BRADFORD CITY AA

LAST week’s forecast promised rain, but very little arrived. All the Dales rivers are still running very low and clear and the Met Office forecasts no rain in sight. Anglers can also expect sun and a bit of wind, so angling conditions will remain extremely challenging.

Last weekend saw the start of the river coarse fishing season, with anglers out on the bank immediately after midnight on Friday where night fishing is allowed. Fish were reported from the early hours, with Stuart Brookes appreciating both the new stiles put up last week and being the first to post news on our Facebook pages of a couple of small barbel to his net. Generally, however, the seal which continues to be in residence at Topcliffe appears to have affected the fishing, with fewer fish being banked by anglers than in previous years. Wayne Mellor fished Staveley Lakes instead of the rivers, and had a good carp of 16lb 9oz and a smaller fish to his net.

Game anglers chasing trout have seen difficult fishing in low and gin-clear water. Even so, fish have still taken both dry fly and small nymphs fished in streamy water and in the ranunculus. Jonny Greenbank reported an extremely exciting day on the Aire at Gargrave – although he lost all his fish except one. He said: “The ones I lost were all monsters of their species – first a cracking grayling. which I estimated at 3lb on a dry fly, then a brownie, which looked to be about 6lb. and finally another huge fish. This flew up and smashed my fly, then took off downstream at high speed, and in seconds had taken all my spare line. I finally managed to get the fish close to me – it looked to be at least 8lb – before it powered off again and wedged itself under a snag, breaking my 4lb BS line. Truly a day I'll never forget on a very special river!”

At Laneshaw, a reservoir just above Keighley at which we have subsidised access for our members, Chris Stones and Ken Logan had four brown trout and four rainbows, taken on boobies and a sinking line on a windy and grey day with very little surface action.

Please will members note some disruption to fishing on club waters next week. First the Skipton horse trials this weekend will prevent access to our fishing via Heslaker Lane, though access will be possible from the Carleton Stone Bridge direction. Secondly, essential ground works at Shipton Lake demand that we close the fishery next week (June 25-30 inclusive) to ensure the safety of members.

We are also looking for help with bankside work. There will be a work party at Shipton on Saturday June 30. Please let Terry know on 07988-681654 if you can help, even if only for a couple of hours. It is also fast approaching the time when we must remove Himalayan Balsam and Ragwort from our Gargrave/Broughton beat on the Aire again. If you can help, please call Phil Bailey on 07811-286652.

Last weekend there was our first river match of the season on the Ure at Lower Dunsforth. Although plenty of fish were moving, catching them proved very hard work. Result: 1 Steve Stimpson (peg one) 19lb 10oz of bream, perch and roach on red maggot and a maggot feeder; 2 Rodney Brooksbank 3lb 3oz, 3= Marty Prudhoe, Chris Pitman (2lb 5oz. Our next match is on Saturday, June 30 at Topcliffe, all enquiries and entries to John Stark on 07793-558227.

Two dates for your diaries: Colne Water AC have an open day at Laneshaw Reservoir this weekend (see their website at www.colnewaterac.org for details); and the Angling Trust are holding a West Yorkshire Fisheries' Forum on Thursday, July 5 at Brighouse Civic Hall.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

The opening weekend of the coarse season proved difficult for most, with very low and clear rivers in desperate need of some extra water. There were a lot of single-fish catches of nice chub and barbel from the Nidd and Swale but better catches were few and far between throughout the region. Anglers are also advised to beware of giant hogweed on the banks of most rivers.

Result of our Rose Bowl match on the Nidd at Cowthorpe, which had A good turnout: 1 Mick Welsh 14lb (two chub and a barbel), 2 James Vickerman 12lb 15oz, 3 Rob Langley 6lb 10½oz, 4 Andy Jacques 6lb. James Vickerman leads the aggregate weights after three matches with 34lb 15½oz, but less than 7lb separates the top eight with four matches to go. Next match will be on the River Swale at Maunby on Sunday, July 8.

Tomorrow there is the first junior match of the year at Raskelf Lake, draw 12.30pm. Entry is free for junior members and there are plenty of prizes to be won. Contact Simon on 01274-571175 to book a place. Raskelf will also be closed on Sunday for an officials' match, draw at lake at 9.30am. Some pegs at Beal will be closed tomorrow for an outside booking.

Alongside many large carp caught from Knotford this week was a monster 4lb 3oz eel, caught by Julian Waller.

SKIPTON AA

Skipton Summer League competitors had to contend with a sharp turn in the weather last Sunday when a strong, cool wind and frequent showers replaced the almost summery conditions that had been here for several weeks.

Catches consisted mainly of small roach and perch and, although some anglers had plenty of fish, the weights were quite poor for the time of year. Result: 1 Kenny Wright 410g, 2 Andrew Thomas 210g, 3 Russell Heaton 190g, 4= Andy Wharton, Mark Bradley 150g, 6 Jason Aldis 90g, 7 Bill Davenport 40g, 8= Simon Chenier, Steve McIlroy 10g. Overall league positions (subject to confirmation): 1 Russell Heaton 11pts, 2 Jason Aldis 16, 3 Andrew Thomas 17, 4 Andy Wharton 20.

Reports from the district's local fisheries suggest that most of them are fishing well, although the bigger fish seem to be avoiding capture. On the canal there is an abundance of roach, perch and skimmers on almost any length. The big bream have now dispersed following spawning. One fish that is apparently doing well in the canal is the signal crayfish and are very numerous around Bradley and the edge of Skipton near Horse Close Bridge.

Embsay is fishing well for rainbow trout on the fly, and some smallish brownies are also turning up, with plenty of small perch mainly down the road side length. Whinnygill Reservoir is producing good catches of roach, ide, perch and skimmers, including some decent-sized fish.

The reservoir will be the venue for another taster day on Sunday for anyone interested in trying their hand at fishing. Just come to the water any time from 10am-4pm and tackle, bait and all the help you need will be available.

The River Aire is full of fish. with small brown trout doing very well on most lengths, which augers well for the future. The low water level and extensive weed growth is a handicap and the bailiff recommends that the fish are left alone until such time that the river is carrying extra water. The warm weather and poor flow with reduced oxygen levels is not conducive to fish survival after the exertion of being captured and the fishing would be best served by abstaining from angling for the time being.

LEEDS ASA

The coarse season on rivers started last Saturday, but water levels are very low and fish are tightly shoaled. Result of the Ham match at Ulleskelf: 1 S Thompson 38lb 4oz (12 barbel), 2 A Parr 18lb 14oz, 3 J Jordan 11lb 8oz, 4 B Foster 11lb 6oz. Result of Wednesday match at Moor Monkton Pools: 1 1 M Watson 94lb 15oz, 2 D Wright 78lb 12oz, 3 M Green 77lb 12oz. Result of Saturday match at Kippax Park: 1 N Rymer 82lb 13oz, 2 B Rymer 66lb 14oz, 3 A Barker 66lb 5oz. Result of Sunday match at Moor Monkton Pools: 1 L Smith 109b 14oz, 2 M Dodsworth 92lb 11oz, 3 L Myers 88lb 15oz.

LISTERHILLS AA

Any angler can sample what the sport is like tomorrow and Sunday (10am-4pm) at the canal basin in Leeds as part of the Leeds Waterfront Festival. No licence is required and all bait and tackle is supplied, with supervision by qualified coaches. Contact 907775-650359 for further details. Draw for Sunday's members' match at Newton on Ouse is 9am. The next canal open match is on Sunday, July 1 at Rodley. Evening match result: 1 N Smith 2lb 2oz, 2 E Harrison 1lb 7oz. Evening match result: 1 E Harrison 1lb 14oz, 2 J Myers 1lb 11oz.

BRADFORD SEA AC

We have two trips to Whitby Festival on Sunday, July 8 and Monday, July 9 aboard Richard Ward's boat Shytorque 2000. The big prize is £5,000, and there are big daily prizes as well, so if you fancy a go, ring our trip secretary on 07711-987833 to book your place at £56 per person per day. The cod catches are on the increase given that the clarity of water is improving. Boats are coming back with plenty of fish. On the west coast, things are also picking up. A good number of mackerel are new showing up, and the tope are in a hungry mood and following them.

CENTRAL AC

Result of our match at Woodhouse Grange Cobble Lake: 1 P Main 59lb 9oz, 2 R Lee 54lb 8oz, 3 S Worley 52lb 9oz, 4 G S Cooper 39lb 10oz. Our next match is at Redwood Lakes on Sunday, July 1, meet at venue 8am, fishing 9am-3pm, keep-nets are provided.

BINGLEY AC

The river season has got off to a slow start, with rain needed to lift the levels. Liam Everett had a barbel from Wray Wood, and a 5lb chub was caught at Goldsborough. Sunnydale has been fishing well, with roach, bream and small trout being caught.