BRADFORD CITY AA

SUDDENLY spring has arrived, with lighter mornings, sun and some warmer and dry weather. Not only is there more wildlife around, but more anglers are on the banks too, reporting some good catches. The last weekend of the season on rivers has seen good fish in nets. Anglers report plenty of chironomids and some sporadic LDO hatches.

During short sessions on the River Aire at Gargrave, both Jon Grey and Stuart Minnikin had several grayling to the dry fly. Stuart also had some out-of-season trout, which he described as “wild, absolutely stunning, pristine fish in great condition, which gave a right scrap”. It does seem that BCAA’s decision to stop stocking trout in their river fisheries has been the right one. Scott Verity had a pike of 13lb from the Aire too: pike numbers in the rivers seem to be on the rise again, and some fish appear already to have spawned.

On BCAA still-waters, pike have also featured strongly. At Shipton, Jason Price and his son Jack – new members in 2016 making their first visit to the venue – had a personal best pike of 12lb 8oz, while Alan Robinson had one at 17lb 9oz and Lee Abbott a fish of 13lb. On Staveley, Richard Williams netted three carp to 12lb from the large lake, and bream are also featuring in catches. The small lake has started to produce fish again now that the feeder stream has settled down after the recent snow-melt, and Peter Lynch had a good session with carp, bream, ide and roach.

BCAA have now completed stocking – including roach, chub, barbel, tench and carp – of their still-water fisheries. We continue to work with the Environment Agency and other partners to improve Oakworth ponds, river fisheries and to refurbish a new lake for future use by BCAA anglers. The club also plans to run work parties at several fisheries, which will be notified via the BCAA facebook page.

BCAA members from last year should note they only have until Thursday, March 31 to renew membership for 2016, to avoid having to pay the joining fee again. They can renew via the online shop – see the link on the BCAA website at www.bradfordcityaa.co.uk, at agents or by phoning Jim Munden on 07940-814431

The next BCAA match is on Easter Saturday (March 26) at Staveley Lakes. Spaces are still available and can be booked via Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749.

SKIPTON AA

On the final weekend of the river coarse-fishing season, the River Aire was at a decent level for fishing and, for once this winter, the weather was kind, with little wind and much milder conditions. Quite a few anglers were in action throughout the Skipton and Bradford lengths, and most managed to catch at least one or more out-of-season brown trout. Grayling also showed up, with one angler getting a good fish of around the 900g (2:0:0) mark from above the Carleton stone bridge. Smaller fish were also caught on the fly and worm.

One pike angler on the Skipton length fishing the sprat failed to attract a single fish in a couple of hours' fishing. When packing up, he decided to throw the remaining sprats into the river, only to see the first one immediately taken by a pike as soon as it touched the riverbed, and a few moments later a jack pike came to the surface to snatch a further sprat within a second or so of it being thrown in.

The coarse fishing season on rivers has now closed until Thursday, June 16, and rivers are closed to fishing until the brown-trout season commences on Friday, March 25. Coarse fishing is usually allowed on most ponds, reservoirs or canals throughout the year but it is wise to check first before fishing a new water.

Embsay Reservoir is soon to receive a batch of 200 tiger trout to augment the fish that have already been introduced and to determine the qualities of the new sub-species. The new fish will average 450g (1:0:0), and members are requested to return them to the water to give them a chance to become established. Identification will certainly not be a problem.

Skipton AA will be holding their annual clean-up event on the River Aire on Sunday, and this is open to anyone. Please meet at the Skipton By-Pass over-bridge at 9.30am, where all materials will be provided. The recent floods have brought down more than enough debris, which has included plenty of plastic and glass items.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Result of the final open match of the season at Cowthorpe on the River Nidd: 1 Howard Foster 11lb 11oz (including 5lb 12oz chub), 2 Alan Grandidge 11lb 4oz (including 9lb barbel but he lost a larger barbel at net), 3 John Leyland 9lb (two chub), 4 Alan Miller 6lb 1oz (two chub). Raskelf will be closed on Sunday for the final round of the Winter Series, which draws at the Golden Lion in Helperby at 9am. Thornton Bridge is still closed, so another route to the draw will have to be used. James Vickerman leads the series with 79 points, but just 12 points separate the top 12. The river season is now closed until Friday, March 25 for trout or Tuesday, June 16 for coarse fish.

BRADFORD SEA AC

The annual presentation evening was well attended, with Dave Kitchingman winning six trophies – the Species Trophy, The Martin O'Donnell Species Shield, The Carter Cup, The Forward Trophy, the Hill Trophy and the Park Trophy. Other winners were Mark Gregson (Yewco Points Trophy and Aggregate Weight Trophy), Paul Lonsdale (International Trophy), Rob Wadsworth (Clayton Tray), Dave Wardman (Harry Kitchingman Memorial Trophy), Ralph Jones (Bob Lawson Cup) and Rick Bullyment (Ken Boyes Trophy). Roger Smith was Clubman of the Year.

HEWENDEN AC

Result of Sunday's coarse match: 1 Nigel Bower 3lb 14oz, 2 Phil Redman, who wins 2015-16 aggregate points prize. Well done to all those who attended this season's matches and we hope for your continuing support in coming years.

BINGLEY AC

Rivers are now closed for fishing until Friday, March 25, when they reopen for trout on fly, lure and worm fishing only. There will be a working party at Coppice Pond on Sunday to carry out fencing and planting. All volunteers welcome.

SALTAIRE AA

It was a Matrix Halifax first and second for last week's open match at Shipley, on what turned out to be a hard match for most as the roach and skimmers start to spread out due to the warmer weather.

1. Dave Chadwick, Matrix Halifax, 4lb 7oz; 2. Paul Booth, Matrix Halifax, 3lb 14oz; 3. Paul Smith, Tricast Rochdale, 3lb 7oz; 4. Nigel Storr, Matrix Halifax, 3lb 0oz 8dr; 5. Steve Crossley, Maver North West, 2lb 10oz.

Congratulations must also go to Dave Senior, Saltaire, for winning his section. There will be an open canal match tomorrow. To book on call Richard East on 07815 092966 before 7pm this evening.

The annual coarse fish close season began on March 15 on the rivers to protect fish during their breeding season and to help increase fish stocks.

No coarse fishing is permitted on rivers between March 15 and June 15 inclusive, and anyone found fishing illegally faces prosecution and a hefty fine.

LISTERHILLS AA

There is no fishing on the rivers until the start of the trout season on March 25. The only permitted baits are worm, fly, minnow and artificial lures no meat or cereal baits and no keep nets until June 16. Members are reminded that the Environment Agency rod licence expires at the end of March and must be renewed before fishing after that date.Volunteers are required to act as watchers on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

LEEDS ASA

The last day of the coarse season on the rivers will be on March 14. There is no fishing on rivers until the trout season starts on March 25. Please note the new club rule applying to rivers before June 16. The only permitted baits are artificial lures and fly – no worms. The last river match was the annual Ouse charity match result 1 P Austin (9lb-4oz), 2 R Bonas (5-12) of perch, 3 M Highe (5-8), 4 I Bowman (5-7), 5 D White (5-3). The match at Moor Monkton Pools was won by D Wright (123lb-4oz), 2 D Hewith, 3 P Gallagher (88-14).