BRADFORD CITY AA

WE’VE seen a little rain this week, and the Wharfe and Ure are responding well, but the Aire is only a few centimetres higher. However, fish are much more active, and both alders and mayflies starting to trickle off, even if the fish are not yet taking them avidly. We can only hope that the low water and cold breezes haven’t put back larger hatches later in the month, and spoil anglers’ fun during “Duffers' Fortnight”.

A number of reports have come in from the Aire and Wharfe, though news from the Ure is strangely silent. Jonny Grey had four trout of 2lb and over from our Buckden fishery on the Wharfe, and a fish of over 5lb on the Aire, all on dry fly. Grayling continue to feature in catches, though, of course, these are out of season until Friday, June 16, and anglers should not target them. Even so, it is difficult not to catch grayling if fishing for trout, since both species have similar behaviours and habitats.

On the still-waters, carp are coming to the net during the day, even in the difficult calm, bright conditions, but are feeding more confidently at night. At Shipton Lake, there have been more anglers than for a long time, with John Dakin netting bream, roach and tench to 7lb 2oz, while Alan Robinson had three carp – the best a mirror of 20lb 15oz. At Staveley, Debbie Hardisty reported three good carp from the small lake in one session. Pike of 19lb and 20lb have also been caught in the past week.

Committee men and working party helpers have been very active looking after our fisheries. Phil Bailey and Jon Grey planted ranunculus in the river Aire at Gargrave. This increases flow diversity, slows sedimentation and replaces the weeds lost during floods at the end of 2015. We have also been busy repairing old stock fence, and surveying and spraying giant hogweed along the Aire. If anglers see any untreated hogweed, please report it via the online app at www.planttracker.org.uk. Phil has also completed the monthly riverfly survey on the Gargrave section of the Aire, which shows significantly reduced numbers of heptagenids, olives and stoneflies compared with a month ago, but thousands of fry. For anglers, this probably means only small fly hatches, with the bigger fish possibly targeting fry instead.

Our website is running again properly. However, we regret that we have a number of issues to bring to the attention of members this month. There is persistent littering (cigarette butts and sweet wrappers) left in pegs. Rubbish should always be taken home. At Shipton Lake, one or two anglers are still not handling fish properly or failing to use unhooking mats and sufficiently big landing nets. On the rivers, trees, which provide valuable cover for fish, are being trimmed unnecessarily. We would ask all members to observe club rules and guidance about the handling of fish, and to leave bank-side maintenance to our club experts.

Members must also note that old padlocks WILL be removed from locked club fisheries on or shortly after Thursday, June 1. If they don't have a key for the new padlock yet, they must get one. They can be bought from BCAA’s on-line shop, bailiffs and most agents.

Our next coarse fishing match will be the Morphet Cup at Staveley Lakes on Saturday, June 3. To book a place and for further information, contact Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Result of the close-run carp match at Knotford Lagoon last weekend: 1 Justin Longbottom 67lb 11oz (four fish, including match's biggest fish, a personal best common carp of 31lb 5oz, which also takes him into the lead for the Knotford Carp Cup), 2 James West 58lb 5oz (four fish), 3 Gary Walker 47lb 13oz (two fish). The next carp match will be at Knotford on September 23rd-24.

The Pauling Cup members' match will take place on the Aire & Calder Canal at Beaver Bridge on Sunday, draw on towpath at 9am. Tickets (£15) available from Simon on 01274-571175.

SKIPTON AA

Skipton Summer League competitors were hoping that the bumper weights enjoyed in the opening match would at least be equalled on the 'Stickups' length of the canal at Barnoldswick last Sunday morning. Conditions were quite favourable, with a light, warm wind and little boat traffic in the first half, due to the early start. However, the mild conditions since the last match must have triggered the start of spawning, and it looked like the big fish had completed the task and moved off to recover their energies. Only one bream of any size was landed, and all of the catches consisted mainly of small roach and perch, with weights soon tailing off to next to nothing.

Result: 1 Andy Wharton 980g (including big bream of about 900g, plus a few small fish), 2 Russell Heaton 950g (22 roach and perch), 3 Dave Fenn 390g, 4 Andrew Thomas 330g, 5 Terry Bolland 300g, 6 Bob Fenn 220g.

Boat traffic should not be nuisance at the next match for it is on Whinnygill Reservoir on Sunday, May 28. Registration for this series is now closed, with 21 anglers having signed up.

The settled, milder weather has helped maintain the sport on Embsay and Whinnygill reservoirs, with most anglers reporting some good sport. Rainbows are heading the list of captures at Embsay, while only tench and carp have held back at Whinnygill.

Low water conditions on the River Aire have helped the fly anglers get the upper hand on the bait fishermen, with the capture of some good brownies and quite a few out-of-season grayling.

LISTERHILLS AA

Result of last Saturday's Open match at Rodley: 1 J Mason 30lb 6oz (drawn on a shoal of bream which had recently spawned, catching six, the best being 5lb 13oz), 2 P Woods 6lb 15oz (drawn on next peg, catching a single bream and a few small fish). Only two others required the scalesman – E Harrison, B Mason. This Sunday's open match is on the same section of the canal at the nature-reserve length at Rodley, draw 10am, contact 01132-772215. The next Saturday Open is on May 27 at the Calverley end of Rodley. The first match of the evening series is at Apperley Bridge on Tuesday, May 30. S Bailey had six good-sized perch drop-shotting below the bottom lock gates on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

LEEDS ASA

A member was brought before the general purposes committee for refusing to use the net dip at Kippax Pool pond. This is the last warning on this subject. Result of the match at Kippax (Lapwing) on Tuesday, May 9: 1 P Carter 90lb 1oz, 2 D Pollitt 65lb 9oz, 3 T Hewson 65lb 4oz. Result of the match held on Wednesday, May 10 at Moor Monkton Pools (Cyprio): 1 M Dodsworth 104lb 13oz, 2 S Mazza 83lb 10oz, 3 A Bull 61lb 1oz. Knotford Lagoon continues to produce quality fish, J Fearnley had a tench of 9lb 3oz, while another angler weighed two tench of between 8lb and 9lb, while an unnamed angler had two carp of 28lb over the weekend.

BRADFORD PALS AC

Result of last Sunday's match at Lindholme Lakes (Bonsai), which was hard due to fish starting to spawn: 1 Steve Barker 48lb 6oz, 2 John Hooley 48lb 0oz, 3 Gary from Thornton 36lb 8oz, 4 Bernard Hook 35lb 8oz. Well done to the eight anglers who got through to the next round of the club knockout. Our next match is on Sunday, June 11 at The Oaks, Sessay (Alders Lake). Competitors must use their feed pellets. Café opens 7.45am. Anyone not fishing this match must notify the match secretary by Sunday, June 4 or they will be charged a peg fee.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Our general meeting was well attended and many club aspects were discussed. We had a trip to Hartlepool on Wednesday, but I have not had a report. On the west coast, fishing is picking up and will get even better as the weeks go by. We have a trip to Rhyl on Thursday, June 6.

BINGLEY AC

The match on Sunday is at Settler Dam, draw 9am on the bank. To book on contact Tony on 07971-428678 Good catch reports of roach and skimmers from the canal. Early morning or late evening best time to fish.

CENTRAL AC

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