KEIGHLEY AC

KEIGHLEY Angling Club hope to attract more youngsters to the sport of fishing after junior member Ross Pickles was voted on to the committee this week.

The talented 16-year-old became the youngest person to join Keighley’s governing body after receiving the full backing of members at the club’s AGM.

Chairman Fred Farrington said: “We are delighted to welcome Ross as a full committee member; he has been a junior at the club for many years and is passionate about angling.

"He already has considerable experience with a reputation for catching large numbers of fish, including specimen carp and chub. We believe he will inspire other young people to give fishing a go.

“This signals our determination to encourage young people to become active in shaping the future of our club – especially at a time when angling is gaining popularity.”

Ross began fishing at the age of five and was recently in the news for netting a fin-perfect chub 5lb on the Aire near Utley.

The Keighley club said it had recorded a surge in membership over the past two years, mirroring the national trend which has seen rod licence sales soar for the first time in six years.

Meanwhile the committee renewed a warning to all walkers and anglers venturing near the river to be extra careful as recent floods and high winds have created dangerous and unpredictable conditions underfoot.

SKIPTON AA

The rearranged penultimate Skipton Winter League match was fished last Sunday on the Long Ing length of the canal at Barnoldswick in contrasting conditions to the previous week's atrocious weather, which had forced the fixture's postponement.

Last Sunday, there was hardly any wind for most of the allotted three hours, a breeze just picking up towards the end of the match. Dullish weather prevailed throughout, although the temperature was on the low side. The fish did not seem to mind and some good weights were recorded, which consisted of plenty of roach and/or decent-sized skimmer bream taken on the maggot, bread punch or caster.

Result – Individuals: 1 Graham Waterfall 2510g (5:8:8) (roach), 2 Russell Heaton 1540g (3:6:0) (mainly skimmers), 3 David Fenn 1340g (1:15:4), 4 Andy Wharton 770g (1:11:4), 5 Bill Davenport 760g (1:10:12), 6 Mick Cockshott 620g (1:6:0). Pairs: 1 Waterfall & Chenior 2750g (6:0:12), 2 Heaton & Aldis 2040g (4:8:0), 3 D&R Fenn 1340g (1:15:4), 4 Wharton & Magner 920g (2:0:4), 5 Davenport & Bradley 760g (1:11:0). Standings (with one match left) – Individuals: 1 David Fenn 138pts, 2 Darren Wright 136, 3 Russell Heaton 122, 4 Andy Wharton 120, 5 Jason Aldis 97, 6 Jayne Eason 91. Pairs: 1 D&R Fenn 63, 2 Heaton & Aldis 56, 3 Wright & Thomas 51, 4 Waterfall & Chenior 48, 5 Wharton & Magner 42. Pairs Knockout final: Fenns 1340g bt Wright & Thomas 370g. Individual Knockout semi-finals: G Waterfall bt D Wright 2510g-370g, S Chenior bt M Bradley 240g-0g.

The last match of the series will be fished on Sunday on the Marina stretch of the canal at Barnoldswick, which is well known for producing some excellent weights if conditions are right.

SALTAIRE AA

Result of last week's Saltaire Open: 1 Martin Blagborough (Slaithwaite) 5lb 11oz (roach caught on caster from the Canopy peg), 2 Steve Allinson (Tricast Calder) 2lb 15½oz, 3 John Needham (Leeds) 2lb 6oz, 4 Martin Helliwell (Matrix Halifax) 2lb 4oz, 5 Dave Taylor (Slaithwaite) 2lb 3oz, 6 Nigel Storr (Matrix Halifax) 2lb 1oz. The next canal match is planned for Sunday, December 13. Telephone Richard on 07815-0892966 to book on. River match on Sunday, weather permitting. Expect to use the middle and bottom lengths, contact Barrie Murgatroyd on 07902-493139 for details and to book on. Tong Park has had a recent stocking of a considerable number of skimmer bream. Please handle these fish with care. Any catch reports can be sent to saltaireangling@gmail.com.

LEEDS ASA

The midweek open matches were cancelled owing to adverse weather. Result of the Saturday Open on Skylark Lake at Kippax Park: 1 S Robert 142lb 12oz, 2 S Raper 60lb 6oz, 3 A Rymer 56lb 5oz. Result of Sunday match on Skylark Lake at Kippax Park: 1 A Barker 94lb 15oz, 2 W East 56lb 2oz, 3 T Lawson 49lb 7oz. Under the association's emergency powers, the fishery management committee have brought in the following – during the close season for coarse fish on river venues, only the following baits will be permitted: fly and metallic lures; no worm, static metallic baits or minnows. This is to protect stocks of babel and chub, which were being targeted by anglers supposedly fishing for trout.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Membership for 2016 should be available from all the usual outlets from just before Christmas. The inaugural Knotford and Kirklees Carp Cups will be presented in 2016 for the members who catch the biggest fish from each of the two waters. The catch must be witnessed and a photo taken, and full details will be available in the 2016 yearbook. A number of re-stockings will take place this winter with a variety of species being stocked in up to four of the club's waters. Details will follow once the stockings have taken place.

BRADFORD & DISTRICT SEA AC

Last week's trip to Grimsby was a great success and, although fishing in high winds proved challenging for some, a few fish were caught. Biggest fish of the trip was a cod of 6lb 8oz, caught by Ralph Jones. We have another trip to the same port late next month. If you would like to go, please ring Dave on 07711-987833 to book your place. The annual meeting last week was well attended, with the committee being elected en bloc. Roger Smith was voted clubman of the year by members.

LISTERHILLS AA

Once again, high water levels severely restricted river angling. G Reeday and E Harrison, fishing the canal near the Kirkstall Marina, had a good net of roach. Harrison also had two pike near to double figures caught on dead bait fished on static ledger. The next members' match is at Pilley's on Sunday, December 6. All catch details are welcome.