The 46-peg Bob.Co tackle match at the Willows ended with a thrilling finale as York's Buck Taylor did battle with a monster catfish hooked in the closing seconds of the contest.

Fishing pole and red maggot on just a 2lb hooklength and size 22 hook he held on to net what turned out to a catfish of 16lb.

Added to ide and carp to 3lb he finished with a decisive 31lb 8oz total to push Dave Pollitt (Hirst Tackle) into second place with his 29lb 12oz.

Drawn on peg nine he fished pole and maggot taking carp to 5lb, plus tench and ide. Pollitt also hooked several large fish but proved not to be so lucky.

Others: Nigel Hodgeson (Leeds) 25-0-0, Dave Colbran (Hirst Tackle) 20-0-0, Phil Eastwood (Calder Anglers) 18-6-0, Geoff Duggan (Armley) 18-4-0.

There was also a last-gasp winner at Raker Lakes in the 30-pegger on Horseshoe Lake. Kevin Hay (Harehills) was the lucky angler on peg 19, where he hooked a 9lb lump of a carp fishing pole and maggot tight across.

With the addition of around 7lb of silver fish taken close in he finished on 16lb 3oz to nudge out Paul Kozyra. The Anglers Corner man almost returned to winning ways with his 16lb 4oz bag of small carp and silver fish taken on pole and maggot from peg one.

Others: Paul Connelley (Hull Works) 14-15-0, Dave Hepworth (Leeds) 14-14-0, John Cosgrove (Anglers Corner) 12-1-0.

The 56-peg Open at Woodlands went to Roger Holmes (York Tackle). Drawn on Skylark eight he used a small maggot feeder to tempt 23lb 4oz of carp to 3lb. It was tight at the top with Steve Bell (Cleveland Angling Centre) just ounces adrift with 23lb 2oz and all carp as used corn at 12 metres pegged on Kestrel 30.

Others: Darryl Taylor (MAP Elton) 22-15-0, Jamie Hall (Daiwa Goldthorpe) 22-8-0, Dave Hepworth (Watercraft Idle) 16-10-0.

At the Carlton Minniott complex Mark Silman (Maver Barnsley) scored an easy win from Skylark 24. Fishing pole and corn at 12 metres he bagged commons and mirrors to 6lb on his way to 52lb 5oz.

Jamie Hall (Daiwa Goldthorpe) was among the fish again taking 33lb 13oz from corner peg Partridge 37. His catch included two doubles but he also lost four bigger fish.

Others: Steve Gardiner (Angling Man) 28-7-0, Dave Smiddy (Newman Scotts) 15-11-0, Phil Sellers (Elton Tackle) 14-9-0, Barry Smith (Newman Scotts) 14-6-0.

Steve Bowes (Army) was an easy winner in the Abu Carpvale contest with 41lb 4oz. Drawn on peg 22 he pole fished meat at 14 metres tight to the island for 14 carp.

Len Swainey (Armley Angling) took second with nine carp on long pole and maggot from peg 31 for 18lb 5oz

Others: Terry Carlton (Acomb Tackle) 17-14-0, Dave Wright (Armley Angling) 17-12-0, John Clarke (Leeds) 14-12-0, John Buywell (Armley Angling) 13-14-0.

The third round of the Teesside League at the Oaks saw 65 anglers on a windswept Maple Lake where Mark Calvert (Pole ninjas) helped his side to a share of top spot on the day.

Drawn on peg 46 he pole fished corn tight to the island for 21lb 13oz of carp to a pound.

Pole and maggot scored for Steve Bell (Ormesby Institute) who took 20lb 3oz of ghost and common carp from peg nine.

Others: Roy Minikin (Harrogate AS) 18-13-8, Keith Guy (Harrogate AS) 18-1-0, Geoff Screen (Wilton AC) 17-5-0, Alan Clarke (Parklands) 16-1-0.

Teams: Pole ninjas and Ormesby Institute both 50, Harrogate AS 46. League: Pole Pullers 148, Anglers Choice 134, Pole Ninjas 134, Team Oaks 130.

The 30-peg Allerton Bywater contest at Lowther Lakes turned into a bream extravaganza.

Les Owen (Allerton Bywater Victoria) netted 20 slabs on method feeder with corn and maggot for a massive 113lb 6oz. Bert Wright (Allerton Bywater Victoria) had 16 slabs for his 89lb 13oz.

Others: Mark Carpenter (Wakefield) 65-8-0, John Foreman (Richmonds Bradford) 51-14-0.

Updated: 12:12 Wednesday, April 25, 2001