Angling Lines

THERE has not been much change in the weather over the past week. It has continued warm, and the rivers have not seen any significant rainfall to refresh them. This has meant that fish have been difficult to tempt on the rivers, thought the still-waters have produced good numbers of fish.

At the club’s Staveley Lakes, many anglers have been night fishing successfully. James Jackson had several bream up to 7lb, as well as a nice 14lb mirror carp, using a running ledger and d-rig with pop-up sweetcorn. Dan White, ‘Mowgli Mike’, Tom Pawson and Richard and young Mani Morris were also successful, with recently-stocked common and mirror carp coming to the net.

Shipton Lake has been quiet this week, with few fish to report. On the game-fishing front, few anglers appear to have been out during the ‘dog days’ of August. The BCAA-shared water on the Aire has been inactive, though the stretch at Funkirk produced grayling and trout to upstream nymphs.

At their meeting last week, the committee agreed a new lease for a new club still-water on the outskirts of Bradford. This will shortly be announced to members. Proposals for the annual meeting on Wednesday, September 28 were also discussed. Any BCAA members who wish to propose a change to the club’s rules should tell the general secretary before Wednesday, August 31 – see the BCAA yearbook for contact details.

Part-year membership is now available for new members via the club’s online shop, which can be accessed via a link on the website at www.bradfordcityaa.co.uk. This allows holders to fish Bradford City AA waters from September 1-December 31 inclusive. The offer should be particularly attractive for grayling anglers, now that fish populations have increased so much since the club stopped stocking trout after 2014. Cost is £34 – no concessions are available except for juniors – and includes BCAA’s £15 joining fee.

On the match front, the Bob Escott Memorial Match was cancelled last week because of ongoing risks of transfer of KHV from other fisheries. The next match will be on Saturday, August 27 on the River Ure at Lower Dunsforth, which produced good weights at the last event. All news and updates in regard to matches can be obtained from Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749

A work party is planned at Shipton Lake on the weekend of August 27-28. Please call or text Terry Duncalf on 07988-681654 if you’re able to come along.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Calder League fourth-round result (25 double-figure weights): 1 James Vickerman (Bradford No 1 AA), 20lb 12oz (six chub on stick float and maggot), 2 Simon Foster (Bradford No 1 AA) 15lb 6oz, 3 David Armitage (Punky's 8) 15lb 4oz, 4= Stuart Thompson (Calder 8), Steve Clegg (Punky's 8) 14lb 4oz. Team: 1 Punky's 8 46pts. Team standings; 1 Punky's 8 31pts, 2 Mirfield 22½, 3 Drennan Barnsley 21. Next round: Sunday, September 4.

All of the River Aire at Beal will be closed on Sunday for the Lower Aire Championship Open match. Tickets for this match, run jointly with Leeds DASA, are available from Simon on 01274-571175.

Chellow Dene is producing good catches of bream, roach and perch on waggler and maggot.

SKIPTON AA

Another chub, estimated to weigh over 1500g (3:5:0), has been caught in the River Aire, and there are reports of the capture of several smaller chub weighing less than 113g (0:4:0) from the upper reaches around Heslaker Lane. Compared with only a few years ago, when chub were almost extinct in the Skipton area, this shows that they are making a comeback. Up to the start of the new millennium, chub were plentiful throughout the Aire, and the average size was usually around 1360g (3:0:0). A match was won with an all-chub catch of 51kg (113 lb) at Eastburn Beck, and the Skipton AA record was broken by a 2700g (5:15:4) fish on the second day of 2000. From then on the population gradually fell but at last it seems it is going in the right direction.

Result of the penultimate match in the PR Hart Memorial Series last Sunday at Embsay Reservoir: 1 Graeme Waterfall 6550g (14:6:12), 2 Simon Chenior 1800g (3:15:4), 3 Russell Heaton 1260g (2:12:8), 4 Mr Mawer 1000g (2:3:4), 5 Mark Bradley 370g (0:13:0), 6 Malcolm Mawson 270g (0:7:8). Simon Chenior’s catch included a perch of 790g (1:11:12), while Russell Heaton’s consisted of 30 small perch, and the rest were mainly small perch and trout.

LISTERHILLS AA

Result of Sunday’s Annual Open Canal Championship at Rodley: 1 P Woods 9lb 10oz (two tench provided most of the weight), 2 J Mason 4lb 11oz. Section winners: B Mason 3lb, R Thorne 2lb 13oz, E Harrison 1lb 15oz. The next open match is the RAF Wings Appeal Charity Open on the Aire Valley marina length of the canal. To book, contact 07518-721051, also to book on for Sunday’s members’ match at Nun Monkton on the River Ouse, meet in the car park at 9am. Result of the match at Armley Road: 1 A Bowater 4lb 13oz, 2= R Moveley, R Thorne 2lb, 4= B Lowthian, P Woods 1lb 15oz. Result of first committee match: 1 E Harrison 1lb 15oz, 2 D Jackson 1lb 5oz, 3 G Reeday 10oz. Team selected to represent the club in the National Championship on the Fazeley Canal: A Bowater, E Harrison, J Mason, R Moveley, M Paton, A Scott, D Self, D Stephenson, R Thorne, P Woods.

LEEDS ASA

Result of Saturday match on Kippax Lapwing: 1 A Hampson 106lb 8oz, 2 M Drinkall 79lb 12oz, 3 P Cromie 73lb 4oz. Result of Sunday match at Moor Monkton on Cyprio: 1 S Mazza 142lb, 2 M Dodsworth 106lb 14oz, 3 M Gallagher 86lb 7oz. Result of Tuesday match at Kippax (Osprey Lake): 1 A Hampson 70lb 4oz, 2 S Pearson 52lb 9oz, 3 P Carter 48lb 2oz. Result of Wednesday match at Moor Monkton on front pond: 1 M Whitaker 145lb 11oz, 2 D Wright 79lb 10oz, 3 O Hewitt 61lb 7oz. Result of match at Ulleskelf: 1 M Furness 14lb 2oz (two barbel, best 8lb 8oz), 2 J Jordan 12lb 10oz (roach and dace), 3 J Mathers 7lb 13oz. The strong wind severely handicapped most competitors. Tonight is the closing date for entries for the Lower Aire Championship, held jointly with Bradford No 1 AA. Volunteers are required for a working party at Moor Monkton Pools on Thursday, September 1. The fishery will be closed on that date.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Our latest trip to Rhyl was once again dogged by bad weather and had to be cancelled. Our next trip to Rhyl should be on Wednesday, September 28. There is spaces available, so if you want to come, ring Dave on 07711-987833. The general meeting went well, with many aspects of sea angling debated. The main topic was lack of support for day trips. New members are needed, so if you would like to join, come to our meetings on the third Tuesday of every month at the New Inn, East Bierley (8pm). You will be made most welcome.

CLAYTON AC

Result of Sunday's Fleece Trophy at Brafferton F1 Lake (19 fished): 1 Jack Hawkins 88lb 14oz 2 Kevin Murgatroyd 86lb 10oz, 3 Bryan Ashton 78lb. Section winners: Steff Armitage 76lb 10oz, Steve Elphee 58lb 10oz, John Hartley 35lb 9oz, Steve Vaughan 29lb 11oz. Biggest fish prize: Peter Foulds (13lb carp). Thank you to Terry and Gill for sponsoring the match and providing breakfast. Next match is on Sunday, August 28 at Tollerton, please notify Steff seven days prior to match to confirm if you are fishing.

BINGLEY AC

Thanks to all who attended last Tuesday's working party. Despite a poor turn-out, the main objectives were achieved. Sunday's match is on the River Aire in Myrtle Park, draw 9am on the bank, to book-on contact Tony on 07971-428678.

CENTRAL AC

Our next match is at Brafferton on Sunday, meet at venue 8am, fishing 9am-3pm.