Van den Eynde) 13-3-3, six skimmers, one tench and bits, pole and maggot and pinkie, peg 3; Mark Williams (Mosella Black Country) 10-10-13; Keith Ward (Kamasan Starlets) 10-3-12; Kevin Perry (Fox Match Tipton Van den Eynde) 9-10-0; Brent Wilkes (West Bromwich) 9-3-2; Gary Ward (Dudley) 8-0-0.

Stirrup Cup, Curdworth, Birmingham
Clark Taylor (Stirrup Cup) 5-11-0, skimmers, roach, gudgeon and perch, pole, squatt and pinkie, peg 29; Graham Massey (Sensas Dams and Lock) 4-2-15; Steve Broome (Dudley Bait and Tackle) 3-8-7; Dave Freestone (Three Ems) 3-2-9; Dave Holbrook (Brownhills) 3-0-12; Alan Newman (Stirrup Cup) 2-9-10.

Dynamite Baits Makins, Wolvey, Warwickshire
Wed, Lake Two, 20: Jason Redgrave (Mosella Smart Baits) 84-12-0, carp, pole fished pellet, shallow; Terry Phillips (Attleborough Angling) 55-8-0; Mark Fox (Dynamite Baits) 50-14-0; Shane Desmond (Dynamite Baits) 39-10-0; John Adamson (Kobra Feeders) 35-8-0.
Thurs, Derwent Pool: David Kent (Long Eaton Victoria Angling Society) 74-4-0, a dozen carp, pole and meat; Mick Timson (Korda Development) 34-6-0; Wendell Ward (Best Baits) 24-8-0; John Adamson (Kobra Feeders) 15-8-0; Eddie Keene (Coventry) 15-0-0.

Geepster