FREEZING temperatures over the past week created difficult conditions for many Keighley Angling Club members, with some having to apply glycerine to keep fishing lines moving freely through their rod rings.

As a result of the wintry weather, most species of fish lacked any movement in the cold waters although grayling were actively looking for food and seemed unable to resist the lure of casters and maggot. One local angler landed and returned 18 grayling in a single session on the River Aire near Keighley.

The club says conditions remain ideal for prime grayling fishing and anglers who get among the shoals can expect to catch specimens up to two and a half pounds.

Heavy rainfall has flushed the river and many anglers anticipate that worms and mixed maggot will continue to be the most effective bait when water levels return to normal.

Meanwhile, Keighley Angling Club are looking for festive mink spies to keep a look out over Christmas following recent sightings of an elusive predator which is making its home on the River Aire.

Mink, originally from America, are now flourishing in this country and have moved on to the riverside to prey on a variety of creatures including frogs, birds and fish. Water vole populations have been badly affected and, in several parts of Britain, their numbers were decimated as mink moved in to colonise their territory.

Mink were originally imported in the 1950s for intensive fur farming but some escaped or were released into the wild and quickly adapted to their new habitat.

Over the past year several have been spotted along the River Aire – most recently at Utley – and the club are asking members to be watchful for this voracious feeder.

While the river will attract many over the holiday period, the club has warned anglers and walkers to be extra careful when approaching the water, especially in muddy and icy conditions.

Keighley have received a number of enquiries about their yearbooks. Club secretary Dennis Freeman said they are now available in local tackle shops.