SKIPTON AA

Anglers must be asking themselves just when this wet weather is going to end after yet another weekend of very stormy conditions, although the rain has been nowhere near as heavy as that in the Lake District and Cumbria.

Once again the Aire valley was submerged from Gargrave to Keighley as streams and then the River Aire overflowed into the fields. Such was the rainfall that the river did not stop rising until late on Sunday afternoon, following a short but particularly heavy burst in the morning.

No doubt numerous fish will have been lost in the floodwater in the last few weeks, and the latest event has more or less coincided with the time when local brown trout usually commence spawning activities. One thing is certain, however – there will have been enough water in the becks to allow them to reach their spawning grounds. Whether they will have been successful, we shall just have to wait and see.

Skipton Winter League competitors were certainly lucky in not picking last Sunday for the revised date of their final match that was postponed due to previous inclement weather. Hopefully, conditions will be suitable this Sunday for the match to be fished on the marina length of the canal at Barnoldswick.

This stretch that can produce some very good weights if conditions are favourable, and about three years ago, in another end-of-season Winter League match, the winner recorded over 18.2kg (40lb) of bream in just three hours' fishing. Besides the bream, the length also contains good roach and perch to well over the 450g (1:0:0) mark.

In the league's various competitions, the individual title looks likely, with just two points separating them, to be going to David Fenn or Darren Wright. In the pairs event, the father-and-son combination of Bob and David Fenn enjoy a seven-point lead over Russell Heaton and Jason Aldis, while the individual knockout final will be fished between Graeme Waterfall and Simon Chenior.

Elsewhere, the mild conditions should suit canal anglers everywhere, but it may be a different story on running water, where flow rates may be still be pretty strong. A quiet backwater may be worth trying for grayling, chub or even pike.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Paul Royston won the opening round of this year's Raskelf Winter Series with 45 f1s on method feeder and pellet for 30lb 2oz, and the maximum 33 points. Other placings: 2 Graham Jackson 26lb of F1s on pole (32pts), 3 James Vickerman 22lb, 4 Eric Wright 17lb 12oz, 5 Simon Foster 17lb 8oz. The next round is on January 31. Tickets can be booked for this Sunday's open match at Cowthorpe from Simon on 01274-571175, with the match expected to go ahead if river levels recover in time. Please could the two members who expressed an interest in bailiffing at Cowthorpe, contact head bailiff Dave Moore. Members are reminded to close the gates on all our waters, particularly those with otter fences. Membership for 2016 is expected to go on sale within the next couple of weeks. The full match programme for 2016 can now be found on the website, with three new competitions taking place this year, along with more than 30 other matches.

SALTAIRE AA

There is a canal match on Sunday using the Shipley lengths. Telephone Richard for details and to book on 07815-092966. There is also a river match planned, weather permitting, on the bottom and middle sections. Telephone Barrie for this on 07902-493139. A pike match will be held on the canal on Sunday, December 27, draw 8.45am09am in the Hotel Ibis car park, fishing 10am-5pm. However, a large landing net and an unhooking mat are required. No mat, no net, no fishing. Telephone Dave 07909-813915 for further details and to book on. The canal is fishing very well for good nets of roach and bream. The committee welcomes any catch reports to help with future restocking. Send any information to saltaireangling@gmail.com.

BRADFORD & DISTRICT SEA AC

Our next general meeting is on Tuesday at the New Inn, East Bierley (8pm). This is our giant Christmas raffle, where everybody brings a prize. We have a boat fishing trip to Grimsby on Tuesday, December 29. If you would like to go, please ring Dave on 07711-987833 to book your place.