BINGLEY ANGLING CLUB

Plenty of silverfish are still being caught on the canal at Crossflatts where the next match will be held on April 28, contact Adi on 07783 332705 to book on. Draw 9am on the bank.

The Aire Rivers Trust are having three clean up days in early May - Thursday, May 2 on Beckfoot Lane and Fridays, May 3 and 10 on Ryeloaf Meadow. Contact Nick Milsom on 07378 878857 for further information.

A work party will be held at Coppice Pond on Sunday, May 12, volunteers are welcome.

BRADFORD & DISTRICT SEA ANGLING CLUB

A lot of discussions took place at our general meeting on Tuesday.

And some items were resolved. We have eight members setting off to Clare Island of the West coast of Ireland on May 10 aboard Darragh McGee's boat White Water ll.

So we should have a report from them if they are not too busy hauling fish aboard. Watch this space.

Some members are on a 10-hour trip to Anglesey on May 1. There are places left on this trip, so if you fancy a go for the big fish, please give our trip secretary a call on 07711 987833 to book your place. So looks like May will be a busy month. Reports will follow on this trip as well.

LEEDS & DISTRICT ASA

The match at Kippax Park on Tuesday was won by J Brogden 71lb. 2 C Bacon 61lb 12oz, 3 L Wilshaw 58lb. The match on Saturday was won by N Rymer 95lb 6oz, 2 D Cockerill 42lb 5oz, 3 C Cronei 38lb 1oz. The match at Moor Monkton Pools on Wednesday was won by T Bainbridge 63lb 11oz. 2 G Watson 57lb 3oz, 3 S Holmes 55lb 2oz. The match on Sunday was won by B Fisk 68lb 13oz, 2 S Mazza 55lb 13oz, 3 A Middleton 35lb 9oz. Sport on various lengths of the Aire and Calder navigation has improved over the last week, with catches comprising roach, bream and skimmers. Knotford Lagoon is also starting to come into its own. The membership office is closed on bank holidays.

LISTERHILLS AA

There has been an increase in anglers on the Leeds-Liverpool canal but unfortunately there has also been an increase in anglers without membership books or day tickets. The committee will press for persecution of any anglers caught without proper documentation. The cost of club membership is extremely cheap. A few trout have been caught from the River Aire. However, none have been of decent size. The canal open series starts at Rodley on Sunday, April 28.

CENTRAL A/C

Our next match is Tollerton Lakes on Sunday, April 21, on Heron Lake. Meet at venue 8am, fishing between 9am and 3pm.

SKIPTON ANGLING ASSOCIATION

With the continuation of the cold and often quite strong easterly wind over the past seven days, it has effectively put a stop to anglers who had only just started fishing the local length of the River Aire.

During a visit to the river last weekend only two anglers were to be seen in action and reported that the fishing was poor.

A similar situation occurred at Embsay Reservoir where it can still be cold even at the height of summer if an east wind is blowing, and even more so when the wind originates well into the continent as it has been recently.

According to the weather forecast, temperatures should gradually rise until the mercury reaches the 20C mark at the weekend.

Should this prove to be accurate then sport on all waters will show a marked improvement although a lack of flow may be the next thing to affect sport.

The Angling Trust together with the Environment Agency and numerous police forces, have begun Operation Clampdown in the six English regions which will last during the present coarse fishing season until June 15.

Assisting them will be more than 400 volunteer bailiffs who are part of the Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiff Service run in partnership with the EA and funded by rod licence income.

More bailiffs are currently being trained and will be inducted into this highly-successful initiative.

Operation Clampdown volunteers will be patrolling their local rivers and reporting any suspect activity to the EA and police if witnessing offences of illegal fishing during the close season on relevant waterways.

The maximum fine that can be imposed for fishing illegally during the close season is £50,000.

In 2018 the bailiffs carried out 3,068 patrols totalling 6,555 hours including 30 patrols with the police and 41 with the EA and reported 145 close season and other illegal incidents, amounting to a total of 252 offences.

These included licence offences, use of banned baits and attempting to foul hook fish in spawning shoals with spinning equipment.

The Voluntary Bailiff Service is currently recruiting throughout England (except the South East region) in readiness for mandatory induction and training days being run this spring.

To apply, email karen.sarker@anglingtrust.net