KEIGHLEY Angling club has pegged its membership fees for the seventh year running, in a bid to keep interest high.

"The club has been going for 130 years and we pride ourselves on being run for the ordinary working man -- and woman," said President Lawrence Brocklesby.

There has been an increasing interest in the sport among women in recent years, and earlier this season the club held its first women-only competition.

At the recent annual meeting members agreed to keep subscriptions at the current rate and membership books for the new year will be available before Christmas.

Members also agreed to a cull of Jack Pike which have infested the River Aire and number of ponds. Pike up to 5lb in wieght can now be culled, but most be removed from the river bank. No pike are to be removed from the canal.

A big fish has been reported to the club's competitions officials and details are currently being checked before the Pike Trophy is awarded.

"Any members who catch large pike before the end of the year should have them photographed, weighed and witnessed to enter details for the competition," Mr Brocklesby said.

The club's river match at Kildwick was won with Bream and a match is to be held on the canal this Sunday (December 6) to book contact Nigel Bowers on 01535-646025.

Matches are to be held every two weeks on the canal with a full list of river and canal matches printed in the year book.

The club has bought four sets of electronic scales which will be used at matches and to check all claims.

After weeks of heavy rain which have left the river unfishable it has returned to normal levels. The canal is also reported to be fishing well with Roach and Skimmers being caught on all sections.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.