BRADFORD CITY AA

This week has seen mixed reports from club members, though fishing conditions have appeared good. Rivers have been clear, cold and at a great level to target grayling. However, several members – fishing mainly with the fly – have reported fish hard to find, not only on BCAA fisheries but on other rivers too.

Yet coarse anglers have reported fish coming to the net. These mixed results are possibly because fish have moved away from their warmer-weather haunts following the onset of cooler weather, and dispersed. This is typical of grayling at this time of year, as is a better response by fish to worm and maggot than fly. Successful fly colours inducing fish to respond have been pink, orange and purple.

Anglers and committee members have been busy on our coarse fisheries. At Shipton Lake, pike into the mid-teens in weight are still being caught by anglers, though we haven’t heard of any 20s yet. General advice is for anglers to keep moving to find the fish.

We have now finished stocking fish at Staveley and Shipton. Large numbers of chub, barbel, tench and a few carp have been put in, and fish ordered for Oakworth. We originally planned to delay stocking here until the small lake was enlarged, but heavy rain from storms Desmond and Eva has made repair work necessary instead. Anglers should take care when using the track to the fishery until it is repaired.

The first BCAA match for 2016 is the Trentman Trophy at Staveley Lakes tomorrow. This is limited to 14 pegs on the small lake only. Three spaces are still left, entry fee is £15 and golden peg is £50. The small lake will be closed for the match, though BCAA pleasure anglers will still be able to fish the large lake. To avoid disappointment, please note that match places must be booked in advance via Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749. Anyone turning up on spec may be put on a waiting list or refused entry.

SKIPTON AA

A reasonable number of members attended our 109th annual meeting at the Three Links Club in Skipton. Members were told that the Association had enjoyed another successful year, with good fishing on all waters following a spell of chilly weather lasting well into May. December ended up being a particularly wet month, which resulted in a near-record flood on the Aire. A decent overall profit had been made, despite the membership falling slightly to 124. Spending on restocking had shown a marked increase, which had been partly offset by increased sales of day tickets.

Two notable fish were caught by members during the year, with the best specimen trout going to Dave Martin with an Association record-equalling brownie weighing 2500g (5:8:0). Simon Chenior’s best coarse fish was a surprise common carp which came from, of all places, Embsay Reservoir and weighed 2585g (5:11:0). Malcolm Mawson completed the trio of trophy winners by being successful in the Whinnygill Series (of evening matches) with an aggregate weight of 3110g (6:13:4).

Long-standing official Peter Hart finally hung up his calculator after holding the position of treasurer and, in the last year, membership secretary, giving a total service of over 30 years. He was made an honorary life member. Mark Hindle is the new membership secretary, while Kenny Wright came onto the committee.

One rule change was that it is no longer permissible to remove trout from the River Aire. In line with the policy adopted by a number of clubs following the Environment Agency’s changes to what type of trout may be introduced, the river is to be a catch-and-return fishery.

LISTERHILLS AA

A fish rescue took place, and several fish which had been stranded in the fields when the River Aire burst its banks were put back. It will be some time before the full extent of any fish losses are known. Drop-spotting in the canal is accounting for medium-sized pike and a few good-sized perch. Essentially this is a roving method, and anglers should observe the limits and not transgress onto lengths of the canal controlled by other clubs. By the same token, members of other clubs who wander onto our lengths will be classed as poachers. The next members’ match at Pilley’s is on Sunday, February 7.

LEEDS ASA

Result of Kippax Park Open match (Osprey Lake): 1 P Clark 9lb 4oz, 2 J Wake 8lb 11oz, 3 S Jeffreys 7lb 1oz. Result of Moor Monkton Pools match: 1 A Middleton 20lb 10oz, 2 G Miller 17lb 6oz, 3 M Green 17lb 3oz. Result of Kippax Park Saturday Open: 1 J Wake 90lb 4oz, 2 S Rogers 45lb 6oz. Result of Moor Monkton Pools Sunday Open match: 1 M Addiwall 48lb 4oz, 2 L Smith 47lb 14oz, 3 S Powers 45lb 12oz. The first two anglers were pegged on Cyprio Pool, the third was on the Match Pool, where the previous week’s winner came from. The match on the Ouse at Aldwark Bridge was abandoned midway through when the river came up and endangered competitors.

SALTAIRE AA

Result of well-attended river match last Sunday: 1 Carl Chadwick 15lb 10oz, 2 Fred Prudem 9lb, 3 James Vickerman 8lb 6oz, 4 Barrie Murgatroyd 5lb. The next canal pike match is on Sunday, January 31, draw 8.45am-9am in Hotel Ibis car park, Shipley BD18 3ST, fishing 10am-3pm. This is an open match, anyone welcome but please book on. For further information, contact Dave Senior on 07909-813915. A large landing net and an unhooking mat is a definite requirement - no mat, no net, no fishing! Membership books should be in our shops next week, a list of which are available via our website. The cost is the same as last year: Adults £22, concessions, ladies and juniors £11. There is no joining fee for new members.

BINGLEY AC

Thanks to all who attended last Sunday's work party. Despite the snow, another short length of fencing was erected. The next work party is on Sunday, February 7. The Christmas Cheer match will be on Sunday, January 31 on the River Aire in Myrtle Park. Rivers are now down to fishable levels, but care should be taken as a lot of the bank features and river courses have changed. The club would be interested in any information of numbers and species of fish being caught on rivers. Contact any club official or email the website bingleyanglingclub.co.uk.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Our first meeting of 2016 was well attended, with trips being top of the agenda. All trips have to be finalised but, in the main, Rhyl has been booked, but dates have to be arranged. Trips to Grimsby will be booked for later in the year. Trips to Westport and Culdaff have been booked and are filling up fast, so if you would like to go, ring Dave on 07711-987833. Report from Richard Ward on "Shytorque" is that plenty of cod are being caught inshore at Whitby up to 6lb. One angler had 42 cod in one day, so prospects look good.