BRADFORD No 1 AA

The final round of this year's Raskelf Winter Series is on Sunday, drawing at the Black Bull in Raskelf at 9am (don't forget that the clocks go forward on Saturday night). Heading into the match, Graham Jackson leads the Ronald Hipwell Memorial with 99½ points, ahead of Fred Prudham (98), Simon Foster (96) and James Vickerman (90).

The trout season on rivers opens tomorrow, with only fly, minnow, worm or artificial lure permitted to be used as bait until Friday, June 16. Please check the yearbook for which stretches are classed as trout and mixed fisheries. The River Calder at Elland or Gravel Pits and the River Wharfe at Addingham should be worth fishing in the opening few weeks.

SKIPTON AA

The rather wet weather last Sunday certainly put a damper on our annual riverbank clean up, although a decent turnout of members ensured that the morning was at least productive. Overnight rain and strong winds made the banking slippery, and care had to be taken while the river rose rather rapidly and eventually reached bank top. Even so, a good quantity of rubbish was collected, which was taken away by the Craven District Council early on Monday morning.

The start of the bank regeneration programme had to be deferred because of the state of the river and will be tackled in the near future when the weather and the height of the river is more appropriate.

At the moment, the river is closed for fishing due to the overlapping of the brown trout and coarse-fish close seasons. The brown trout fishing will start tomorrow, while coarse fishermen will have to wait until Friday, June 16 before river coarse fishing is once again on the agenda.

Fishing during the 2016-17 coarse fish season on the local stretches of the River Aire was dominated by grayling, with several fish up to around the 900g (2:0:0) mark. Fly appeared to be the best way to catch them, with the maggot and the small redworm close behind.

Other coarse-fish catches were not numerous, and the chub could be caught on most lengths but certainly not in any quantity or size. The recovery of this fish is underway, with reasonable numbers turning up around the 220g/340g (0:8:0/0:12:0) size, and the length below the Carleton Stone bridge produced a specimen of 2330g (5:2:0).

Pike once again remained absent from the higher lengths but present in the deeper water around Snaygill. No big fish were recorded this year and the best was around the 5460g (12:0:0) mark. There was no reports of the capture of any roach, bream, dace and perch, all fish that could be caught in the past.

The pollution around Cononley last year saw hundreds of gudgeon becoming victims. This fish was once common in the river at Snaygill and grew to quite a size. Fish approaching 560g (0:2:0) were not uncommon. Perhaps it is time to see if any have re-appeared in their former hunting grounds.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Bradford Bulls' head coach in waiting Geoff Toovey was guest of honour at our annual presentation evening. Trophy winners were Dave Kitchingman (Species Trophy, Carter Cup [best specimen on a trip] and Hill Trophy); Mark Gregson (Points Trophy and Aggregate Weight Cup), David Wardman (International Shield [heaviest fish in Irish waters]), Ralph Jones (Forward Trophy [best cod out of Whitby]), Rob Wadsworth (Clayton Tray [best specimen on a day trip] and Clubman of the Year), Paul Husband (Ken Boys Trophy [heaviest fish in home waters]), Steve Adams (Martin O' Donnell Shield) and Peter Higgins (Bob Lawson Cup [best cod on a club trip]).

BRADFORD PALS AC

Result of Sunday's match on the Ghost Lake at Brafferton (16 fished): 1 Bernard Hook 88lb 4oz, 2 John Christopher Foreman 58lb, 3 Keith Gardner 56lb 10oz, Barry 'The Boat' Franklyn 49lb 8oz. Well done to Bernard, who won the match from the golden peg. Our next match is the first round of the Annual Club Knockout on Sunday, April 9 at Messingham Sands (Big Swan and we have the whole lake, draw 9am) near Scunthorpe. Please remember you must use the fishery's own feed pellets and hook pellets. Anyone who cannot make this match must contact the match secretary no later than Sunday, April 2 or you will be charged a peg fee.

BINGLEY AC

Leeds University students will be at Coppice Pond on Saturday, April 1 (10am-2pm) to take silt samples, which may have a small impact on fishing, and members are asked to co-operate. On the Sunday, there will be another work party to continue with fencing and planting. Shrubs and bulbs are already begging to show in protected areas.