BRADFORD CITY AA

SERIOUS viral disease Koi herpesvirus (KHV) has been confirmed at our Tyersal Hall Fishery, and the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) started statutory controls from Wednesday to stop it spreading, such as ensuring equipment is disinfected and restricting the movement of animals. KHV affects all varieties of common and ornamental carp (Cyprinus carpio), and can result in large-scale mortalities.

This week has again seen changeable weather, with cooler temperatures, some very heavy downpours, lots of cloud, wind and even a little sun. The rain midweek took some river levels to unfishable heights, but other rivers such as the Aire were comparatively unaffected. However, anglers have been out on the banks of both still and running waters, with some good catches and nets of fish to report.

At Oakworth, Simon Feather found that cold and wind had knocked the fish off feeding and made them difficult to find, though his son Callum was very pleased with what came to the net. Two days later, however, Michael Whiteoak was netting some good carp from the lower pond, and several new members on the upper pond were catching some good bream, tench and lots of silver fish.

On Shipton Lake, Steve Forrest and Brian Connell had some nice roach, bream and skimmers, while Terry Duncalf managed seven carp in one session, including fish at 18.5lb, 16lb and 15lb. James Lynch, our head bailiff, had an even more outstanding session at Staveley small lake, managing more than 100 carp, tench, chublets and roach for a total net of over 100lb in just over three hours.

River fishing has been a little more patchy, given the see-sawing water levels and floods on some rivers. Barbel continue to be caught regularly at Topcliffe on the Swale – though perhaps not in such numbers as earlier in the season – but coarse anglers on the Aire have struggled to find fish, even in the slacker water. On the Ribble, however, Stephen Brown fished our Skirbeck water, catching 19 trout ranging from fingerlings to over 2lb, plus a small grayling and a 4lb chub, on waggler with maggots or bomb and breadflake fished on the far bank against some reeds. Later in the week, Phil Bailey saw plenty of brownies and grayling responding well to both naturals and imitations on the upper Aire.

Phil has also been busy on the Ure, putting up club signs and meeting new members at Worton Bridge. On the Aire, he has been checking that the deflectors we placed at Gargrave earlier this year have remained secure in the recent high flows. There is good evidence that these are starting to have the intended effects to improve flow variation in the river, deposit shingle banks suitable for spawning and create good fish-holding lies.

The club’s annual meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 27. Please will members send any proposals they have for discussion at the annual meeting to the general secretary – see the yearbook for contact details – by Thursday, August 31 at the latest and, of course, anglers are still encouraged to pull up any Himalayan Balsam they find on the bank before seed heads can pop!

Our next match will be the Bob Escott Memorial at Staveley Lakes on Saturday. To book a place and for further information, call Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749.

SKIPTON AA

Two fish and two new records in one day. That’s what member Malcolm Mawson achieved last weekend when he fished Whinnygill Reservoir to the east of Skipton. The first fish he landed was a blue orfe, which tipped the scales at 1370g, beating the previous record by some 300g and held jointly by John Nicholls and Graeme Waterfall.

Casting in again, the bait was soon taken by another fish, which immediately stripped off about 40 metres of line in its first run. Gradually the fish began to tire and, after a struggle lasting about 15 minutes, the fish was in the landing net. This time it was a common carp in excellent condition and weighed in at 2670g, which smashed the previous Whinnygill record fish landed by T Kelly in 2014 by 1395g and the Association record fish by 91g, which was caught by Simon Chenior from Embsay Reservoir in 2015. Malcolm landed both fish on float-fished worm fished close to the banking in about 1.5m of water. The line was 1.5kg breaking strain and the hook was a rather small size 16.

The weather has taken its toll on fishing in the past week, and anglers have had to dodge heavy showers in order to wet a line. Both Embsay and Whinnygill reservoirs have continued to fish well when conditions have been dry.

The rain once again brought some extra water into the River Aire, which reached a peak of about two-thirds full but never came near to overflowing. Anglers seemed to be put off by the extra water, and only the odd one or two were to be seen in action, where the worm accounted for brown trout to over 900g. The extra water is likely to remain for some time with the forecast of continued heavy showers or longer spells of rain.

On Sunday the penultimate match in the Peter Hart Memorial Trophy Series will be held at Embsay Reservoir, draw in car park 8am, fishing 9am-noon. Members should note that only baits normally allowed at the reservoir may be used, with no ground baiting.

LEEDS ASA

The unstable weather has seen river levels rise and fall, with the result that some anglers have had some good catches on the rivers while others have struggled. Still-waters have also produced some outstanding catches. Result of Saturday veterans’ match at Kippax Park (Osprey Lake) which had every peg filled and some anglers turned away: 1 R Freer 38lb 8oz, 2 S Goodall 36lb 8oz, 3 E Harrison 30lb, 4 L Burton 27lb 8oz. After the match, there was a buffet at the club, followed by the presentation. Result of open match on Lapwing: 1 P Cromie 130lb, 2 N Carr 126lb 5oz, 3 S Pearson 118lb 13oz, plus two other weights of over 100lb. Result of Tuesday match: 1 A Barker 108lb 4oz, 2 S Pearson 53lb 10oz, 3 L Wilshire 51lb 6oz. Result of match at Moor Monkton Pools: 1 L Myers 153lb 7oz, 2 A Bull 103lb 14oz. Result of Sunday match on match pool and front pool: 1 L Smith 159lb, 2 A Midwood 128lb 3oz, 3 L Myers 80lb.

LISTERHILLS AA

The extra water which came down the River Aire produced a few good-sized trout, most of which were returned. Result of committee: 1 E Harrison 10lb 8oz, 2 D Jackson 6lb, both with F1s on a difficult day. Result of match at Linton on Ouse: 1 I Harrison 11lb 8oz (catch of bream), 2 E Harrison (no relation) 6lb 12oz (small fish of various species). All competitors weighed in. The Sunday match is for the 43rd Canal Open Championship on the Aire Valley marina length off Redcote Lane, draw 10am, to book on phone 07518-721051. The open match due to be fished on the Rodley nature reserve length on Saturday, August 19 will now be fished the following day.

BRADFORD PALS AC

Result of last Sunday's match at Woodland Lakes (Skylark Lake): 1 Steve Barker 76lb 1oz, 2 John Hooley 74lb 13oz, 3 Dave Whitrick 74lb 7oz, 4 John Christopher Foreman 73lb 12oz. The club would like to thank Genesis-Rizov Pole Floats for sponsoring the match. Our next match is on Sunday, September 3 at Lindholme Lakes (Loco Lake). Entrants must use the fishery feed pellets and meat is banned. The café opens at 7.30am, and anyone not fishing this match must notify the match secretary by Sunday, August 27 or you will be charged a peg fee. This match is also the next round of the club knockout.

BINGLEY AC

The next club match, scheduled for Sunday, August 20, has been cancelled. There will be a work party at Coppice Pond on Tuesday (6pm), weather permitting.