SKIPTON AA

Just three weeks ago it was mentioned that Whinnygill Reservoir could contain a brown trout capable of beating the late Ronnie Burton's 1946 record fish that tipped the scales at 2380g. Ronnie had just started work in Skipton and caught the fish during his one-hour lunch break – and still managed to get back to work on time.

Now one of our members, local man John Nicholls, smashed the record on the evening of Tuesday, April 18 when he hooked and landed a magnificent trout weighing exactly 3kg (6lb 10oz). The fish was in very good condition, being 64cm in length, and fell to three pinkies fished on a size-18 hook and 1.4kg breaking strain line.

The trout was returned alive to the water after being officially weighed and photographed by events secretary Simon Chenier. Besides setting the new Whinnygill record, the fish has also broken the record for the River Aire, which was a fish of 2495g landed by Andrew Facey in 2014. John's brownie is therefore the best fish from all of our four waters.

Whinnygill was the venue last Sunday for the club's first taster day of the year, when anyone wishing to try their hand at fishing could come along, receive expert guidance and, hopefully, catch at least a fish or two.

Apart from a sneaky wind when the sun went in, the weather was quite good and the event was well attended by a good assortment of juniors and a few adults. Even the fish were in a feeding mood and plenty of roach, rudd, gudgeon and trout were brought to the net. The best fish of the day was a good brownie weighing 1590g, with another couple not that far behind.

Our premier trout fishery is at Embsay Reservoir and even though the weather has been below seasonal average temperature for the last three weeks, members fishing the water have been enjoying some decent sport, with brown, rainbow and tiger trout all falling to the fly or worm. The best fish was a rainbow of 1640g, while the brownies and tiger trout went up to around the 900g.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Andy Jacques won the W Backhouse Cup at Raskelf on Sunday with 18 F1 carp. With the water temperature remaining cold, most of the better fish seem to be sticking to the weed beds, resulting in difficult fishing on the rest of the lake. Result: 1 Andy Jacques 32lb 4oz, 2 Bill Scott 30lb 15oz, 3 Andy Fox 29lb 13oz, 4 James Vickerman 27lb 3oz, 5 Rob Langley 24lb 11oz. The next members' match will be at Beaver Bridge on the Aire & Calder Canal on Sunday, May 21. Good nets of ide and chub are continuing to be caught from Gratrix Dam on waggler or pole with maggot, with many fish around the 4lb mark. Members who have benefited from the three-rod rule over the winter should note that this comes to end on Sunday until September 1 (Knotford only) or November 1 (all other waters), meaning that there is a two-rod limit for anglers with a second rod permit. Members without the permit are limited to one rod only.

LEEDS ASA

The netting party at Rainbow Lake transferred 120lb of quality roach and bream to Osprey Lake and smaller fish into Skylark Lake on the Kippax Park complex. The working party at Skip Bridge cleared several swims. Thanks to those who attended both ventures. The work at Knotford continues and members who have not been for a while have been surprised at the transformation. Result of the Saturday open at Osprey Lake, Kippax Park: 1 J Wake 58lb 6oz, 2 T Lawson 55lb 2oz, 3 T Hewson 40lb 13oz. Result of the Sunday match at Moor Monkton Pools (fished on Cyprio and the match pool): 1 L Smith 78lb 10oz, 2 S Mazza 67lb 13oz, 3 S Brown 61lb 7oz, 4 D Wright 55lb 11oz. One member fishing at Knotford Lagoon for three days had a very good catch of carp – 16 in total from 14lb to 25lb. Several other carp from 19lb to 23lb have been recorded, as well as several quality tench. No-one is allowed on the bank who does not have a current membership book and on no account must members night fish who do not have a night-fishing permit.

LISTERHILLS AA

Result of Sunday's open match at Calverley (weights lower than expected): 1 P Woods, 2 D Stephenson, 3 B Mason, 4 E Harrison. Others weighed in but only with an odd fish. Tomorrow's open match is at Rodley Nature Reserve (easy parking and a short walk), draw 10am. The next members' match is on Sunday, May 7 at Kippax Park. To book on either of these matches, contact 07518-721051. Several anglers have been caught fishing on the canal without a valid permit. Any member coming across strangers fishing are requested to ask them to produce either a membership book or a day ticket.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Unfortunately our first trip of the season to Hartlepool aboard Great Escape last Wednesday was cancelled by the skipper because there were few fish being caught, something which seemed to afflict the entire east coast. At least the skipper saved us our travelling expenses, which was good of him. Our next trip is again Hartlepool on Wednesday, May 17, by which time things will hopefully have picked up. On the west coast, things are getting better, with plenty of ray, bull huss, whiting, dabs and flounder being caught, along with the odd mackerel. Our next general meeting will be at the New Inn, East Bierley on Tuesday, May 16 (8pm).

FIELD AC

Result of our match on the Ghost Lake at Brafferton: 1 B Frankland 54lb 9oz, 2 B Hook 52lb 15oz, 3 S Barker 45lb. Our next match is on the Cedar Lake at Oaks Fishery on Sunday, May 7, drawing at 9am in the car park. Can members please confirm if they will be fishing this match as it clashes with the second leg of Bradford City's play-off.

BINGLEY AC

A few good reports of fish this week, with one member reporting a net of small roach, along with trout, from Sunnydale Reservoir. Tench are being caught from Coppice Pond and the canal continues to fish well, with good nets of small roach and the odd bream from the top of Five Rise to Crossflatts.

CENTRAL AC

Result of our match at Tollerton on Sunday: 1 J Mountain 45lb 10oz, 2 P Main 29lb, 3 R Wharfe 28lb 12oz, 4 GS Cooper 16lb 8oz. Our next match is at Redwood Lakes on Sunday, May 7, meet at venue 8am, fishing 9am-3pm, keep-nets provided.