Angling lines

Some anglers have reported back after their forays onto the rivers, now that the trout season has opened. Despite spring-like weather, it has been deceptively cool and water levels have been low, with few fish moving. However, rain in the past week and more forecast for the weekend will help this situation.

Stocking of fish over the winter at Shipton and Staveley Lakes has proved to be successful with anglers. Good bags have been caught at Staveley and a BCAA member from the north-east has reported a net of 50lb of bream from Shipton.

The deadline for 2014 BCAA members to renew for 2015 has now passed. Everyone joining or rejoining the club will now be asked to pay the joining fee of £15. However, membership – including the joining fee – is still only £51 for an adult and £36 for concessions, with juniors just £5 for the year. Not bad value when one considers that BCAA has 16 miles of river fishing – including 11 miles of trout fishing – and five lakes across Yorkshire and Lancashire.

We currently have problems with some BCAA members leaving gates open at Staveley Lakes. It is imperative that every gate is closed immediately after use. A moment's inattention can let mink and otter into the fishery, resulting in heavy kills of expensive stocked fish and ruin of the fishing available to club members. Members are warned that the BCAA committee will take punitive action on anyone found to have left the gate open after entering or leaving the fishery.

The next match is the Gertrude Sykes Cup on Saturday, April 11. Spaces are still available and further details are available from Rod Brooksbank on 07875-275749.

SKIPTON AA

The new brown trout season had rather a quiet start on the River Aire, due mainly to the wet and windy weather that seemed to keep anglers away from the waterside – especially on our length. On the Bradford City AA length upstream of Inghey Bridge, the first couple of days saw two or three cars parked near the bridge but nowhere near the number normally associated with a new season coupled with decent weather. New rules have been introduced on this fly fishing-only length and members no longer have to apply for the additional permit before they may fish. If 20 anglers are already fishing, then someone just arriving must fish elsewhere. But judging from the likely number of cars in the parking area on a good day, the maximum limit is probably very unlikely to occur. Before the wind and rain experienced over the weekend and the ensuing high water level, some reasonable fishing was experienced on both the Skipton and Inghey Bridge lengths, with both fly and worm accounting for trout up to around the 450g mark. Plenty of smaller fish augmented catches, along with a few out-of-season grayling. Embsay and Whinnygill Reservoirs attracted some anglers while the weather was reasonable and some decent sport was there to be enjoyed. Embsay provided some good rainbows, while Whinnygill produced multiple catches of undersized brownies. All waters will need some warm, settled weather before there is a real improvement in sport but at the moment it looks like anglers will have to contend with quite a bit more wind, rain and high water levels over the Easter holiday period. Last Sunday's clean-up on the River Aire and adjacent area was well supported by 15 people, who volunteered their services in rather wet conditions. A good number of bags of rubbish were gathered consisting mainly of plastic bottles, bags, tins, tyres – and a solitary chair that had been taking up various positions between the cemetery and the bypass bridge for the past six months. Craven District Council did their bit to help by speedily removing the bags early on Monday morning. Our next event will be the taster day for anyone wishing to try their hand at angling on Sunday, April 26 at Whinnygill Reservoir from 10am until 4pm. While the event is aimed at young people aged 16 and under, the occasional adult will not be turned away.

LISTERHILLS AC

Would the angler who took charge of the shelter left at Pilley's please pass it on to the rightful owner via the secretary. During the school holidays, members are requested to keep an eye on unsupervised children. Playing near water can be dangerous. For Sunday's members' match at Pilley's, the gate will be open at 8.30am before the draw at 8.45am. Cars should be parked in the small car park to the right of the entry gate, then walk past the bracken. Night fishing is by permit only. Contact 079845-97328 for details. G Reeday had a good catch of roach from the canal at Kirkstall on caster. W Funnell and C Delta had a haul of eight carp at Pilley's with a best fish of 14lb.

BRADFORD & DISTRICT SEA AC

Our next general meeting is on Tuesday, April 21 at the New Inn, East Bierley, starting at 8 pm. If you would like to become a member, please come to the meeting as you will be made most welcome. At just £10 per year, it's a bargain. On the fishing front, whiting are prominent on the west coast but we are still waiting for the mackerel to appear. This will bring the big boys in – tope and bull huss. The east coast have cod in-shore but bad weather is stopping anglers from getting out.

GREAT HORTON AC

Result of Sunday's match at Horseshoe Lake, Poppleton: 1 A Field 35lb 2oz, 2 M McDonald 24lb 4oz, 3 P Whaling 17lb 4oz, 4 M Lyons 16lb 3oz. Andy Field had a nice mirror carp of 9lb 12oz and Phil Weston landed a mirror carp of 9lb 11oz. It was a hard match in heavy rain and strong winds but was very well attended. The next match is on Highbank at Raker Lake on Sunday, April 19 (rod and reel only).

HEWENDEN AC

The result of the final pike match of the season is – that no pike were caught. However, the overall winner for the season is B Hartley, while the specimen trophy goes to D Shaw for a weight of 17lb. Well done to both anglers and all members who attended the matches. Will members please ensure that they have purchased their new Environment Agency licence prior to fishing on any waters.

FIELD AC

The winner of our Sunday match at Forest Lane was Barry Frankland with 31lb 5oz. In second was Pete Sedgewick with 23lb 11oz, third was Rob Lee weighing in 17lb 4oz and fourth was John Foreman with 16lb 3oz. Our next match is this Sunday at Birkwood Farm. Could all members ensure they have their current rod licence with them.

BINGLEY AC

Result of Sunday's match on the canal at Crossflatts: 1 I Ward 1lb 15oz, 2 J Martin 9oz, 3 C Dine 5oz.