ANGLING LINES: It's barbel for Fieldhouse

ON the rivers, coarse-fishing anglers report chub to 5lb from the Swale at Topcliffe, taken on bread crust with cheese paste.

Barbel seem to be less active now, but Andy Fieldhouse had a fish on past-wrapped boilie to PVA mesh sack, while Andrew Bogan netted a couple of fish during a night session.

Pike are also active. Jon Grey reported pike in the 4-10lb range chasing large flies on the Aire at Bradley Ings, while Elias Ames brought several fish to the net on the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Shipley.

Bass and natural bullhead-style lures fished to shallow overhung ledges proved effective. Perch also came to drop-shotting tactics.

Pike have been active at our Shipton Lake fishery too. Brian Connell, fishing with friend Billy, netted several fish to 12lb.

At Staveley Lakes, anglers continue to report carp coming to the net. A notable event for Carl White, fishing at night, was a double take of two fish – both over 15lb - taking his baits on two rods.

On the rivers, grayling anglers have seen out-of-season trout still taking flies avidly. Bait anglers report large numbers of grayling further down the river, though low and clear water on the Aire at Gargrave has seen rising fish difficult to tempt on fly.

Even so, Charlie Gargrave had fish on Deer Hair Emergers. However, David Kerns was less successful.

Despite promising-looking water and rising fish, two swans invaded his length and engaged in major fisticuffs, to make continued fishing impossible.

Conditions have proved challenging on the Ure at Aysgarth, with a group of five anglers braving the elements for only a few fish.

On the Ribble, however, the high water a few weeks ago brought large numbers of salmon upstream. Colin Percival proved to be the most successful angler, with a brace of fish taken right at the end of the session.

Despite bright sunshine and low water, he had a cock fish of about 14lb, followed by a lovely hen fish on a purple shrimp in about two feet of water at the sand hole.

Recent invertebrate sampling on the Aire this week saw low numbers, though kingfishers, herons, egrets and hares were much in evidence.

Stoneflies are noticeably absent at a time when they would be expected to be numerous, but high numbers of mayfly nymphs promise well for next year.

Our annual Grayling Competition is now on Sunday, November 18. Entry fee is £2, with proceeds going to the Grayling Society.

Both renewal and new memberships can also be bought through our online shop, via the link on the front page of the website.

Junior membership in 2019 will be free, apart from postage, but is only available via the online shop or from the General Secretary.

A change in our rules also means that anglers will not require a second rod permit to fish two rods in 2019 and beyond.

The Cinderella Trophy Match planned to hold at Staveley Lake tomorrow is now cancelled, due to lack of a match secretary. Any queries, or offers to fill the role, call Jim Munden on 07940 814431.

BRADFORD & DISTRICT SEA ANGLING CLUB

Our next meeting is the AGM on Tuesday, November 20. Any rule changes or things you want to discuses, call the secretary before this meeting on 07788 928692. We have a trip to Whitby on November 24. Call 07711 987833 to book your place.

Whitby is still producing good amounts of cod, ling and pollock when the boats can get out. A few boats are trying inshore, uptiding with some good results.

BRADFORD PALS AC

Sunday's Christmas Cheer match at Birkwood Farm on the main lake was: 1 Andy Clough 100lb – 11oz, 2 Pete Fraser 54lb – 14oz, 3 Mick Stoney 46lb – 1oz, 4 Pete Milner 40lb - 3oz.

Winner of the club championship trophy was John Hooley, who did the double as he also won the annual club knockout trophy.

Final standing at the top of the points table were: John Hooley 89 points, Bernard Hook 88, Andy Clough 79, Pete Fraser 68, Barry Franklyn 59.

The club's AGM will be held on January 26, 2019 at 12.30pm at The Fighting Cock on Preston Street. Can anyone who wishes to add something to the agenda, call match secretary Andy Clough on 07810 185862.

BRADFORD NO1 AA

This Sunday will be the Charity Open match on the River Swale at Maunby, which will draw on the flood bank at 9am. Tickets are available for £15 from Simon on 01274 571175.

Gratrix Dam will be closed on November 15 for safety reasons, while tree clearance works take place near to the lake.

The region's rivers remain very low and clear but there have been some good chub catches from the River Nidd at Cowthorpe and Nun Monkton.

There have also been decent catches of grayling from the Wharfe, Calder and Aire.

BINGLEY ANGLING CLUB

The club's AGM is on Tuesday, November 13, at Ryshworth social club, 8pm start. All members are welcome and finishes with a pie and pea supper. It seems the fish have started to move to the boats on the canal at Crossflatts with plenty of small silvers being caught.

LEEDS & DISTRICT ASA

The chief points to come from the AGM were that trout or grayling can no longer be taken at any time of the year or whatever their size.

The exact wording is that no fish are to be killed or removed from club waters.

Also, from next year, every member will be able to purchase three guest tickets a year, with price still to be sorted out.

T Hewson had a good catch of chub from a club stretch of the River Swale, while the Tuesday match at Kippax Park was won by A Rymer, with 117lb 11oz.

Second there was S Holmes with 99lb 7oz and R Thomas came third with 74lb 7oz.

The Wednesday match held at Moor Monkton Pools was won by S Jeffreys with 33lb 13oz. S Mazza came second with 26lb 2oz, while S Bolton completed the top three with 22lb 11oz.

LISTERHILLS AA

The price of club membership for next year will remain unchanged. The result of the match for the Pilley's Trophy does not affect the aggregate weight trophy.

Despite that, the final standings were: 1 E Harrison 8lb; 2 J Harrison 5lb, with catches comprised of roach, plus a few perch.

The winner of the canal series is B Mason, with 189 points, while the runners-up were E Harrison (164), J Mason (121) and M Paton (111).

The open league was also won by B Mason, who had a comfortable margin of victory.

SALTAIRE AA

The river fished well for Carl Chadwick for the first of this year's winter matches with him taking top spot with 14lbs 8oz, comprising of 20 chub, 2 J Clarke 3lbs 11oz small chub, 3 E Wright 2lbs 5oz one chub. Next match is on November 18, to book call Carl on 07955 727079.

The first of the winter canal matches has been won by Billy Mason, Saltaire with 6lb 2oz 8dr of small roach and perch; 2 Charlie, Sunderland 3lb 14oz; 3 Richard East, Matrix Halifax 3lb 9oz; 4 Nigel Storr, Matrix Halifax 3lb 2oz.The next match is on November 18. To book, call Richard on 07815 092966.

Can any pleasure anglers not fish on any of the match lengths on the day of these matches.

A pike match is planned for Sunday, November 25. Draw takes place behind Hotel Ibis, Shipley, 8.45-9am. Fishing 10am-3pm. This length regularly produces numerous double figure fish with the best so far of 20lb. Call Lee on 07496 445303 for further details.

This year's AGM is on Monday, November 12 at 8pm, at the Ring O Bells, Shipley. All members are invited to attend. This is the chance for members to elect the committee, vote on propositions and to have a say in the running of the club.

Junior member Mollie East, aged six, who in a very short session had three bream for over 10lb from the boats length this week.