BRADFORD CITY AA

There has been much better weather this week, with a bit of sun and cooler temperatures, which have encouraged some anglers to return to the banks. River levels have dropped and the water cleared after the floods of the previous week, although we have not had much feedback from anglers.

Tom Pawson had a carp of 20lb 14oz from the big lake at our Staveley fishery and Oakworth was regularly fished during the school holidays. Chris Stones hooked and then lost a good salmon on our River Ribble fishery at Skirbeck – high water levels at the end of the salmon season had brought the fish upstream – while England fly-fishing champion Freddy Bainbridge had some good grayling and an out-of-season brown trout to over 3lb from the Aire.

Bainbridge and Jonathan Barnes also led a successful masterclass on the Aire last weekend, attended by half-a-dozen club members eager to improve their nymphing skills. French member Thomas Gachet had a particularly good day, with a monster grayling approaching the fish-of-a-lifetime mark of 3lb.

Elsewhere, the main gate on our Oakworth fishery was left open on a couple of mornings this week and members are reminded they must close and lock it when leaving. In addition, someone stole the mink trap we had in place to protect the fishery. If anyone can shed light on either of the culprits, then shop them to any BCAA official.

On Sunday, November 12 we are holding the annual grayling competition on the River Ure at Aysgarth. All interested members should contact fly secretary Phil Bailey on 07811-286652. Our next coarse fishing match will be the Cinderella Trophy on Saturday, November 11 at Staveley Lakes. To book a place and for further information, call Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749.

SKIPTON AA

Apart from it being a bright, sunny day, the weather last Sunday was ideal for the fourth match in the Skipton Winter League. The venue was the length of canal either side of the road bridge near the Bay Horse Inn at Snaygill. The catch rate was 100 per cent among the 19 competitors and almost all the weights consisted of small roach or perch. Rob Thornton landed the largest fish of the day – a perch weighing some 720g. Results: 1 Dave Fenn 930g, 2 Rob Thornton 880g, 3 Bill Davenport 840g, 4 Bob Fenn 730g, 5 Ernie Ramsbotham 570g, 6 Graeme Waterfall 540g. Pairs: 1 Bob and Dave Fenn (father & son) 1660g, 2 Davenport & Brown 1060g, 3 Thornton & Wright 1040g, 4 Ramsbotham & Young 1000g, 5 Chenier & Waterfall 560g, 6 Aldis & Heaton 470g. Overall standings (four matches left) – Individuals: 1 Dave Fenn 8pt, 2 Graeme Waterfall 22, 3 Rob Thornton 26, 4 Jason Aldis 29, 5= Bob Fenn, Keith Brown 30, 7 Bill Davenport 31. Pairs: 1 D&R Fenn 8pts, 2 Davenport & Brown 14, 3 Aldis & Heaton 15, 4= Thornton & Wright, Chenier & Waterfall 18, 6 Ramsbotham & Young 23. Next match: Sunday, November 12 on the hospital length of canal at Keighley Road, Skipton. Unless the weather takes a turn for the worse temperature-wise, competitors may record some good weights, judging from recent sport on this length. Prospects for this weekend may be better on the River Aire following a long overdue spell of drier weather, which has brought the river down to near normal levels. Besides the chance of grayling and chub, pike fishing should be more than possible on most stretches.

LEEDS ASA

Trophies were presented at last week's concert by England international Dennis White. A total of £610 was raised, which was split between the Macmillan Nurses and Martin House Children's Hospice. Moor Monkton Pools has been restocked with 500 F1s into the match pool and 50 carp, while Cyprio Pool received 200 carp of 2-4lb. Result of match at Kippax Park on Saturday, October 21: 1 A Rymer 101lb 8oz, 2 S Pearson 82lb 3oz, 3 S Jeffreys 81lb 1oz. Result of Tuesday match: 1 P Carter 89lb 1oz, 2 N Rymer 71lb 3oz, 3 D Wright 41lb 7oz. Result of Sunday Open at Moor Monkton Pools: 1 M Dodsworth 105lb 6oz, 2 S Brown 71lb, 3 G Watson 61lb 13oz. Result of Wednesday match: 1 S Brown 97lb 8oz, 2 L Smith 78lb 13oz, 3 P Gallagher 62lb 5oz. Result of last Sunday's match: 1 T Bainbridge 92lb 8oz, 2 J Roper 76lb 9oz, 3 S Jeffreys 71lb 1oz.

LISTERHILLS AA

The final match of this year's open canal series was fished in wild conditions. However, all competitors weighed in, although catches were on the light side Result: 1 W Mason, 2 M Paton, 3 B Lowthian. Wishes for a speedy recovery are sent to Roger Movleym, who is recovering from knee surgery. Result of Sunday's match at Gilmores: 1 E Harrison with 19lb 4oz (including 14lb carp), 2 G Kitchen 12lb 12oz, 3 The member who forgot to alter his clock and arrived an hour early.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

The next open match will take place on the River Nidd at Cowthorpe on Sunday, November 12. Tickets are available from Simon on 01274-571175 or Tackle 2U in Bradford. There are still a few places left for the Raskelf Winter Series, which begins on Sunday, December 3. Contact Simon on the number above for more details. Five-year-old Harry Taylor had a good day's fishing at Raskelf on Sunday, catching his first F1 carp. There are carp being caught all over the lake at the minute and some good catches of roach and skimmers on maggot.

SALTAIRE AA

Our annual meeting will be on Monday at the Ring o' Bells, Shipley (8pm). New committee members are always welcome. Result of first Leeds & Liverpool Canal Open of the year: 1 Dave Chadwick (Matrix Halifax) 5lb 10oz (including a 1lb 15oz perch), 2 Paul Booth (Matrix Halifax) 4lb 10oz, 3 Richard Jackson (Maver North West) 4lb 9oz, 4 Martin Hellewell (Matrix Halifax) 2lb 14oz, 5 Peter Wilson (Tricast Calder) 2lb 12oz, 6 George Colbran (Keighley) 2lb 9oz. The next match on the canal is on Sunday, November 12. To book on, call Richard East on 07815-092966.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Any rule changes or other important changes must be brought to the attention of the secretary at or before the annual meeting on Tuesday, November 21. We have a trip to Hartlepool aboard Lone Shark next Wednesday and there are one or two places left. If you would like to go, call our trip secretary on 07711-987833. As Paul and Brian, our long-serving secretary and president, are stepping down this year, we are looking for members to replace them. If you think you are capable of doing either job, make it known at the annual meeting. Paul and Brian are carrying on as members.

BINGLEY AC

The annual meeting is on Tuesday, November 14 at Ryshworth Social Club (8pm), followed by a pie-and-pea supper. The canal continues to fish well, with nets of small silverfish – especially around the boats at Crossflatts, where the fish tend to shoal up for the winter. Rivers are back to normal levels after the recent rainfall and should be worth trying.