Leeds society in a bold step to keep up fish stocks

And with holdings on just about everywhere in between and owning Stillwater outright, they boast close to 2,000 members who all use its assets.

With seemingly annual climate changes, increasing abstraction, pollution incidents and massive predation problems from pretty much every thing with fur or feather, our native fish stocks are taking a hammering and need urgent protection.

The Society held its AGM last week and set a benchmark for other clubs in changing rules that had stood for over 100 years in an attempt to secure the future of all fish species.

It was said from the floor that anglers were quick to complain when otters and cormorants killed any fish yet age-old rules allowed anglers to do the same with no questions asked, and that killing our fish for the table or live baiting made no sense when anglers were calling for rivers to be restocked.

The rule for all Leeds waters will now be: “No fish to be killed or removed from any fishery.”

It was made clear that this is all species and includes pike, eels, trout, grayling and even the once notorious zander.

I support fully the rule change and would like to see the Environment Agency follow the Leeds lead in removing its permission to take size-limit fish from uncontrolled waters as stated in the rod licence by-laws.

Other less-radical but equally life-saving changes were made by banning keepnets and sacks at its Knotford fishery with time limits set for fish retention while setting up for photographs.

Again, I think they were justified as the lake has produced some massive, old-warrior bream and tench this season that don’t need the indignity of hours retained in a net.

Bringing the changes to an end, it was decided that the River Aire below South Accommodation Road to its downstream limits close to Woodlesford would be open to trout fishing during the national coarse fish closed season, though only to fly or artificial lure.

This was supported by river bailiff Krzysztof Kaszuba, who said the river held some of the biggest wild brownies in the UK and that anglers on the bank during the trout season would reduce poaching and anti-social behaviour.

He also supported the catch-and-release programme.

Like all equipment, sometimes ‘old is best’ or a missing part is the only thing stopping a piece of tackle being as good as new.

If you’re the kind of angler that doesn’t mind a few cobwebs, don’t miss this week’s Dave Rushton used-tackle sale with raffle and auction.

The event will be a light-hearted attempt to bring local anglers together under one roof, while raising money for charity. All entry fees of £2 and monies raised at auction will be donated to the Macmillan Cancer Support group.

It won’t be a suit-and-tie evening; you can just turn up at the door in wellies or waders if that’s what floats you’re boat.

So, pencil in Leeds Anglers’ Club on Thursday at 7pm.

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Results

West Yorkshire Wagglers Oaks Beech: 1, A Howsam 80-10; 2, J Brierley 61-04; 3, N Hodgson 54-03; 4, J Slater 43-12.

Calder Winter Series Altofts, Woodnook Ings: 1, D Taylor Knaresborough 17-04; 2, S Webster Mirfield 15-08; 3, I Bowman Barnsley 14-10; 4, P Baron Tackle 2 U 13-13.

York AA Ouse at Fulford: 1, R Gaulton 18-10; 2, B Burton 17-02; 3, S Edson 12-06; 4, S Messinger 12-00.

Oaks at Sessay Cedar: 1, D Birdsall 38-11; 2, M Baker 38-03; 3, C Kendall 29-15; 4, S Lupton 28-08; 5, C Hall 22-12.

Woodlands over-50s: 1, C Cooper 81-11; 2, J Herron 79-04; 3, G Webb 68-10; 4, G Poole 66-04; 5, B Blythe 65-06.

Mirfield AC Aire & Calder Navigation, Altofts: 1, I Bowman Barnsley 14-07; 2, D Armitage Cleckheaton 13-05; 3, S Crossley Maver NW 12-12; 4, S Harkin Castleford 9-14; 5, N Hirst Mirfield 9-11; 6, P Baron Tackle 2U 9-05.

Kippax Park, Tuesday Open, Osprey: 1, Bob Rymer 95-10; 2, Andy Rymer 75-15; 3, John Brogdan 60-03; 4, Steve Pearson 57-14.

Kippax Park, Saturday Open, Osprey: 1, Steve Pearson 66-01; 2, Adrian Broomhead 55-01; 3, Andy Middleton 52-13; 4, Tony Hewson 35-04.

Kippax Park, Tuesday Open, Osprey: 1, Bob Rymer 103-10; 2, Andy Rymer 85-12; 3, Neil Rymer 66-01; 4, Tony Evans 48-10.

Kippax Park, Saturday Open, Osprey: 1, Jimmy Redmond 73-15; 2, Phil Robinson 65-13; 3, Glen Turner 44-08; 4, Tony Hewson 42-04.

Moor Monkton Pools, Wednesday Rover, All Pools: 1, Tom Bainbridge 103-08; 2, Steve Mazza 79-05; 3, Andy Gallant 62-02; 4, Chris Baldwin.

Moor Monkton Pools, Sunday Winter League, All Pools: 1, Ben Fisk 103-01; 2, Eric Boldison 66-13; 3, Dave Wright 66-11; 4, Tom Bainbridge 66-07.

Moor Monkton Pools, Wednesday Rover, All Pools: 1, Eric Boldison; 2, Andy Gallant 26-04; 3, Geoff Rhodes 24-13; 4, Bill Brown 23-08.

Viking Saturday Open (Deer): 1, D Sawyer 64-11; 2, L Tones 47-02; 3, P Cockburn 43-01; 4, S Bean 41-08.

Fryston Winter League (round 3) Viking Fox: 1, P Moran 58-09; 2, G Gill 50-04; 3, L Keir 32-00.

Spring Close Old Boys (Viking Deer): 1, L Varley 68-11; 2, V Rooks 55-15; 3, T McGuirk 34-15.

Angel Lakes, Open Lookout Sunday: 1, Ethan Bradley 90-05; 2, John Nelson 61-06; 3, John Foster 58-03.

Match Diary

Saturday

Kippax Park: Saturday Open, Lapwing or Osprey, 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.

Kippax Park: winter series, Osprey Lake only, contact Stan 0796700046.

Sunday

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.

Thursday

Poppleton Lakes:, Thursday, draw car park 5pm, pools £11, contact Roger 01904 737279.