SALTAIRE AA

THE canal matches over the festive period proved tough going for the majority of anglers.

The match on December 23 was won by Dave Chadwick, Matrix Halifax, with 5lb 15oz from the hot peg 23. Pete Frazer, Saltaire, was runner up with 2lb 13oz from peg 22, while Daz Womersley, Tricast Calder, came third with 2lb 1oz 8dr.

The Boxing Day match was won by Alan Crook, with an impressive catch of seven bream, tipping the scales at 29lb 2oz from the Hirstwood length.

Second was Eric Green, AJ Dewsons, with 4lb 11oz from peg 22. Simon Walton, Matrix Halifax, finished third with 3lb 3oz from peg 18, while Alan Price, Tricast Rochdale, came fourth with 2lb 8oz from peg 19.

On December 30, Nigel Hirst of Tricast Calder won with 5lb 6oz of roach and small skimmer from peg 18.

Second was Richard East, Matrix Halifax, who weighed one bream from the Hirstwood length at 5lb 4oz 8dr.

John Harman, Tricast Calder, was third with 3lb 13oz from peg 23, while Denis Stevenson, Saltaire, finished fourth with 3lb 12oz.

All lengths of the canal are closed tomorrow (January 5) due to a large scale event using the canal towpath.

There is a river match planned for Sunday, January 6 if the river is fishable. Contact Carl Chadwick on 07955 72707 for more information.

BRADFORD CITY ANGLING ASSOCIATION

Happy New Year to all anglers and Tight Lines in 2019. The holiday period has seen good fishing weather and river levels. Despite the short days, anglers have been out on the banks.

Grayling seem scarce on BCAA River Aire fisheries this year, though the Ure has a better head of larger fish and 2lb specimens are coming to trotting tactics on the Ribble.

It is not clear why this should be, though grayling are generally short-lived and populations therefore vary quite widely from year to year.

Perhaps we are now seeing the result of lower numbers of young fish during the dry summer of 2018, so that older and bigger fish are now more prevalent.

Young angler Elias Ame reports varied success with perch and pike caught on short visits to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Lure, bait and jigging tactics have all brought good sport on light tackle and fish to the net.

Pike to 15lb have also featured in catches from our Shipton Lake fishery, with Jonny Grey reporting not only hunting sparrowhawk, kingfisher and otter but also three pike to over 20lb from the Aire, caught on a Christmas decoration-based lure.

Carl White, fishing regularly at Staveley Lakes, has seen carp to 15lb coming to the net, along with several newly-stocked fish.

Now that January is here, it is time for anglers to renew membership, or join BCAA, for 2019. Purchases can be made from our online shop – available from a link on our website at www.bradfordcityaa.co.uk – or at tackle dealer agents.

This year, adult membership allows anglers to fish a second rod without extra charge. Free membership is also available for juniors aged 16 and under, but only through our online shop or by post from the General Secretary.

The club’s annual stocking plans are now complete, with 5,000 carp, roach, bream, ide, tench and chub of various sizes put into our Staveley and Shipton stillwaters.

We have also recycled a large tree trunk brought down to Inghey Bridge by winter floods, to improve the local river environment.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be putting up new signs on our Topcliffe and Salmon Hall fisheries on the Swale, to clarify where night fishing is permitted.

On the Aire, we are also negotiating with riparian landowners to acquire two further lengths of fishing in the Carleton and Funkirk Farm areas.

In addition, plans are for a work party on February 5-6 to plant trees on river banks near Gargrave – please call Phil Bailey (see the club yearbook) for further information and to offer a couple of hours help if you can.

Despite recent national efforts to introduce more Natural Flood Management approaches to potential flooding, anglers have been disappointed this week to discover clearance of trees alongside the lower reaches of Cod Beck, and at the junction of the beck with the main River Swale by Topcliffe.

We understand that this is to assist drainage at Dalton, but our members are sorry to have lost a very productive pool for barbel and chub.

Finally, match anglers should note that all of the matches we planned for 2019 have been cancelled, until such time as we can appoint to the vacant Match Secretary position.

LEEDS AND DISTRICT ASA

The result of the Christmas Cheer match on the River Ouse, which was carrying several feet of dirty, extra water, saw J. Jordan win with two bream for 9lb 11oz from peg 219.

K. Hartley came second with 5lb 6oz from peg 222, while W. Collier finished third with 4lb from 256.

The result of the Wednesday match at Moor Monkton Pools was a win for M.Hare with a total catch of 27lb 10oz.

D. Wright narrowly missed out on victory, coming second with 27lb 5oz, while A. Gallant was third with 20lb 2oz.

When it was at a fishable level, some good catches of chub were caught on the Swale in the Topcliffe area.

A group of members fished the club's water on the Aire & Calder navigation drop shotting and the combined catch comprised of several large perch.

The membership office is back to normal hours now following New Year's Eve.

In addition, the result of the match on the River Ouse was: 1. W. Collier; 7lb; 2. J. Wilkinson 6lb 12oz; 3. A. Benstead 6lb 8oz.

The result on Saturday at Kippax Park was: 1. A. Hornsby 63lb 11oz; 2. M. Green 47lb 2oz; 3. M. Hare 32lb 8oz.

The final standings in the match at Moor Monkton Pools on Wednesday were: 1. B. Fisk 73lb 11oz; 2. M. Dodsworth 33lb 14oz; 3. R. Worsnop 26lb 8oz.

The result of the match at Kippax Park on Saturday was: 1. B. Rymer 67lb; 2. L. Myers 50lb 11oz; 3. M. Amber 45lb.

Pike anglers have been putting in more appearances, particularly on the River Ouse, with roving tactics the most productive. E. Harrison had a catch of five but nothing big.

LISTERHILLS AA

Not many anglers have been out over the holiday period but those who have ventured out have been rewarded with some decent fish.

Leeds Amalgamation membership books are available now at a reduced cost to members of our club, which is affiliated to the Leeds Society. Membership must be renewed before fishing in the New Year.