Angling by Roy WebsterFANTASTIC fishing. That was the considered verdict of the match fishing fraternity on the Great Yarmouth stretch of the river Yare during the first week of the coarse season on rivers and broads.

Angling by Roy Webster

FANTASTIC fishing. That was the considered verdict of the match fishing fraternity on the Great Yarmouth stretch of the river Yare during the first week of the coarse season on rivers and broads.

Despite a biting north wind, last Wednesday's opener followed by the first round of the Saturday series produced stunning catches of bream and roach.

Former Yarmouth national team man Robert Hubbard pocketed Saturday's winning cash, boasted to a handsome three-figure sum by winning on the golden peg with a mixed bag of 46lb 14oz.

The Diawa Angling Direct ace was pegged on the hotly fancied number 22 and feeder fished red maggot and worm to winch out bream to 4lb and roach to well over the 1lb mark.

Elsewhere, Gorleston Jolly Boy Ray Kent won at Mill farm with a carp catch of 69lb 4oz, while at club level the Stalham outing at Cobble Acre was won by Dave Jones with an unusual haul of 33lb 4oz of sparkling rudd.

Another fish to marvel at this event was a 17lb 9oz carp caught by Christine Dearman on match tackle that boosted her total to 23lb 3oz and third place.

Match results. Stalham (Cobble Acre) D Jones 33lb 4oz, M Charlewood 25lb 4oz, Christine Dearman 23lb 3oz. Dukes (Holly farm, South Walsham) S James 62lb 3oz, C Urry 52lb 8oz, N Goose 42lb 13oz. Sportsmans (River Bure, Evening) D Ransome 16lb 4oz, C Fisher 7lb 6oz, T Stamp 7lb. Sportsmans (Burgh Castle) J Hammond 22lb, R Silverwood 18lbs 5oz, K Hodgins 17lb 8oz. Tightlines (Melton ponds) P Staff 58lb, R Rayner 41lb, B Earrye 40lb.

For anglers who float their boats Hickling Broad was in splendid form over the weekend with reports of catches to the Whispering Reeds boatyard full of optimism for the summer.

The Deep Dyke was the big bream hotspot, relinquishing specimens to 7lb along with numbers of skimmers in the 2-3lb range.

On the river Thurne, below the mouth of Candle Dyke, local rodman Mark Colby discovered the bream feeding and by mid Sunday morning had more than 50lb of quality fish bulging his keep net.

This Sunday the first round of the Broads Summer League is staged on the River Bure between St Benets Abbey and Thurne mouth with a field of nearly 100 of top local match anglers lining up in this high-class teams of four tournament.

The event which is pre-drawn for team members who will know their peg numbers no sooner than 9pm on Saturday night, starts at 7.30am and ends at 12.30pm with the result announced in the Ludham King's Arms.

A flood tide is expected for most of the event, bream are forecast to feature in the fancied areas but elsewhere roach will play a major role in this competition - decided on section points rather than aggregates weights.

Gorleston Tackle Sea League: This week was fished at Caister, Second Ave.

Results: 1 Mark Gooch 2lb 2.5oz, 2 Gary Medlar 2lb, 3 Dean Conway 1lb 5oz.

Next week, fish at south pier, Lowestoft.

Freshwater fixtures. Marsh Trail Lakes, open, Saturday, June 26, Lake A. Draw 9am, fish 10am to 4pm, �15 per head all in fee, optional gold/silver/bronze pegs standing over �260.

For booking/details, contact Richard 01502 514682/07796 437381.

North Cove and Barnby AC club match, Saturday, June 26. June draw in club car park at 2pm, fish 3 to 8pm. First of 11 fixtures. Any club members welcome to fish, free to enter and prize money and trophy for winner. Details contact Richard 07796 437381.

Freshwater results. Marsh Trail Lake, open, Lake C: 1t Gary Bull 26lb 5oz, 2 Peter Dade 22lb.

Winner section A: Colin Davey 21lb 3oz, section B: Mick Critoph 15lb 3oz.

Marsh Trail Lake, open, Lake A: 1 Eddie Davidson 30lb 9oz, 2 Neville Cooke 20lb 14oz, 3 Dave Forrester 19lb.