Angling Lines

THE weather has again been fairly sunny and muggy this week, and the rivers are still running on their bones. It seems that many anglers are currently on their summer holidays because reports about fishing on BCAA waters have been few and far between.

Whilst fish have been moving and topping on still-waters during the day, anglers have not generally seen much action until the cooler evening. Joe Scales had a common carp at 16lb from Shipton Lake on fishmeal boilie topped with half a bright pop-up, fished close to the lily pads, together with a few bream, a nice tench and further runs from fish which failed to come to the net.

At Staveley Lakes, Nick Churchill Brand saw action from a common carp at 12lb and a mirror at 14lb, while Chris Pickard netted a common carp of 16lb 8oz.

On the rivers, Andrew Savage fished the Swale at Topcliffe with a guest, and they took a few chub and a couple of barbel apiece. The club’s water at Gargrave, on the River Aire, has seen several visits from anglers but fish coming to hand have proved elusive and mainly caught on nymphs rather than dry flies, as might be expected at this time of year. Downstream, at Funkirk Farm, the fish have responded better to dry flies.

Similarly, Jim Munden, fishing the Pickering Beck Fishery Association’s waters – stretches are available to BCAA anglers if they hold the club’s exchange permit – found the fish difficult to tempt and had only a few small trout and grayling for his efforts. Hopefully, the fishing will improve on all the rivers if there is a bit of rain during August.

BCAA anglers and any guests are reminded that keep-nets remain banned on club waters, due to confirmed outbreaks of KHV – a virus lethal to carp which can wipe out a fishery – in south Yorkshire and Bradford. In any case, anglers should always follow the check, clean, dry procedure when leaving one fishery before arriving at another. Nets can be spread in the sun to dry, which will also kill any ‘nasties’.

Dates for the diary include another work party at Shipton Lake on the weekend of August 27-28. Offers of help please call or text Terry Duncalf on 07988-681654. The next BCAA match is on the River Ure at Dunsforth tomorrow (Saturday). Places can be booked via Rodney Brooksbank on 078755275749.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Harry and Nick Michael completed a clean sweep of this year's junior matches on Saturday at Raskelf as Harry won the under-11s with 25lb 8oz (which included a 5lb 5oz F1 carp), while Nick won the over-11s with 26lb 4oz on his way to smashing the aggregate weight record with 92lb 5oz. Other standings – Under 11s: 2 Jasmine Jones 7lb 8oz, 3 Harry Hamer 5lb 4oz, 4 Emily Mahoney 3lb 6oz. Over-11s: 2 Reece Harrison 15lb 8oz, 3 Harry Sandham 12lb 3oz, 4 Sam Taylor 11lb 6oz.

Result of the committee match at Howsham Wood, which produced few big fish: 1 Ian Bradley 10lb 4oz (a 5lb 9oz chub, plus five small barbel), 2 Matt Foster 4lb 8oz (dace), 3 Nick Freer 3lb 12oz, 4 Simon Freer 2lb 10oz. Howard Foster won the officials' aggregate weight with 58lb 14oz. Some of the River Calder will again be closed this Sunday for round three of the Calder League, draw at Railway Inn 9am.

Tony Stockdale had a surprise capture on the River Nidd at Cowthorpe last week. After catching a small barbel, Tony hooked another fish. which he presumed to be a barbel, only to land a common carp weighing 7lb 9oz.

SKIPTON AA

Members will be saddened to learn of the recent death of its longest-serving member Ronnie Burton, aged 85. He is best remembered for the 2390g (5:4:0) brown trout he caught at Whinnygill Reservoir in 1946 when, as a 16-year-old, he often spent his lunch break fishing. Needless to say, on that occasion he was late returning to work. The fish still holds the reservoir record and was only surpassed as the overall Association record in 2014 by a 2500g (5:8:0) fish from the River Aire.

Result of Sunset Trophy match at Whinnygill Reservoir a week last Tuesday: 1 John Leatt had 560g (1:3:8) smallish fish, 2 Kenny Wright 520g (1:2:8), 3 Andrew Leatt 300g (0:10:8), 4 Russell Heaton 150g (0:5:4).

Result of open match last Sunday at Whinnygill Reservoir (good roach, skimmer bream and perch, with best weights coming from the west bank near the valve rods): 1 Simon Chenier 2120g (4:10:8), 2 Andrew Leatt 1450g (3:3:0), 3 Russell Heaton 1350g ((2:15:8), 4 Kenny Wright 1200g (2:10:0), 5 Mark Bradley 460g (1:0:0), 6 Graeme Waterfall 350g (0:12:4), 7 Malcolm Mawson 150g (0:5:4). All the competitors managed to catch fish.

This Sunday’s Summer League match will now be fished on the Broughton Road length of the canal at Marton Mills, draw 7am.

LEEDS ASA

An outbreak of KHV virus has been confirmed in south Yorkshire. To ensure that it is not spread, all nets, weigh- slings and unhooking mats should be dried thoroughly between each fishing trip. Net dips are provided at Kippax Park, the Polo Pond, Sandwath and Knotford, and must be used. The keep-net ban is still in force at Sandwath and the Polo Pond. Result of midweek open match on Osprey Lake at Kippax Park: 1 P Carter 110lb 8oz, 2 P Cromie 69lb 4oz, 3 B Rymer 56lb 19oz. Result of Wednesday open on Cyprio Lake at Moor Monkton Pools complex: 1 P Gallagher 196lb 1oz, 2 A Gallant 79lb 15oz, 3 G Watson 69lb 8oz. Pleasure anglers have returned some good catches from these fisheries. Result of match at Ulleskelf: 1 C Burton 13lb 14oz (all dace), 2 M Hughes 10lb 9oz (two barbel), 3 S Raper 9lb 11oz (all dace).

LISTERHILLS AA

From today the cost of the junior members’ book is reduced to £3 for the rest of the year. Result of Saturday open at Rodley: 1 W Mason 17lb 12oz (four tench, plus perch), 2 A Townie 11lb 3oz, 3 R Thorne 10lb 11oz, 4 P Woods 6lb 9oz, 5 R Moveley 6lb 7oz, 6= E Harrison, M Paton 3lb 6oz. The next match on this length is the Annual Canal Open Championship on Sunday, August 14. The draw for Sunday’s open match on the canal is at 10am. To book, contact 01132-772215. Watchers are still finding anglers fishing without a membership book or day ticket. Perch to over 1lb are coming to anglers lure fishing. Trout are being caught on the River Aire to a variety of baits.

BRADFORD PALS AC

The result of last Sundays match at Brafferton on Spring Lake was 1st Bernard Hook 54lb – 8oz, 2nd Pete Milner 35lb – 4oz, 3rd Keith Gardner 32lb – 8oz & 4th Dave Whitrick 26lb – 8oz. Our next match is on the 7th August at Woodlands on Skylark. The café opens at 7.30am and you must use there feed pellets. Everyone is booked on for this match so if you can’t make it you must notify the Match Secretary by the 31st July or you will be charged a peg fee.

BINGLEY AC

Work party at Coppice Pond on Tuesday (5.30pm) to start to repair the floating islands that protect the fish refuges. All welcome. After the mid-week rain, rivers should be worth a visit this weekend. The odd barbel has been reported from Boston Spa. All members are reminded that nets and stinkbags should be dried thoroughly after each use to help stop spread of disease.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Our next general meeting is on Tuesday, August 16 at the New Inn, East Bierley (8pm). New members will be made most welcome. Five club members have gone to Culdaff in southern Ireland for a week's fishing. They landed 16 tope up to 38lb in the first two days, with Dave Wardman catching the biggest. All of the fish were returned alive.

GREAT HORTON AC

Result of the match on Sunday at Woodlands on Curlew Lake: 1 J Sutcliffe 64lb 15oz, 2 A Hillary 56lb 3oz, 3 T Whaling 44lb 15oz, 4 M Lyons 36lb 1oz. A Adamson caught a mirror carp of 12lb 9oz, which is a contender for the biggest fish of the season trophy. On the day, 666lb of fish were caught, which is also a record for the club.

CENTRAL AC

Result of our match at Forest Lane on Sunday: 1 S Worley 86lb 10oz, 2 C Davey 66lb 6oz, 3 R Wharfe 61lb 10oz, 4 J Mountain 57lb 3oz. Our next match is at The Oaks, on Sunday, August 7, meet at venue 8am, fishing 9am-3pm. Two keep-nets are required.