Roy WebsterGrim forecasts by doom-mongers in some of the national angling papers that worthwhile river fishing on free waters would disappear by the and of the decade were proved to be way off the mark in the first round of the Latham's- sponsored Norwich and District League on Sunday.Roy Webster

Grim forecasts by doom-mongers in some of the national angling papers that worthwhile river fishing on free waters would disappear by the and of the decade were proved to be way off the mark in the first round of the Latham's- sponsored Norwich and District League on Sunday.

Spectacular bream catches knocked that preposterous prediction into a cocked hat with 26 returns over 20lb, three of them exceeding 60lb for the top individuals. The lucky trio managed to draw the most prolific bream stretch in the river consisting of a shoal of slabs and skimmers ranging several hundred yards down to the Upton bank.

After the three-way battle they were divided by only six ounces.

In peg 75 Gary Kiddell (SENSAS Big Hits) hit the winning post with 64lb 11oz.

Kevin Humphries (DAIWA Angling Direct blue) finished with 64lb 6oz from peg 70 then James Parnell (Anglers World) with 64lb 5oz from peg 74. This was Broads fishing at its very best. Rivers finished? Certainly not on this evidence.

There is little doubt this massive bream shoal was gathering around the River Thurne mouth area on the promise of an easy feast of natural food stirred by the dredging operation.

The Martham club members also benefitted with some stunning bream, roach and perch from the Upton bank.

However Kiddell, who bulged his net with five sizeable slabs and 37 skimmers, helped boost Big Hits to the top of the yellow division with a score of 54 section points while the green division winners were Daiwa Angling Direct gold with 44 points.

NDAA chairman Tony Gibbons, who administered the event, said he was disappointed that half a dozen teams had dropped out of the league.

'There are open events every day of the week in Norfolk and Suffolk. Unfortunately in the economic recession, anglers are feeling the pinch and no longer have the cash to compete in more than one big event per week.'

He explained: 'I fully understand that and in addition a fair number of anglers sit in front of their televisions during this World Cup, and that is another reason why fishing match attendances have fallen generally.'

However, having watched England's dismal performance many anglers probably wished they had spared themselves the agony and gone fishing instead.

Meanwhile Gibbons invites new members to visit his stall at the opening of the new Lewis Anglers World tackle shop in the Dixons shopping complex in Taverham Road Norwich on July 2 when they will be given all the details of the fishing facilities offered.Match returns on the Taswood fishery produced a venue best match catch of 106lb 9oz for Pye club winner A Hayden while Adrian Scarfe heaved out 105lb 2oz of bream to win the Attleborough outing to Swangey.

Jim Randell (SENSAS) won at Colton with 134lb 6oz and Warren Martin (Anglers World) won at Barford with 105lb 13oz.