BRADFORD CITY AA

WE’VE seen another week of extremely dry weather, and the forecasts hold out no hope of anything but a few light showers over the coming seven days. Some river anglers have even given up fishing altogether, seeking to avoid stressing fish unduly in the low, dissolved oxygen levels. If you do go fishing, please be even more careful than usual with any fish you catch. Minimise the time you keep a fish out of water, spend as much time as it takes to allow fish to recover in the flow, and perhaps forget to use a keep-net.

Despite the low water conditions on the rivers, anglers are still making catch returns. Tom Pawson, Simon Feather and other anglers netted carp to 20lb from Staveley Lakes, with ‘Bongy’ Bromfield surprised to find barbel and chub taking his baits. Lewis Stag reported a large pike of 17lb at Shipton last weekend, while Johnathan Greenbank had a successful day on a reciprocal permit at Colne Water AC’s Laneshaw Reservoir.

George Leadbeater fished the Kildwick to Steeton length of the River Aire by Eastburn Beck and brought good brown trout to hand. On the Wharfe at Buckden, Phil Bailey hosted two visitors from Ireland who had successfully bid for a day on our waters through the Wild Trout Trust auction at the end of last year, and reported a dozen fish between them (plus missing many more) in the very low and clear water conditions.

Our Shipton Lake has been closed to anglers all this week so that heavy plant can improve parking, restore the track along the side of the fishery and resurface pegs. There is a further work party this weekend when members will make other repairs and cut back the lilies, while making sure that they continue to provide good habitat and protection for fish. If anyone can help, please come down to the lake tomorrow morning.

Elsewhere, our Swale fishery at Topcliffe continues to be devastated by the seal. It has taken fish from two anglers trying to bring their catches to hand, and the animal now seems to be stuck between the shallows at Asenby Island and the A168 road bridge. Anglers have mostly abandoned the length, since they have repeatedly blanked, and it does appear that the seal has eaten most of the fish population. Another attempt to capture and relocate the mammal is to be made once a new net becomes available, though exactly when that will be hasn't been yet confirmed.

Invertebrate sampling in the River Aire system is showing a preponderance of olives, heptagenids and leeches, while a working party this week transplanted ranunculus upstream so as to improve instream diversity on the Aire.

Will match anglers note that, due to the seal and resultant lack of interest from anglers, our planned match at Topcliffe this weekend has been cancelled. Our next event will be on Saturday, July 14 at Staveley Lakes, enquiries and entries to John Stark on 07793-558227.

Anglers might like to note that the Angling Trust are holding a West Yorkshire Fisheries Forum next Thursday at Brighouse Civic Hall.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Last Saturday's junior match at Raskelf had a good turnout, and a great day was had by all, with plenty of fish being caught. The winner of the over-11s was Harrison Jones with a net of feeder-caught F1s weighing 33lb 4oz in three-and-a-half hours. Just a couple of fish separated the next six anglers. The under-11 section was won by Jessica Harrison, in her first match, with 19lb 8oz.

Over-11s: 1 Harrison Jones 33lb 4oz, 2 Sam Baker 19lb 12oz, 3 Sam Taylor 17lb 13oz, 4 Jacob Riley 17lb 8oz, 5 Alex Riley 15lb 15oz, 6 Harry Michael 15lb 2oz, 7 Jude Corbin 13lb 8oz, 8 Jasmine Jones 6lb 6oz, 9 Dylan Addis 2lb 1oz. Under-11s: 1 Jessica Harrison 19lb 8oz, 2 Liam Mately 5lb 12oz, 3 Antoni Moska 5lb 5oz, 4 Riley O'Hara 3lb 8oz.

Result of officials' match at Raskelf on Sunday (fished in blistering heat and bright sunshine): 1 Simon Foster 42lb 10oz, 2 Andy Fox 40lb 14oz (won Jess Baxter runner-up trophy), 3 Howard Foster 37lb 12oz, 4 Geoff Bass 28lb 6oz (won biggest fish trophy with 3lb 6oz F1 carp).

On Sunday, we are hosting the first round of this year's Calder League, draw 9am at Railway Inn, Brighouse.

Gavin Hoe-Richardson caught what was probably the first double-figure barbel of the season from a No 1 water on Saturday. In a short evening session on the River Nidd, Gavin caught two good chub and three barbel up to 10lb 1oz.

Due to huge rental costs and a lack of anglers using the water, the club has now relinquished the fishing rights to the Catton stretch of the River Swale with immediate effect.

SKIPTON AA

Another obstacle to the free passage of fish up and down the River Aire – the long-redundant weir just downstream of the often-damaged road bridge over the river on the A65 near Coniston Cold – has recently been removed in its entirety by staff from the Environment Agency and the Aire Rivers Trust.

Its removal has resulted in a stretch of the river upstream of the weir becoming rather shallow, although it will no doubt be reworked with the passage of time and one or two spells of heavy water. Almost immediately after work was completed, a shoal of minnows were seen ascending the river at the site of the weir, something that would have been impossible for small fish with the weir in situ.

The Skipton Angling Association's second taster day of the year on Whinnygill Reservoir last Sunday unfortunately clashed with the England football match, and attendance was down on previous events. Even so, the weather was excellent and plenty of fish were landed during the six hours available for fishing.

Result of the Tuesday evening match at Whinnygill Reservoir: 1 Mark Bradley 1260g (just 40g off the record for the water and including a good die), 2 Malcolm Mawson 710g, 3 John Leatt 480g, 4 Russell Heaton 290g.

River Aire fishing is being affected by the continuing dry spell and the exceptionally warm weather, with only the odd fly fisherman in action at the moment. Fish are being caught but they tend to be on the small side and there is unlikely to be any improvement until there has been some serious rainfall.

Skipton Summer League competitors fishing the match this Sunday should note that there has been a change of venue due to the continuing bank work at the gas works at Silsden. The new venue is on the canal behind Skipton Hospital, where anglers have certainly been getting among some big bream in the last month or so. The times for the draw and the duration of the match remain unchanged.

LEEDS ASA

The rivers are in desperate need of some fresh water as levels are extremely low.

Result of the match at Kippax Park on Tuesday, June 19: 1 S Pierson 89lb 7oz, 2 P Carter 83lb 7oz, 3 J Brogden 75lb 15oz. Result of the match at Moor Monkton Pools, on Wednesday, June 20: 1 D Pollitt 116lb 7oz, 2 S Mazza 55lb, 3 S Jeffreys 54lb 2oz. Result of the match at Kippax Park on Saturday: 1 A Rymer 85lb 5oz, 2 T Evans 52lb 9oz, 3= s Jeffreys, B Rymer 48lb. result of the match at Moor Monkton Pools on Sunday: 1 A Warren 97lb, 2 M Dodsworth 93lb 8oz, 3 A Bull 81lb 5oz.

However, these weights were overshadowed by the Robin Hood AW match last Sunday at Kippax Park (Osprey Lake), where the venue record was broken with P Wilson's whopping 191lb 8oz. Net dips must be used where provided, and river banks are overgrown, so extra care should be taken.

LISTERHILLS AA

Result of the match, fished in strong, gusting winds, at Moor Monkton Pools on Wednesday, June 20: 1 J Harrison 25lb 14oz, 2 D Jackson 19lb 13oz, 3 E Harrison 13lb 10oz. Result of the match on Sunday at Newton on Ouse: 1 D Jackson 4lb 4oz (single bream accounted for most of the weight), 2 J Harrison 3lb 3oz, 3 E Harrison 2lb 10oz. feature of this match were the number of active pike.

Canal open match on Sunday is at Rodley, below the nature reserve, draw 10am. Contact 07532-115556. Please remember that, despite the heatwave, it is not safe to swim in still-waters and canals.

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. There are big prizes to be won, with £5,000 going to the winner, and big daily prizes too, so if you fancy a go please ring our trip secretary on 07711-987833 to book your place at £56 per person per day.

On the east coast, cod catches are on the increase, given that the clarity of water is improving, and boats are coming back with plenty of fish. On the west coast, things are also picking up. With the settled weather, mackerel are now showing up and the tope are in a hungry mood and following them. Tope up to 40lb have been caught, so prospects are looking good.

CENTRAL AC

Our next match is at Redwood Lakes (Canal Lake) on Sunday, meet at venue 8am, fishing 9am-3pm, keep-nets are provided.