THE coarse season resumes this week as fish spawning comes to a close and anglers look forward to getting back to the River Aire with traditional maggot bait.

Water temperatures have risen steadily and improved weather conditions should create excellent sport – especially in some of the shallow swims upstream of Silsden where the river harbours a variety of species including trout and grayling. Chub are also showing in deeper pools throughout the river.

Barbel introduced to the water over the past few years have matured nicely and provide excellent sport in many local swims.

Recent canal reports indicate improved sport, with skimmer bream providing the bulk of fish caught on stretches between Silsden and Snaygill. Sweet groundbait and pinkies have yielded the best results, as well as worm, which seldom fails to attract the attention of predatory perch.

Over the past few weeks, fly anglers have tested fast and slow stretches of the river, especially at Kildwick. As Mayflies are half way into their two-year hatching cycle and generally scarcer than last year, trout have been rising to sedge and small darker flies. One angler reported catching a medium-sized brown trout using a dry midge in slow flowing water near Kildwick.