SKIPTON AA

A contributor to the club's Facebook page has asked: "What should the restocking policy be on the River Aire now that the introduction of fish-farm-reared diploid brown trout has been outlawed since the start of 2015?"

There are three possibilities: (a) leave the river to be stocked by the existing native fish; (b) stock with fish-farm-reared brown trout produced from the eggs and milt of native Aire trout; or (c) use sterile triploid brown trout from fish farms.

Possibility (a) would probably see a gradual decline in the trout population as the river's tributaries have suffered greatly over the past 50 years. Becks that once held massive heads of trout, such as Broughton and Eshton, are a shadow of their former selves and would contribute little in the way of new fish for the main river.

Option (b) would be a good possibility if it was up and running as the fish would probably cost no more than diploids do. The gene strength of fish that survive to spawn would be ideal. Some of these fish may be available in a year or two as at least one local fish farm is looking to try to rear these native trout.

Sterile triploid trout (c) are already available but have two distinct disadvantages. They cost at least 15 per cent more than the diploids they replace and, because they cannot breed, they have the same roaming instinct as rainbow trout do when introduced into rivers. On the plus side, if they do remain in your stretch of water, again like rainbows, they grow very fast and are supposed to be good fighting fish.

It has been wondered if the crop of big trout that has materialised in recent years on the local length of the Aire are the remnants of a batch of triploids that we introduced a few years ago. Visually, triploids look identical to a natural brown trout, unlike their American cousin the rainbow.

One contributor to the Facebook page suggests that we should introduce triploids to be fodder for pike, mink and otters, thereby reducing the odds of natural brownies being caught by these predators. A somewhat expensive experiment indeed!

Faced with the 2015 deadline ban on diploids, a good number of clubs in the north of England ceased restocking altogether and, together with a complete ban on removing natural brown trout – or at least a reduction in the size of the limit bag – waited for the results.

Surprisingly, most fisheries have seen a big improvement in both the quantity and quality of the fish, so perhaps that is also the best solution for the River Aire.

BRADFORD & DISTRICT SEA AC

Our next meeting is at the New Inn, East Bierley on Tuesday, February 17 (8pm). Annual subscriptions (£10) are now due and we feel they are good value for money. The trip calendar is now available for this year and these can be picked up at the meeting. There are still one or two places left on our week's holiday to Culdaff in Ireland. If you would like to go, call Roger on 07773-139460.

BRADFORD No1 AA

Tickets are still available from Simon (01274-571175) for the Charity Open match on the River Swale at Thornton Bridge and Maunby on Sunday. The match will draw at the Golden Lion in Helperby at 9am. Widdington Hall will be closed again this weekend for outside bookings. Milby Cut Canal is fishing very well for roach and perch on maggot. Cowthorpe should be worth a visit this week for chub.

BINGLEY AC

There will be a match in Myrtle Park on Sunday, drawing at 9am in the car park behind the Ferrands Arms. Call Tony on 07971-428678 to book a peg.