WITH just four days remaining of the brown trout season, the River Aire is in fine fettle for the chance to get a specimen catch.

Last week’s 45mm of rain brought the river up almost to bank top and took away much of the weed that grew during the dry summer months. Consequently, the river is now in ideal condition for all types of angling.

Just before the heavy rain, Simon Chenier tried his luck on the river and enjoyed some good sport landing four chub, two grayling, five trout, numerous minnows and a greedy bullhead that took five maggots fished on a size 12 hook.

Some good trout were also caught from the length below Inghey Bridge including a 1,360g specimen.

Whinnygill Reservoir is still producing some decent sport although the recent cool overnight weather appears to have put the tench off the feed.

Bream have been turning up including some decent sized fish to around the 1kg mark. Perch and roach have also been caught but not too many of them.

The fly fishing match at Embsay Reservoir attracted seven competitors and even though the weather was far better than earlier forecast, the temperature had been low during the night and a cool wind proved difficult during the three hour match.

Michael Ickringill landed a rainbow and a tiger trout and lost a further fish at the net but it was enough to win him the match. David Martin and John Waterhouse tied as runners-up with a trout apiece.

Prior to the heavy rain, the canal had been fishing quite well on most stretches with good bream turning up almost anywhere. Smallish roach and perch have augmented catches and gudgeon are also on the increase in the Skipton area.

Once the brown trout closes, anglers will still be able to enjoy decent trout fishing at Embsay Reservoir and coarse fishing on Whinnygill Reservoir.

The River Aire is improving coarse fishing wise with good chub and grayling fishing.

Pike are also present on the lower Skipton length but so far only small jack pike have been caught on the upper stretches.