BRADFORD CITY AA

WE’VE seen some good weather this week, though the breeze has been a bit cold. Forecast is for warmer but also breezier conditions at the weekend. Rivers are very low and clear, with no prospect of rain at the moment, making trout fishing conditions challenging.

Anglers continue to report fish. Chris Stones had a good session at Colne Water's AC fishery at Laneshaw, where we have access to subsidised day tickets, with rainbows and browns taken on black and olive damsels. At Oakworth, fishing was a little slow, though Michael Whiteoak and Steven Thurlby had carp to 5lb in hot sunshine, which saw the fish basking on the top and not interested in feeding. On the rivers, the low, clear water makes fish very shy and anglers need stealth, though there are plenty of small trout showing, and John Rishworth managed a fish of about 3lb. The grayling have now finished spawning.

Members intending to fish Oakworth Ponds please note that Broadhead Lane is closed from Monday for resurfacing work, but access will probably be allowed for residents and perhaps our members. Any updates will be posted on the website and on Facebook.

Riverfly monitoring on the Rive Aire this week shows the river bed well sedimented and ranunculus are starting to clog parts of the river. Invertebrate counts are down from last month, with very few olives showing, but stoneflies and caddis are abundant. Small fish are everywhere – possibly the favourite fish food at the moment – and mayflies are starting to hatch.

A litter pick at Inghey Bridge yielded five bags of rubbish from non-angling motorists, and the Environment Agency also picked up a washing machine for us. The Wild Trout Trust have their annual get-together at Gargrave this weekend, and many attendees will be fishing local rivers on the Sunday. The BCAA Open Day will be on Saturday, June 2, and details will be included in a newsletter this weekend to members for whom we have e-mail addresses.

Coarse anglers might like to note that the Angling Trust have published their review into the coarse fish close season on English rivers. This concluded there was a lack of studies and no conclusive evidence about whether a close season is needed or not, but where do we go from here?

Result of last weekend’s JD Illingworth Rosebowl at Staveley (a warm day with barbel, tench, perch, roach, rudd, ide and small carp showing in nets): 1 John Stark 10lb 1oz, 2 Ewan Coleman 7lb 2oz, 3 Peter Manning 6lb 8oz. The next match is the Morphet Cup for veterans on Saturday, June 2 at Staveley small lake. Enquiries and entries to John Stark on 07793-558227.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Knotford Lagoon will be closed from tonight until Sunday evening for the first of this year's carp matches, which will draw at the lake at 8am tomorrow. There is also the second members' match of the year on Sunday on the Aire & Calder Canal at Pollington, with tickets available from Simon on 01274-571175.

Carp in particular are now well and truly on the feed, with some excellent captures, especially from Knotford and Kirklees. The biggest fish this week have fallen to David Barlow, with a 29lb mirror carp, and Allan Allcock, with 'Sunken Eyes' at 27lb 3oz, both from Knotford. or member

A morning session at Queen Mary's Ponds in Ripon for Nigel Reilly resulted in six fish, including tench and bream, with the biggest tench weighing 6lb 9oz. The highlight of the day was the sight of an osprey circling over the lake. Permits for these lakes are now available to book online.

River anglers will be pleased to note that there is just a month to go until the coarse season reopens. The explosion of fly hatches over the last couple of weeks should see improved trout action on rivers Wharfe, Aire and Calder for fly anglers.

SKIPTON AA

The settled weather conditions have continued to improve the sport on all local waters, with trout excelling at Embsay Reservoir. Fly anglers have enjoyed the best sport, with brown, rainbow and tiger trout, which have been taking the good hatches of sedge flies close to the shore, which, incidentally, is receding due to the lower water level.

Roach and ide are the mainstays at Whinnygill Reservoir, with fish up to around 450g. A few smaller brown trout have been caught, with the best fish topping 1kg. Some big carp are willing to take ground bait and loose feed but shy away from anything containing a hook.

Fly fishermen are also catching some good brownies on the River Aire, and in quite large quantities, The warm weather has also brought the first hatches of mayfly.

BRADFORD SEA AC

The lads had a great day out last week on Shy-Torque, with not so many fish as expected, with a mixed bag of small codling to 5lb and pollock to 4lb, but the crack was good. We have a trip on June 6 to Rhyl aboard Luna Sea. There are one or two places left on this trip, and anyone wishing to go should ring captain for the day Ralph on 07840-275753 to book a place. Tope should be about, as well as bull huss, whiting, dabs and mackerel, so it should be a great trip. Our next general meeting is on Tuesday, June 19 at the New Inn, East Bierley (8pm). New members will be made welcome.

BINGLEY AC

Sunday's match has been moved from Settler Dam to the Canal, draw Morton Lane at 8am, contact Adi Newman on 07783-332705. Tench and carp have finally gone on the feed at Coppice Pond, but be aware that the swans have hatched eight signets and the parents are being very protective.

CENTRAL AC

Our next match is at the Oaks (Maple Lake) on Sunday, meet at venue 8am, fishing 9am-3pm.