BRADFORD CITY AA

WEATHER has been dire this week, with heavy prolonged rain seeing rivers reaching levels unknown for some time. As a result, anglers have been few and far between on the banks, though some are still braving the elements to night fish on our still-waters. Tom Pawson has seen some good fish this week from Staveley Lakes, but reports from other waters have been sadly lacking.

Although angling has been low down on members’ agendas, we’ve continued to be busy preparing for the new trout season in March and restoring both coarse and game fisheries. More stock has gone into BCAA still-waters this week and a final delivery is due later this month. Unfortunately, we have also seen continued flood-risk clearance work on behalf of the Environment Agency on our prime river fly-fishery just below Gargrave, which has removed some prime otter and fish habitat. Our officials have also met with the EA fisheries officer and officials from other River Aire angling clubs to discuss mitigation of the environmental impact of such tree-clearance work on the river.

Last weekend, we had a very successful working party on the River Swale at Salmon Hall, when a number of members cleared six pegs and swims for anglers. On the fly-fishing side, Jon Grey – the Wild Trout Trust’s conservation officer and a BCAA committee member – will lead a further work party on Monday on the River Aire at Inghey Bridge. This will demonstrate various techniques to improve in-stream habitat, including use of large woody debris to create and improve existing fish habitat. Further work parties will take place later this month and in March. Members are asked to help out on these if they can.

Please will our members note some changes in the diary dates published in their 2017 yearbooks. The club’s annual open day on the River Aire at Gargrave will now be on Saturday, May 6; the trout competition is on Sunday, June 4, and the grayling competition is on Sunday, November 12. Club members should also note that construction work will start shortly on a new bridge at Dalton over Cod Beck, which will affect anglers’ access.

The next match will be an open competition tomorrow at Salmon Hall, conditions permitting. To book a place or for updated information, please call Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749.

SKIPTON AA

Anglers have had to cope with some pretty raw weather during much of January, although the rainfall has been below average in the Skipton area at less than 50mm (two inches) and the easterly winds have been somewhat light and manageable.

Perhaps the best local fishery has been Whinnygill Reservoir, where some 1,600 coarse fish, covering six species, were introduced, mainly in the latter part of 2016. While the main restocking benefit will most likely be seen as the water temperature starts to warm up from April onwards, our hardy members who have been fishing the water of late have been managing to get among the fish.

Roach have been caught in small numbers, and one member had about eight of the new rudd, plus a roach or two, in one short session on a frosty morning. There does not appear to be any guarantee of catching anything, however, and several members have reported a blank day. Other popular fish such as perch, bream and out-of-season brown trout have not been showing at all.

After an encouraging start, the Skipton club's length of the canal down Broughton Road has been rather poor during the cold spell, and many dry nets have been the order of the day. In fact, nobody seems to be fishing this length at the moment and the same can be said for the basin in Skipton, which normally produces some good perch at this time of year.

Grayling have been providing some sport on the local length of the River Aire at the upper end of Heslaker Lane for both the fly and bait angler. The fish have been on the small side, with one or two up to 450g (1:0:0). Hardly anyone has been fishing the river, even though the water level has been just about right for some time now.

Maybe things are about to change with a forecast of milder but windier weather with some heavy rain, which no doubt will raise the level of the river and make fishing difficult or not possible. However, the canal and Whinnygill Reservoir will benefit from milder conditions, so may be worth trying this weekend.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

An overnight frost meant that a frozen lake greeted the 34 anglers in Sunday's second round of the Raskelf Winter Series. After breaking enough ice to fish, the match went ahead and was won by Graham Jackson on one of the few clear pegs with 20 F1 carp on feeder for 21lb 1oz. Second place went to Simon Foster, who caught six F1 carp and a tench for 8lb 12oz, followed by Fred Prudham with a mixed net of small roach, ide and skimmers for 8lb on pole and maggot. Simon leads the series with two matches remaining with 68 points, closely followed by Graham (66½) and Fred (66). The next round will take place on Sunday, February 26, drawing at the Black Bull in Raskelf, which will be open from 8am for breakfasts.

Widdington Hall will be closed tomorrow for an outside booking. The next open match will take place on the River Nidd at Cowthorpe on Sunday, February 12. Entry is £15 and tickets are available from Simon on 01274-571175.

Anglers fishing the River Swale at Topcliffe are continuing to catch large nets of roach on stick float and maggot, while there have also been catches of chub and barbel reported from the stretch in the last couple of weeks. Yet more reports have been received from anglers fishing at Cowthorpe of good catches of chub and grayling as members take full advantage of the low river levels.

LEEDS ASA

Result of the midweek match at Kippax Park: 1 M Turner 45lb 11oz, 2 A Rymer 39lb 14oz, 3 S Raper 31lb 8oz. There are still some vacant dates for Saturday matches at Moor Monkton Pools. Would members note that the club’s website details are leedsasa.co.uk. No-one should now be fishing society waters who is not in position of a current membership book or an official receipt. Members who are night fishing at Knotford Lagoon must first obtain the night permit, which costs £77. These can be obtained from the membership office by applying in person or by post. Two passport-sized photographs are required. The office is open on Monday and Fridays nights (7pm-9pm).

SALTAIRE AA

Last week's canal open fished a lot harder for most, again due to a lack of colour. The bream and roach are still there but are refusing to feed in the clear water. Result (14 anglers fished): 1 George Colbran (Keighley) 14lb 14oz (roach, skimmers and perch on caster), 2 John Meredith (Tricast Rochdale) 9lb 15oz (skimmers), 3 Alan Price (Tricast Rochdale) 5lb 1oz, 4 Richard East (Matrix Halifax) 4lb 4oz. To book on to Sunday's match, please ring Rick on 07815-092966. Result of river match, which fished well: 1 John Storey 7lb 10oz (two barbel), 2 Tony Greenwood 5lb 6oz (two club), 3 Carl Chadwick 3lb 3oz (one barbel).

LISTERHILLS AA

Mixed reports from club members on club waters over the last week. A large pike, hooked on light tackle, was lost in the canal in the Esholt length after being played out, but the would-be captor did not have a large enough landing net to finish the operation. A word of warning to anglers fishing on the canal in this area that the club’s length starts at Field lock. No excuse will be accepted for members of other clubs found on this length. The same warning applies to our members not to fish on the lengths leased by other clubs, unless, of course, they hold dual membership.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Our next general meeting will be on Tuesday, February 21 at the New Inn, East Bierley (8pm). Fishing is picking up now on the east coast. At Whitby, anglers are picking good-sized cod (20 to 30 per boat) up to 12lb inshore using up tide techniques, while on the Mersey good-sized cod and whiting are being caught on the big tides. There is a big low on it's way so make the most of the calm conditions while you can.