SKIPTON AA

The removal or by-passing of the many weirs on the River Aire between Knottingley and Saltaire, as reported last week, should see salmon return to the spawning grounds they last frequented before the pollution of the industrial revolution and the weirs made their passage upstream impossible.

Before fishery owners begin to rub their hands with glee at the prospect of much enhanced rents for fishing rights, it has to be asked just how many salmon (and sea trout) will be returning.

Throughout the UK, salmon numbers have been on the decline for many years, including most of the famous salmon rivers. The situation has become so bad that very few salmon are actually removed by anglers for the table in an effort to conserve stocks.

Obviously as photographs show, salmon are already attempting to make the journey upstream. Even on the other Yorkshire rivers that form part of the Humber catchment, salmon numbers have never been more than modest at best, and that’s on rivers that have not endured severe pollution or weir construction in the past.

The tale that the pre-industrial revolution apprentices at Leeds were fed salmon so frequently that they became sick of the sight of it is, metaphorically speaking, highly unlikely to materialise again. This time round the apprentices will outnumber the salmon.

Recent storms and wet weather have helped to maintain high water on the River Aire, including more flooding into the adjacent fields, and angling has continued to be rather uncertain.

One angler makes a beeline for the Aire on Heslaker Lane at least twice a week from Ovenden near Halifax, but so far I have been unable to locate him on the bank to enquire of his success or otherwise.

Prospects do not appear to be too good at the moment, with more rain in the forecast and a possible change to colder weather by weekend.

This may also interfere with the sport for this Sunday’s Skipton Winter League match on the canal either side of the Bay Horse road bridge at Snaygill. This venue does afford a certain amount of shelter from westerly winds, so the fishing may still be reasonable on the day.

BRADFORD CITY AA

The weather has been by far the biggest influence on fishing this week, with repeated bands of rain putting all the Dales rivers up to and over the top of their banks. This has also discouraged anglers from the still-waters, though high river levels have favoured barbel anglers.

Fly fishing has been made even more difficult by the amount of fallen leaves in the water, which have got in the way of detecting takes. We have therefore seen few reports from our fisheries this week, though grayling do appear to be around in numbers on the Ribble at Skirbeck.

The early forecast for the weekend seems to be fairly positive, with river levels dropping too, so we can hope for easier conditions all round.

At the recent annual meeting, a number of propositions were passed about keep-nets, landing nets and unhooking mats. After feedback from members, however, the committee has decided not to introduce these rules until 2019 to allow further consultation with members.

An explanatory statement can be seen on the club’s Facebook page via a link on the front page of the club website, and in a newsletter to be e-mailed to members over the weekend.

If we don't have an e-mail address for you, please send your details to the general secretary – contact details in your yearbook – so that we can keep you up to date on membership matters.

The latest riverfly invertebrate monitoring work on the River Aire reports large numbers of stoneflies, heptagenids and olives, especially in the section above the inflow of Eshton Beck. This provides a valuable clue to fly anglers as to which patterns might be successful. Phil Bailey is looking for further volunteers to help with this work – full training will be given – so please contact him if you are interested.

Other news is that we have appointed a new bailiff, Chas White, who will mainly look after our Topcliffe Swale fisheries.

We are running a fully-booked grayling masterclass this weekend, dependent on river levels, with Freddie Bainbridge, the current UK rivers’ fly-fishing champion. We hope to run further events later in the season and next year.

On Sunday, November 12, we have the annual grayling competition on the River Ure at Aysgarth. All interested members should contact our fly secretary Phil Bailey on 07811-286652 for information on both events.

Our next coarse fishing match will be the Cinderella Trophy on Saturday, November 11 at Staveley Lakes. To book a place, and for information, call Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749.

LEEDS ASA

It is with deep regret that we announce the death of life member Roy Docherty after a protracted illness.

Result of the Dave Raynor Memorial Trophy match on the Nidd mouth and Nun Monkton lengths of the Ouse, which was carrying extra water: 1 P Bennett 13lb+ (two barbel), 2 W Collier 12lb (four small bream), 3 C Turbitt 10lb (all bleak). Result of Saturday Open at Kippax Park: 1 S Pearson 155lb 10oz, 2 P Carter 119lb 12oz, 3 M Thorpe 107lb 10oz. Result of Sunday Open at Moor Monkton Pools: 1 L Myers 155lb 13oz, 2 A Middleton 120lb 12oz, 3 L Smith 89lb 11oz.

River conditions are conducive to good barbel fishing, as was shown in the Winter League match fished on our length of the River Ouse: 1 M Shaw 26lb (three barbel), 2 J Syrotski 16lb 8oz (two barbel), 2 W Collier 11lb 5oz (including barbel of 11lb 2oz). Several other anglers had individual fish.

Result of Saturday match at Kippax Park (Lapwing): 1 N Rymer 96lb 13oz, 2 S Powers 78lb 10oz, 3 J Redmond 69lb 9oz. Result of Tuesday match - Osprey: 1 P Carter 106lb 9oz, 2 N Rumer 95lb 8oz. Lapwing: 1 R Thomas 62lb 5oz, 2 P Cromie 46lb 7oz.

Winner of Wednesday match at Moor Monkton Pools (using all three lakes) weighed in at 101lb 6oz, with several other weights were over 80lb.

Final positions in Eddie Harrison Champions' Trophy: 1 T Hewson 170pts, 2 P Baron 155, 3 R Knox 121.

The annual prize presentation was held last night, with all proceeds going to charity.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

River levels across the region have been high for the last couple of weekends following the storms, but should be somewhere near normal levels for this weekend. There have been some good catches over recent weeks though. On the River Wharfe at Thorp Arch, there have been some very good catches of barbel, including a fish of over 11lb.

An outside booking on our stretch of the River Aire at Beal produced decent nets of bream to 6lb on feeder, with 30lb winning the match. Tickets for the open match on the River Nidd at Cowthorpe on Sunday, November 12 are available from Simon on 01274-571175 or Tackle 2U in Bradford for £15.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Any rule changes or other important changes must be brought to the attention of the secretary at or before the annual meeting on Tuesday, November 21.

We have a trip to Hartlepool aboard Lone Shark on Wednesday, November 8, and there are one or two places left. If you would like to go please ring our trip secretary on 07711-987833 to book your place.

As our long-serving secretary and president (Paul and Brian) are stepping down this year, although they will continue as members. We are looking for members to fill their boots. If you think you are capable of doing either job, please make yourselves known at the annual meeting.

CLAYTON AC

The Christmas Cheer match is on Saturday, November 11 at Farview (draw 9am, fishing 10am-3pm). Presentation that evening in fleece is at 7.00. Please notify Jason if you are fishing seven days prior. Any donations for prizes will be most welcome.

The annual meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 6 at the Fleece (7pm). Any member wishing to submit any proposals or new member applications must notify Jason at least 14 days prior to the meeting.

LISTERHILLS AA

The result of the latest canal open was another one-two for the Masons (father and son). This time it was J Mason who had just over 3lb, with B Mason weighing in 2lb 11oz. This Sunday's fixture on the Aire Valley Marina length at Redcote Lane (draw 10am) is the last in the series.

Final positions in the Evening League, which was transferred to an afternoon series: 1 E Harrison 40 pts, 2 G Kitchen 19, 3 D Johnson 18.