Angling Lines

THIS week has seen the hottest and sunniest weather of the year and, as so often happens in July, anglers have therefore concentrated their efforts away from the heat of the day or on night-fishing where allowed. BCAA still-waters are well warmed up now after a cold start to the year, but most rivers are back to their bones after a brief spell of higher water levels. The forecast for the coming weekend is for cloudier and cooler conditions, and even a small sprinkling of rain – likely to be welcome for most anglers.

A crop of reports this week have shown that conditions are conducive to good fishing. On the game-fishing front, Paul Shorrock and his guest had a successful trip for wild brown trout to Hubberholme on the River Wharfe – a stretch which fishes best in good-water levels. At Gargrave and Funkirk on the River Aire, Michael Ickringill reported large numbers of smaller trout coming to hand, but a large grayling – estimated at over 2lb – was lost at the net.

Nymphs worked best at Gargrave, with dries the success story at Funkirk. Of particular interest, however, were the large shoals of smaller chub which – with the number of smaller trout being caught – again shows the worth of the no-stocking policy adopted in recent years. At Topcliffe, on the Swale, Debbie Hardisty had her first barbel of the season, which was just short of the 7lb mark.

Club still-waters have also been fishing well. James Lynch, the bailiff at Staveley Lakes, had a stunning mirror at just over 15lb, using Cheshire crunch and PVA capsules, whilst Emilio Milito Jiminez had a number of carp to 14lb, a tench of 7lb 1oz and a silver common carp – one of the fish stocked this year. Jamie Hanford also had a nice fish, on cell boilie over a bed of hemp. Shipton Lake has seen little angling activity this week, with no reports of note. Staveley night permits are selling like hot cakes, and anglers are advised to book early to avoid disappointment – see full details on page 20 of the club’s yearbook.

At our meeting last week, we have agreed to forge ahead with a new otter fence at Oakworth, and work to put it up should start soon. Elsewhere, the club has been progressing efforts with the local council and other partners to restore a new fishery in the Leeds-Bradford area. We are also pressing ahead with conservation work on the River Aire, following a grant by the Environment Agency.

We understand that the KHV – a virus lethal to carp species – has been reported this week in South Yorkshire, and possibly in Bradford. We are therefore introducing a temporary ban on keep-nets at our still-waters, with immediate effect, with notices posted at fisheries. Please will anglers also remember that another work party at Shipton Lake is planned for the weekend August 27-28, and if anyone can help – even just for a couple of hours – please call or text Terry Duncalf on 07988-681654.

Our next match is on the River Ure at Dunsforth on Saturday, July 30. Places can be booked via Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749.

SKIPTON AA

Craven Summer League competitors once again failed to connect with the big fish in the sixth match of this year's series last Sunday on the "coal-bunkers" length of the canal at West Marton. Conditions could have been better, with a strong wind blowing down most of the match length, and the temperature was slow to rise in the initial dull weather. The fish fed well throughout the three-hour match but consisted almost entirely of small roach, ruffe and perch.

Result (mostly small fish, including some very small roach and ruffe): 1 Ernest Ramsbotham 600g (1:5:4), an eel weighing 570g (1:4:4) and a small roach, 2 Kenny Wright 460g (1:0:4), 3 Russell Heaton 290g (0:10:0), 4 Mark Bradley 240g (0:5:8), 5 Simon Chenior 220g (0:7:12), 6 Andy Wharton 180g (0:6:8). Leading positions (with two matches remaining – July 31 Broughton Road, August 7 Coal Bunkers): 1 Russell Heaton 112pts, 2 Kenny Wright 103, 3 Richard Thornton 101, 4 Simon Chenior 98, 5 Keith Brown 93, 6 Ernest Ramsbotham 90.

Elsewhere in the Skipton area, the sport has been variable, probably due to changing nature of the weather. Whinnygill Reservoir has gone off the boil, with nothing of note caught recently. Even the big brownies have been conspicuous by their absence, and it is assumed that they are now seeking coarse fish fry for a change of diet. One new fish to turn up have been a number of small gudgeon from close in to the side. Anglers fishing Embsay Reservoir are catching a reasonable number of blue, tiger, rainbow and brown trout on the fly and worm. Plenty are in the takeable-size range but the bigger fish are proving hard to locate. On the River Aire, some decent brownies are coming to the net, mainly on the fly, but the coarse fish, including grayling, are few in number. The river is in good condition, running just above normal and may receive some extra water with a forecast of heavy, thundery showers.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Calder League round two result: 1 Andy Miller (Mirfield) 39lb 6oz (nine chub), 2 S Clegg (Punky's 8) 33lb 12oz (11 chub), 3 Geoff Scollick (Calder 8) 23lb 13oz, 4 P Dwyer (Tricast Calder) 19lb 8oz, 5 M Ward (Drennan Barnsley) 17lb 6oz. Team: Drennan Barnsley 49½pts, 2 Punky's 8 49. Next round is on Sunday, July 31. Raskelf will be closed tomorrow for a junior match, with places still available on 01274-571175, and Gatenby will be closed for an RSPS match. The River Derwent at Howsham Wood will be closed on Sunday for an officials' match.

Anglers are asked to ensure that all nets, slings and unhooking mats are dried, preferably in direct sunlight, between fishing venues and that the net dip is used at Knotford to stop the spread of disease to club waters. With the warmer weather, oxygen levels on still-waters will be reduced, so if anybody witnesses fish in distress, particularly gasping for air, please ring the Environment Agency helpline immediately.

The warmer weather should mean that all waters fish well this week. Carp at Knotford and Kirklees will be worth fishing for using surface baits, while the River Aire and River Calder are producing good catches of trout, grayling and chub.

LISTERHILLS AA

Result of the members’ match for the Dixie Cup at Beal on the lower reaches of the River Aire, fished in strong winds and high temperatures: 1 E Harrison 13lb 3oz (including bream), 2 D Jackson 11lb 12oz, 3 S Cliff 5lb 9½oz. Result of the match on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Armley: 1 P Woods 2lb 9oz, 2 J Mason 2lb 8½oz, 3 B Mason 2lb 7oz. Draw for tomorrow’s open match on the canal is at 9am on the Rodley crane works length. Members of the team for the National Championship on the Fazeley Canal are reminded to pay the entry fees and pools money before the end of this month.

LEEDS ASA

Result of the last match at Ulleskelf on the River Wharfe: 1 N Smith 24lb 11oz (six bream), 2 R Barraclough 11lb 2oz (including 9lb barbel), 3 S Reed 9lb 8oz, 4 G Brown 9lb 2oz. Several good barbel have come from the Nidd at Hammerton, working parties have cleared several swims and made bank-side access easier. Bream of good size are coming from the Ouse at Linton.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Our last trip, which was to Rhyl, had to be cancelled because of the bad weather. Our next trip is also to Rhyl on Wednesday, August 10, 6am sail. Anyone wishing to go, please ring Dave on 07711-987833 to book your place. Our next general meeting is on Tuesday at the New Inn, East Bierley (8pm). At this meeting, there will be a pre-trip meeting for all those who are going to Culdaff for the week's fishing. Please try to attend.

BINGLEY AC

Results of last Sunday's match at Settler Dam: 1 I Needs 9lb 4oz, 2 A Greenwood 7lb 3oz, 3 B Leonard 5lb 12oz. Coppice Pond is still fishing well, with carp being caught on the surface. There will be a work party at Coppice on Tuesday, August 2 (5.30pm), all volunteers welcome.

CENTRAL AC

Our next match is at Forest Lane on Sunday, July 24. Meet at venue 8am, fishing 9am to 3pm. Two keep nets are required.