Angling Lines

The coarse-fishing season ended last week but the trout-fishing season starts today. Spring weather has continued, although the forecast for this Easter weekend is dull, showery weather. With no river fishing in Yorkshire this past week, BCAA members have either been coarse fishing still-waters or travelling further afield to where the trout season has already opened.

Peter Scholes, the club's new fly secretary, visited the Clyde and reported a tricky day, with 'only' ten trout to nymphs. Even though he saw hatches of LDOs, stoneflies and caddis, fish were not yet rising or in the fast water. More locally, however, fish have been moving on the surface on most rivers, especially in the sun.

On club still-waters, fishing has been slow due to a lack of breeze and hot sun but this has also encouraged the carp to show. All the same, Alan Robinson reported a couple of pike – upper singles – at Shipton Lake and anglers at Staveley Lakes have been taking fish off the top.

Trout anglers must remember that BCAA have introduced a new catch-and-release rule for 2016. This means that all fish caught must be handled carefully and returned to the river alive and unharmed. No fish must be taken – offending members will be at risk of being expelled from the club.

Last year's BCAA members should note that there is now less than a week to renew membership for 2016, if they have not already done so. Renewal receipt books are collected from agents at the end of next week. All anglers joining or rejoining the club after next Thursday must then pay the joining fee of £15, as well as the usual subs. You can buy membership and other items like map books and keys at agents by phoning Jim Munden on 07940-814431 or by using BCAA's online shop via the club's webpage.

Our next match is tomorrow on Staveley small lake. Entry is £15 and the golden peg is worth £65. Places are still available and can be booked via Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749.

SKIPTON AA

The new brown-trout season will be opening today on the rivers within the Environment Agency's Yorkshire area and the first few days will give an indication of how well the fish have fared through the severe flooding, which has been the main feature of this winter's weather.

The reproduction cycle which usually takes place around the end of November and early December has already been written off because, in virtually every beck or stream, no stone has remained in position due to the very high water levels. Have a look at where the Eastburn Beck meets the River Aire just to the left of Aire Valley by-pass. The beck is piled high with flood debris and so many stones have been swept into the river that it is now half its original width and running quite shallow.

Up to the end of the coarse-fishing season, the few anglers who wet a line on the river did not report many trout coming to the net on either the fly or worm. The weather did tend to be on the cool side but it did seem that fewer fish than normal would be around for the new season.

Still-water anglers are usually well catered for and Skipton AA have been generously stocking Embsay Reservoir for the new season. Tiger trout averaging about 450g, with their well-known fighting qualities, have been introduced for the first time, along with plenty of good rainbow trout. Without giving too much away, it could that there may be a new record for the rainbow trout within a few days.

Whinnygill Reservoir at Skipton has not been stocked as yet but is known to contain some big fish which could come near to the record brownie landed as far back as 1946. Plenty of 1800g-plus fish have been caught in the last couple of years and all have been returned to the water. One of them could now be over the 2270g mark and approaching Ronnie Burton's 2395g fish.

Existing EA rod licences just cover the start of the season but new ones are required from April 1. Make sure you renew in time as EA checks will be commencing from day one.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

James Vickerman claimed his second Raskelf Winter Series title by winning the final match with 59lb 6oz of F1 carp on method feeder. The match win took his series points tally to 113, while just half a point separated second-placed Steve Hodson (105) and third-placed Stuart Tate (104½).

Fourth-round result: 1 James Vickerman 59lb 6oz, 2 Colin Mortimer 50lb 2oz (carp on pole), 3 Fred Prudham 49lb 14oz, 4 Steve Hodson 39lb 3oz, 5 Rob Langley 29lb 14oz. Overall final standings: 1 J Vickerman 113, 2 S Hodson 105, 3 S Tate 104.5, 4 P Royston 99, 5 N Freer 98, 6 S Foster 96, 7 A Jacques 92, 8 I Newby 91, 9 G Jackson 90, 10 H Foster 87½.

The next match will be the members' match at Raskelf on Sunday, April 24, which is already sold out with a waiting list in place. The last couple of night permits for Knotford and Kirklees remain and these are available to purchase on the club website. Membership remains available for new and old members to purchase online or from most local tackle shops.

The trout season on rivers begins today, so all the river stretches listed in the yearbook as 'trout and mixed fisheries' will reopen with the only baits allowed to be used being fly, minnow, worm or artificial lure. All still-waters and canals remain open as usual, with no bait bans in place. Anglers at Shelf Dam are reporting good catches of roach and bream fishing maggot on pole or waggler.

BRADFORD PALS AC

Result of our last match at Brafferton on the Ghost Lake: 1 Lol Barraclough 23lb 4oz, 2 Bernard Hook 21lb 6oz, 3 Steve Chambers 17lb 7oz, 4 Trevor Wood 14lb 8oz. It was a bright sunny day but the water was very cold, which made finding the fish difficult as they were just not looking for food. Well done to John Christopher Foreman, who won the club knockout final that was postponed from the end of last year. Pete Fraser was runner-up, beaten by just 1oz.

Our next match is on Sunday, April 10 at Southfield Reservoir on the East Bank (pegs 68-88, 9am draw). Everyone is booked on for this match, so if you can't make it you must notify the match secretary by April 3 or you will be charged a peg fee. Membership of the club is now full. However, anyone who wishes to go onto the match reserve list can still contact the match secretary on 07810-185862.

SALTAIRE AA

Sunday saw the final match of the winter as the roach are definitely on the move out of Shipley Boats. It was a bumper day for Matrix Halifax as they made up the top four plus a section win. Result: 1 Martin Taylor 4lb 2oz, 2 Paul Booth 2lb 13oz, 3 Martin Hellewell 2lb 9oz, 4 Nigel Storr 2lb 8oz. Thanks for everyone's support this winter and roll on October, although there may be same summer matches. Details to follow if and nearer the time. The EA arrived on Wednesday with the delivery of crucians for us at Tong Park. Around 700 went in, between 6oz and 10oz, and all swam away fit and healthy – watched with great curiosity by the cob swan, whose partner is currently nesting further down the lake. These little crucians will probably vanish for a while before they start to show to anglers. Many thanks must go to the EA for helping us out with these fish. There will be a further stocking of crucians in the near future. Any catch reports from any waters would be greatly appreciated for future restocking plans.

LEEDS ASA

Result of last match of the coarse season (annual Ouse charity match): 1 P Austin 9lb 12oz, 2 R Bonas 5lb 12oz, 3 M Highe 5lb 8oz, 4 I Bowman 5lb 7oz, 5 D White 5lb 3oz. From the start of next season, keep-nets are not allowed on rivers. On the last day of the season, a group of members pike fished on the Ouse and all were successful, with two members getting seven between them – all double-figure fish. Result of the match at Moor Monkton Pools, fished on the front peg on Cyprio: 1 K Worth 145lb 4oz, 2 K Priest 106lb 10oz, 3 S Power 87lb 7oz, 4 S Mazza 55lb 2oz.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Our next general meeting is on Tuesday, April 19 (8pm). If anyone would like a day's fishing to Whitby aboard Shytorque, call Dave on 07711-987833 and he will try to book a trip. Fishing out of Whitby on the wrecks is improving as the weather settles down, with cod up to 10lb being caught and plenty in the 3lb-5lb bracket.

LISTERHILLS AA

The trout season starts today. There have been complaints about anglers fishing on the canal, casting onto moored boats. Volunteers are required to act as watchers on the canal. Members are reminded that the present EA licence expires at the end of the month and must be renewed before fishing after that date.

BINGLEY AC

The trout season opens today on rivers, fishing with fly, worm and lure only. Thanks to all who attended last Sunday's work party at Coppice Pond. Members are reporting decent nets of small roach and skimmer bream from the canal at Crossflatts.