BRADFORD No 1 AA

The constantly changing temperatures have made planning trips on still-waters difficult but Graham Athey didn't let Kirklees Lagoon being 99 per cent ice put him off last week, and he was rewarded with a nice 14lb pike.

Raskelf Lake will be closed on Sunday for the third round of the Winter Series, which will draw at the Black Bull at 9am. Stuart Tate leads at the halfway stage, just one point ahead of Graham Jackson. Widdington Hall will be closed tomorrow for an outside booking.

The Bradford No 1 team couldn't follow up last year's win in the RSPS Team Masters, finishing ninth out of 16 teams, with four weighers. Our stretch at Maunby was one of the better ones on the day, with many of the anglers catching chub in a match where the majority of anglers didn't manage a bite.

SKIPTON AA

It seems that work on restoring the stone setts is now completed at Whinnygill Reservoir, and Skipton Angling Association will be looking forward to the water level being allowed to rise to its normal full mark. However, this may not be the case as Yorkshire Water are contemplating doing their bit to help prevent flooding by keeping the water level of its reserve reservoirs some distance below maximum to accommodate a sudden influx of water during local flash-flood conditions.

Whinnygill must fall into the reserve category as it is many years since its water was pumped up to nearby Embsay Reservoir to augment the supply during prolonged dry weather. Whether this would have an effect on the fishing is debatable so long as the reduction in the level is not more than a metre or so. In fact, this may prove to be beneficial as it would allow the water temperature at the shallow end to increase during the summer months, providing an increased food supply, plus better spawning and fry-rearing facilities.

A downside would be the difficulty of fishing from the top of the banking, although if the present slippery condition of the setts were to improve in the drier, warm weather, fishing from them would offer an element of shelter from windy conditions.

Conditions last weekend were the best for some time but not many anglers were out to take advantage of them. One or two were fishing on the River Aire, where catches consisted of smallish grayling and the odd brown trout, mainly from the top end on Heslaker Lane.

One of the anglers reported the capture of a good trout a week earlier which tipped the scales at 2050g and fell to a redworm fished for grayling. Weekend prospects should see the Aire at a good level for pike fishing, with dry weather forecast, although with a chilly east wind. Grayling fishing should be okay and the cooler conditions may keep the trout at bay for once.

LEEDS ASA

Night permits for 2018 at Knotford Lagoon have all been allocated, and any applications that haven't will go on to a waiting list. Result of the match at Kippax Park on Tuesday, February 13: 1 A Rymer 98lb 14oz, 2 L Wilsher 63lb 5oz, 3 A Barker 54lb 12oz. Result of the Saturday match: 1 A Orwin 44lb 9oz, 2 B Brown 38lb 5oz, 3 J Mills 34lb 1oz. Result of Sunday Open: 1 T Bainbridge 52lb 10oz, 2 L Wainwright 40lb 10oz, 3 S Power 30lb 9oz. The match due to have been held at Moor Monkton Pools on Wednesday, February 14 was cancelled due to poor weather. Grayling catches are still being recorded from the River Wharfe, where 16-year-old Oliver Watson caught six on his first attempt.

LISTERHILLS AA

Next Wednesday's members' match will be held at Gillmores, and this is followed by a match at Kippax Park on Sunday, March 11, plus another Wednesday match on March 21. Applications for the team to represent the club in the National Championships on September 8 on the River Nene at Peterborough should be in the hands of the match secretary by the end of March at the latest.

BRADFORD SEA AC

There was another very constructive meeting on Tuesday, with many things resolved. The one thing that is ongoing is trips, and the trip secretary is in contact with skippers in Whitby, Anglesey and Rhyl to try and book dates for this year. Everything should be finalised at our next general meeting, which is on Tuesday, March 20 at the New Inn (8pm). This is also our annual presentation evening, so everybody member should try and attend. You never know, you may be a winner!

BINGLEY AC

The River Aire fished badly for last Sunday's match, with only John Clark and Tony Greenwood bringing fish to the scales. The next work party at Coppice Pond is on Sunday, March 4 (10am).