BRADFORD & DISTRICT SEA ANGLING CLUB

The annual general meeting which took place on November 19 had a lot of positives.

All the offices and committee were re-elected en block. It was thought that as far as booking trips, we should just book places rather than book a boat, and the skipper can then fill the boat with ex amount of anglers if there are paces left.

That way we don't lose out on money by booking the whole boat.

We now have three of four trips booked already, as we know that they will be filled for 2019.

The May 10-18 to Clare Island on the West coast of Ireland, May 18-19 to Anglesey and July 20-24 to Shetland.

The first week in August to Culdaff in Co Donegal, which we will be celebrating 25 years of fishing this venue. And September 31 to October 7 to Clare Island.

So it looks like it will be a busy time with or intrepid anglers.

Also at the meeting, Brian Clarkson said that he is going to put up a trophy and calling it the Tope Trophy for the heaviest tope caught in that year by a member.

He will work out who will have caught the heaviest. He is also going for his own 'Grand Slam'; to attempt to catch a tope, shark and a skate all in the same year. So that is something to keep an eye on.

BINGLEY ANGLING CLUB

The next match on Sunday, December 16 will be the Christmas Cheer and has moved from the canal to the River Aire in Myrtle Park.

The cold weather seems to have put fish off the feed for now but river fishing should improve after this weeks rain raising levels.

SALTAIRE AA

Last week's river match proved tough going, but taking the win with 2lb 1oz was John Clarke, 2 Peter Vickerman 1lbs 1oz, 3 John Storey 15oz.

To book onto next week's match, call Carl Chadwick on 07955 727079.

Following up on his win from two weeks ago, Billy Mason drew peg 22, catching small skimmers and roach, leading the way again with 5lb 9oz. Second, and continuing his good run, was Pete Riley, Matrix Halifax, 5lb 2oz from peg 18. Third was Paul McMillan, Matrix Halifax, 3lb 11oz, fourth Terry Guthrie, Matrix Halifax, 3lb 0oz 8dr. To book onto next week's match, call Richard East on 07815 092966.

For Sunday's pike match please meet on the bankside on the boats section. Draw will take place at 9am, fishing from 10am to 3pm. For further details, call Lee on 07496 445303.

LEEDS & DISTRICT ASA

After a brief flush through, rivers are now running low and clear again.

Barbel anglers enjoyed sport when the rivers were running coloured, with some good fish coming from the lower Ure.

The Ouse has produced some good catches of roach and pike are beginning to become more of a proposition for serious attention.

The damage done by the seal in the Topcliffe area may not have been as severe as at first thought. As several members have had good catches of chub, also some quality perch.

The result of the Saturday match at Kippax Park: 1 S Pierson 66lb1oz, 2 A Broomhead 55lb1oz, 3 A Middleton 52lb13oz.

The Tuesday match was won by B Rymer 103lb10z, 2 A Rymer 85lb12oz, 3 N Rymer 66lb1oz. The Sunday match at Moor Monkton pools was won by B Fisk 103lb1oz, 2 E Boldison 66lb13oz, 3 D Wright 66lb11oz.

The Wednesday match was won by E Boldison 62lb10oz, 2 A Gallant 26lb14oz, 3 G Rhodes 24lb13oz.

All classes of membership will increase by £1 next year, except for the juniors which will continue to be free, on personal application.

LISTERHILLS AA

The final positions in the midweek series are: 1 J Harrison 124lb9oz, runners-up: D Jackson 110lb5oz, E Harrison 103lb1oz.

This year's merit trophy has been won by B Paton. For the first time there has been no entries for the specimen fish trophy. As mentioned in last week's report, lure anglers have been having some good catches of pike from various lengths of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. However, watchers have been coming across anglers with no valid permits to be on the water, these people are cheating the rest of us, more persons are required to come forward to act as watchers. Anyone with a little time to spare should contact the secretary.

SKIPTON CLUB

THE Aire Rivers Trust has announced that it is working in partnership with the Environment Agency. It is working to secure funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the next major phase of reinvigorating the river Aire under the project title of 'DNAire' and will help restore salmon to the river.

Salmon are an indicator species and their presence in a river demonstrates the river’s health and this species has an iconic symbolism.

Other members of the salmon family such as brown and sea trout will also benefit along with coarse fish, eels and lampreys.

DNAire is a £1.8 million project and is one of the latest moves after decades of work by many agencies, companies and individuals to improve the quality of the River Aire.

Salmon are already reaching Leeds and this project will develop the river as a hospitable environment for all levels of plant and animal life that will enable salmon, the indicator species, to thrive in the Aire once more.

The project will include installing fish passes on four large weirs that are presently a major obstacle to the free upstream passage of fish.

They are at Armley Mills, once the largest woollen mill in the world and now the Leeds Industrial Museum; Kirkstall Abbey which has had a weir across the river since the 12th century; Newlay where the weir used to provide power to Kirkstall Forge and Saltaire where the weir was built in 1853 to provide power to Titus Salt’s textile mill and now a world heritage site.

At all the weirs, fish passes will be constructed in concrete and will feature a galvanised metal base with a specially designed 'Vee' shape that will both slow down the speed of the water and at the same time give help to the upward movement of ascending fish. The pass will be of a suitable width to enable coarse fish to cope with the current and a separate small channel will cater for eels and lamprey.

Some element of match funding is still to be found but all being well Salmon to Skipton (and beyond) should be possible by the end of 2020.