Angling: Districts seem made from the same stock

Leeds & District, together with Bradford No1, are setting the standards to ensure the future of our local rivers.

Though some anglers are against stocking, I personally think both clubs should be commended together with the Environment Agency (EA) and its Calverton fish-rearing facility.

Though coincidences happen, the increase in accidental barbel captures on matches around the once near-barbel-barren stretches of Linton & Hunters on the Ouse and Ure are more than likely the result of the privately-funded, five-year stocking policy of the species started by Leeds seven years ago.

Over the past decade or so, the once industrial rivers of Yorkshire have taken the lion’s share of fingerlings available from the EA in their attempt to bring waters such as the Aire, Calder, Don, Dearn and Rother back to life and establish as new viable fisheries.

After the proven success of these schemes, I find it hard to believe there are still those out there against giving our rivers a helping hand.

Following No1’s earlier stocking of its Cowthorpe fishery, Leeds & District last week followed suite in releasing another batch of pristine baby barbel and big-mouthed chub further downstream on its River Nidd reserves at Hammerton Mill, hopefully securing the future of this tiny Ouse tributary.

As a complete opposite to thousands of tiny fingerlings, Bradford stunned the local specimen scene with just two fish last week – a pair of common carp, each individually weighing over the magical 30lb and under 10 years old, were released into their Knotford fishery at Poole-in-Wharfedale.

Night permits and tickets for the venue’s carp events quickly sold out ... I wonder if a pair of big lumps had anything to do with it?

York’s Mick Potter won the latest Anglers World event on a slowly rising river at Linton-on-Ouse.

The long-rod and running-line expert bucked the maggot trend to put 8-14 of caster roach on the scales to just beat another ‘Mr Consistent’, Dave Armitage, of Cleckheaton, who included a 3lb chub in his second-place pole-and-maggot catch of 8-03.

The Swale Preservation Masters competition, held from the middle reaches at Morton through to the lower river at Thornton Bridge, produced a good winning weight of 46-10 for Middlesbrough’s Dave Smiddy.

Pegged at Gatenby, his all-chub catch fell to the bomb with loose-fed caster and various big, smelly hookbaits.

Simon Foster’s second-place 22-11 helped his Bradford colleagues to the day’s coveted team title, though it was third-place Steve Edson who had tongues wagging after his day to remember – or forget.

Drawn at Asenby, he included a barbel of over 8lb in his catch of chub to total 18-02; unfortunately he lost another seven big barbel that smashed him in snags. I know Steve well and he doesn’t fish light or mess about. I can only imagine those barbel were some of the Swale’s biggies.

Yarnbury AC invite members old and new to their AGM to be held this Wednesday 1st March 7.30 pm at Horsforths Old Ball Hotel.

Results

Viking Saturday Open (Deer): 1, T Bullass 35-04, 2, G Newsholme 28-05; 3, R Scott 19-09.

Fryston AC Winter League (Viking Hawk): 1, R Evans 61-12; 2, S Lupton 46-08; 3, P Moran 34-11.

Angel Lakes, Open Lookout: 1, Dave Pearson 70-11; 2, Norman Laing 64-14; 3, John Nelson 44-15.

Swale Preservation Team Masters: 1, Dave Smiddy 46-10; 2, Simon Foster 22-11; 3, Steve Edson 18-02.

Leeds DASA Hunters Lodge: 1, S Machell 14-10; 2, E Brydon 10-14; 3, I Bowman 10-03; 4, D Armitage 8-03.

Anglers World Hunters/Linton: 1, M Potter 8-14; 2, D Armitage 8-03; 3, D Grace 7-05; 4, P Bennet 6-10; 5, I Bowman 5-13.

Bradford No1 Cowthorpe Nidd: 1, I Newby 19-14; 2, D Pitt 12-06; 3, A Grandidge 11-08; 4, I Bradley 10-06.

Leeds Midweek Linton-on-Ouse: 1, Archie Austin 8-0 (1 Barbel 7-14); 2, Dennis White 4-02; 3, John Lastakowski 1-12.

York DAA Bishopthorpe Palace, River Ouse: 1, T Harrison 10-03; 2, R Galton 6-04; 3, D Grace 6-02; 4, M Potter 5-14.

JT Rodgers Brafferton: 1, A Jackson 112-03; 2, S Phelan 109-02; 3, R Richardson 102-04.

Moor Monkton Pools Rover: 1, S Mazza 49-03; 2, J Roper 48-00; 3, M Green 38-02.

JT Rodgers Winter League M.Monkton: 1, L Smith 74-08; 2, E Boldison 57-10; 3jt, J Roper/N Whiteside 35-15.

Kippax Park Midweek: 1, Luca Willshaw 64-10; 2, Mark Dukes 57-07; 3, Andy Rymer 41-02.

Kippax Park Saturday League: 1, J Clark 48-10; 2, L Willshaw 41-15; 3, A Rymer 36-07; 4, S Pearson 32-13.

Woodlands Silverfish Only: 1, T Wilson 20-05; 2, R Harbour 18-04; 3, C Gowling 18-03; 4, J Maddison 15-14.

Match Diary

Saturday

Anglers World Saturday Series: Hunters/Linton, January 7 to season end, contact Stan Haigh 07542700743.

Kippax Park: Winter League November 5 to March, £10 entry, £20 pools, contact 07967000746.

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

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

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, £16, contact 01405 785206.

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

Sunday

Leeds DASA: Moor Monkton Pools, Winter League, November 13 to March, £10 entry, pools £20, contact 07967000746.

Leeds & Liverpool: Kirkstall, contact Roger Movley 01132 772215.

Listerhills: Leeds & Liverpool Canal, contact Eddie Harrison 07518721051.

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.

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: over-50s, draw 10am, tickets £10, contact 07967000746.

Wednesday

Leeds & District: Moor Monkton Pools, draw 10am, contact 07967000746.

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.

Match secretaries: please email results to [email protected]