Angling: Cookridge site sets up platform for future

Seventy-five-member British Telecom AC look to have bucked the trend by securing Angling Trust round-four funding for its four-acre lake at Cookridge.

Paul’s Pond, situated in the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Breary Marsh adjacent to Golden Acre Park, was once regarded as the best mixed-coarse fishery in Leeds before its loss of form “or fish” in the early 90s.

BT member and project manager of the lake’s enhancement scheme, Mark Smith, told me the first phase of improvements would include six made-to-measure fishing platforms (with two to be designed using the guidelines laid out by the Disabled Anglers’ Association), habitat improvements for both fish and wildlife, and a substantial restocking of roach with skimmers to follow when works are complete. I remember how good this lake used to be. And I am sure that with the knowhow and enthusiasm on offer by the team of volunteers involved, Paul’s Pond should soon be back on track.

Staying with good causes, another group of anglers is more than worth a mention.

Lindholme Lakes, in conjunction with the Big Bash Angling Club, are again holding their annual open match in support of the registered charity Lex’s Legacy “Pride of the Isle”, set up in memory of Alexander Strong, a little boy who died at just seven years old of the children’s cancer Neuroblastoma.

Owner of the award winning Lindholme complex, Neil Grantham, has set the benchmark high this year by donating all of his peg fees for the event to charity.

Let’s hope hundreds follow his example and break all fishery records.

If you’re going to fish one match in 2016 then Lindholme’s Big Bash on June 1 has to be it (details in the match diary).

Leeds & District started the long and expensive task of restocking its 24-acre Knotford Lagoon fishery recently. The lake which runs alongside, and is joined to the River Wharfe at Pool, became an easy target for otters using it to feed before retreating to their riverside holts.

After the installation of otter fencing and proof of no further losses, the first of the fishery’s new stock have now been released by the club’s bailiffs.

A mixture of English-bred common and mirror carp were supplied by Ceefas registered Sport & Leisure Fisheries Ltd. Every fish released was weighed and photographed to record their progress as they are caught in the future. All of the carp were, as expected, big shouldered, picture-book scale-perfect and in pristine condition, with some individuals going in at low double figures.

As the river season comes to a premature end, not much changed for last week’s Saturday League held on the Ouse around Linton. As usual, the Friday rains arrived causing the river to rise and peak at 8ft above normal level.

The match, also as expected, turned into the normal gripper of a lobby match with Mirfield’s Martin High needing only six roach for a meagre 2-11 to win, and 10oz taking the last of the prize money.

Results

Leeds DASA Sunday Series Final Round, Hunters Lodge/Linton: 1, D Pollitt 2-15; 2, M Highe 1-11; 3, K Hobson 1-05; 4, P Austin 1-04. Final League Results: 1, C Turbitt 103pts; 2, K Hobson 99pts; 3, P Austin 96pts.

Leeds Saturday League, Round 8, Hunters Lodge & Linton: 1, N Speight, Leeds 9-00; 2, I Bowman, Barnsley 7-06; 3, K Weighell, DH Angling 5-06; 4, D Taylor, Saints 4-14; 5, P Austin, BV Stores 2-09; 6, A Benstead, BV Stores 2-06. Final League Results: 1, M Highe, Mirfield 38ptd; 2, D White, Barnsley 37pts; 3, K Weighell, DH Angling 36pts.

BSR Winter League, Kippax Park: 1, A Broomhead 34-08; 2, S Rodgers 31-02; 3, T Hewson 22-08.

JT Rodgers Winter League, Moor Monkton Pools: ,1 D Wright 123-10; 2, O Hewitt 94-09; 3, P Gallagher 88-07.

Leeds DASA, Winter Series, Yorkshire Ouse: 1, M Highe, Mirfield 2-11; 2, P Bennett, Tackle-2U 1-05; 3, K Weighell, DH Angling/Ricky Bonas, Mirfield 15oz.

Toms Pond, Round 9: 1, N Rymer, Kippax 44-08; 2, S Wain, Toms Pond 40-13; 3, A Copperthwaite, Keighley 37-09; 4, J Mills, Forest Lane 36-10.

Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk: 1, S Richards, Woodlands 110-00; 2, P Fletcher, Colmic 62-04; 3, S Keane, Colmic 45-14; 4, M Longhurst, Woodlands 42-01.

Oaks at Sessay, Cedar: 1, S Atkin, Diawa 47-15; 2, E Brydon, Maver 40-12; 3, A Stock, Colmic 46-03; 4, S Stott, The Oaks 35-01.

Moorfields Farm, Match Lake: 1, L Wherritt, AJ Tackle 59-10; 2, P Cannon, Mosella 31-14; 3 S Holmes, Majestic 28-04; 4, M Heptonstall, Moorfields 25-14.

None-Go-By Farm, Silver Fish Round 2: 1, P Wilson, Tri-Cast Calder 11-10; 2, I Dawson, Tri-Cast Calder 10-09; 3, G Ogden, Tight Lines 10-08.

Rodley Barge, Raker High Bank: 1, G Myers 29-07; 2, T Hodgson24-07; 3, P Sawyer 24-02; 4, R Brook 20-00.

Angel Lakes Open Lookout: 1, D Fox 44-15; 2, T Wilson 44-12; 3, J Dryden 40-06.

Angel Lakes Pole Only Saturday Series: 1, R Laing 48-15; 2, D Pearson 26-12; 3, J Foster 17-11.

****

Match Diary

Saturday

Lex’s Legacy ‘Pride of the Isle’, Lindholme Lakes Big Bash: June 1, contact 01427 875555/01427 872905.

Feeder Master Qualifier: River Aire, Beal, contact Angling Trust 0115 906 1301.

Leeds & District, Winter Series: Ouse/Ure, contact Stan Haigh 07542700743.

Kippax Park, BSR Winter League: Details contact Sean 07814454271.

Poppleton Saturday Open: Pools, £15. draw cafe 10am, contact Roger 01904737279.

Aire & Calder Pollington: £15 all in, contact Kelvin 07779991483.

Birkwood Farm Fisheries: Emily’s or Oscar’s, draw 8.30, contact 01924 892251.

Woodlands: 72 pegs, tickets £18, contact 01845 520110.

Oaks at Sessay: 50 pegs, tickets £17, contact 01845 501321.

Langwith Lakes: 60 pegs, tickets £16, contact 01904 431874.

Kippax Park: 27 pegs, tickets £20, contact 07967000746.

Moorfields Farm: 54 pegs, tickets £16, contact 07710817150.

Fleets Dam: 50 pegs, tickets £15, contact 01226 292579.

Birkwood Farm: 60 pegs, tickets £16, contact 01132 80609.

Viking Saturday Open Hawk Pond: 30 pegs, tickets £16, contact 01405 860764.

Tollerton Ponds: Open match, all ages, (Kingfisher 20 pegs, Coot 18 pegs, Heron 32 pegs), contact 01347 838115.

Listerhills AA, Leeds/Liverpool Rodley: £12 all in contact Eddie 07984597328.

Sunday

Leeds & District, Winter Series: Ouse/Ure, contact Stan Haigh 07542700743.

Woodlands: 72 pegs, tickets £18, contact 01845 520110.

Oaks at Sessay: 50 pegs, tickets £17, contact 01845 501321.

Langwith Lakes: 60 pegs, tickets £16, contact 01904 431874.

Oak Tree Leisure: 50 pegs, tickets £15, contact 01347 810686.

Leeds DASA: Moor Monkton Pools, contact 07967000746.

Poppleton Sunday Open: 50 pegs, draw 11am cafe, contact 07425 146677.

Monday

Woodlands over-50s: 30 pegs, tickets £15, contact 01845 520110.

Langwith Lakes over-60s: 30 pegs, tickets £10, contact 01904 431874.

Tollerton Ponds over-50s: Tickets £16, contact 01347 838115.

Tuesday

Kippax Park: 27 pegs, tickets £10, contact 07967000746.

Wednesday

Birkwood Farm Fisheries: Emily’s or Oscar’s draw 8.30am, contact 01924 892251.

Woodlands: 72 pegs, tickets £18, contact 01845 520110.

Fleets Dam: 50 pegs, tickets £15, contact 01226 292579.

Tollerton Ponds: Open match, all ages, contact 01347 838115.

Glen AC Ouse Thrash: Contact D Miles 01133 910570.

Thursday

Kippax Park: 27 pegs, tickets £12, contact 07967000746.