Angling Lines from our local clubs

The Daily Mirror Cup, on the River Nidd at Cowthorpe, fished pretty well considering the sub-zero temperatures and falling snow. Result: 1 Howard Foster 14lb 1oz (five chub on stick-float and maggot), 2 John Leyland 12lb (six chub), 3 Adrian Lewis 9lb 8oz (four chub), 4 Dave Robson 7lb 2oz, 5 Andy Bradley 6lb 13oz. The next match will take place on the River Swale at Topcliffe and Maunby on Sunday, January 14. Widdington Hall will be closed on Sunday for an outside booking.

Yearbooks for 2018 will be distributed around our tackle-shop agents tomorrow and will also be available online or from the ticket and licence secretary this weekend. Contact Simon on 07714-662783 for more details. We have taken on JT Rogers in Crossgates, AJ Fishing Tackle in Middleton, Leeds, and Tackle Corner in Elland as agents to replace the now closed Kirkgate Angling in Leeds, PB Angling and Pudsey Angling.

Senior membership for the year will cost £50, with concessions at £30 and juniors £5 as we continue to offer the best value fishing in the region. Membership covers 11 lakes, over 35 miles of river and 12 miles of canal.

The waiting list for night permits at Knotford and Kirklees is now open, with details on how to join it in the new yearbook. Existing night-permit holders have until Wednesday, January 31 to renew. There is no waiting list for general membership.

Stuart Hemingway had a great day's fishing on Milby Cut last week, catching 30 good roach for over 18lb.

KEIGHLEY AC

As temperatures plunged over the past week, some anglers changed tactics, choosing to track the course of the River Aire on foot rather than sitting to wait for a bite.

One Keighley member kept his line moving smoothly through frozen-rod rings to land 21 grayling in a single session. Despite leaving to thaw himself out, the determined angler later returned to the bank to land 11 more fish using conventional stick-float methods over white maggot.

The pike season is well underway and, although several good-size specimens have been sighted, there were no reports of any catches in the past week.

One fish that remains elusive on the river has been spotted near Kildwick. Barbel had been the focus of a re-stocking programme during a joint exercise between Keighley Angling Club and the Environment Agency several years ago. Although they have proved a difficult fish to target, two prime specimens were seen, sparking excitement that more may be lurking on the bottom of the river.

Club yearbooks are now available, with the price, like the weather, remaining frozen. The club hopes to attract even more members as it celebrates its 150th anniversary throughout 2018. The books, which make an ideal stocking filler for Christmas, are available at local tackle shops or from club secretary Dennis Freeman on 07980-338225.

SKIPTON AA

Our weather forecast last week must have disturbed some of the Skipton Winter League competitors so much that they postponed last Sunday’s match scheduled for the Marina length of the canal at Barnoldswick. In the event, it seems that the weather had the final say with reports of patchy ice on the match length by Saturday, and with even colder weather to come, fishing would probably have been impossible on the Sunday.

Subject to confirmation by league secretary Bill Davenport, the match has been re-scheduled for this Sunday on the same length but will also comprise the Christmas Cheer match, which would have been fished a week later in normal circumstances. Competitors should phone Bill (01756-799671 or 07581-082576) to get confirmation, and also details of the prize requirements for the Christmas Cheer side of the event.

Prior to the icing problem on the canal at the weekend, the basin length of the canal at Skipton had continued to produce good perch to around the 900g mark, and also one or two smallish pike. The lure proved to be successful, together with the worm for the perch.

Anglers wishing to fish this popular length must be members of Skipton AA or be prepared to either obtain a day ticket in advance or buy one on the banking from the bailiff, which is a more expensive option. Day tickets may be purchased from either the paper shop near the bottom of Shortbank Road or from Pennine Cruisers at The Boat Shop at the basin itself.

For a time the River Aire became the only water available for angling as the canal gradually froze over, and luckily grayling are not put off the feed even in the coldest of weather. One or two anglers were in action on the upper reaches near Inghey Bridge, where a few grayling to around the 450g mark were landed on the worm. Lower down the river, it looked in good condition for a bit of pike fishing, but no-one was about.

Prospects for this weekend should be better with a return to milder conditions, with perhaps some rain. Hopefully river levels will not rise too much to spoil what could be a good weekend's fishing.

LEEDS ASA

Knotford night permits for 2018 will be limited, with first allocations going to those who had them this year. Result of the Fur & Feather match at Hunter's Lodge and Linton (fished by over 60 members, with the river carrying some snowmelt, ruling out big catches): 1 J Cyrowski 4lb 6½oz, 2 C Turbit 3lb 8oz, 3 G Brown 2lb 9oz, 4 A Millar 2lb 8oz, 5= D White, M Hope 2lb 6oz. Result of the match at Kippax Park (December 5): 1 A Rymer 68lb, 2 N Rymer 54lb 11oz, 3 W Brown 39lb 13oz. Result of Wednesday's match at Moor Monkton Pools: 1 D Wright 66lb 15oz, 2 L Smith 40lb 5oz, 3 A Gallant 39lb 15oz. Result of weather-affected Saturday match at Kippax Park: 1 N Rymer 30lb 15oz (mostly trout), 2 D Newman 25lb 8oz, 3 A Rymer 20lb 6oz. Result of Sunday's match at Moor Monkton Pools: 1 M Parker 21lb 10oz, 2 M Hope 11lb 9oz,3 R Worsnop 10lb 7oz.

LISTERHILLS AA

Pilley's Dam is to be filled in, although we don't know when, but until then members can still use it. People must also remember not to let children play near frozen waters. Membership books for 2018 are now available from the usual outlets, and applications are also being taken from our club for Leeds Amalgamation membership, at a saving of several pounds. Full details are on pages 24-25 of our membership book.

BINGLEY AC

Sunday's Christmas Cheer match was fished in freezing conditions by nine members, and over 20 grayling were caught, ranging from 2oz to over 1lb. Result: 1 A Healy 4lb, 2 J Parker 3lb 4oz, 3 I Needs 2lb 7oz. The first of the Coppice Pond work parties to continue the fencing will be on Sunday, January 7, all volunteers welcome. Yearbooks should be for sale online and in tackle shops before Christmas.