LOW water levels are again affecting river fishing although the present weather forecast appears to offer more hope of sustained rain which may eventually increase the flow and generally improve angling.

Most of the length between Skipton and Gargrave has been only suitable for fly fishing but apart from the odd angler, most have heeded the warning of club officials and kept away from the water to avoid unduly stressing captured fish on their release into warm and reduced oxygenated water.

One water that has been a useful standby for Skipton Angling Association members is Embsay Reservoir where the level has been maintained by Yorkshire Water at just under the full mark.

Warm water has not been a problem due to its depth, altitude and the very good compensating flow into the reservoir from the Yorkshire grid.

The reservoir was the venue last Sunday for the third match in the series of four for the Peter Hart Memorial Trophy.

To avoid retaining trout in a keep net, any trout caught were given a nominal weight of 454g regardless of the actual size of the fish.

The catch had to be witnessed by an adjacent competitor and then released back into the reservoir.

At the end of the three-hour match most catches consisted of one or more trout plus a few smallish perch.

The leading weights were: 1 Simon Chenier 2,273g; 2 Jason Aldis 1,620g, 3 Graeme Waterfall 1,563g, 4 Russell Heaton 1,023g, 5 Michael Mara 587g.

With just one match remaining to be fished on September 9 at Whinnygill Reservoir, the main contenders are: 1 Russell Heaton 48pts, 2 Simon Chenier 36, 3 Jason Aldis 34.

Skipton Angling Association’s other reservoir, Whinnygill, to the east side of the town, is also providing some good sport for members.

|The emphasis is mainly on coarse fish with roach, rudd, bream, perch, ide, tench, carp and gudgeon all likely to turn up in a day's fishing.

The association also has a good length of the canal from the basin at Skipton to Niffany Farm Swing Bridge plus the short remaining stub of the Springs Canal Branch.

The fishing is up to normal canal standards with the chance of catching good bream and perch depending on the time of the year.