Angling Lines

Weather has been good for anglers this week. Rainstorms in the Pennines early in the week meant good water levels in the Aire, Wharfe and Ure and still-water anglers have enjoyed generally dry weather since. The rivers are still running at good summer levels and at the top end of the Wharfe system, where BCAA have good trout fisheries, the conditions continue to be just about perfect. The forecast also seems fairly reasonable for the weekend, so we'd expect to see many anglers out enjoying the conditions.

Reports from club waters have been coming in thick and fast. Fly anglers on the Aire report many fish – including a good showing of grayling – and it does seem as if the policy to stop stocking the rivers is paying off in terms of numbers of fish and return of grayling shoals. Most clubs in the Skipton area have adopted catch and release and this means that spawning stock survives in the rivers to add their genes to local fish populations. On a trip to Gargrave, new member Ian Durham, guided by Phil Bailey, had many fish – including some good trout over 2lb and a few grayling – while Dave Martin reported lots of grayling from Carleton.

Shipton Lake has continued to be busy, with many good fish to the net. Alan Robinson had a 6lb 13oz tench, an 18lb 11oz common carp and a 19lb 14oz mirror, Terry Duncalf a common carp of just under 21lb and Steve Jarvis netted fish of 18lb 8oz and 19lb 12oz. Anglers have also seen good catches at Staveley, with James Lynch landing a nice fish.

However, reports from other club waters on the Wharfe and Ure have been thin on the ground due to low water levels and tricky fishing conditions. Many barbel have been caught on the club's water at Topcliffe, with Andrew Fieldhouse, Matthew Capstick and Mark Potts – who also had a personal-best chub of 5lb 6oz – returning fish of up to 8lb, while the water at Salmon Hall has also fished well.

With Shipton Lake being so busy, another two platforms have been put up. This means that parking space is at even more of a premium and there have been some complaints of inconsiderate parking. Members should therefore park their cars with due consideration for anyone arriving a little later on. Another work party at Shipton is planned for the weekend of August 27-28. If any club member can help – even for just a couple of hours – then let Terry Duncalf know on 07988-681654.

The last match, the Staveley Championship, was contested by a good number of anglers. Although no mega-weights were brought to the scales, there were a few lost fish – mainly carp and ide – and lots of silver fish, including some of the newly-stocked barbel. Local rod Barry Newby claimed the crown with ide and bream for 9lb 8oz. The next club match is on the River Ure at Dunsforth tomorrow. Places are still available and can be booked via Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Result of Centenary Trophy match on the River Nidd at Nun Monkton: 1 Ian Parker 6lb 2oz (barbel), 2 Billy Scott 6lb (mixed bag of roach and dace for ABU runner-up trophy), 3 Bob Newby 5lb 2oz, 4 James Vickerman 4lb 12oz, 5 Dave Atkinson 4lb 11oz. Aggregate weight, with three members' matches remaining: 1 Geoff Cox 63lb 3oz, 2 Matt Foster 40lb 13oz, 3 James Vickerman 40lb 2½oz. The next match is on the River Swale at Maunby on Sunday, August 7. The River Aire at Beal will be closed tomorrow for an outside booking. Some sections of the River Calder will be closed on Sunday for the second round of the Calder League, which will draw at the Railway Inn at 9am. Places on the junior match at Raskelf on Saturday, July 23 are available from Simon on 01274-571175.

Excellent catches of chub and dace on stick float and caster have been reported by anglers fishing the River Swale at Thornton Bridge. Raskelf Lake is continuing to produce regular 100lb+ nets of F1s, skimmers and ide on pole and pellet.

SKIPTON AA

Whinnygill Reservoir at Skipton is in a finicky mood at the moment, with pleasure anglers enjoying reasonable bags of fish while those fishing the matches have had to endure some really patchy sport. This was certainly the case for the third match in this summer's Sunset Trophy Series fished last Tuesday evening in calm conditions. Just under half the competitors failed to weigh in and those that were successful recorded poor weights, consisting of small roach, skimmers and perch. Result: 1= John Leatt, Russell Heaton 340g, 3 Andrew Leatt 120g, 4 Alan Wade 80g, 5 Michael Ickringill 20g. The next evening match will be fished on Tuesday, draw on the banking 6.30pm.

Members were trying out their new length of fishing last Sunday when the second Peter Hart Memorial match was fished on the Broughton Road length of canal behind the bowling club. Conditions were reasonable, with muggy temperatures, a moderately strong south wind and the passage of only four boats during the three-hour match. Catches were quite good, with a few decent bream and plenty of smallish roach, perch and the odd ruffe, mainly taken on the pole fished on the far bank. Bread and maggot appeared the best baits. Result: 1 David Fenn 1930g, 2 Russell Heaton 1830g, 3 Mark Bradley 570g, 4 Bob Fenn 480g, 5 Kenny Wright 360g. Just one angler failed to weigh in and the match was judged to have been a success. The relatively deep water of 1.5 metres was deemed to auger well for winter fishing.

LEEDS ASA

Result of the Walt Geary Memorial Trophy, fished at Ullerskelf: 1 C Smith 13lb 6oz, 2 G Bass 10lb 11oz, 3 T Hewson 8lb 7oz, 4 P Barrow 7lb. Result of Tuesday Open match on Osprey Lake at Kippax Park: 1 N Rymer 77lb 4oz, 2 P Cartwright 74lb 8oz, 3 S Pearson 69lb 14oz. Result of open match at Moor Monkton on the match pool: 1 M Dodsworth 157lb 5oz, 2 O Hewitt 89lb 11oz, 3 S Jeffreys 71lb 12oz. Result of the Midweek Open at Cyprio Pool: 1 D Pollitt 157lb 4oz, 2 S Pearson 68lb 12oz, 3 G Wright 54lb 10oz. Knotsford Lagoon has produced several carp to 20lb and some good tench and bream to over 11lb.

LISTERHILLS AA

Result of Saturday's open match on the canal at Rodley (fished in wet conditions): 1 B Mason 14lb 12oz (three tench and five roach), 2 R Moveley 6lb 1oz, 3 E Passey 6lb 4½oz, 4 R Thorne 5lb 13oz, 5 A Townse 4lb 6oz. All open competitors received good canal weights. The next Saturday Open is on July 23. There is a members' match on the River Aire at Beal on Sunday and members intending fishing should contact 07984-597328. The committee are always trying to add to the club's list of waters and any information will be followed up.

BINGLEY AC

Sunday's match is at Settler Dam, draw 9am on the bank. To book on, contact Tony on 07971-428678. There will be a working party at Coppice Pond on Tuesday, August 2 to start repairs to the floating islands (5.30pm), all volunteers welcome. Reports of trout, grayling and small chub being caught from the River Aire. Coppice Pond is still feeding well, with good nets of tench being caught.

CLAYTON AC

Result of Sunday's match at Tom's Pond: 1 Kevin Armitage 30lb, 2 Steff Armitage 29lb, 3 Derek Milner 23lb 4oz. Section winners: Jason Craig, Graham Hall, Jack Hawkins. The next match is Saturday, July 23 at Viking Fishery. Any member not fishing should notify Steff seven prior to the match.

GREAT HORTON AC

Result of Sunday's match on Low Lake, Winfield Lakes, Howden (lots of carp showing): 1 J Sutcliffe 50lb, 2 D Cole 32lb 10oz (including 9lb 6oz mirror carp), 3 S Riley 32lb 8oz, 4 D Anderson 3lb 11oz. Thank you to owners Andy and Linda for the hospitality.

BIERLEY AC

Result of Wednesday evening match: 1 Wayne Fawthrope 12lb 8oz (from Golden Peg), 2 K Waterhouse 11lb 2oz, 3 L Hemmings 6lb 3oz. Match this Sunday, draw 9am, fishing 10am-4pm.

CENTRAL AC

Our next match is at Forest Lane on Sunday, July 24, meet at venue 8am, fishing 9am-3pm.