The latest news from the local angling scene.

BRADFORD NO1 ANGLING ASSOCIATION

The long-awaited coarse season on the region's rivers opens on Sunday, with most likely to be carrying a touch of extra water from this week's rain.

This should result in bumper chub and barbel catches, in particular on the Swale and Nidd. Please note that Cowthorpe will be closed on Sunday for a members match.

Bill Scott won last Sunday's veterans match at Raskelf for a fourth-consecutive year, catching 26lbs 12oz of F1 carp on pellet waggler.

John Stark took second place with 25lbs 4oz, followed by Steve Warriner with 23lbs 12oz.

Raskelf Lake will be closed to members between June 17 and 21 to allow the new entrance to be safely installed.

It will also be closed on Saturday, June 22 for the first junior match of the year and Sunday, June 23 for an officials match.

Entry to the junior match is free and there are plenty of prizes to be won. Places can be booked through Simon on 01274 571175.

Not content with producing monster tench, Queen Mary's Ponds at Ripon threw up specimens of two other species for Julian Waller on his first visit.

After catching four tench to more than 7lbs, Waller caught a 10lbs bream and a 1lbs 9oz rudd on waggler and worm.

Both Knotford and Kirklees Lagoon are fishing well for carp, with most fish more than 20lbs.

BRADFORD CITY AA 
Variable weather and not-so-flaming June has seen dull damp days with fair amounts of rain this week.  As a result, the Dales river levels have been well up – except for the Aire, where flows have hardly varied despite the rain.  Looking at MetOffice forecasts, my prediction for fly anglers is that the Wharfe, Ure and Swale will remain high, with the Aire staying fishable.

Coarse anglers – with the river fishing season opening this Sunday – will be more welcoming of higher water levels, but need to be extra careful – as usual - of the risks of high and fast-flowing rivers and wet slippery banks.  

We haven’t seen any news from club members on stillwaters this week, but Jon Grey reported an early morning session on the Aire which produced plenty of trout and a surprise old veteran out-of-season chub which couldn't wait another week to nab his fly. 

Charlie and Jim fished the Aire at Broughton and Funkirk Farm midweek, and found plenty of fish moving on the top in areas sheltered from the northerly wind. Charlie had several fish to the dry fly, but nymphs and spiders were the order of the day for Jim, with old favourites God-ribbed Hare’s ear and Eric’s Beetle producing the goods.

Finally, an early alert of our AGM on Wednesday, September 25.  If you want to make a proposal for voting on at the meeting, then please give Mike Briggs a call on 07759-815202 before July 31 to discuss and put this forward.  

We will also be looking for further committee members and help with the admin of the club – for example, maintaining the club website, moderating social media, press releases, newsletters and producing maps and map books. Job descriptions and more info can be had from Jim Munden on 07940-814431.

BINGLEY ANGLING CLUB

Rivers re-open for course fishing this Sunday. After this week's rain, levels could be high so take care on the banks.

The next club match is June 23 at Coppice pond, the draw will be 7am. Coppice will be open to pleasure anglers after the match. To book on contact Ady on 07783 332705.

The canal continues to fish well on all stretches mainly early morning or late evening when the boat traffic has slowed.

LEEDS & DISTRICT ASA

The unsettled weather conditions seem set to continue, with the uncertain prospect for the first day of the coarse season on the rivers on Sunday, June 16. However, the popular lengths of rivers will be well patronised.

Knotford continues to produce some good catches, G Crossley had a catch of 10 carp over a three-day stint. T Snowball caught a tench weighing exactly 10lb.

A carp weighing slightly more than 30lb was caught which has not been caught for a period of several years when it weighed 23lb.

There is a working party at this venue on Saturday. The result of the match at Kippax Park on Tuesday, June 4: 1 B Clarke 79lb 3oz; 2 JB Rogdon 71lb 7oz; 3 M Gillboston 65lb 6oz.

Last Saturday's match was won by P Cromie 55lb 1oz; 2 A Barker 49lb 13oz; 3 M Rockingham 43lb 9oz. The match at Moormonkton Pools on Wednesday, June 5 was won by A Warren 76lb; 2 M Gallagher 74lb 4oz; 3 E Boldison 69lb 11oz.

Sunday's match was won by B Fisk 79lb 12oz; 2 D Pollitt 74lb 14oz; 3 M Gallagher 71lb 6oz.

LISTERHILLS AA

The conditions for last Sunday's match deteriorated as the day went on.

The winner was B Mason with a catch of small fish weighing 2lb 6oz. Other results: 2 R Thorne 1lb 14oz; 3 and section winner R Movley, 4 and section winner E Harrison.

This Sunday's open match will be on the Kirkstall Marina length off Redcote Lane. Draw at 10am. This is followed by a match at Rodley on the Nature Reserve length on June 29.

The coarse season on rivers starts on Sunday, June 16, when keep nets can be used again, also meat and cereal baits.

CENTRAL AC
Result of our match at Woodhouse Grange on Sunday, June 9: 1st J Capes 58lb-12oz, 2nd S Worley 57lb-10oz, 3rd R Wharfe 56lb-14oz, 4th C Pashley 54lb-14oz. Our next match is The Oaks Cedar Lake on Sunday, June 23 - meet at venue 8am, fishing 9am-3pm.

SKIPTON ANGLING ASSOCIATION

The weather has taken a turn for the worst in the last few days and the latest forecast has suggested that the wet and cool conditions may be here for at least a couple of weeks due to the position of the jetstream.

Even though last week and particularly Friday/Saturday was quite wet, the River Aire only rose about a third of a metre, whereas the Ribble and the Wharfe were in spate conditions.

Sunday proved to be the best day for fishing and the local reaches of the Aire saw a few anglers in action, especially on the upper length below Inghey Bridge and down to the Funkirk.

Sport on the fly was poor with few brownies being caught.

Bait anglers faired a little better with fish up to around the 450g mark taking the worm.

This Sunday sees the start of the traditional coarse fishing season although nowadays it only affects the rivers in Yorkshire as most canals and still waters no longer have a close season.

On the rivers, the only difference is that all legitimate baits may be used and fish may be retained in a keep net although spinning and fishing for pike is frowned upon during the summer months.

Whinnygill Reservoir is still fishing well in spite of the weather and anglers have been enjoying some excellent sport with quality roach, ide, skimmers and perch.

The western bank around the pipes is proving to be a popular spot, while the lillybed corner is good for perch.

Tench and carp fishing is quiet at the moment and is likely to remain so until summer reappears.

The first match of the season encountered the double gremlins of rain and poor sport which kept catches and the attendance low.

Simon Chenier had an easy win with 1,250g, some 525g ahead of John Leatt with 725g. Malcolm Mawson was third with 665g and Russell Heaton just managed to weigh in with 20g.

In Sunday’s match at the same venue, John Leatt got off to a fine start for the PR Hart Memorial Trophy with what was thought to be a new match record weight for the water.

However, on checking the records, his weight of 4,130g was well below Michael Cockshott’s record of 6,100g set in 2011.

Other leading weights were: 2 Malcolm Mawson 1,620g; 3 John Heaton 1,450g; 4 Simon Chenier 505g; Ernie Ramsbotham 365g and 6 Russell Heaton 225g.