Angling: Environmental Agency gives the go-ahead for Linton restocking

Everything hung in the balance until restrictions to the consent permits were agreed, then everything went well and anglers can now look forward rather than back on problems of the past.

The next phase will be where it all started, at Linton-on- Ouse with the introduction of approximately 100 barbel in the 10-12-inch bracket.

After the success of the last restocking programme on this stretch of river, I have no doubt these new fish will ensure the difference in year classes that it needs badly after years of poor natural spawning.

Leeds and District have to be applauded for its full financial backing of the whole Ouse/Ure barbel project.

On the same system, just a few miles upstream, the River Swale will be following the Ouse lead though with a different financial twist. Leeds DASA official, Dave Rushton, has a way with ‘angling begging bowls’ and has raised over £3,000 from clubs and land owners concerned at the river’s decline after the recent celebrity bull seal used the barbel shoals as its very own meal-time ‘dive through’.

Three hundred river-ready barbel will be stocked between Topcliffe weir and Asenby Island in the next few weeks, and will be a welcome sight for the Swale regulars.

Unfortunately there always seems to be a down side and, though the time of year and cold temperatures are perfect for restocking, the high river levels have pushed plans back a few weeks as flows are just too strong for the safe release of fish.

The Knotford complex of lakes, owned by Leeds, Bradford No 1 and Otley, all had their individual otter fences to thank for not losing thousands of pounds worth of valuable fish last week, as the flooded local River Wharfe joined together the river, lakes and nearby main roads.

Though the fences were erected to keep the sneaky fish-eating otters out, they did a great job in reverse by keeping the equally sneaky fish in, leaving the local bailiffs and volunteers of all clubs time to rescue valuable sludge-covered fisheries equipment stranded in places you needed to see to believe.

With all of the region’s rivers doing a good impression of the mighty Zambezi and all river contests cancelled, Mirfield AC came to the rescue with a cracker of a match on our local Aire & Calder Navigation at Great Heck.

Fished through miserable conditions for the anglers, the bream shoals found it all to their liking and fed well all through the length.

Tackle collector and Maver-sponsored star, Eddie Brydon, never looked back after netting a specimen 2lb roach on his first cast then following it up with a 6lb bream on his second.

Another 12 good bream fell to his open-end-feeder tactics giving him a 42-12 total and the match win.

Mirfield boss, Martin Highe claimed runners up spot with seven bream for 22lb.

Double-figure nets were commonplace among the hardy entrants.

Results

Anglers World Holidays, Saturday Series, Round 6, Ouse at Linton: 1, Andy Fox, Bradford 7-15; 2, Stan Haigh, Anglers World 6-11; 3, Steve Newns, KL Tackle 6-06; 4, Arthur Benstead, Barlby 5-14; 5, Norman Thewlis, Mirfield 5-05; 6, John Smiles, Middlesbrough 4-01.

Moor Monkton Pools, Sunday Winter League, All Pools: 1, Barry Paton 61-03; 2, Ben Fisk 59-09; 3, Ollie Hewitt 58-09; 4, Mark Wade 49-11.

Moor Monkton Pools, Wednesday Rover, All Pools: 1, Steve Pearson 42-05; 2, Mark Wade 10-08; 3, Steve Holmes 8-07; 4, Andy Gallant 5-02.

Moor Monkton Pools, Sunday Winter League, All Pools: 1, Gordon Wright 84-10; 2, Stan Jeffreys 62-04; 3, Andy Gallant 36-06.

Moor Monkton Pools, Wednesday Rover, All Pools: 1, Mark Wade 100-03; 2, Steve Pearson 68-05; 3, Chris Watson 56-07; 4, John Brogden 52-07; 5, Stan Jeffreys 48-13; 6, Eric Boldison 48-07.

Kippax Park Fishery, Tuesday Open: 1, Mark Rockingham 0-08; 2, Tony Hewson 0-01.

Oaks at Sessay, Cedar: 1, C Hall 101-12; 2, A Shuttleworth 61-10; 3, R Moore 55-13; 4, I Shuttleworth 36-14; 5, A Stock 31-11; 6, B Sinclair 24-06.

Oaks at Sessay, Silverfish League, Final Round: 1, Tim Peters 32-14; 2, Martin Holmes 29-08; 3, Andy Barker 28-08; 4, Darren Brigg 26-04; 5, Del Brady 25-03; Overall Silverfish League: 1, Karl Heptonstall 7 points, 114-07; 2, Tim Peters 8 points, 112-10; 3, James Woodrow 8 points, 104-06; 4, James Roper 8 points, 98-11; 5, Rob Minikin 8 points 86-14.

Angel Lakes, Saturday Open Lookout: 1, John Foster 84-04; 2, Ethan Bradley 74-05; 3, John Dryden 70-08.

Angel Lakes Wednesday Open Bowes: 1, Andy Proudfoot 67-07; 2, Rob Emery 50-13; 3, Jackie Nelson 17-12.

Viking Saturday Open (Deer): 1, J Blythe 101-04; 2, S Bean 84-03; 3, A Blythe 31-16.

Fryston Winter League (Viking Fox): 1, S Varley 43-10; 2, S Lupton 38-01; 3, R Evans 32-14.

Spring Grove Old Boys (Viking Deer): 1, R Paylor 49-01; 2, V Rooks 37-00; 3, T Bailey 29-09.

Match Diary

Saturday

Viking: Saturday Open, Hawk Pond, 30 pegs, £20, contact 01405 785206.

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.

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

York & District: Open Matches, River Ouse, contact Mick Potter 07890870551.

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: 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.